…See the whole list here…

image source: magiclamp.org

My beliefs. This should be easy, right?

I was raised in a reform Jewish synagogue. I went to Sunday school, then Hebrew school. At 13 I was bat mitzvahed. At 16 I was confirmed. That’s where my Jewish education ended. In college I hung out with a girl that grew up in a more conservative Jewish household. We went to conservative high holiday services and it intrigued me. Growing up the services were about 90% in English. At the conservative services it was more like 50%. I vaguely remembered some Hebrew from when I was in Hebrew school classes, but not much. Kinda like how much Spanish I know after 9 years of classes…

Anywho, these days I am far more “spiritual” than “religious” in terms of my beliefs. I have not set foot inside a synagogue since my youngest cousin’s bar mitzvah umm.. 4 or so years ago. (Sorry, Eric, I can’t remember how old you are!) My ex-fiance was the only Jewish guy I’ve ever dated. BD was half-Jewish, but he was before that. My first love was Jewish, but we never dated. Since those 3 guys in college, every single guy I dated was not Jewish. But then, religion was never an issue until now. And even now it’s mostly a non-issue.

By now, I mean that I am marrying a Protestant and we will be having children in the not so distant future. Technically according to Jewish law, the children’s religion is their mother’s religion as the father was not always known. We won’t be having that problem. My childrens father will be my amazing almost-hubby, Steve. We have had this discussion. We agree on our beliefs, even if they are not the traditional Jewish or Protestant views. We both believe in a higher being, say our prayers and don’t believe in organized religion.

This is what I believe in

image source: amazon.com

In the non-religious aspect, I believe in fairness, justness, tolerance and creativity. I believe everyone should have their own beliefs and no one should ever try to foist their beliefs on anyone else. I believe in respect and in respecting others. I do not believe that anyone has a right to make anyone else feel small, insignificant or incorrect about their beliefs.

I had a job where my boss and the owner of the company told me I needed to believe in Jesus and attend church with her in order to save my soul. She constantly gave me religious gifts with notes inside about Jesus and Christianity. It was the most uncomfortable time in my life. Ironically, she fired me for noncompliance on the job. I was trying to make them more efficient and easier to work with and for and she would have none of it.

What do you believe in?

…See the whole list here…

I’d like to preface this by telling you that I’ll be turning 34 in 15 days. I think that’ll make this post worse, but hey, whatever. It’s the truth.

My precious item is my baby blanket. No, I don’t mean my baby’s blanket. We don’t have kids yet. I mean my baby blanket, as in the one I had in my crib in infancy.

Mom and I did some digging a few months ago when I asked where I got it. It turns out my great aunt Pearl made it for me. She was my maternal grandfather’s sister. Mom found her name with this gift next to it in my baby book. Oh yes, mom has all of our baby books 36, 34 and 30 years after our births.

The fabric is white with yellow daisies, a white ruffle around the entire border and random yellow satin bows tied through the fabric. At one point, it had nice thick bunting inside. When you constantly wash and crumble up bunting, it doesn’t hold up that well. Several years ago I finally pulled the clumps out and sewed the sides back together.

Also, it’s about the softest silkiest fabric to ever touch my skin. I take it with me on every vacation and yes, it will be in Vegas with us on our honeymoon. Steve totally accepts my craziness as every time he makes the bed, I find it folded up under my pillow.

I also have a pink crocheted afghan that another great aunt made for me. This one was my maternal grandmother’s sister and the only one of her siblings to have passed away already. Her name was Martha and for some reason, all blankets she made are referred to as a Martha Gaga.

I know, you think I’m a crazy person. But you know what? When the babies I’ve gifted items to are in their 30s, I hope they have fond memories of their baby items too. I also hope my babies will love anything I make for them.

It’s a pretty blankie at least….

…See the whole list here…

Jennifer: one of my favorite people on the planet and the mother to two of my other favorite people on the planet.

She is my bestie, my BFF, my partner-in-crime, my confidante, my house of memories, my Zeffer. I would truly be lost without her in my life. Although, if you asked the 15 year old me in April 1992, I would have told you that she is the most evil and bitchy chain smoking alcoholic on the planet.

