Eight things you did not know about me.

I have been tagged by MZ and the Bow-tied baron, and so here goes...

1. I did not care much about Israel or Judaism until about a year and a half ago, when a certain person (qrswave) made me aware of my Jewish identity through exposure to raving antisemitism. (Israel being behind 9/11, Zionists controlling the world, etc)
2. I have a scar on my left arm due to crashing a rental car in Canada. I picked up passengers to drive with me at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, after I missed the 1:15 am Wednesday/Thursday bus to Toronto. Thankfully, I purchased collision insurance!
3. I read the Jerusalem Post and Little Green Footballs pretty much every day. If I have a staple for the news, it is those two sources.
4. Arab taxi drivers love me and have asked for my number on numerous occasions. Because of my dark skin and hair, they assume I am Arab American. If I was interested in Arab American taxi cab drivers, I would have a harem of men.
5. Postcard shop workers as well as train operators also seem to love me.
6. I currently am taking Middle Eastern belly dancing classes. I find it to be incredibly fun, as well as a great workout. I am really excited that I seem to have gotten the "shimmy walk" down! The shoulder shimmy is my next project. I am thinking I may want to get the belly dancing skirt, with the rustle.
7. I have recently become active in the Jewish community, as well as active in Israel advocacy. I guess you could say I am no longer an atheist, though certainly I have not reached the ranks of "baalei teshuva." I go to services on Friday nights and Saturday afternoon, but I use electricity on Shabbat, talk on the phone, use the computer, and work out. (usually) I also am basically vegetarian (who eats fish), but even that I am not very strict about. I follow more, but not all, of the laws of Judaism, in a large part because it makes me feel good to do it. I feel more connected to Judaism by doing these things, even as I acknowledge this connection could be purely psychological. With that said, there is one form of meditation that I think Jew and non-Jew can appreciate. I wake up every morning saying "Mode Ani," and it feels great to say it! It essentially means "thank you G-d for giving me life." Think about how great that is...you wake up, grateful to be alive! Truly transformative.
8. I have a dream to take Jews to India, to tour the Jewish sites of India. I would also love it for Indians to tour Israel. I really see a future in an Israel/Indian partnership.

I tag...hmm...any eight people who want to do this!

Apartment needed in NYC

Hi all, I was given 30 days notice to leave my apartment in NYC (the landlord is selling the place), and I would like to know if anyone has a scoop on an affordable apartment in NYC, preferably Brooklyn or Manhattan. March 1 move in. Thanks! Regards, Red Tulips

Now time for resolutions

Attempted resolutions do not last too long, and after 10 days many have been abandoned, so now I make mine on day 10, hoping that if I can keep them past day ten, 364 days won't be as tough, or so my theory goes. But first, I will include an article by my all-time favorite, Capitalism Magazine: The Meaning of New Year's Resolutions My own resolutions: 1) Read 50 books or more this year. So far, I have 1 down and 3 if you count books I concluded at the beginning of the year, but I'll just count the one. 2) Lose the weight I gained over the holidays :) 3) Continue my Hebrew lessons, until I can read it and understand it as easily as the English in my siddur. 4) Now I can release some insider information that only RT and Irina knows right now, but I am planning to convert to Judaism, of the Conservative movement, so I will continue my research and will be ready for when Ft Hood's Jewish Chaplain assigns me a rabbi. 5) Save at least $20,000.00 this year..much easier to do as I will be deployed, hopefully. Six is not a lot, but good ones for enriching my life.

