Breaking News from Israel:


ADINA HAS BEEN ADMITTED AT THE UNIVERSITY!!!
Congratulations to Adina and to all who kept their fingers crossed!

From Bucharest - fair weather and an "all war all the time" TV channel with goodies dangled under the guise of "reconstruction". The Romanian saying is: "La pomul laudat..."

From our correspondent in Rehovot (Dorina):

They are planning to go on vacation for Passover. Adina is still having a great time - now in New Delhi. She has witnessed there some huge anti-war demonstrations as well.(It must've been this one:
CALCUTTA, India, March 30 (Reuters) - More than 150,000 people marched on
Sunday in the eastern city of Calcutta in India's largest anti-war protest yet, and set
alight dozens of effigies of U.S. President George W. Bush.

Uniformed firemen, schoolchildren, teachers, and businessmen, some holding
placards that asked "How many deaths per gallon?" joined tens of thousands of
communist party members as they marched through the city centre, causing major
traffic jams.

The peaceful protest, to which some marchers brought dogs with "Bush" and "Blair"
written on them, wound its way through the city for nine km (six miles).

Groups of women in cotton saris sang in Bengali, "Stop the war, stop the
bloodletting, let peace prevail," while others waved banners that read: "America, the
biggest terrorist in the world" and "U.S.A: killer of innocent Iraqis".

She loves the place - hopefully we'll get more stories, pics.
And also, please everybody - more material about you - I don't want this to be a "me,me,me" story!

Paranoiac Times

Yesterday, those of us who were in Brooklyn were almost stranded. It seems 3 persons were arrested on the Williamsburg Bridge dropping a suspect package (complete with the "middle eastern tag) It lead to searches of all the bridges with the ensuing traffic chaos and even to a further fall of the dollar on the market. The lack of follow up news convinces me that they were in fact the usual teens with a bag of spray paint preparing for a grafitti spree.

What's New?

Not much, but some of you complained about the lull. So, little news: this Wednesday, Maya's class was going to the Brooklyn Zoo but an ear infection stopped Maya from going. She is now taking amoxicilyn and feels fine. Plus, next week, the class will go to the Queens Zoo (learning the NYC boroughs one zoo at a time).

Maya's Third Birthday Party

Took place today at her grandparents house. It was the grown-ups party - with good food and lively conversations. At one point it got very heated politically (on details, all present marched yesterday). Victor took me aside to cool me down for a while - and I was able to be a host again. Maya sang two songs for us, danced the troika with Bubbie and Pipa and was all around adorable.

One more image of the
One Million New Yorkers

March visuals:

Here we are!


and a nice kid and
my favorite protesters

Today I was proud of my New York!

Our march was a beaut'! It started to get good since the subway where a whole contingent of "Kids for peace" was taking the same train with us for 36 and Broadway - my 5 years old was very happy. Some other groups started chanting right in the subway station. We miraculously met the rest of our family at 36 and Broadway - but then the cops said we missed our chance to get in there and we need to walk on the sidewalk another block. I got a less than friendly arm squeeze but that was the worst of it. They were actually allowing people to join the march in progress - and it went on for as far as the eye could see. Some of the signs I remember: "I LIKE MY FRIES FRENCH" "LITTLE DICKS GROW UP TO BE DICTATORS" FREEDOM FRIES WHILE BAGDAD BURNS" "AFTER THE WAR HE'LL HAVE A JOB - WILL YOU?" (with a shifty Cheney next to an oil well.)
The crowd was spirited, chanting: "PEACE NOW". It was a beautiful spring day. Some were blowing bubbles, people were waving from windows with peace signs.
The cops actually let us march - they even complimented my guys anti-bush T-Shirt (a MacDonald reversed arches in a W " Billions of corporations served")
Someone in Union Square was distributing free water bottles - it was hot by then.
I was looking around me at the spirited faces - all ages - I felt so proud to be with them!
Towards the end, someone asked: "Bartcop?" (I had todays cartoon on my back and a whole collection of others on my sign getting lots of attention). It was Nolita NYC - and we talked forum for a while. The march ended su abruptly, I kick myself I forgot to give her one of my BUSH KNEW buttons (next time!).

Happy Birthday

Adrian !

May you have the best year - with the wedding coming up and may everything else be wonderful with the one(s) you love! (in the pic with Sandra, in Austria)

It's also Purim

and here's a
Little Devil (or Mazek) to prove it. It reminds me of an


even tinier devil
(Ava - Halloween 1985)

Life Goes on

I read Der Fuhrer went to bed early after starting WWIII and our national anthem was booed in Canada at a hockey game, but our senate voted a resolution praising the fearless leader. But spring started anyway and our freezing rain turned into warm rain. And here's a picture from Eden's birthday wikth her daddy - Uzi and her mommy - Ilinca.