Little did I know that it would be our mutual love of college football and our mutual hatred of the Seminoles. Yep, our first outing together was the UM-FSU game at the Orange Bowl. It was amazing and we stayed up till like 4am talking and laughing about boys, football, cars probably and tons of other topics. From then, we were pretty much inseparable.

Even though she wasn’t in high school with me (much), I still hung out with her when I skipped school (often). Off I went to college in Gainesville, where she visited as often as she could. Talk about friendship… she was a true Gator Hater born and raised by some hardcore ‘Canes fans.

We spent Christmases in Newton, NC accompanied by looooong road trips driving there and back. She is my sister. Her parents are my parents. She became a welcome member of my family when she saved my life in my sophomore year of college. She is the mother to my 2 beautiful godsons. Two little boys that I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like. Mostly because I love them to pieces and would give anything for them, but also because with them around, she’d be around.

I haven’t seen her since last Christmas and really need a Zeffer fix soon.

…See the whole list here…

OK, this one is easy peasy! I am an avid knitter. And by avid, I mean whenever I’m sitting for more than 20 minutes or so. I have made so many different things, mostly for myself, but some for others as gifts. My biggest, most intense project was, by far, my wedding veil.

Personal photo. Lots of others here.

Crazy woman says what?

Yep, my wedding veil. It took me 4.5 months to complete knitting over 48,000 stitches. The pattern was quite simple; it was a modified doily pattern. The pattern designer and several others that had completed the pattern were immensely helpful. Oh don’t worry, I have pictures.

I have also completed a couple pairs of socks, steering wheel cover, thick head bands, scarves, hats, a wedding garter for a friend, fingerless gloves, and a few purses. This doesn’t even remotely take into account all the projects I started and are still sitting on the needles.

Oh, sure, I have other hobbies. I think. Oh, yeah, wedding planning, graphic design, web design, general arts and crafts, anything crafty really.

The wedding planning isn’t as much of a duh as you’d think. I’ve planned or help plan several of my friends and family member’s weddings for the last 10-12 years. Yeah, it’s always been a love of mine.

Graphic design was spawned from web design. As I mentioned in an earlier 30 Days post, I fell in love with the internet early on. I was so fascinated with it that I figured out how to rip the pages apart. From there, I learned how to use MS Paint (I know! *cringe*) and eventually Photoshop. I like to think I’m now quite proficient at Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator… and even Dreamweaver. I still can code by hand, but it’s often much easier to use DW.

As for the general arts and crafts, well, I’ve always been creative. I went to sleep away camp for like 8 summers and spent almost my whole month in the arts and crafts room. When I returned to the camp as a counselor at 19, I was the lead arts and crafts counselor. I am so fortunate to have found an equally creative and far more talented artist to spend my life with. One of our favorite “date day” destinations is Michaels Craft Store, as likely to be suggested by me as it is by Steve. Our children have no choice but to be creative!

…See the whole list here…

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I never in my life thought I’d be quoting from the bible, but hey, if it applies, it applies. Even if it is appropriate in this case. I love this quote. Love it!

This is actually a difficult question. I was a late bloomer, but certainly had my fair share of ridiculous crushes that I thought were true love. My most notable silly crush was my first love. Silly me, right? It’s much like the overwhelming love teenagers swear they have when they want to get married in or straight out of high school.

These days, having finally found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, I define it differently. It is passionate, comfortable, emotional, content, and compassion. I have many other words to describe it, but they are simply words. I know in my very core that I found my match. That he is everything I have been looking for.

The saying “I’ve kissed a lot of frogs” holds very true in my love life. Like I said, I was a late bloomer. I didn’t start really dating until I was 18ish. I honestly think more people should wait until later in life. Steve was also a late bloomer and we fully plan on teaching our children to do the same.

How do you define love? Has it changed over the years?

…See the whole list here…

image source

Bon Jovi. I loves them.

