My Own Daemon (From the Golden Compass Movie Website)

Just Lying in Bed...

Just wanted to say hello. I had a facet injection in my back on Friday, and have needed to spend the last few days resting as much as possible. It was the most painful procedure on my back yet, but as my sister pointed out, maybe it's a good thing: perhaps the doctors were able to isolate one of the main areas of pain for me.

I was able to stay in bed on Friday, following the procedure, but then I had a full day of rabbi-duties yesterday (I was mentioned in the New York Times Wedding Section - woohoo!). Today, I taught 10th graders in the religious school, and now I am back in bed, cuddling with Precious.

Here's a picture of my baby for the day - she has really cheered me up a great deal, and has kindly distracted me from the pain. Yay for kitty cats!
How was your weekend?

Stream of Consciousness Poetry Moment

iwishyoucouldhavelookedmeintheeye
onmymosthonoredandspecialnight
iwishyoucouldhavebeenproudofME
insteadoffocusedonyourownanxieties

iwishyoucouldhaveworkedhardertogetwell
andmycheerleadingwouldhaveinspiredyou
iwishyoucouldhavemetmehalfway
insteadofexpectingmetofalltoyourlevel

iwishicouldhaveheldmyownmore
couldhavemaintainedmyintegrity
iwishicouldhavedemandedmoreofyou
insteadofgivingonlyofme

nowisthetimeforthedreamstocometrue
nowisthetimefornewchaptersandhopes
nowisthetimethatigettotellmyownstory
nowisthetimethatispreadmywingsandfly...

Launching a New Award: Wonderful Women of the Web Award

Happy Thursday! I have been so inspired by so many of the blogs that I visit, and I am always so honored to receive awards from my blogosphere friends. Plus, as a woman rabbi, I find that my female voice adds something important to the centuries of male Jewish study and understanding. Put it all together, and what do you get? A new award!

I am hereby announcing the creation of a new award that seeks to honor the special women that add their voices and stories to the worldwide web. I am sure that you have all been inspired, have laughed, have learned, and have been moved by the words of one of the women who blog regularly. Well, now is the time to honor them.

If you receive this award, I encourage you to think about the women whose blogs you enjoy. Then do the following:

• Be sure to pass it along, and share the honors. None of us would be where we are without others supporting us, encouraging us, and teaching us.
  
• If you feel comfortable, tell the bloggers why they mean so much to you.
  
• Please link back here, and let me know that you have passed it on. It will be fun to watch it travel!
• Smile, knowing that you have brightened someone's day :)

And now, here are the first recipients of this new award.

Skittles, at Skittles' Place. Barb, aka Skittles, is one of the kindest, most thoughtful bloggers I have encountered. She shares her joys and sorrows, her laughter and her tears, with her readers. We all feel like part of a greater community when we visit her blog. She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

Jojo A. at No Barking... After 6. This blog is filled with so many fun facts (who knew there were so many phobias out there??) and random observations. You never know what you are going to find from visit to visit. Yet, in the midst of the randomness, Jojo isn't afraid to speak personally, and these are some of the best posts. She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

Shan, at Rambling Shan. Shan was one of the first bloggers to make me feel at home on the web. Her posts range from funny to profound, and she supports many other bloggers around the world. Plus, she just turned 30, so she deserves lots of good things! She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

Jerseygirl89, at Dirty Little Secret. Jerseygirl is a SAHM (Stay at Home Mom) who takes breaks from her important duties at home to write thoughtful, hilarious, and personal posts. I enjoy stopping by to see what her latest adventures have been. She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

Zilla at Zilla. I just love visiting her blog. She has endlessly wacky experiences with her family, as well as plenty of poignant moments. There are always many comments to her posts, and it is clear to see how many of us enjoy the lens through which she sees the world. She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

BipolarLawyerCook at BipolarLawyerCook. Looking for yummy recipes? Hilarious transcripts of her conversations with her husband (known as BH, for Better Half)? Moving depictions of her emotional, familial, and personal struggles? It's all here, and each is exquisite. She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

Phyllis at Ima on (and off) the Bima. Phyllis is a colleague and friend of mine who I discovered, a few months ago, has an amazing blog! In her posts, she shares her feelings about balancing her rabbinate, motherhood, creativity, and personal growth. She is also an avid reader of others' blogs, and I think that is the most important part of being a worthy blogger. She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

Finally, Sarene at Confessions of a Rock and Roll Bride. Sarene's blog is just waiting to "be discovered," so I encourage you to stop by. Sarene is a journalist, but really wishes she were a rock star. Hence, her witty observations bring together her writing skills and her passion for music. She is getting married soon, so you even get to witness her wedding planning. She is, indeed, a Wonderful Woman of the Web.

