Hi all...
Last December, the Gorman family traveled to New Jersey. We were in a sedan. Sedans seat five people. It is no fun though to be that fifth person. It was a good little car, but it seemed not to grow as the kids did. The last couple of trips had been rough. People were cranky.
As we got into the car, I told everyone that we each had to pick a whine. If someone had a complaint, it had to be versed in that whine. Everyone else had to follow up immediately with his/her own whine. You could not change your particular whine without consent of the other folks in the car. I do not remember all the whines. Jesse's was "we need a bigger car."
We got a bigger car. I love mini-vans. They have space.
We did it again for our last trip. My whine was "we should have left two hours ago." Jennifer's was "I hate kids." Keren would then say "Gavi and Jesse are annoying me." Jesse's was "I am only allowed to have one complaint." Gavi's was "I have a nosebleed."
It made all of the complaining very funny.
Have a good day.
R/SCG
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
The Final Insult
Top of the afternoon all...
As many of you know, Jennifer and I have been applying for permanent residence here in Canada. This process started more than three years ago. Our application has finally been approved. Please allow me to recount some of the fun details.
Our initial application disappeared. Are you all aware of the rule in physics that matter cannot be created or destroyed? It is nonsense. Our permanent residence package proves that matter can in fact be destroyed.
We had to submit a new application. By this point, the law had changed. Jennifer and I had to prove that we could speak either English or French with some degree of proficiency. That's right everyone. Two people, born, raised, and educated in the United States, with multiple degrees from multiple institutions of higher learning, had to prove proficiency in English. We had to prove our proficiency to people whose English was not on our level. They had no clue why we were there. C'est magnifique!!
Then we got word that all was proceeding, and that we had to get our immigration physicals. We did. Ottawa lost the results. I had to contact both my lawyer and my representative in Parliament to get them located. At least we did not have to do them a second time. Throughout, Immigration Canada's website informed all who wanted to know that the average processing time for this application was 15 months.
Ottawa did whatever it had to do in order to approve the package. Ottawa then forwarded the package to the consulate in Buffalo for final processing in May. The consulate in Buffalo closed in June. Our package was sent back to Ottawa for the final processing. With all that had happened up until this point, I told Jennifer that I was certain the package had fallen off the truck.
In the meantime, we decided to refinance our mortgage. Rates have dropped precipitously over the last several months. The bank told us that we would not be able to do so until we had permanent status.
Ottawa forwarded our package to the consulate in Detroit. We received an e-mail with instructions on what to do next. This e-mail came on the first day of our ten-day vacation in New Jersey, with a time limit of 30 days. It included requirements for passport-size pictures, according to specifications set out on the weblink. The problem is that the weblink specifically said that the size was not that of a passport picture. That gave us another delay while we figured out the right size for the pictures. I am glad that we did not have to retake them. It would have been another $80.
So today, I was fishing around on Immigration Canada's website for more information. They have updated the processing times. Now, instead of requiring 15 months to process a permanent residence package, Immigration Canada has streamlined it to 48 business days.
You may now all laugh.
R/SCG
As many of you know, Jennifer and I have been applying for permanent residence here in Canada. This process started more than three years ago. Our application has finally been approved. Please allow me to recount some of the fun details.
Our initial application disappeared. Are you all aware of the rule in physics that matter cannot be created or destroyed? It is nonsense. Our permanent residence package proves that matter can in fact be destroyed.
We had to submit a new application. By this point, the law had changed. Jennifer and I had to prove that we could speak either English or French with some degree of proficiency. That's right everyone. Two people, born, raised, and educated in the United States, with multiple degrees from multiple institutions of higher learning, had to prove proficiency in English. We had to prove our proficiency to people whose English was not on our level. They had no clue why we were there. C'est magnifique!!
Then we got word that all was proceeding, and that we had to get our immigration physicals. We did. Ottawa lost the results. I had to contact both my lawyer and my representative in Parliament to get them located. At least we did not have to do them a second time. Throughout, Immigration Canada's website informed all who wanted to know that the average processing time for this application was 15 months.
Ottawa did whatever it had to do in order to approve the package. Ottawa then forwarded the package to the consulate in Buffalo for final processing in May. The consulate in Buffalo closed in June. Our package was sent back to Ottawa for the final processing. With all that had happened up until this point, I told Jennifer that I was certain the package had fallen off the truck.
In the meantime, we decided to refinance our mortgage. Rates have dropped precipitously over the last several months. The bank told us that we would not be able to do so until we had permanent status.
