Rest in Peace

Today I lost a very dear friend. Lynn Greif was one of those very special people that don't come into your life very often.
When the boys and I moved to Lakeland in 2003, Lynn was one of the first friends I made. I met her at Temple, as her daughter Sarah, was in the same Bar/Bat Mitzvah class as Brett. I remember she came up to me and said, "Hi, I'm Lynn. I know you just moved here. What can I do to help get you situated?" We became fast friends, I helped her with Sarah's Bat Mitzvah which was in January of 2003 and she helped me with Brett's Bar Mitzvah, which was in April of the same year. Back then she was a teacher in elementary school. Last year she became the principal. She loved kids. She loved life. She loved to shop. But most important, Lynn loved her kids: Ben and Sarah. Ben just started medical school at Florida State University. Sarah, moved to Gainesville 3 weeks ago to begin her freshman classes at the University of Florida. Lynn was so proud of them. You could see it in her eyes. Her husband Stuart, is a psychologist in Plant City, Florida.
I will miss her smiling face, the long phone calls about nothing, and her positive and humorous outlook on life.
She was 47 years old. She died quickly from a brain aneurysm. Ben and Sarah are on their way home. I pray for them and Stuart.
Baruch Hashem. May the Lord grant her peace.

I Miss Him

I can't sleep again. At least this time I have a good reason. Stephen called tonight. Casey and Gavin will not be making the trip up here this weekend. I am so torn up inside it hurts. I haven't seen them in 2 months. I've seen pictures. He's getting so big. And he smiles...alot...a big toothless grin. I hear him over the phone when I talk to Stephen. He's trying to say SOMETHING, you can just tell.
I thought being a Bubbe was supposed to be easier than being a parent. I wonder if I'll ever get to find out.
My heart is broken. I'm such a baby.

You Can't Make This Shit Up

Just got this from "Yahoo News" Unbelievable.

TORONTO - Air Canada's regional carrier Jazz is removing life vests from all its planes to save weight and fuel.
Jazz spokeswoman Manon Stuart said Thursday that government regulations set by Transport Canada allow airlines to use floatation devices instead of life vests provided the planes remain within 50 nautical miles of shore.

Safety cards in the seat pockets of Jazz aircraft now direct passengers to use the seat cushions as floatation devices.

"The nature of our operations doesn't require that we carry both," Stuart said.

Stuart said Jazz is a transcontinental carrier that doesn't fly over the ocean.

Jazz planes do fly over the Great Lakes and along the Eastern seaboard from Halifax to Boston and New York.

Just so I understand, Jazz, wants to save fuel, which will help bring down the price of a ticket. Got it. To help save fuel, they are getting rid of life jackets. Got it. Yet if the plane should take a dive over water, I must pray that I have the ability to pull the seat cushion from under my fat ass so I don't drown. Got it.
Remind me not to peregrinate near the Great Lakes with this airline.
Sorry Big Ed.

Word of The Week...And the Door Finally Opens

I know, I'm lame. I'm a bad, bad, bad girl. I haven't been keeping up with my Word of the Week, and for this I am truly sorry. I know how you all wait so patiently and eagerly for this post every week. (hee, hee) I will try to do better. I promise. Without further excuses and for your vocabulary pleasure, may I introduce to you...

per·e·gri·nate \ˈper-ə-grə-ˌnāt\ verb : to travel especially on foot

If you will allow me a bit creative discretion I will share some information with you, utilizing the Word of the Week.

Unless you've been on the moon or under a rock the past 4 days, you know that I have finally secured employment. I will be working as an EHR (Electronic Health Record) Trainer. Basically, the software that your doctor may be using, or at least will be using in the future, I'm going to teach him and his staff how to utilize the software for the optimum performance. It is a perfect job for me, as it gets me away from the "techy" stuff I didn't like about my last job, and focuses on the training aspect, which I LOVE. Even better the job requires 100% peregrination. Not by foot mind you, but I will be peregrinating all over the country. So the fact that I will be doing ONLY training, and peregrinating, well, I couldn't be happier!
The blog I wrote the day I was laid-off was titled, "One Door Closes and Another One Opens", well folks, this is my door, opening to a new adventure and 4th career incarnation. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead including, learning new software, delayed flights, and a different hotel every week. As well, I am excited about the "fun" portion of my job; meeting new people, teaching others how to succeed and maybe even visiting friends that I know all over the country.
I begin my journey next Monday, peregrinating to Pittsburgh for 2 weeks of intense training. After that, I'm not sure where my path will take me. But I know wherever I may wander, I have the support of so many family and friends behind me, that I will never peregrinate alone.

Now The Fun REALLY Starts....

52-10!
'Nuff said!
Next?

My Sanctuary

As most of you know, I am of the Jewish faith. I don't go to Shul (Temple) as often as I would like. That means getting into a dress and heels on a Friday night or Saturday morning. Pass. However, that doesn't mean, I don't have a place I go to pray. I do. It's called the Swamp. Here's a little history...
Currently, the stadium may be best known as “The Swamp”. In the early 90s, then-Coach Steve Spurrier noted that "...a swamp is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous. Only Gators get out alive." The name has stuck ever since.
The "Swamp" is open to the public most days. At any given time you can go in there and see various people "running the stairs". I like to go, have a seat in the North end zone (seats with backs to them) and contemplate life. Needless to say, I've had many visits there in the past several weeks. I look out over the field and remember how much smaller it was when I was younger (It now holds 92,000 people. Back in the day, only 60,000). I think about the first football game I took the boys to, all the Gator Growls (homecoming party the Friday night before the homecoming game) I've attended with friends and family or the first time I ever stepped on the "green". Funny as it may sound, but I find a sense of peace here. For this is truly 'my home'.
And next Saturday, my sanctuary will be filled once again to the brim, with fans wearing orange and blue, screaming "It's Great to be A Florida Gator", singing, "We Are the Boys" at the end of the 3rd quarter and hopefully leaving with a smile on their faces, as we beat the pants off of Hawaii.

It's too bad a Rabbi can't conduct services here. For it is here I feel most comfortable.

Ya Gotta Love It...

FLORIDA GATORS RANKED # 5 IN PRE-SEASON AP POLL.
Life is GOOD!