cool and rainy.

the last few days in greensboro have been damp and cool - I really have enjoyed it. I love weather that makes you cuddle up in a nice big sweater. When it is cool like this you can walk around and the streets are almost all yours - most people shying away from the necessary extra layers. It is also extra sweet to drink a warm cup of tea on days like this.

I had a very nice weekend. On shabbas morning I led my final instalment of nefesh b'tnuah - a soul in motion. I had about a dozen kids and it went well. I led the yoga portion myself this time. I was scared that I would hurt one of the kids. I didn't:). When I asked for feedback at the end the general response was that they had each liked a different part more than the others (meditative chant, torah/text study, breath work, yoga and silent meditation) but that they were grateful to have had an alternative option to traditional services. I would have loved to have had services afterwards. I explained to them that I understand these practices to be valuable not only intrinsically for their own value, but also because they have potential to help focus our prayer in its traditional forms. They got my point, but most were pretty happy to have avoided structured prayer for the morning. I hope that I can get either a yoga or a meditation group or a combination of the two together at Pardes. Or at least in Jerusalem. I am starting to get really nervous about finding community there.

On Saturday night I went out with Katrin. We saw 'Akeelah and the Bee'. It was such a sweet movie. I am just happy that I have found a friend who likes kids movies as much (or maybe even more!) than I do. I thought it was very well done and that the ending wasn't overly cheesy. The audience was really into it too - clapping and spelling some of the words with her. I had a great time. Afterwards we ended up going to the grocery store at 1 AM. I found Bailey's ice cream - I haven't found it since I lived in Montreal. I was ecstatic! I have been nursing it for a few days now and been having a grand old time:)

I go tonight to that tekes, ceremony, I spoke about a few posts ago. I have my story all picked out to tell the bat mitzvah as I tie her tzit tzit. I think it will be incredibly meaningful. The Jewish community in Greensboro is really something. They are so supportive of one another and take such an active role in eachothers lives - it isn't something I have ever really witnessed before and I am really blessed to have been exposed to it this year.

In other news, I admitted to a complete stranger that, no, I didn't break my ex-boyfriend's heart. And, yes, he broke mine. I then proceeded to give him a CD of his music so that he would hopefully get together and produce beats with him back in Montreal. Why do I still do nice things for this person - I think it is a tad masochistic. But...perhaps instead these things I do are healing me - these acts of chesed (loving-kindness). I'm shooting for the second option. Then this guy (a DJ from Montreal and Ottawa) asked me why I didn't marry my ex. I told him I wanted to fall in love a few more times first. I hope that was an honest answer...I want it to be.

Much love, all.

A song for the day:

Rain, by the beatles

If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.
They might as well be dead.
If the rain comes, if the rain comes.
When the sun shines they slip into the shade
And sip their lemonade.
When the sun shines, when the sun shines.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
I can show you that when it starts to rain,
Everything's the same.
I can show you, I can show you.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
Can you hear me, that when it rains and shines,
It's just a state of mind?
Can you hear me, can you hear me?
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.