The Princess and the Pee

If you haven't guessed by now, we have a dog. I have had girlfriends who were high maintenance, but not like this.

She has settled down a bit, so she's not continually following me around, licking my face whenever it's almost in reach. She has her places, her duty, her role. She watches over the house and those precious people in it. That's where the bark comes from.

The first few weeks, she wasn't so. She was barely there. Oh, sure, she followed us around a lot, but her real personality and, well, obstinence finally began to come out.

For instance, an example about her insistence on having her way: when I get up in the morning, I am very cognizant of the fact that she's going to need to pee. Soon. So I take her down the back stairs in my sweat pants and slippers, trying not to slip on the wet stairs with this precious cargo. And when we get down there, I put her on the grass. She doesn't like wet paws, so she runs to the brick. But mostly, on the way to the dry brick, she pees. And then looks at me. And then runs upstairs.

But now she's refusing to pee out in the backyard. So I take her out front on the leash. She looks for her spot, smells for her spots, and then releases. However, I hate it, because I have to dodge the cars, protect her while doing so, and be out there either in my almost-jammies or get fully dressed. Sheesh.

So it's a constant battle. Soon, we will have disciplinary lessons! For both of us.

Disney World 2009: You Say It's Your Birthday

I just returned from visiting Disney World for 7 days plus a day of travel. We had a wonderful time, and the weather treated us well.

A lot of planning went into this trip. What helped, though, was the fact that the Food & Wine Festival was still going on in Epcot, so we could grab some delicious snacks of our choice, and not pay too much. The rest of the food bill was a bit up there. Food costs in Disney World.

Mark flew in one day early and rested, and then met us at the airport so that we could all go in together. I had to upgrade our rental car so that it would fit 5 people and their luggage. I picked the Chrysler 300, a large car, over a minivan or SUV, and, as the only driver, I can say it worked out very well.

My favorite part of the journey was when we entered the park at 7pm on Sunday night for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, for which we had bought separate tickets. The monorail was closed between the TTA ticket center and Magic Kingdom, so we caught a ferry full of hundreds of costumed families, and drove over during the magnificent sunset to the MK. The cold wind abated when we entered the park, and we had a magical time as Ricky led us around to every single trick-or-treating stand so that we could pick up every bit of offered candy in the park. What we found were little containers of milk duds, whoppers, Hershey's candy bars, even raisins. And taking the Haunted Mansion ride seemed like the appropriate thing to do that night. It was scarier than usual, as the cast members were dressed up more ghoulier than ever, and they had dead expressions on their ashen-grey faces. Ooooh.

My birthday was celebrated in Epcot on Thursday. I had a free day, thanks to Disney's birthday gift. I found the right booth to present my certificate (Will Call), and received not only my free plastic pass but a birthday button. I counted all the birthday greetings I received that day as people around the park reacted to my birthday button: 41.

I was standing in line at Soarin', when the couple ahead of me told me 'happy birthday!," and told me that the guy ahead of them in line ALSO had his birthday today! It was birthday-o-rama! And, obviously, we all chose to spend it at Disney World.

I spent the entire day in Epcot, riding my favorite rides by myself like Mission: Space and Soarin', and then met Dawn and Elly when they came over to Epcot early at 3pm so that they could revisit the Seas, especially the Nemo ride and its splendid aquarium. Then, at 5pm, Rick and Mark joined us. We had an early dinner at the Rose & Crown Pub in "England," and for the first time, I got to sit out on the patio on the water. It was just warm enough for that, and we got to view the constantly approaching storks and ducks as they patrolled for human food droppings.

After that, we knew our visit to Disney World was over, and so we drove back to pack and relax for the trip home the next day.

It helped that we took frequent breaks after the 2nd day, and would usually drive back early from whatever park we visited, back to the timeshare to catch a nap. At one point we went out to a local International Drive, non-Disney restaurant -- it had "Bahama" in the title -- and although we had a wait, the food was worth it. Another adventure!

I'm not sure I'll ever make it back to Orlando, but I know that WDW is my favorite Disney park. You never run out of things to do, even on your birthday.

