The Journey

From australia

People are traveling together on a path. Because of the darkness, one veers off the way and becomes lost to the extent that in a short time he realizes that he is in the middle of a forest and he can see neither a path, a house, a person, or the like.

How did this happen? A person does not immediately jump from the middle of a broad path to the depths of a thick forest. Instead, first he veers an inch off the path, and then, another inch, and as time passes, he finds himself in the depths of a thick forest.

- An excerpt from I Will Write It In Their Hearts, Selections From Igros Kodesh, Volume II

Truth

From australia

In life, you don't get all the answers at once. First you must absorb and live with one simple truth. Then later you must find another truth - one that may seem to conflict with and negate all you previously learned. Then, from that confusion, emerges a higher truth - the inner light behind all that you learned before.

- Taken from Bringing Heaven Down To Earth, wisdom and teachings from Rabbi M. Schneerson, compiled by Tzvi Freeman

And so it is

Closet Romantic

Time went too fast

From australia

As it turns out in the end, I never got a chance to blog while being in the land down under. So sad, too bad. Here's a preview image, created by me while watching a glorious sunset. Chew on the thought and I'll be back soon.

Here We Go

From Untitled Album

If you've noticed, I changed the title to my blog. I was thinking about how I like to travel and somewhere in my thoughts I came up with "sef on the go.." and it stuck. I'm always on the go. Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, AUSTRALIA! This blog needs a little shaping up. It's been floating obliviously for too long now.

OK, so here it begins. Journey #4. If you don't already know the story.. Journy #1 was Canada, #2 Israel, #3 Atlanta and soon to be #4, Australia. I'm goin to the land down under, for my dearest friends wedding. Hopefully while I'm there I can find the time and resources to update my blog. After the wedding, I have plans to travel the country for a month. So ok,
here we go go go!

Being Paradox
=============

Don't be "this".

Don't let them define you.

If you catch yourself fitting into a definition, contradict it.

Never travel a single road.

Always walk through the splitting of the sea.


A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman
Menachem Av 16, 5769 * August 6, 2009

From Untitled Album

UP, UP and AWAY

From Untitled Album

I've forgotten how powerful words can be. From what you choose to say, you can either build a person up or tear them down.

Question: What do you think is the most fulfilling thing you've done in your lifetime?

So soon

Sunset in California

From Untitled Album

I wish I was brave.

Eternity

From Untitled Album

Break

From l.a.

Sweet Home...California

3 weeks is the perfect amount of time I need to transition back into life.
I love the sunny weather, the dry desert heat. I appreciate that I don't have to give a fake smile to people while walking down the street. I walk everywhere, and I'm no longer stranded in The Big City Filled With Nothing. (aka Atlanta, Georgia). Even though I'm not the biggest fan of L.A., I can still manage to fit in and feel normal. I love seeing Jews everywhere, I love the fact that there is no humidity, I love the palm trees and I love the Hollywood hills. Yep, I'm halfway home.

In all this free time I've been thinking a lot about my future. I have so many insecurities, dark thoughts that enter my head informing me "whatever I would like to happen won't" and it's also unrealistic in our "economic crisis". Did I make the right choice? Should I try to make a change and move? Am I going to the right place, will I be working the right jobs... Well... What is it you actually really want to do anyway? No seriously, what are you doing with your life?

Well, the answer I have is that I guess no one is ever really sure what they're doing. We can all start one way and end up in another place. I trusted in my gut feeling when I decided. It's only let me down once before, so "it" and I are still on a pretty good track.

I'm going to Australia soon. Before I leave, I'll try to pull some strings and get a good camera. My handy dandy canon powershot no longer has a flash and the buttons are beginning to wear. Next thing you know I'll be blogging from down under.

hehe.

From l.a.

One step at a time

It's gonna take time

I woke up today with a positive feeling. It was my first real Sunday off since Hebrew School ended and I had the chance to sleep in and take it easy. Around 10:30 I sat outside on the front porch to drink my coffee and watch the world turn round. As I spied on the morning joggers, kids riding bikes and dogs being walked, I felt this feeling of good fall upon my shoulders.

So many things have been on my mind lately. My thoughts are racing, electric currents zap from one corner to the other. I seem to be planning my future according to those that I already know of. But I have to stop, I have to create my own life. If I don't like what I see happening, then I can use all the power I have to create what I want. Sometimes I forget that. Most of the time I feel powerless.


My dreams have also been very intense. It began with dreams of actually being in Israel. I was walking down the main street in Tsfat, I was there, experiencing all the same noises and smells.
I dreamt of friend I haven't seen in ages and we spoke of old times and caught up to our current lives.

Maybe we are just breakable, amidst a time of uncertainty and insanity. But if I want something I have to push for it. I need to fight for my dreams, I mustn't forget why I came here.

From Yaara's wedding

Almost done now.

I am a mountain...

