A Personal Plea

Last week, just before Thanksgiving, I found out that my uncle passed away. He died from something that should have been caught early. He died from something he could have caught early. He had prostate cancer.

Needless to say, I put on a brave face last week but I was heart broken inside. My uncle was actually my great-uncle. I was really close to him. He was my grandmother's baby half-brother. At only five years older than my dad, he may not have always felt like an 'uncle' to my dad. I mean, he DID live a half a world away. He also had kids around the same age as my sisters and me. Yet, when I moved to Israel, he was one of the first people to extend his hand and offer me help. It wasn't monetary help - it was REAL help. He set me up with kitchen items, taught me the banking system, and helped me translate contracts and other documents in Hebrew.

He was a real mensch. I will miss him greatly. I don't want his memory to be forgotten so, just before he passed away, I donated to Movember. A few of my guy friends grow mustaches every year in hopes that people will donate money to help fund research for prostate cancer.

So, now I'm asking for your help. My friends are just shy of their goal of $10,000. Will you help them reach their goal? I donated and plan on donating again today - but today is the last day to donate!! Please help them out - donate what you can $10, $18, $20 - every dollar counts and they'll be eternally grateful. I'll be eternally grateful. Don't forget 'tis the season - so please help. Feel free to donate here.

Blogging for Joplin - How YOU Can Help!

On Sunday May 22nd, the town of Joplin, Missouri was devastated by an F5 tornado, the highest rating given to tornadoes. The death toll is at 122 victims and there are over 700 with injuries. There are still over 1,500 people unaccounted for. Times like these, we feel helpless. We don’t know what to do. We wish we could be there to help. Our hearts go out to the victims of the Joplin, Missouri tornado.

We are going to do what we do best: Blog and use Social Media.

Bloggers for Joplin is a group of bloggers who have teamed up to help Joplin, Missouri.
We are accepting advertisers for the month of June with 100% of the proceeds going to help the people of Joplin, Missouri.

The following blogs are participating and accepting advertisers:
Sippy Cup Mom is accepting 6 spots at $25 each.
The Maven of Social Media is accepting 6 spots at $25 each.
Miracle Momas is accepting 2 spots at $35 each.
Mommy PR is accepting 2 spots at $25 each.
Motherhood Unadorned is accepting 4 spots at $25 each.
Girl Gone Mom is accepting 5 spots at $25 each.
Crazy about My Baybah is accepting 6 spots at $25 each.
{Not Quite} Susie Homemaker is accepting 3 spots at $25 each.
Family and Life in Las Vegas is accepting 6 spots at $25 each.
Fun Finds For Families is accepting 6 spots at $25 each.
A Creation of Miracles is accepting 10 spots at $25 each. (Get the month of July free!)
Family Friendly Frugality is accepting 8 spots at $25 each. (ALL SPOTS FILLED)
The Reynolds Mom is accepting 4 spots at $25 each.
Sarah’s Deals is accepting $75 each for her 350×250 banner and her skyscraper. She is also accepting spots at $25 each.
The Interuppting Cow is accepting 8 spots at $5 each and a banner at $25.
a belle, a bean & a chicago dog is accepting 2 spots at $25 each.
Taming Insanity is accepting 6 spots at $20 each.
The Scoop on Poop is accepting 4 small spots at $15 each and 2 large spots for $50 each.
Three P’s in a Pod is accepting unlimited spots at $15 each.
Life Below Zero is accepting unlimited spots at $15 each.
The New Glasers is accepting unlimited spots at $15 each.
The Magic Farmouse is accepting 3 spots at $15 each. (She can design your ad for free if needed)
Kate n’ Kaboodle is accepting unlimited spots at $10 each.
See K Read is accepting 4 spots at $10 each.
My Crafty Life is accepting 2 spots at $10 each and is offering a top banner for $25.
StL Baseball App is accepting 4 spots at $10 each.
The Turnip Farmer is accepting 6 spots at $10 each. She will also be matching each donation!
Night Owls Perch is accepting 10 spots at $10 each.
Purple Baby Brigade is accepting 10 spots at $10 each.
Meil et Lait is accepting 8 spots for $10 each (or $25 for three months). She has 6-125x125, 1-468x60 and 1-120x600 ads available.