It Came Around Again

I had a flu shot on Monday. Today, on Wednesday, I have the flu. If it's a reaction to the shot. it should be temporary and minimal. Right now, it doesn't feel minimal.

It was actually the H1N1 vaccination I got this time. It looks to be approaching an epidemic in the state.

As for me, personally, I'm losing my voice. I already cancelled one appointment today. Better rest.

Those Clergy Sure Put on a Good Show

I've been to, let's see.... three services so far this week. No, four counting Tashlich. Another one tomorrow morning.

Ner Tamid really puts on a rousing show. The music is spectacular. The choir really knows its stuff. Occasionally we get the kid choir, and they're not bad either. There was even a "shofar choir" today, with three kids blowing. They weren't spectacular, but were lots of fun. Tekiyah!

It's amazing to me how hard the clergy and staff work. All the security was in place, starting Friday night. We had to have a pink glowing badge to park the car, and her name had to match names on a clipboard. We entered a side door because Ruth has a key for that. Cool. And people would stop by to check in with her.

Got your cue sheet? Check. Got your machser? Check. White robe? Oh, yes. And they all meet in a circle before they go out there, like a football huddle, only, instead of plays, the head rabbi says a prayer. But then they put their hands on top of one another's hands, yes, like in a football huddle, and yell at the end. Hut!

It took us half an hour after the RH service this morning to get out of there. And then someone asked about the Torah scroll to be used the next morning just as we were leaving. And then someone called her on her cell phone just as we had made the first turn out of the parking lot, again about a Torah scroll.

They have six Torahs! All sizes and weights. One person told me the heaviest one is 35 pounds. I no longer envy those who get to carry it around in the Rosh Hashanah service for all to touch.

Tashlich was a hoot, just like last year. Once I got over the fact that it wasn't going to start on time (I learned that last year), I was fine with everything. Passing out crushed matzoh, service booklets. Saying the prayers. Tossing my sins and bad habits into the lake, and watching the stream carrying it (them) away. Watching the ducks devour my sins with feathery gusto.

Tomorrow the last RH service. Then we pack and get on a plane Monday morning.

Rosh Hashanah, Year 5770

I'm sitting here in the synagogue in Henderson, Nevada, typing away on a borrowed computer. It will be Rosh Hashanah in a few hours.

In trying to figure out what Rosh Hashanah means to me, I've spent the last week wondering, sometimes aloud, on that very topic, all the way carrying on all the daily tasks one does. It's 95 degrees out. What do people here do about the heat? Why aren't there more people out and about in this neighborhood? Is it simply the heat, or is it because many of those people lost their homes and are no longer IN the neighborhood?

And then I heard about one congregant, whose name I don't know and will never know, who has had a frightfully bad time of it. Her husband died several years ago, and she not only misses him but the life they used to have, when they had money. He ran his own business, apparently well, but after he died, she leaned upon some friends of his who gave her their bad financial advice. As a consequence, she has lost her home, her car, her way of life. Friends wonder if she's thin because she's getting older - she's in her late sixties. Or because she can't afford the food.

There are many more stories like that. You know the stories. Some of them involve friends of yours, relatives of yours. The last two years have been financially devastating. I don't have to tell you that such a bad economy preys upon the elderly moreso than the young. The young have time to recover, resources to plumb. The elderly rarely do unless they've socked a lot away.

But I don't have to go all that far afield from my (extended) family for some hard-luck stories. I have a relative who is struggling not to lose his house. I have another relative who is living with a friend, thank goodness, but is just several inches away from homelessness. I have a young relative who is lost and separated from us, and doesn't know what to do. I have two close friends, probably more, who are struggling with day-to-day depression, some on medication and under doctor's care for that malady. I have a relative with an illness he was born with, one that every day denies him a normal existence.

So what does Rosh Hashanah mean in regard to this rather depressing topic. I think it means that we need to find our own meaning to life. What does life mean to us. I don't expect God to help that first woman I referenced, just dump a barrel-full of money at her feet. I expect humans to wade in there and give her a helping hand. If they can't themselves, perhaps they know of some social organization who can.

