Chanukah in Chicago 2008 - A Blogosphere Extravaganza, Part I

Hi, all!

I have lots to tell you, and some more fun pictures to share. I had such a wonderful time in Chicago, visiting friends and family, and I had a chance to visit with some good friends from the blogosphere!

First up - a Chanukah party! I was home for such a relatively short time, and I wanted to see so many lovely people, so why not throw a party?!? I invited a bunch of friends from high school and from my days at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute camp (the best Jewish overnight camp in the world, if I do say so myself). Unfortunately, my school friends weren't able to come, so it turned into a mini-camp reunion, with a sing-a-long, grab bag present exchange, and lots of yummy food. AND, one of my camp friends happens to be a blogger, too - your friend and mine, Bradley Egel from The Egel Nest.

Here's Bradley, with his sister, Susan. They are both SO GREAT - I feel like our families are cut from the same cloth. I wish we could all hang out more often - darn that 700 miles between Chicago and New York!

My brother, Ricky, and me - we had such a fun time preparing for the party, and he was in charge of the "artistic vision" of the shindig :)

My adorable parents - they were so thrilled to be with everyone, and they sang along with every song. Thanks for being so wonderful, Mom and Dad!!


A shot of the song session - we sang camp songs, Indigo Girls ("Galileo" and "Closer to Fine," of course!). Bradley's son, Sammy, was shaking a tail feather in the middle.

A marvelous time was had by all - hooray!!

30th Birthday Celebrations, Part I

Hello, all!

I am already enjoying my 30's! My birthday was kicked off on the evening before my birthday (last Thursday night), and continued all day Friday. Yet, this is only part one, because my sister is throwing me a birthday party this coming weekend. Here is the celebration so far:

Preparing the perfect birthday treat: One Ho-Ho, One Twinkie,
Some Redi-Whip, and a Shabbat candle. What else could we possibly need?




Ah, the finished product...


Making a wish....


I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll.....




Oops, I missed...



Lindsay, with a pompadour, using the cordless phone as her mic.
Brilliant, just brilliant.


Oh, the humanity!!

Toasting my birthday - out to lunch with colleagues from work.
The tiara and the mimosa are just perfect, non?



Stay tuned for more joyfulness!