Tara of A Creation of Miracles is also looking to donate $300 for 3 families that are now homeless. These families work with her father. She is looking for $100 for each family. You can visit her blog on more information and to donate to help these specific families!

If you are are a blog or a business looking to advertise, please let me know!


For specific questions about advertising on my blog, please email HLGlaser@gmail.com.


If you are a reader looking to donate ANY AMOUNT, you can click on the Bloggers for Joplin button above and it will take you to Paypal to make a donation.

If you are a blogger looking to join our cause, please let us know at bloggersforjoplin@gmail.com and we will get you added to the list!
Thank you so much and please spread the word!

Thankful Thursday - Graduation Day Edition

I tend to write posts about what I'm looking forward to so today there is something BIG that I am looking forward to. I am graduating.

I'm 30 years old and I'm graduating from college with a degree in Government that specializes in Counter-terrorism and International Relations. OMG, I sound so smart! But I honestly have no idea how I made it through college. I look back to who I was when I started school at age 26 and I look at my 30-year-old self and think: who WAS that girl?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to my graduation day. No one thought I'd ever go to college much less graduate. Haha, haters! I'm a college graduate now!

All jokes aside, this Thursday I'm thankful for my education. It was the best gift I ever gave to myself. It's more valuable than diamonds. As you read this, I'm likely walking across the stage to get my diploma (unless you're reading in Israel and then I'm just sitting at the computer).

This is the most expensive gift I've ever given myself and it's also the most worthwhile.

So, this Thursday, as a college graduate I ask you "what are you most thankful for today and what are you looking forward to?"

Don't forget to enter our giveaway - 2 lucky winners will receive $25 each!

Happy Graduation Day, graduates!

March Memories - Happy Birthday, Jodi

As a young kid, I always looked up to my sisters. They were both my heroes. When my Mom went back to school and joined the work force, my grandmothers freaked and thought I'd be mother-less. This was the early 1980's and it still wasn't "normal" for a Mother to have a career. My oldest sister, Jodi, stepped up when she needed to.

She was never really given credit for what she did - and it's credit she deserved. It was normal back then for older siblings to step up and act more adult-y... long before they had to. Aside from her normal chores, Jodi cooked dinner and always made sure to have dinner on the table when my parents came home.

I LOVED my sister's cooking as a kid. Before I stopped eating lamb, she used to make my favorite meal when I was being good - lamb and mashed potatoes.

I wasn't a hard kid to please with a meal like that. As I got older, Jodi moved on to doing her own thing. She had three of the most amazing children in this world (but I'm NOT biased... it's just a fact). When her world came crushing down, she picked up the pieces and put it back together again.

Today is her birthday and it's a BIG birthday. She's 10 years older than me in age but about 5 years younger than me in the way that she sees the world. It's a gift.

So, Jodi, Happy Birthday! May you get all that you deserve and achieve everything your heart desires.

In Defense...

Tonight I am participating in a negotiation simulation. For those of you that don't know, I've been studying negotiation/international relations and the Middle East for about four years. I should know my sh*t by now. Seriously.

So, tonight I play the role of a Syrian negotiator. It's in contrast to my Israeli roots. I've had to remind my group several times that we're Syrian for the purpose of this simulation. This simulation comes at an awesome time as gossip-blogger Perez Hilton is visiting my favorite country in the world - Israel. What Israeli or Jew doesn't like gossiping! Seriously. It's in our blood. (Welcome to Israe, Perez)

Anyway, in light of his recent posts, I've read a few comments on how he should "keep it real" and show how awful we are and how we beat on the Arabs every chance we get. PULEEEEZE!

So, due to these comments, I'm going to give a bit of insight and try to clear the air a bit about Israel. Many people have these horrible images of buses burning, and Israelis beating Palestinians - but that's not reality. I recently made friends with a wandering traveler named Earl. He's been to places that I cannot visit because of my Israeli passport. He's been to Syria and Lebanon - Iraq, too! I can't go. I'm a Jew with Israeli citizenship. So, I learn from his experiences.

Here's what I can do:

- visit my local mall and see a plethora of Israelis and Arabs walking around with anyone being assaulted.

- eat lunch at the Herzliya marina and watch Israeli and Arab kids play together on the promenade.