Ottawa forwarded our package to the consulate in Detroit. We received an e-mail with instructions on what to do next. This e-mail came on the first day of our ten-day vacation in New Jersey, with a time limit of 30 days. It included requirements for passport-size pictures, according to specifications set out on the weblink. The problem is that the weblink specifically said that the size was not that of a passport picture. That gave us another delay while we figured out the right size for the pictures. I am glad that we did not have to retake them. It would have been another $80.
So today, I was fishing around on Immigration Canada's website for more information. They have updated the processing times. Now, instead of requiring 15 months to process a permanent residence package, Immigration Canada has streamlined it to 48 business days.
You may now all laugh.
R/SCG
Friday, August 31, 2012
Preparing for a Sweet Year
Top of the evening all...
As many of you are aware, the new year of 5773 is fast approaching. Like many of my colleagues, I am now far behind in writing my sermons. I have no clue who decided that Rosh HaShanah should tend to coincide with the beginning of the school year. The Being and I should have words soon though.
Whenever we travel, we make it to the first rest stop on the Thruway before having to take a break. There is a honey salesman there. It is cash only though, and I never have cash with me. We always purchase more honey at Rosh HaShanah. One of the practices at the new year is to dip apples in honey. The reason is to symbolize our hope for a sweet year.
When we moved up to Toronto, we instituted a new practice. I never remember to pick it up in New York. Still, we rarely purchase our honey at the market. Rather, there is a honey merchant at one of the farmers' markets. He sells numerous types of honey - acacia, buckwheat, wildflower, blueberry, etc.
Jennifer and I purchase various honeys. We put them all out on the table. One next to the other, you would be surprised how different the tastes are. It is a delightful way to start the new year.
This also works with olive oil, although I recommend not doing this quite as often. It can go to your middle.
Shanah Tovah.
R/SCG
As many of you are aware, the new year of 5773 is fast approaching. Like many of my colleagues, I am now far behind in writing my sermons. I have no clue who decided that Rosh HaShanah should tend to coincide with the beginning of the school year. The Being and I should have words soon though.
Whenever we travel, we make it to the first rest stop on the Thruway before having to take a break. There is a honey salesman there. It is cash only though, and I never have cash with me. We always purchase more honey at Rosh HaShanah. One of the practices at the new year is to dip apples in honey. The reason is to symbolize our hope for a sweet year.
When we moved up to Toronto, we instituted a new practice. I never remember to pick it up in New York. Still, we rarely purchase our honey at the market. Rather, there is a honey merchant at one of the farmers' markets. He sells numerous types of honey - acacia, buckwheat, wildflower, blueberry, etc.
Jennifer and I purchase various honeys. We put them all out on the table. One next to the other, you would be surprised how different the tastes are. It is a delightful way to start the new year.
This also works with olive oil, although I recommend not doing this quite as often. It can go to your middle.
Shanah Tovah.
R/SCG
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
But I Am Not Bitter...
Top of the evening all....
I have been going back to reread some of my earlier postings. Having read them, I realize that you might draw the erroneous conclusion the Gorman marriage is the idyllic union. Perhaps that is so, but it has not always been.
Let me tell you about two incidents that happened. One of those incidents occurred before we had been married 24 hours.
I remember the wedding. Wow. It was a blast. The band was never too loud. They did not play any of the songs that I hear too often, but that should not be played at weddings*. The food I got to taste was wonderful. We had selected a chocolate wedding cake with fresh strawberries. I got one bite of that cake, before being whisked away to shake hands with Uncle Max or whoever it was.
Due to an accident with bug spray, we had to go back to my in-laws' the next day to get some freshly-laundered clothing. There, sitting on the table, resplendent in strawberry attire, was the top layer of our wedding cake.
Did you all know that there is a tradition of freezing the top layer of the wedding cake and enjoying it at the first anniversary? I did not know that either.
I cut myself a piece of wedding cake. For the life of me, I have no clue how both Jennifer and my mother-in-law heard me doing this, but they were in the kitchen before my fork was in the cake. The piece of cake was put back. The cake was wrapped. We put it in the freezer at her aunt's house.
(Note passage of several years, moving, freezer burn, and so on).
I never saw my piece of wedding cake.
But I am not bitter.
The second event also took place during our first year of marriage. I wanted to go to Turkey over winter break. Jennifer insists that she was not taking a cruise from Haifa to Izmir on a deck chair. Instead, she wanted to buy a painting. It is a lovely painting. I am staring at it even as I type.
But I am not bitter.
I am not bitter. We laugh about it every few months. Next year will be twenty years for us. I am going to custom design our anniversary cake. I wonder if I can do a Turkish chocolate-strawberry cake.