Anyone that knows me will tell you of my love and obsession for all things Bon Jovi. I became truly addicted to them early in high school. Since then, I have been to lots (maybe 6?) of their concerts with my bestie Jen. Early on, it was a trio, Jen, Diana and me hitting up the concerts.

I can still remember when I was just a kid
When friends were friends forever and what you said was what you did
Well, it was me and Danny and Bobby we cut each other’s hands
Held tight to a promise only brothers understand

Even now, 17+ years later, I still love those Jersey boys. My ipod has nearly 300 of their songs on it. And I’m talking songs from the entire group, several solo albums, and various covers and guest band members.

When we got engaged and were planning an actual wedding with a bridal party and full reception, I wanted to have an all Jovi song list for the ceremony. I had a list for each member of the bridal party, the procession, the recession, everything. It wasn’t so easy and I actually had help from several of the Bon Jovi communities on Livejournal, but I did it. The list was complete.

I am fortunate enough to be marrying a man that doesn’t necessarily understand my obsession, but is respectful of it. He actually knew our favorite song (Blood on Blood) and attempted to learn it on the guitar.

Now Bobby, an uptown lawyer Danny, a medicine man
And me, I’m just the singer in a long haired rock ‘n’ roll band
Through the years and miles between us it’s been a long and lonely ride
But if I got that call in the dead of the night, I’d be right by your side

Sure, I like other bands and a wide variety of genres, but Bon Jovi is still my rock, so to speak. I freaking love those guys. And what’s more, I respect the hell outta Jon. He’s been married to his high school sweetheart for 21 years and they have 4 children. Unlike so many celebrities and musicians out there, he has remained faithful (as far as the public knows) to his first real love. I love that about him!

…See the whole list here…

This one is a little bit touchy as he and I are still friends… or at least Facebook acquaintances. To protect the innocence of my past, let’s just call him Mufasa.

Image source

Mufasa. Oooooooh say it again! Sorry, inside joke.

OK, well, Mufasa and I met during my first year at college. It was a religious experience… and by that, I mean I met him during Passover when I was staying at a friend’s parent’s houses in Orlando. His family and several others were there and, I dunno, it was weird. I was smitten to say the least. Sure, he was a couple years younger, but who cares, he was funny and smart and we stayed up all night watching The Lion King over and over again. And by “watching” I mean sitting on the couch laughing, talking and tickling. Totally G rated.

Forward to the introduction of IRC to my life and we would spend hours talking online (back when it was completely safe!), on the phone and swapping emails. For the longest time, I had all those emails printed out along with a journal I was keeping. A journal that I made the mistake of letting him read a year or so into our friendship.

That’s right folks, friendship. I may have been head over heels crazy in love with him, but we were never more than platonic friends. No kissing or anything. Being in close proximity with Mufasa was painful and I was several times. He came to Gainesville for my birthday and I would go to Orlando all the time with either my friend or his sister. Every time I drove to Miami to visit my family, I would stop by Orlando for an hour or so. Yeah, it was pretty bad.

During the time Mufasa and I were super close, he was dating a few different women and I was dating BD and JF, and later got engaged to JF. I was crazy about BD, but he did a real number on me during the few months we dated. Like sitting in the back of my closet crying hysterically. He gets initials cuz he is also still a friend. JF, on the other hand, the person that should have been at least one of my first loves… not so much. Sure, while we were together maybe, but afterwards I realized I wasn’t in love with him so much as the idea of him.

Tangent, party of 1.

Anyhow, the last time I saw him was maybe 2004 or so when I was visiting another friend and we drove into Gainesville for the day. It was amazing just hanging out with him. Now, we’re both grown up and engaged to other people. I haven’t done more than keep in touch over Facebook for years. I haven’t even really talked to him other than to offer up my congrats on his engagement and to wish him a happy birthday. You know, the cordiality of being an adult with an old friend.

So… are you still in touch with your first love? Did you actually have a relationship with him/her? Even though our relationship was a non-relationship, I wouldn’t trade it for anything and I wish him nothing but the best in everything he does in his life.

There’s still very much a soft spot in my heart for you, Mufasa.