These are just the beginning. I have so many other blogs that I want to honor, so over the next few weeks, I will send out new batches of awards. For those who have won, I look forward to seeing who you honor next.

Yay for Wonderful Women of the Web!

Chronic Pain: A Three Year Retrospective

Well, friends, I try so hard to be chipper, and sometimes it is really tough. As you may know, I was in a serious car accident, and have been working hard to heal since then. Today is the three-year "anniversary (yay?)" since my accident.

So, three years ago, today, I was visiting my family in Chicago to see my youngest brother star in his high school's production of Bye, Bye, Birdie. I was so excited to see him, particularly since I live so far away most of the time. I was driving my mom's car (alone), and I was on my way to pick up my grandmother. I needed to take a very busy street (Milwaukee Ave, for those who know) to get there - it is often a 45 or 50 mph speed limit.

I stopped in the left lane, because the driver in front of me was making a left turn (there was no official lane for it). I guess the guy behind me never saw me sitting there. I watched him approaching, in the rearview mirror, completely disbelieving the possibility of him actually hitting me. Which he did.

The trunk wound up in the backseat. Apparently, when you are rear-ended, the airbags do not deploy. Hence, my foreheard slammed into the steering wheel.

There is so much to be grateful for: I was alive. I was able to walk from the car to the ambulance. Other than a concussion, there was no head injury. My grandmother wasn't in the car. I can walk. I can still sing karaoke.

Then, there is my kvetching: I am in constant pain. I can't walk long. I have a herniated disk, a slipped vertebra, nerve compression, stenosis, and disk degeneration. I can no longer dance, bicycle, swim, jump around, or any of the other wonderful things I love. I can't hold a Torah, and have to limit my time standing on the bimah. I walk with a cane half the time. I am on pain killers at all times. Bleh.

Well, luckily, everything else in my life is going really well, and this allows me to focus on finally fixing this. I am working with a new batch of doctors, and they are conservative AND proactive. I have a facet injection on Friday (have had three epidural injections which didn't have any effect). Then we see if it works. Then we try more drastic measures, because there is nothing else left (and trust me, I've tried).

Figured I would bring you up to date, and share some more of my experience with you. We chronic pain sufferers need to unite - it can be so demoralizing, but we can stick together and get through it!! And, even though they can't directly relate, my family and friends have been terrific.... though I HATE complaining.... (and I can't even believe that I wrote all this tonight). However, it feels good to let it out!

Oh My Goodness - An Award!

Hooray! I was awarded another award, and I just can't believe it! Bradley Egel, over at The Egel Nest, was kind enough to select me as a recipient of an award that he created. So now, my blog has been "hatched" - whatever that means, it sure sounds fun!

Funny story about Bradley - I actually knew him WAY back when. We both went to the same overnight camp, OSRUI, when we were much younger. I was also friendly with his younger sister, Sue. Fast forward to now (gosh, 15 years later?), and I saw his name on comments on some of the blogs that I visit. Could it be the same Bradley Egel from all those years ago? So I checked out his EGGScellent blog, and it sure is! What a fun way to get back in touch... the blogosphere never ceases to amaze me.

But, wait, there's more! His sister, Sue, wound up being set up on a date with a friend of mine, Tom, from high school. They fell in love, got married, and had a baby a few months ago. Tom is close friends with my best friend's husband (they are the ones who live in Arizona)! What a small world!!

Anyway, thanks, Bradley, for the award. Your blog is so exemplary, so informative, and so fun - I learn much from you. I can only hope to aspire to your blog-errific-ness!