Getting to know you: Doings and Dreams of Red Tulips

I read over a long meme on Irina's blog, and I thought I would give it a try. Here goes nothing! 1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink: Sadly, I am too poor for that. Never did it, but it would be great, huh? 02. Swam with wild dolphins: Never did it, but I would love to! I know that many in my family did that in Florida. 03. Climbed a mountain: Hmm...well I guess I climbed up a cliff in Pennsylvania. Not sure if that counts! 04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive - Alas no. Pretty cars, though! 05. Been inside the Great Pyramid - Nope, never been to Egypt - but I would love to go! 06. Held a tarantula - No, but I have seen tarantulas. Does that count? 07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone - Oh how romantic that would be. Alas, I guess I have not done that. *pouts* 08. Said "I love you" and meant it - Yes, and I have said it to non-romantic and romantic people. Mostly non-romantic people, though, heh. 09. Hugged a tree - Sure! I have hugged many things! 10. Bungee jumped - No, and I have no desire! It is dangerous but the benefit does not outweigh the cost! 11. Visited Paris - Nope, though I visited Stockholm for a day, so HA! 12. Watched a lightning storm at sea - Hmm...I have seen a lightening storm. At sea? I guess not. 13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise - Many a time! I have suffered from insomnia, but also stayed out all night partying, heh. 14. Seen the Northern Lights - No, but I would love to, especially after reading His Dark Materials. 15. Gone to a huge sports game - Yes, many times, though sports ain't my thing. 16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa - No, but it would be fun to! I would love to go to Italy. Parlo italiano, ma non molto bene. 17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables - Sort of. I mean, my stepmom grew them, and I ate them! 18. Touched an iceberg - No, but hopefully there will be icebergs when I go to Alaska, assuming I go! (and global warming wouldn't have melted them) 19. Slept under the stars - Yes, I have gone camping before. 20. Changed a baby's diaper - Alas yes. My sister is nine+ years younger than me, and so I changed her diaper when I was a kid, many times! Actually, I have some funny stories about that best not shared here! 21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon - No, but I always wanted to! 22. Watched a meteor shower - No, though I doubt I would see it with NYC's ligt pollution. 23. Gotten drunk on champagne - I have gotten drunk on many things, and champagne is included! 24. Given more than you can afford to charity - More than I can afford? No. But I have given to charity many times. 25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope - I think I did ages ago. 26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment - This is Red Tulips here! I am the QUEEN of laughter at bad moments. Actually, I am the queen of hiccups at bad moments. I have had monster hiccups that caused an entire lecture in college (of 500+ people) to stop and stare at me, hehehehe. 27. Had a food fight- Yeah, and I also had a sandwhich thrown at my head in second grade by an evil little child. 28. Bet on a winning horse - I actually did bet on a horse before - but the horse lost, hehehe. 29. Asked out a stranger - Yes, I once messaged someone online as "Hey there sexy beast, without even knowing what he looked like. 30. Had a snowball fight - Yes, and it is fun! It is a staple of growing up in the North. :-) 31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can - Yes, I had my Sally Bowles moment. I remember I once went out for a drive and screamed in the car at the top of my lungs just to get out aggression. It really worked! 32. Held a lamb - Yes, I went to a game farm. 33. Seen a total eclipse of the moon. - I believe I did see it. 34. Ridden a roller coaster - Many of them, including what was the tallest roller coaster on earth at the time, Cedar Point. 35. Hit a home run - LMAO. I am not capable, hahaha. 36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking - This is what I am known for. In many ways, I am like Elaine Benis, from Seinfeld. 37. Adopted an accent for an entire day - LOL, yes, an English accent is fun! 38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment - Many times - the happiest I was recently was in Toronto. :-) 39. Had two hard drives for your computer - Alas, no. 40. Visited all 50 states - No, though I did visit about 30 states. 41. Taken care of someone who was drunk - Yes, and it is amusing. I also had people take care of ME when drunk! 42. Had amazing friends - I love my friends! 43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country - Yup! Most recently, I danced with two tuxedoed brothers in Stockholm, at a disco club. Fun times. I don't remember their names, but they were blonde and Swedish. I also danced with strangers in Galway, Ireland. 44. Watched wild whales - Only on TV! 45. Stolen a sign - No, and I cannot say I have had the desire to do so! 46. Backpacked in Europe - No, but it would be fun! 47. Taken a road-trip - Yes, the most amusing of which was to Canada this summer! 48. Gone rock climbing - Yes, and it is fun! 49. Midnight walk on the beach - Midnight? No. Nighttime - yes. It is beautiful at night. 50. Gone sky diving - No, and I have no desire to! (see: bungee jumping) 51. Visited Ireland - Yes, and it is gorgeous. I left my heart in Ireland. 52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love - LOL, actually yes, sadly! 53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them - Yes, what can I say, I am outgoing and gregarious! 54. Visited Japan - No, but I would *love to*. 55. Milked a cow - Yes, but it was a long time ago, as a kid! 56. Alphabetized your CDs - sound like a great idea, but I'm too lazy to do that right now. (same as Irina) 57. Pretended to be a superhero - LOL! when I was a kid, I used to play Inspector Gadget with my brother. I was always Penny, and he was Brain, the dog! 58. Sung karaoke - Many times. I like to make a fool of myself. 59. Lounged around in bed all day - Hahaha, alas, yes! 60. Played touch football - Yes, I believe so! 61. Gone scuba diving - No, though I would love to! 62. Kissed in the rain - Yes, how romantic! 63. Played in the mud - Yes, I have gone down and dirty. 64. Played in the rain - yes, I have, and caught a cold. (see: Irina) 65. Gone to a drive-in theater - No, but I don't even know where one is! 66. Visited the Great Wall of China - No, again, I would love to! 67. Started a business - The only thing I've ever started was a blog, as Irina - but I hope to start a business! 68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken - Yes, hehe, after my first love, that happened. 69. Toured ancient sites - Yes, the oldest being the Viking edifices at the Aran Islands, Ireland. 