We're learning about mountains in preschool, in honor of shavuos.
I would probably try to come up with better posts and put up new pictures, but with my internet out at home - its becoming such a shlep. You'll have to bear with me for about 3 more weeks. I'm counting down to the end and it's making me a little bit anxious. No more having to smile at strangers, no more having to make lesson plans. yes yes yes yes yes.

From masada

From Tveria

From Golan Heights

From Israel Travels

From Amuka

From Life is dandy

Bonne Appetite

From Israel Travels

dinner.

Hush

From Georgia

Life is running on a quiet motor, a hushed buzz. It's continuous but numbing and puts me to sleep. I need energy, people, events. I need strange, humorous, elegant, horrid. I need a change and a challenge. Some type of booster, a push and a pull.

Everything has been feeling invisible, my goals are blurred and I hate muggy rain and thunder storms.

Be gone with the wind

From Georgia

From Georgia

From Georgia

From Georgia

From Georgia

From Georgia

Check out this old Georgian plantation.
Of course we couldn't take pictures inside the actual house, that was the best part.

YES on Change

From Life is dandy

Have you ever glanced back, at who you once were? And did you recognize your old self?
You can't suspect the future. All you can do is study the past and live in the moment.

Amazing, how change creeps upon us slowly.

Who I was and what I wanted does not at all match up with myself today. That scares me, because if I have changed this much already, who will I be tomorrow? What will be in the future? what will be in the future? what will be in the future? what will be?

The thought keeps pounding my head.

Where will I end up, who will I meet, how will I make my decisions.
Is it healthy, to go to places I once swore I'd never go?



One day, I know, this will all start to make sense.

No internet = No brain (or something like that)

Yeah, I'm chewing on my own words right now. I told my friend Elisheva the other day that it's good to be off the internet.. And then of course I come back to Atlanta with no more hot spot/free-neighbor connection at my little post in the corner of the kitchen. I'm learning to manage, but in the mean time I can't seem to think about what to write.

So here is a nice picture to oogle at until I can write about something... (I was thinking of maybe about people who are grouches in the morning)..

From Tveria

And here's my thought.

I wonder if the old man is still selling his stuff. Did he give up?

Spring time in Georgia

But I prefer spring in L.A.

From Georgia

I'm home and loving it.

Someone, please make sure I don't sign up for southern life again.

Goodbye Peaches, Hello Avocado!

I really should be sleeping right now, since I have to wake up 4 hours to catch a plane back to L.A. But I was so excited to pack tonight, that I decided to share my joy.

3 years ago I got a great suitcase deal from Target, 4 bags for $100. Nice and cheap. They were good suitcases, sturdy, easy to pack away and stood out from others with their bright red coloring.

But after I traveled half way around the world and back, the largest bag ripped. A minor tear, nothing big. But as the traveling continued, the rip got bigger and eventually the handle stopped functioning. Finally, it came to the point where I couldn't bear the thought of traveling with it.

From Life is dandy

Two weeks ago, while helping my friend was scope around Marshalls for a new suitcase, I found IT. The Bag. The Ultimate traveling suitcase - for women. I scare myself as I write that because I don't like buying girl things because I'm a girl. I'm a picky shopper and I buy stuff only because I like it and not because some rich person out there decided it was made for me. Nope, I don't do that. What convinced me to buy The Bag was it's pink interior. As soon as I saw that BRIGHT pink lining, I had made up my mind. Only later did I notice all the pockets, zippers and trinkets that make it so much more girly. aaahhhh!!! I hate the idea of a woman's bag, but I really...like...this bag.

From Life is dandy

And that is why I was so excited to pack.
Maybe tomorrow I'll write about spring time in Georgia or Georgian mucky muck rain.

Shabbos Kodesh

From Life is dandy

Shabbat shalom y'all. (I can officially say that now because I'm in the south)

No Peeking

From Life is dandy

Well, you know how it is.
Yesterday went by too fast, tomorrow never seems to come and I've really had enough of today's challenges. Can't I just take a little peek into the future to see what it's like?

Any who, I finally discovered this week what gives me the most satisfaction from being a preschool teacher. It's not seeing the kid learn how to wash their hands, share toys, or name their colors. Its when I see the love a parent has for their kid and how special they are in their eyes.... I get this amazing feeling.

On another note -
after 3 years of blogging on and off, I've finally decided what "LIFE IS DANDY" means.

Ain't nothin to do

From Georgia

Today I actually have something to write about since I'm on spring break and I can do...things...besides work and homework. I've neglected me for the past few months, so now's the time for pampering.

I decided to go for a walk today. (trust me, its a big deal to have time for this). I like walking. So I walked to "The Park", which is probably my favorite part of Atlanta. I think we need a park like this, in L.A. It's huge, it's busy and full of life. I walked to my bench (only designated as my bench two weeks ago on my birthday...When I sat there for 2 hours pondering life), sat down, turned on my music, took out my notebook and started to write. Just as I began to unlock my thoughts, this older man sits down on the other side of my bench. Then a minute later, he starts to talk to me.