R/SCG
*I have heard "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "I Will Survive" at weddings. Who thinks of this?
I have been going back to reread some of my earlier postings. Having read them, I realize that you might draw the erroneous conclusion the Gorman marriage is the idyllic union. Perhaps that is so, but it has not always been.
Let me tell you about two incidents that happened. One of those incidents occurred before we had been married 24 hours.
I remember the wedding. Wow. It was a blast. The band was never too loud. They did not play any of the songs that I hear too often, but that should not be played at weddings*. The food I got to taste was wonderful. We had selected a chocolate wedding cake with fresh strawberries. I got one bite of that cake, before being whisked away to shake hands with Uncle Max or whoever it was.
Due to an accident with bug spray, we had to go back to my in-laws' the next day to get some freshly-laundered clothing. There, sitting on the table, resplendent in strawberry attire, was the top layer of our wedding cake.
Did you all know that there is a tradition of freezing the top layer of the wedding cake and enjoying it at the first anniversary? I did not know that either.
I cut myself a piece of wedding cake. For the life of me, I have no clue how both Jennifer and my mother-in-law heard me doing this, but they were in the kitchen before my fork was in the cake. The piece of cake was put back. The cake was wrapped. We put it in the freezer at her aunt's house.
(Note passage of several years, moving, freezer burn, and so on).
I never saw my piece of wedding cake.
But I am not bitter.
The second event also took place during our first year of marriage. I wanted to go to Turkey over winter break. Jennifer insists that she was not taking a cruise from Haifa to Izmir on a deck chair. Instead, she wanted to buy a painting. It is a lovely painting. I am staring at it even as I type.
But I am not bitter.
I am not bitter. We laugh about it every few months. Next year will be twenty years for us. I am going to custom design our anniversary cake. I wonder if I can do a Turkish chocolate-strawberry cake.
R/SCG
*I have heard "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "I Will Survive" at weddings. Who thinks of this?
Companies I Like
Hi all....
I always thought it would be fun to take tours of companies whose products I like. I want to go to the coffee factory at Kicking Horse Pass. I want to go to Cape Cod to see how to make potato chips. I have managed over the last couple of years to see some of the places I like.
We drove back to Toronto yesterday. Our route takes us through the town of Easton, Pennsylvania. Many of you will instantly recognize that as the home of Smith & Binney, makers of Crayola crayons. We decided to stop. It was wonderful. I get the feeling, first of all, that if I somehow ran into a 100-year old box of Crayola crayons, it would look, feel, smell, and taste the same. Some years back, Crayola made its 100-billionth crayon. Mr. Rogers moulded that crayon.
I like Crayola. It is a company that has affected every single one of us, as kids, as parents, and as grandparents. The company's goal is to bring colour into the world. What can be bad with that? As well, they are seeking ways to become greener. Any paper products they use come from their own sustainable tree forest. They are doing a great deal of work with solar power.
On another note, Easton, PA is lovely.
We have also visited the Hershey's factory. Yes....enough said. But there is more. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey had no children. They started a school for orphans as a result, raising many children as their own. The school is still there, with close to 2000 students. Hershey's uses only local ingredients. The company has been certified kosher for over 100 years. One of the original goals of the company was to make chocolate available for everyone, instead of just a luxury of the rich.
Last is the Zippo company. Zippo makes lighters. The Zippo lighter has been of exceedingly high quality. The history of the Zippo is also very much wrapped up in the history of the United States military. A lighter that will not go out is useful for signalling, and has been used as such.
In 1943, the owner of the company noticed a design flaw in the lighter. He shut the company down for several months while he fixed it. He also kept everyone on salary.
These are companies I like and have visited. I hope that there will be others. I would like to see Newman's Own. A company that only has interest in making decent food and donating all profits to charity is worth a visit, and more importantly patronage.
I am going to forage around the house for a Hershey bar now.
R/SCG
I always thought it would be fun to take tours of companies whose products I like. I want to go to the coffee factory at Kicking Horse Pass. I want to go to Cape Cod to see how to make potato chips. I have managed over the last couple of years to see some of the places I like.
We drove back to Toronto yesterday. Our route takes us through the town of Easton, Pennsylvania. Many of you will instantly recognize that as the home of Smith & Binney, makers of Crayola crayons. We decided to stop. It was wonderful. I get the feeling, first of all, that if I somehow ran into a 100-year old box of Crayola crayons, it would look, feel, smell, and taste the same. Some years back, Crayola made its 100-billionth crayon. Mr. Rogers moulded that crayon.