70. Taken a martial arts class - Nope! 71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight - I've never played it, not even once, but I have friends who are or have been obsessed. 72. Gotten married - Never married, and I am not even sure I believe in it! 73. Been in a movie - Yes, not telling which one! 74. Crashed a party - Hehe, yes, I have! 75. Gotten divorced - First you have to get married, I would think? 76. Gone without food for 5 days - Thankfully no! 77. Made cookies from scratch - Yes, and they were delicious! 78. Won first prize in a costume contest - No. That doesn't mean I haven't worn some cool costumes! 79. Ridden a gondola in Venice - No, but I did go to the Venetian Casino in Las Vegas! 80. Gotten a tattoo - Nope. I am unmarked! 81. Rafted the Snake River - Again, no! 82. Been on television news programs as an "expert" - YES! Well, as someone who was on the scene of a crime scene, anyway! 83. Got flowers for no reason - Yes, and it was lovely to receive. Tulips are my fav! 84. Performed on stage - Yes, and I loved it. I am a ham and love acting. 85. Been to Las Vegas - Yes, and I lost money, goshdarnit! Damn Las Vegas! *shakes fist in the air* 86. Recorded music - Recording my voice singing a bit off key probably does not count! 87. Eaten shark - I believe yes - in Florida. 88. Kissed on the first date - Hehehehehe...maybe. Not telling! 89. Gone to Thailand - No, but I would love to! (there are many places I would love to go to) 90. Bought a house - Alas no, but one ay! 91. Been in a combat zone - No, but I was in Jamaica during a semi-violent protest. 92. Buried one/both of your parents - Thankfully no. 93. Been on a cruise ship - No and I have no desire to. I am not into pre-packaged trips, and do not want to be trapped on a boat! 94. Spoken more than one language fluently - I wish! 95. Performed in Rocky Horror - I wish, I love drama/theater! 96. Raised children - Does my sister count? 97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour - No, I am not a band groupie. 99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country - I wonder if Toronto Island counts as exotic? 100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over - I meant to move to L.A. and do that, but never did. Maybe one day I will move elsewhere. 101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge - No, but I did walk the Brooklyn Bridge, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and London Bridge!! 102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking - Yes, I love singing, and don't care who looks! 103. Had plastic surgery - No, but family members have! 104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived - No, never been in an accident of that sort! 105. Wrote articles for a large publication - Does blogspot count? 106. Lost over 100 pounds - Thankfully I have not had to lose *this much* weight! 107. Held someone while they were having a flashback - HUH? No. 108. Piloted an airplane - No, but it would be nice to get a pilot's license! 109. Touched a stingray - No - I don't think I saw one outside an aquarium. 110. Broken someone's heart - Perhaps! 111. Helped an animal give birth - Alas no! 112. Won money on a T.V. game show - No, though my brother did win big. 113. Broken a bone - Yes, I broke my wrist in eighth grade when I was racing a bike with my brother...pathetically, in the driveway! 114. Gone on an African photo safari - How cool would that be? 115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears - Nope! I have no desire to. 116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - Yes, I have gone to two shooting ranges. I am a better shot than you would think! Just call me shotgun Jane! 117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild - Yes, but I have not eaten 'shrooms, if ya know what I mean! 118. Ridden a horse - Yes, and my ass hurt me for days afterwards. 119. Had major surgery - Well, I had wisdom teeth pulled. 120. Had a snake as a pet - No, and I have no desire for one! 121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon - No, but I flew over the Grand Canyon. 122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours - Probably! 123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states - Not by a long shot! 124. Visited all 7 continents - No, but I did visit three, and I am on my way to visiting four! 125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days - I think I was on a canoe once, and certainly not for a long time. 126. Eaten kangaroo meat - No, but when I was in Australia, I kept searching for it, and did not find it! I was very disappointed. 127. Eaten sushi - Yes, sushi rocks! 128. Had your picture in the newspaper - Yup, a few times! 129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about - I think I have. I sobbed to my dad to vote for Kerry in 2004, and he did. But now that I think back on it, whatever! 30. Gone back to school - Yup, law school 131. Parasailed - I would love to! 132. Touched a cockroach - Yes and they are nasty. 133. Eaten fried green tomatoes - Yes, and in fact I went to the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, Georgia, where the movie by that name was filmed! 134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey - Nope! 135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read - Nah, but I do lots of reading. 136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I did go clamming and ate the clams afterwards. 137. Skipped all your school reunions - Not had one so far! 138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language - Hmm...I would say no. 139. Been elected to public office - No, though maybe one day. 140. Written your own computer language - LMAO, yeah right. 141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream - Sometimes. But not recently. 142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care - Yes, my grandfather was in hospice care. 143. Built your own PC from parts - No, but I know people who have. 144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you - Yes, but mostly when I was a kid. I should get back into art. 145. Had a booth at a street fair - Nope. 146. Dyed your hair - Yes, but only highligts, alas. 147. Been a DJ - No, but I cannot imagine I would be good! 148. Shaved your head (not bald, but close enough)- HAHAHA, why would I do that? 149. Caused a car accident - Yes, in Canada. But then no other car was involved. It is an amusing story that ended in my getting a chemical burn from the airbag. 150. Saved someone's life - Not that I'm aware of! WOW that was long. I wonder if anyone else wants to do this! It was kinda fun! I hope you all enjoyed reading that! *EDIT*** I realize now that I was published in Jewish newspaper, when I was in high school. I was also published in my high school paper. I also walked the Tower Bridge in London, not the London Bridge! I just figured I owed the full and accurate truth to my readers!