I'd Like to Thank the Academy...

I am just so gosh-darn honored to have been given an award from my blogging buddy, Shan at Rambling Shan.She has bestowed upon me the Schmooze Award:

The Schmooze award apparently goes to bloggers who blog themselves and also comment on many other peoples' blogs (which is a favorite hobby of mine - I just love seeing what is out there, and hearing people's individual stories). They truly have the "power of schmooze." I got all choked up when I read the following on Shan's page:

"The Myriad Musings of Marci--She approaches everything with such honesty and sensitivity and she always has some great link for her readers to check out."

Well, thanks again, Shan, and I look forward to finding other wonderful blogs to pass the award onto!

PostSecret - an incredible site

In my own experience, and in my work with others, I have seen how easy it is to feel alone, to feel strange, awkward, and like no one else would ever care about you if they knew the "real you." Don't we all feel these kind of insecurities (I mean, really, don't we?!?!?)? Well, have you ever visited this site?

PostSecret

IMHO, it is one of the most moving, inspiring, and heart-wrenching sites on the web. What began as a small community art project has grown into a phenomenon. Participants are asked to send postcards sharing a secret, of any nature, that they have never shared with anyone else. There are now at least three books of collected postcards. The website showcases the newest submissions.

When I read these beautiful postcards, I am reminded of the secrets of all sizes that we keep buried deep inside ourselves. The secrets, by their very nature, grow and can even make us feel like we are drowning in the depths of our struggles. And we can feel like no one else has ever experienced anything like what we have experienced. BUT, when you read these books, or look over the PostSecret website, you are reminded of the ultimate irony of secrets:

The secrets that make us feel most isolated are actually what make us all the same.

We ALL have secrets, we all have dreams, hopes, fears, and stories.

If you have a chance to check out the site, let me know what you think :)

I finished it!

A few hours ago, I finished the final book in the Harry Potter series.

Wow.

Just some of the words that come to mind at this moment: joy, satisfaction, grief, love, and exhaustion. What a ride. Additionally, as if the book itself wouldn't have been enough, the epilogue was the best part of the whole series - what a treat! Rowling is truly a gifted artist.

It has been so long since a book has made me cry so hard at its completion. The ending of the book (and I am trying so hard not to give anything away) was just perfect, and I couldn't stop the tears from flowing - what a beautiful choice!

Now, excuse me, as I go savor this feeling a little while longer. Or, maybe, I might go start back at book 1 and re-read all seven books. That would be awesome right now :)

What did you think of the book??

Shhhh - Still on Harry Potter Lockdown

Okay, this has been the hardest endeavor ever. I am only on page 500 of the new Harry Potter book, and I have had to be SO CAREFUL not to overhear anyone discussing the book. Normally, I read faster than this, but I have definitely been taking my time. I am just so sad that this is the last book, so I have been slowly taking my time, and savoring every word.

And yet, there are all these people who keep talking about it. Just tonight, my mom called to gloat - "I finished it! Oh my goodness, I have to take a deep breath." I had to scream at her (and that is only a slightly hyperbolic statement): "Don't say ANOTHER WORD!!!"

I don't want to hear any possible hints about the outcome. Unfortunately, because this has been such a ginormous popular culture phenomenon, it is virtually impossible to get away from spoilers, commentaries, or reviews. And yet, I keep trucking.

Oh, no - I am wasting valuable reading time just by blogging!!! Wish me luck, and I will keep you all up to date :)

Anchorman and Ron Corning: A MYSTERY!!

Okay, okay, okay - there is this totally crazy thing going over and over in my head, and I need to share with all of you:

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy is one of my most favorite movies. I have watched it, well, let's say, at least two dozen times.

I just started watching Fox 5 News in the mornings, because it gives NY area local news (as opposed to all the other national programs in the AM). So, in an effort to familiarize myself with the anchors, I notice that they are named JODI APPLEGATE and RON CORNING. Jodi Applegate, if you don't know, is Christina's sister. And, oh my goodness, they look so much alike.

Christina Applegate, the one in ANCHORMAN.
And what is her character's name? VerRONica CORNINGstone.

Coincidence????? What do you think?

The Delicate Balance between Relationships and Friendships

Why is it so hard to create a healthy balance between relationships and friendships? And am I the only one with this problem? Upon reflection, I realize that I have always had difficulty balancing the time spent, and priorites given, to whomever my current boyfriend was at the time, and my other friends or family members. I really wish I knew how to do this better, and I hope that I am finally learning so that I will do better in my next relationship.

I am now seeing how much my last relationship tore me away from my closest friends. He was so painfully introverted, and socially anxious, that we turned down many invitations to parties, dinners, and other gatherings. Therefore, over time, I lost many contacts, didn't take advantage of others, and consequently, missed out on many wonderful times with my friends. I'm really quite sad about this.

On the other hand, thank goodness that I am out of the relationship now, and thus given the opportunity to rebuild the lost friendships and even build new ones. I am rediscovering my extroverted, silly, and social parts of myself - which I guess I really missed over the last four years!

*****
On a lighter note, I am in complete movie heaven right now. Dirty Dancing was on, and as soon as it was over, Grease started on another channel! Life is good :)

I've Been Tagged!

Kentucky Shan over at Rambling Shan tagged me earlier today. So, friends, what does this mean? It means I get to be a part of a fun new game (a meme) that involves sharing some information related to things in history that have taken place on my birthday.