I like Crayola. It is a company that has affected every single one of us, as kids, as parents, and as grandparents. The company's goal is to bring colour into the world. What can be bad with that? As well, they are seeking ways to become greener. Any paper products they use come from their own sustainable tree forest. They are doing a great deal of work with solar power.
On another note, Easton, PA is lovely.
We have also visited the Hershey's factory. Yes....enough said. But there is more. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey had no children. They started a school for orphans as a result, raising many children as their own. The school is still there, with close to 2000 students. Hershey's uses only local ingredients. The company has been certified kosher for over 100 years. One of the original goals of the company was to make chocolate available for everyone, instead of just a luxury of the rich.
Last is the Zippo company. Zippo makes lighters. The Zippo lighter has been of exceedingly high quality. The history of the Zippo is also very much wrapped up in the history of the United States military. A lighter that will not go out is useful for signalling, and has been used as such.
In 1943, the owner of the company noticed a design flaw in the lighter. He shut the company down for several months while he fixed it. He also kept everyone on salary.
These are companies I like and have visited. I hope that there will be others. I would like to see Newman's Own. A company that only has interest in making decent food and donating all profits to charity is worth a visit, and more importantly patronage.
I am going to forage around the house for a Hershey bar now.
R/SCG
Thursday, August 23, 2012
From the Mouths of Babes
"As you know, Ima, jewelry is very important in a girl's life." - Keren, in the jewelry department at Target.
"Do you see my estate? Is this not totally posh?" - Gavi, showing me his computer fiefdom.
I am not even sure what to say.
Good night everyone.
R/SCG
"Do you see my estate? Is this not totally posh?" - Gavi, showing me his computer fiefdom.
I am not even sure what to say.
Good night everyone.
R/SCG
Monday, August 20, 2012
Lessons from the Lawn Mower
Hi all...
At the beginning of the summer, our lawn mower died. I tried to be sad. I could not. The lawn mower never had any oomph to it. On top of that, any money we might have saved purchasing an electric mower was probably wasted with the three heavy-duty extension cords that we mowed with the grass.
We replaced the lawn mower. This one has power.
Anyway, I was cutting the grass a couple of weeks ago. The chute that is there to eject the grass out the side came off. It is a breakaway part. The flap immediately closed. I did not think too much about it. I assumed that the grass would then go into the bag. I toss that on the compost. As well, my neighbour is very meticulous with his yard. I did not wish to get in the way of the care he gives his lawn. The grass shooting out the side of the lawn mower has to go somewhere.
While Jesse was mowing the lawn last week, it stopped. He could not get it to restart. I came home, and had no problem. I started cutting the grass, and the same thing happened. I tilted the lawn mower, and cleaned out the grass buildup from underneath. It happened again, and again. I started tilting the lawn mower in the air every time it sounded like it was about to stall. It belched out grass each time.
It dawned on me that the piece that was on the side had the task of preventing grass buildup.
We learn several lessons here:
1. Sometimes those around us tell us without words that there is a problem. Listening involves more than our ears.
2. Seemingly useless parts might have a function even if we cannot immediately recognize that function.
3. Do not remove parts just because you do not like them. They may be useful anyway.
Have a good evening.
R/SCG
At the beginning of the summer, our lawn mower died. I tried to be sad. I could not. The lawn mower never had any oomph to it. On top of that, any money we might have saved purchasing an electric mower was probably wasted with the three heavy-duty extension cords that we mowed with the grass.
We replaced the lawn mower. This one has power.
Anyway, I was cutting the grass a couple of weeks ago. The chute that is there to eject the grass out the side came off. It is a breakaway part. The flap immediately closed. I did not think too much about it. I assumed that the grass would then go into the bag. I toss that on the compost. As well, my neighbour is very meticulous with his yard. I did not wish to get in the way of the care he gives his lawn. The grass shooting out the side of the lawn mower has to go somewhere.
While Jesse was mowing the lawn last week, it stopped. He could not get it to restart. I came home, and had no problem. I started cutting the grass, and the same thing happened. I tilted the lawn mower, and cleaned out the grass buildup from underneath. It happened again, and again. I started tilting the lawn mower in the air every time it sounded like it was about to stall. It belched out grass each time.
It dawned on me that the piece that was on the side had the task of preventing grass buildup.
We learn several lessons here:
1. Sometimes those around us tell us without words that there is a problem. Listening involves more than our ears.
2. Seemingly useless parts might have a function even if we cannot immediately recognize that function.
3. Do not remove parts just because you do not like them. They may be useful anyway.
Have a good evening.
R/SCG
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