"I Feel Great!!!" He Confided

before announcing that he just started Dubya Dubya Three. So, now, in Israel they are strapping on their gas masks (or just schlepping them around everywhere), and here in NYC cops and National guard are stopping and searching everyone (to find terrorists and intimidate protesters). So, we'll go in Time Square this afternoon, but without Maya - I expect rough trade. Stay safe, everyone! In other news, spring also starts today.

Update: The Times Square crowd was impressive, in spite of the freezing rain. The cops were herding them in pend along 41 Street which I find demeaning and depressing. No incidents - at least for the time we were there. But we are angry.

Some Birthday
Party Pictures!
and some more

on the roof

Bowling Trip

Today, in one of what's going to be probably remembered as the last day before WWIII, Maya's class went to a bowling alley. So, I put protesting aside and went with them. A great time was had by all!

Eden's Birthday

Eden and her foxy grandma (see picture) spent the eve of her birthday together with Tom and Jerry and Romanian fairy tales ("Scrofita Rosie" et al). This morning the two of them are off to the mall for children purim events. It seems that the picture I posted captures the spirit of the day. Have fun, girls!

Happy Birthday

Eden
We wish you all the love, luck and happiness! Have a great birthday, sweetheart - and maybe someone, tell us all about it!

Candle Light vigil in Union Square (NYC)

At 7 PM we went do do our part in the Moveon
international action.
We chose that spot not just because it's close (we had a
richness of locations next to us). But
ever since 9.11 Union Square has been a spontaneous
place for us to get together and find our
sanity amongst the warmongering rhetoric. Tonight more
than half of the park was filled up -
I'd say several thousands of people were there. On the
steps on the South of the Park a street
show was going on. At 7:00 PM they respectfully stopped
for us. A group came singing softly
"We shall overcome" and we joined in. A guy with a box of
chalk was drawing hearts on the
pavement and giving away chalk. Our little girl got pretty
good at writing "NO WAR" (pretty
much the extent of her writing so far). We then gave the
chalk to other kids (There were
plenty of them around. There was one deranged man
yelling about a cousin lost in 9.11. Some
tried to explain to him the facts but the man came there to
scream so scream he did - but
walking away very fast.
There was a great atmosphere and no cops in sight.
We left after 30 minutes (bed times to be kept) but the
crowd was still there, and people
were still coming. From across the street, the thousands of
lights on the steps looked like the
sky itself. People were asking us on the way home what
was going on (since we were carrying
our lit candles). An older woman thanked us for doing this.
Some security guard asked very defensively what does this
mean. "Peace? Is that a religious
thing?" "No. It's just a desire not to kill"

Maya's Birthday Party

took place this afternoon. Only 3 out of 6 guests showed up - which turned out to be a blessing
for our small space. Erica and Victor played request songs. We ate pizza, eggplant and other
goodies and then we adjourned it on the roof (we were blessed with a gorgeous day!) . The girls
had the time of their lives
running around (with or without music). It was so pleasant, we took the cake upstairs and had it
there (not easy lighting the candles, but it was great!). We capped it by watching the
Sponge Bob "lost episode" - Priscilla's present and then the guests left. Bubbie and Erica are
still here, playing with the presents

And here's a shot from
Victor 's birthday party:

At snack time, we had a little
party at school with cookies.

It Happened!
Maya turned 5!
This morning she got her presents - she hugged her
scooter .She saw Sandra's card and went to school jumping: "It's my Birthday!" As I left, she was still jumping up and down!

New York News

Last Saturday, as I was at the demonstration, Victor and Maya went ice-skating. Victor had a fall on his arm with pain and popping sounds but heroically stayed there for Maya to get her day in the rink. She eventually got to glide without holding hands.
Victor finally got to a doctor today and the Xrays show a hairline fracture. We'll know in 2 days if that will require a cast or not.

We are now waiting untill 12:08 AM to toast to Maya's exact moment of birth while churning labor tales...

