Happy Tuesday!

I have good news, everybody!  Today is Tuesday! Do you know what that means?? Only two more days of classes until a nice, long Chanukah break.  Hurray!  I know you're all as excited about that as I am, especially those of you who continue to have school or work during Chanukah, so let us all celebrate together.  

The only thing that I'm not really celebrating over here is that fact that I have a nice, big Biology mid-term tomorrow and a Psychology mid-term on Thursday to follow.  The plan is to just punch out studying in the easiest, fastest, and most effective ways possible, because quite frankly I need sleep between now and Friday.  So I guess my goals are to sleep, study, and learn in the rest of my classes.  Good stuff.  

Unfortunately I am somehow in the middle of a cold, which is confusing to me because I just recently had the flu and I definitely don't usually get sick so soon after I get over something.  No worries, though, people.  I am taking care of business over here in terms of sleeping and hydrating well, and I should be back to normal in a jiff.  Haha.  

This Shabbat, we'll be in the Old City of Yerushaliam, which is sure to be a party.  Plan, as I hear it, is to stay at the Sephardic Hertitage Center, which is where my class stayed in 8th grade.  Blast from the past, if I've ever had one!  It should definitely be a fun time though, because everyone will likely have friends around and it's nice to be in the middle of everything.  Plus, I've yet to be in the Old City for a Shabbat.  So this is good.  Side not about Shabbat: This Shabbat with be my cousin Aiden's Bar Mitzvah... Totally unbelievable to me! I'm so sad that I'm missing it, but so excited for him at the same time.  Mazal Tov, Aiden!!

I'm trying to think of a good story to share with you all, because I do believe that it has been far too long since I have done so.  Sadly, there aren't any that are really coming to mind.  The only thing I can say is this:

As you may know, I spent Shabbat with many of my Seattle friends in honor of my birthday.  We had a super lovely dinner, and afterwards we said Birkat Hamazon and had a little dessert.  My favorite part of the whole Shabbat was that within five minutes of Birkat Hamazon, the whole room broke out into totally chaotic screaming/super passionate arguments.  Why in the world was that, of all things, my favorite part? Because it's SO classic Seattle.  And even more classic Seattle teenagers. Why? Because each one of us has three thousand opinions about each and every little thing, which makes it impossible to have a conversation using only inside voices.  Some think it's crazy or obnoxious, but I love it.  It shows that we're all thinking human beings.  And of course we listen to one another and learn from each of many opinions that stem from each person.  So, when I looked at Ilana and said, "Welcome Home" with a smile on my face, I really felt it.  Good stuff.  

Okay, I don't have so much more to say.. Both because my brain is preoccupied with Biology thoughts, and because I'm not thinking of interesting stories or occurrences to share.  Thank G-d, next week we'll be in the Negev and Eilat so I will likely have many journeys and adventures to share each day.  

Have a wonderful week!