If I tag you, you have to go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday (month and day)...Then write down 3 events, 2 births, 1 holiday, and tag 5 friends (leave them a comment saying their tagged and refer them to your blog for the rules).

Here's mine, for March 28!

Three Events:

• 1930 - Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara.
• 1978 - US Supreme Court hands down 5-3 decision in Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, a controversial case involving involuntary sterilization and judicial immunity.
• 1979 - In Pennsylvania, a pump in the reactor cooling system fails in the Three Mile Island accident, resulting in the evaporation of some contaminated water causing a nuclear meltdown.

Two Births

• 1969 - Brett Ratner, American film director
• 1981 - Julia Stiles, American actress

One Holiday

• Slovakia, Czech Republic - Teachers' Day.

I Tag:

Come One, Come All

Superconductor

I Speak Because Others Babble

stuff.

Writing? Loves it...

If you want to do the other meme (The Mutation Meme), Here are the rules:

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.

2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

If you want to see what this one looks like, check out Skittles' entry.

It's your choice!

Thanks so much, Kentucky Shan, for inviting me to play :)

Appreciating life

Well, dear friends, I officiated at a devastatingly difficult funeral today. The woman who died had two teenaged kids, and a husband who had been her honey since high school. She died in a tragic accident, and everyone was just completely crushed by the loss.

And, I, your trusty rabbi, needed to keep it together throughout the ceremony and burial. I mean, I have enough trouble with death as it is, and I struggle through your basic funeral (is there ever really such a thing??) of a 90 year old who had a full and celebrated life. However, this is the hardest funeral I have ever had to lead, and in all honesty, I am still recovering.

I can't believe how much energy and absolute will it took to keep from collapsing in tears. I looked out over the chapel, and every single person in attendance was crying. The speakers were all crying. The family was crying. And I, a sensitive and emotional human being, had to stay composed. Wow - it was so hard to get up and conclude the service after all the eulogies. I could barely speak.

Well, thanks for listening to my rabbinical ramblings (always with the alliteration, ah?). Hope all is well in your world, and that you find yourself feeling just a bit more grateful for the blessings, joy, and love in your life today.

Sit on a potato pan, Otis

Hello!

Does anyone know what is special about the title to this post? Yes, that's right (and 10 points to you!) - it is a palindrome. Woohoo!

I have been thinking about palindromes lately, especially some of my most favorites ones. I think that we are all familiar with:

- A man, a plan, a canal: Panama

I just learned some new ones, though!

- Lonely tylenol
- I prefer Pi
- Was it Eliot's toilet I saw? (I love this one!!)


AND, there is apparently a word for an extreme fear of palindromes (I apologize if any of you suffer from this):


AIBOHPHOBIA (Phobia backwards and forwards, natch!)

Anybody know any fun ones? My brain totally celebrates when I think about these words and phrases - they are just so delightful!


(And thanks to http://www.palindromelist.com/ for the graphic at the top!)

My Personal DNA

Favorite Words, Part 2

Thanks to everyone who has added their own favorite words to my comments. I figured I would list some of your submissions and create an EVEN BETTER LIST!!!

"M.A. Washington" enjoys:
loquacious, menagerie, virtuoso, efferescence, and mahogany

"MZ Bivigou" prefers an adjectival version of one of the words I listed:
pulchritudinous

"Cooper" really likes the following:
pusillanimous, sputum, equidistant, splunge

These are really yummy words!!

And, one of my best friends, Jessica, merely commented that we have the same brain, which, I can only assume, means that she would have picked the same words. WOOHOO!!

My grandfather, z"l, had a favorite word that, as children, he loved to teach us and quiz us on the spelling:
SYZYGY

**And, 10 points will go anyone who can define it!!!**


Last, but not least, I asked my mom what words she likes, and her favorite words are not actally real words, but, rather, some words that she made up (gives you a little insight into my childhood, I'm sure):
Weirditude (a strange characteristic that a person might have, as in, "Well, reading magazines from back to front is just one of my weirditudes"), and,
Furchee (a piece of lint, as in, "Ooh - let me get that furchee off of your new sweater")

She also wanted me to mention how much she loves the word, and the concept (especially when it comes to food): texture

Thanks for helping out! Can't wait to hear other fun words that you all enjoy!

Hope you had a fun July 4th!

These are a few of my favorite.... words....

I've been actively compiling a list of my most favorite words. You know what I mean - the kind of words that are so fun to say, that become alive in your mouth and nearly take on an existence of their own. And some of them are just really exciting to put into use. So, here's my current list, in no particular order (and, of course, you just have to let me know what you think is missing).

- doppelganger
- poppycock
- incognito
- artisanal
- myriad
- lackadaisical
- exegetical
- pomposity
- transmigration
- tenderizer
- paradigmatic
- pulchritude

Well, that's what I've got for now. What should I add?

She's got a fast car...

Okay, so, the good news in my life is that my lawsuit from my car accident is finally over. I was able to have all of my medical bills covered, as well as my legal fees. The bad news? The money actually sent to me is quite small. However, my dad made a great point - I should use the money received to take care of my back in any way I can.

There are two main things I am thinking of purchasing, that I would be unable to afford otherwise:
1) One of those super-duper massage chairs from Brookstone
2) Getting a nice used car to help me around town

So, I am leaning towards the car as the best choice. Just think - groceries, commuting, funeral processions.... wow, it would all be so much easier.

But, in thinking about it further, I am nervous - I have never had my own car! I haven't really needed one since I moved to the NYC area.

Does this mean that I will finally be a grown up????