Jacky and Alex Birthday Party Pictures:

Here are
Jacky and Alex and their birthday cakes. And here they are with their little cousin
Eden
And here's
Alex and Eden
and
Jacky

"Just back from a Code Pink peace protest (2 actually)"



At Hillary's office again - "It takes a US Bomber ta Raze a
Village".
Organized by Brooklyn Parents for peace, was inviting
women to done
floppy hats and boas. A petition was circulated asking
Hillary to vote
for the Byrd-Kennedy Amendment. Tbere were speakers,
singers and
a very colorful crowd (I'd say about 1000) in the most
outrageous
outfits. Men were there - some sporting pink

bathrobe and
turbans
with a very creative collection of hars. The
chicks with the
strap-on
missiles were there
I had great fun for a while with a spirited group asking car
drivers to
honk for peace - most of them did - and we were cheering
them back.
It was great fun! On the way home, another event - about
the same
size was going on in Union Square. That was IAC though
and Palestine
was more proeminent than Iraq in the speeches and signs -
so I just
told some people about the other pritest and I left. Just a
day in NYC
in the crazy bush times.

One speaker confirmed that we will have a march on March 22 although the location is still unknown.
On the way home, in the subway station I was reading over someone's shoulder from NY Post: "Non to War, Oui to Treason" I let my fabulous purple boa brush against the paper, the reader looked up at my purple hat filled with anti-war buttons and smiled approvingly.
On the way home I was thinking: "hey, it's great to feel both
glamorous and righteous at the same time! This was a blast!

Happy March 8 to all women in the world - especially the ones in our family!

A few days ago, Dorina sent me a great Rosie the Riveter poster - but I wasn't able to transfer it here.
Anyway, March 8 in US is usually not noticed. However in this year of protests, a Code Pink action is taking place in DC and one in NYC too.
Women are going to celebrate by protesting war - and we'll do it in floppy hats, boas and beads.I was going to do this with Maya but I think she'll be skating with Daddy instead. (floppy hats and boas are fun, but one protest a week at the age of 5 should be enough). So, how's your March 8 in your neck of the woods?
"Once upon a time there was a boy named Daddy and a mama named Woman" (Maya fairy tale discovered in her diary)

A Blast from the Past

Here's a picture I called
Maya la nai
It was taken in the spring 2000 - after Sandra's first visit here. She brought Victor a nice flute du Pan - or nai as it is called in Romania. Playing it it's deceptively simple - we all tried and were not even able to get a sound out of it. All, except Victor that is.

Candlelight vigil for Peace

The three of us went tonight with a few thousand New Yorkers. Maya holding her candle looked so beautiful that several photographers asked my permission to photograph her. I forgot my camera. Anyway, by the time it got to Washington Square it looked like
this

New York Skating News

Maya's class took a trip to a skating rink (Woolman Rink - Prospect Park). I went too, hoping that I may be of help. My usefulness stopped right after tying up the skating shoes. I did not get skates for myself (my last foray in skating, in my teen years ended in a split upper lip). So I am carefully holding Maya and one of her classmates, Roni as they walk on skates. Once we got there, I understood why they charged 25c admission for the kids: they isolated a minuscule portion of the rink for all the kids (about 100 of them) and a ruffian was pushing them to the right, yelling at them to hold on to the edge. Next thing I knew, she is holding up a crying Maya - she'll go last- he yelled.
I finally retrieved her and tried to guide her from the outside, holding her hands over the edge. The same handler "caught " me - and gave me a good yelling: "It's dangerous! You'll sue us!" (They had left a lot of ice to accumulate outside the rink, so rather than clean it, they just forbade access). I noticed a mother discretely in her shoes on ice so I took my chances - managing to get Maya to glide a little. Of course I got a second trashing.
By now, Maya and her partner Roni were both crying - so I took them out and to cheer them up, we sat on a bench eating lunch. No sooner did I open the milk cartoons for them, I get yelled at for the third time - we were eating in the wrong place. So, haul two little girls and their lunches to the other end of the building. In the end, Maya decided to give it another try - so, with assistance, got to go back and forth along the edge. "I skated!!!" she beamed. I was happy because she overcame the fear and then I had to deal only with the crying when they had to get out: "BUT I WANT TO SKATE SOME MOORE!!!!"
All in all, an emotional day.
She is in the bathroom now: "I am talking to my imaginary friend, mama"

In other Important News: Maya is a SUBSTITUTE!

As they reshuffled responsibilities in her class yesterday, she got to be THE SUBSTITUTE! "That means that every time someone is not there, I get to do his/her job"
Mucea-Cacicea? I think not! (OK, I do, but she is very proud, the name sounds so very impressive) Besides, with the kind of attendance they have, she is one busy substitute: yesterday she had 3 jobs! (Line leader, putting materials out AND putting them away)