Ulpan, Parties, and Polls

First, kappayim to Risa and Cheryl for not falling asleep during the dikduk discussion (see: previous post.) Good job, ladies! But Cheryl, is it only "boredom at work" that keeps you reading the blog? I mean, what about the penetrating insights, the scintillating discussion, the perceptive perceptiveness? Do those key features of this blog not entice you to keep hitting the "refresh" button in the hopes that another shrewd analysis of something or other will appear on your screen?
But hey, I love readers, so I'll take you, even if I'm only an alternative to boring work.

So today in ulpan I asked a question that turned out to be somewhat embarrassing. I was reading an article in our Easy Hebrew Newspaper, and came across a phrase I didn't understand. I asked the teacher, and as I read the quote out loud, I realized not only what it meant, but that it employed a rather crude term. She delicately responded, "Ze lo ivrit gevohah," as I simultaneously said, getting slightly red, "Oh, hayvanti. Selicha!" (It turned out the phrase meant something along the lines of "Live life to the fullest," but, and not to get too graphic here, "eggs" don't always mean "eggs." I'll leave it at that.)

Ariella went to her first Israeli birthday party yesterday! How do I know it was an Israeli party? Was it because for "dinner" before the cake the kids were served pita and chocolate? Was it the abundance of Hebrew being spoken? No, it was because the party was Monday and Ariella got the invitation in school on Sunday. I mean, in New York, invitations to birthday parties are sent out weeks, if not months, in advance. Perhaps 5 year olds in Israel don't have such busy social calendars, because, depsite the lateness of the invitation, the room seemed pretty packed. I ran into Shirat's mother at the party. Shirat has had Ariella over to her house twice now, and we're trying to invite Shirat to come here. Shirat's mother (her name in Hebrew is, "Ima shel Shirat," because that is what the parents call each other - "Ima shel _____"). So I see Ima shel Shirat in shul, or at school occasionally, and we always have these awkward conversations, because she has almost no English, and my Hebrew conversational skills are pretty much used up after "Shalom! Mah shlomech! B'seder!" Anyway, Ariella had a great time at the party and the mom ("Ima shel Achinoam") said Ariella participated very nicely and was surprised we had only been here four months.

In poll news: Thanks to everyone who participated in our "Favorite Nivim" poll! Here is some scintillating analysis of the poll, for all of you who are bored at work: Kappayim L'Dov!

Be sure to vote in the new one - there's only a few days left! Also, our Loyal Readers Club has stagnated at seven members. Come on and join! Free car to everyone who signs up! (Remember how I said you would get a free t-shirt if you joined? Remember how then I said I was lying? Similar thing happening here.)