And the inevitable conclusion is that I need to wade in more and help my relatives, first and foremost, to deal with the lousy cards they've been dealt. And then, if I have anything left, I can help those people, like that aging congregant who lost everything.

I think the only meaning I'll get out of my remaining decade (or possibly two) will ooze out of the relationships I form. And the care I give to them.

L'shanah tovah. A good year.

Slot Heaven

I've been spending a small section of each day at my new "home," Sunset Station casino/hotel. We briefly went to another Station casino last night, Boulder Station, and my God, I hated it. There were too many people, the aisle ways were narrow, and they didn't have the games I liked. (And the ones I liked were taken.)

But they did have a bank of my new discovery: community gambling with Reel 'Em In.

Anyone who knows about my gambling habits knows that I love Reel 'Em In. I discovered this fishing slot game at least 25 years when the old Frontier hotel/casino was still around. It was a nickel slot machine in those days, and I would play multiple lines at tremendous cost, but then win quite often. I was enchanted.

And then the cascading slot machines came along, just recently. My favorite is Invaders from the Planet Moolah, which allows you multiple chances for one pull, and a chance to get to their bonus round (which is actually the same thing, just over and over). But now there's another enchanting slot machine pulling at me.

"Community gaming" is what they call it. It's based on Reel 'Em In, at least that's the bonus round, but (unfortunately) the four single machines underneath the massive video screen are other games. They're horrible, but what are you gonna do. But the bonus round, which shows up almost randomly, is one of three games, and you compete with the other 3 during those games. The games are Best Fish (the biggest), most fish (the most and the biggest), and the Boat Race (who comes in first, towed by their fish). You don't know when the bonus round is going to hit, and the timer on your individual screen tells you how many seconds you have to play. If you don't make it, you won't be eligible for the bonus round. You can't even sneeze in case you'll miss it.

So the adrenaline is pumping the entire time. And each pull on the individual machine is 50 cents at least, so even though it's a penny machine it's expensive. I've seen many people lose all their money just waiting for the bonus round. So it's one to be approached carefully.

The Station Casino has one of these. Three Invasion of the Planet Moolah. And two Reel 'Em In. Almost heaven.

Selichot

We both attended Selichot, and, I swear, I don't remember ever having attended this before. We had our choice of four teachers for an hour: Rabbi Achselrad, Rabbi Adar, Rabbi Chester (visiting his family in Las Vegas), and an educator. I decided to sit with Rabbi Chester because I wasn't sure anyone else would and I didn't want him to think that he had wasted his time by coming. I needn't have worried.

While I was standing around, waiting for something, anything to begin, a couple of women recognized me and said hi, and asked me which one I was going to attend. I explained, and one of them, oh, we should do that, too! Rabbi Adar would want us to. But the other one said, but I adore Rabbi Adar. Can't I go to hers? The other told her no. It was very funny. And, yes, we found ourselves with about 12 others huddled around Rabbi Chester in a very small room in the synagogue. We had a rousing discussion of the Book of Life and whether we're really inscribed.

Afterwards we gathered in the sanctuary for the Selichot service. I noticed that only about one-half stayed for the service. Rabbi Chester noticed me sitting all alone way off to the side -- I never know where to sit in the large room, mainly because there are designated seats, the comfortable ones, for donors. So he joined me.

It was interesting to watch him. The Selichot service pamphlet was composed by their student rabbi of a couple of years ago. He perused the entire thing during the opening remarks and songs of the service, just like a professional.

One thing about Ner Tamid: a lot of the arrangements of the songs don't encourage participation. What I mean by that is, they have a choir who sings, and most of the congregants just listen. This did not stop Rabbi Chester from singing along. He sang every one of the songs. I took encouragement from this, and I started singing along, too, at least to the songs I knew. The songs of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most beautiful and stirring, and I just love them. I got a little taste, and then the short service was over.

While we had been waiting for the service to start, a congregant named Julie, with whom I had had several conversations, brought one of her standard poodles with her, Simon. Simon had just come from the beauty shop. He's in training for being a caregiver dog, and was just gorgeous. I don't think he showed up in the photos because of his immense blackness. He was very well behaved. And since he attneded services, too, I was glad to see that he also did not choose to sing along with the choir.