"Ohh, you write so fast" - him
"oh, yeah I guess *insert friendly awkward smile*"
"I can't write so fast in English. But I can in Farsi" - him
"Oh, well I can't write Farsi, so we're even"

Then I turn back to my writing and try to regain my thoughts. But nope, he couldn't catch the hint. He then asked me what music I'm listening to. It's American music right?
"actually no, its Israeli" (it really was)
"Oh, you speak........Hebrew?"
"No, but I understand a little."
"Oh...forgive me, I don't speak English so well"
"Its ok......."
"You know.....Hebrew? It's what they speak in Israel, yes?"
"Yes it is and no I don't speak it"
"Oh, I know 3 languages. Farsi, Arabic and English"
"....Nice"
"You listen to Israel music, I listen to Arabic music. Here, listen"
.......he pulls out his earphones and I listen for about 2 seconds....
"...Hah...ok...nice! *insert awkward smile*"

He never took the hint that I wasn't really so interested in talking and I couldn't ignore him... So he continued asking me questions like where I'm from, do I go to school, where do I work.....and then finally....

"Maybe you can teach me English for..one hour a day? And I teach you"
"Uh, sorry, I have a lot of work......and uh...I'm busy...But I'm sure there is a school here that you can go to!"

Ok, I had enough. I slowly packed my stuff and left my bench (I gave the man another quick awkward smile). My peace had been disturbed. I walked home, all the while checking behind me to see if I was being followed.


After all this, I remembered something. As a child, I used to take acting classes all the time. One of my favorite games was where you had one character on stage sitting on a bench at the park, feeding the pigeons and minding there own business. Then you walk in and have to get the bird feeder to either talk back, laugh or weird them enough to the point that they'll leave. Once they're gone - you take over as the bird feeder and someone else walks in.

So today my friends, I experienced in reality - one of the games I used to love as a child. And I think I lost.

Give it a try !

10 points for whoever can guess where this wall is located.

From Untitled Album

Cookie Cookie Cookie

Everything changes when your only friends are two.

Put simply

From Georgia

This used to be hideous a thing. A creepy black thing with diseased looking bumps. I really didn't like it. nope. Can't see a tree like that ever being planted near my house.

Then spring came along and flowers grew from what I thought were cancerous tumors.
These flowers bloomed... I thought the tree was dead.

Well, there you have it all summed up. Whatever seems bad, is actually good. You may only have to wait for the seasons to change.

I'm also spilt milk

From Life is dandy

Don't know why, but it appeals to me.

Happy Birthday Me

I'm on the left.

Strength

From Herziliah, Israel

If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for everything.

Oh! Life?

I've been so tired this month.

I've felt so suffocated this year. You know, I really don't like suffocation.

I've been feeling quite invisible lately. But, that can happen when you don't socialize.

I'm feeling not, myself?

As my 21 birthday rolls around, I'm being forced to stop and take account.
It's important to pause and align yourself back on track.

Are those coals being fanned?
Is the train running on schedule?
Have you kept in contact with the conductor?
Is the company growing?

One kid in preschool gets a mini-bagel for lunch every - single - day. Sometimes she just won't be into it and honestly I can't blame her for it.
So to get her motivated we tell her "Wow! you've eaten so much already! You're almost done!"
and it works like a charm.

We also have to do that in life. Yeah we make mistakes, but focus on your accomplishments or else you'll never get passed them.
Deep breath. Take another bite.

and the engine keeps on rollin.

From Blogger Pictures

I am a Hexagon

Swing

It Don't Mean a Thing if you Ain't Got That Swing - Duke Ellington

Hunger pains

Isn't it annoying
when you get hungry and it's hard
to decide what to eat? I'll stand in front of the fridge
for a good 3 minutes.
open it.
close it. walk away.
walk back. open it. nope.
close it.
open it.
Ah fine, ok, I'll make some toast.

Nooott snoooooott!!!!!

The other day while I was sitting with my back against the door that separates the kids by "younger two" and "older two", I heard a mischievous knock against the glass, a giggle and then "mora fira! looook!" I turned around to see what was going on - when to my horrible surprise I saw this face gleaming at me.

This is probably the oddest post in the world, but I have to say that wiping noses all day long has become a very tiresome act. Especially when you find snot on your clothes from kids hugging you. Enough is enough! when will this horrid season of wiping end!?

Transformation

Rise above. Be greatness.

Wait.

I'm waiting for the walk sign to turn on and all the red lights to change green.

this picture was taken in Los Angeles - for a change

www.futureplanner.com

And the stress begins.....

How do I do it? Where do I start?

Woah...

You've caught me on a stump. I have nothing to write about. Actually, my thoughts are pretty one track minded. No - make it 3 tracks. Work. School. Israel. 

From Life is dandy

The sun was even brighter than this. When I saw it, all I said was "woah.." I wanted to get a picture of the guys davening to the left, but this was taken on my first bus ride in israel and I was still "camera shy".

I'm now an official student of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online.