I've Been Tagged - 123

This is such a fun little game, I can't believe it. My darling Zilla has tagged me for this, and here goes.

Grab the book nearest to you, open it up, and turn it to page 123. Write down the first 5 sentences on that page. Then tag 5 more people.

Very simple.

So, let's see, the book nearest to me right now is Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life, by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. In this book, Dyer attempts to explain his interpretation of Tao Te Ching and apply it to life today. I saw him discuss it on a recent episode of Ellen Degeneres, and I just had to get it. I haven't read much of it, though, so let's see what we've got. Turning to page 123, we find the following:

Living Calmly: In this chapter of the Tao Te Ching, you're being advised to maintain a sense of serenity regardless of what you may see taking place around you. Moreover, you're being told that the true master knows that the ability to stay calm is always located within. From this perspective, there's no need to assign responsibility to others for how you feel. Even though you may live in a world where blame and faultfinding are endemic, you will own your feelings and actions. You will know that circumstances don't determine your state of mind, for that power rests with you.

Definitely have to ponder that!!

So, now I have to tag:

Phyllis, Bradley, Jerseygirl, Michael, and Dixiechick.

Can't wait to see what you guys find!

I've Been Tagged! Crazy 8's Meme

Well, folks, it's that time again - for another fun meme to get the week going. I am excited that my friend, Phyllis, over at Ima on (and off) the Bima, tagged me with this one. Some of my answers probably won't surprise you by now, but I guess you never know! Thus, without any further ado, the Crazy 8's Meme shall commence...

8 Things I'm Passionate About:

1. Pop Culture
2. Reading
3. Making the World a Better Place
4. Judaism
5. Karaoke
6. Love
7. Animals, especially my kitty cat, Precious
8. Family

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die:

1. Write a book
2. Spend time in all 50 states
3. Participate in a past-life regression
4. Fall in love (again)
5. Get married
6. Have lots of happy, healthy babies
7. Change the world for the better
8. Live in Israel again, even if only for a month or so

8 Things I Say Regularly:

1. Poop!
2. Poopy Pants!
3. Pooper Scooper (see the pattern here??)
4. Shabbat Shalom
5. My condolences; I am so sorry for your loss
6. You will be in my thoughts and prayers
7. Whatever tickles your pickle!
8. Whatever, Trevor!

8 Books I've Read Recently (or am reading now...):

1. Marked
2. The Golden Compass
3. To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility
4. Destiny of Souls: New Case Studies of Life Between Lives
5. Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir
6. Water for Elephants
7. The History of Love
8. Toxic Coworkers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job


8 Songs I Can Listen to Over and Over Again:

1. "Feel," by Robbie Williams
2. "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin," by Colin Hay
3. "Everytime," by Britney Spears
4. "Hey, Eugene," by Pink Martini
5. "Y'hiyeh Tov," by David Broza
6. "Tiftach Chalon," by Rita
7. "My Immortal," by Evanescence
8. "Waters of March," by Jane Monheit


8 Things that Attract Me To My Friends:

1. Sharp Wit
2. Awareness of the world around them
3. Deep sense of kindness
4. Wise souls
5. Compassion
6. Optimism
7. Faith in themselves and in me
8. Faith, period

8 Things I Learned in the Last Year:

1. How much I love being a rabbi
2. How to be an "aunt" to my best friend's son
3. How easy it is to become complacent
4. Change, though immensely difficult, is so freeing
5. I don't have to apologize for who I am, just to get someone to care for me
6. Just because something is hard doesn't mean it is bad
7. My siblings and I are not just carbon copies of each other
8. That there are wonderful people out there in the blogging world - thanks, everyone!

And, now, I get to tag some other people - woohoo!

Confessions of a Rock and Roll Bride
Dirty Little Secret
No Barking... After 6
Superconductor

Have fun, one and all!

I've Been Tagged! - Eight Random Things About Me...

Barb (aka Skittles), from a wonderful blog entitled, "Skittles' Place," (which you should definitely check out if you haven't yet), tagged me for a meme that asks for:

Eight Random Things About Me

1. I think iPods are the most glorious invention EVER.
   
2. I am an ENFP (for those of you who know what that means).
3. I've never worn braces.
4. I have an extensive theatre/music background.
5. I LOVE being a rabbi, and feel like I was meant to be one.
6. I bit my nails ceaselessly as a child.
7. I taught pre-school for four years.
8. I am in the middle of a huge A&W Root Beer Craving right now.
   

Phew - that was fun!! Thanks again to Skittles for tagging me. I am so honored to have been chosen!

So, now, I tag:

Confessions of a Rock and Roll Bride
Come One, Come All
No Barking... After 6
Ima on (and off) the Bimah
I've Landed

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 :)