The Cookbook Junkies

I read something yesterday on slate (I think) about how us non-Jewish folk commercialize everything…well I take offense. I like a good chocolate bunny at Easter. (I’m scared of Peeps).

This man with no vowels in his first name went on to say how his kids came here and were in awe of the lights and decorations at Christmas time and they wanted a tree and he said no…which is fine – but the way he said “NO” in his article jabbed at us stupid Christians.

What is the harm in lights and beauty at Christmas. What is the harm in letting children believe in Santa and magic – Jesus Christ in just a blink of an eye they are cynical enough – let them have magic (if you wish without being criticized by someone else). I too get fed up that in the middle of October – we have the Christmas displays up – but why can’t we just enjoy each other’s holidays and beliefs and not demean them? What is the harm in eating a chocolate bunny – for the love of God. Think about all the out of work Peep makers in the world??

I was raised Catholic. I’m not sure what I believe. I know I believe in God. But damn it to hell, it is my right to believe it and who is he or anyone else to tell me I’m wrong. I can tolerate many things (sometimes not well, but I tolerate them)…but I cannot tolerate someone telling me – I’m ridiculous, wrong, lost, confused or an idiot because I believe in certain things. I respect other people’s religions and politics – don’t condemn mine – and for that matter – don’t condemn anyone elses.

I have Jewish friends whom I love and respect and I would never tell their traditions and customs are wrong and I don’t want them to think (while reading this) I am. I’m not mad at them – I’m mad at the man with no vowels in his first name.

Let it be.

We live on Long Island. My husband takes the Long Island Railroad into Penn Station – walks over to Herald Square and then takes the New Jersey Path to go to work in Hoboken. He use to work in Manhattan but his company moved to NJ to save money on rent/taxes.

My husband in December grew a beard. Everyone is AMAZED by this beard like they have never seen facial hair before. Since December Jim has had his backpack searched three times before getting into the train station (we do that in NY since 9/11 it is suppose to be random) – for the many years before the beard – how many times did he have his backpack searched – ZERO. So he was telling his friend Ankit about it — “it’s not racial profiling, it’s facial profiling” – he was quite tickled with this (hence Ankit’s comment on my last post).

Also….more facial news – my sister in law picked up our cousins who flew to Florida yesterday for some R & R. Apparently, they have no conversational skills whatsoever and could only managed to talk about Jim’s beard. My sister in law…said “we have never seen Jim with facial hair send us a picture” – for some reason this annoyed me – so I sent them a picture of the Geico cave man with this e-mail:

“Poor Chris & Beth – come all the way to Florida and all they have to talk about is Jim’s beard. Maybe it’s because you can see a likeness of the Virgin Mary when the sun hits it just right.”

You think we got problems in Iraq and now Iran – wait until they read this.

Jim’s tests were all negative. Now I can be my usual bitchy self. Dear God, it was literally killing me having to not nag at him when he said, “What?” for the 100th time or any number of things.

So many funny things to post this week but I was too worn out to do post them…now I can stop worrying, start nagging and be happy again!

Hooray!