- grab a chicken sandwich at the sandwich stand by my office in Israel and chat with the Arab guy cooking my food. Our discussions: family, work, and how there doesn't seem to be a winter coming this year.

This is Israel. That is the reality. My friends that live in the West Bank have little to no interaction with most of their Arab neighbors aside from pleasant encounters with the Arabs who live closer to them.

I am an Israeli. I have never:

- hit an Arab (I've gotten into my fair share of bar fights, though)

- thrown a stone at anyone

- spit on anyone

- discriminated against anyone for being anything more than a horrible human being

We're just like any other normal country. I promise.

In defense of Israel, don't read what the media has to say about us - visit on your own and make your own decision.

Wordless Wednesday...The Show Goes On

My Wordless Wednesday isn't so wordless. In fact, it's filled with words - for a good reason.

My WW is actually picture less. Please read on...

Even with all the issues Craig and I have faced over the last few weeks nothing compares to what my friend Ben and his wife have been facing for the last year or so. Ben has cancer and is being moved into hospice where he can rest comfortably.

This news, today, really made me sad.

When Ben and I were in high school we were in the same Jewish youth organization together. Ben was vibrant and a bit of a bad ass. He thought he was Mr. Super Cool and, in reality, to most of us he was Mr. Super Cool. He had an attitude, he developed a reputation, but most of all - he cared about his fellow brothers in AZA (Aleph Zadik Aleph - the male section of our youth organization). They really were his brothers and he cared about them as such. He protected them, ragged on them, and loved them.

Ben has always been that kind of guy. Rough on the outside. Gushy in the middle when he needed to be.

Needless to say, when I first heard of Ben's cancer it was after many years of not hearing much. I followed him on facebook, saw he got married to a beautiful young woman and tried to live the normal married live.

Then I got the phone call. Being from the Jewish Community in Metro-Detroit is a little like having a really big phone tree. One person has something happen to them and the news trickles from there. My best friend, M, called me and said "my brother called me, did you know Ben M. has cancer?" Wait, what??

She went on to tell me that when we were in high school, Ben wasn't exactly nice to her little brother but her brother still cared enough to pass along the information. I was shocked, stunned, and went to his facebook profile where I found out about his blog. Through the fantasticness that is the Internet - I've been able to keep up to date with Ben and his wife.

Today, I read a post written by Ben's wife that came with some hard-to-read news. If you visit his facebook page, you'll see dozens of "get well" wishes. I'm going to end this post with this:

The holiday season is just around the corner and it's filled with miracles. It is my hope, this holiday season, that your cancer miraculously disappears and stays gone. It is my hope that this rest is what you need to come back to a full recovery. I believe in miracles and I believe in the power of love. Most of all, I believe in you.

Some of you may not know Ben or his wife, Lindsay - please keep them in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season.

Nashville

When Craig and I started dating, I told him if I could move anywhere in the world, it would be to Nashville, TN. When I said that, I meant that if money was no object and I didn't need to work - I would TOTALLY move to Nashville.


I know, it sounds REALLY odd. Why would a Jewish girl from Detroit want to move to the country-western capital?

Well, once upon a time, my friend, T, and I were traveling. She's a big time lawyer but accompanied me on a trip to Nashville so I could work on a photo shoot. I was looking for any kind of experience and I'd never been to Nashville before. We rented a hotel room and a car and drove around the greater-Nashville area.

I fell in love. Not just with the city but with the people.

Now, I sit far away in a place where Nashville doesn't register on our radar. It makes me sad. Nashville is in trouble. The flood waters haven't receded yet. People have lost their homes and their possessions. Many of them have lost everything. So, I wondered: what can I do to help? Well, I can blog.

Over the past two years, I have worked with several awesome Mom bloggers who live in Nashville. I envied them. Now they need help, along with others.

I read on Bitches on a Budget that a volunteer wanted to give some great publicity to a great cause. There's a list of organizations that need help.

If you want to help, the Middle Tennessee Red Cross needs donations and volunteers. So does the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Have some extra food you'd like to donate, the Second Harvest Food Bank would love to take it off your hands.

There are many ways to help! Just like the earthquake in Haiti devastated an entire nation - these floods have ruined people's lives. Now's a good time to help you! You'll get a great warm and fuzzy feeling. I promise.

Know of other ways to help? Leave a comment!!

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