All The Best for 2012

All the Best to our Family and Friends

for a happy and healthy 2012!

Rachel and Ciara 2011

Ciara, Barb and Leann

Janet and Ciara

Ciara just left to go back to Massachusetts, staying with the wonderful Norrman family, after spending a week with us. We celebrated Hanukkah (a bit early) together which was heartwarming. Ciara's finishing up her contract with Becker College where she was the head coach for the field hockey team and assistant coach for girls basketball. She'll be coming back home in February to finish her last 6 months of grad school at CSULB in Sports Management. 

In July, she's headed back to Mass. where she will be taking on the head coach job at Becker for field hockey and hoping to secure a full time job at the school doing Sports Information Management (SIM), a career goal at this time. She experienced SIM while interning at UCI this past year and discovered a passion for that aspect of the sports industry. So, it is with mixed emotions that we will be seeing her move back to Auburn, MA in 2012, but we love her and are so very proud of her accomplishments. Best of all, she is as happy as can be! Who could ask for more?

Grandma Rosa Lee, Rachel, Ciara and Janet

Rachel is a junior at Newport Harbor. After two years at OCHSA, she decided to give Harbor a try and is enjoying it (as much as any teenager enjoys school). This year Rachel had her sweet 16 celebration and had her Confirmation and Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot.

Performing with NDT at South Coast Plaza

Rachel and Kenyon

Rachel continues to dance with Newport Dance Center and has a wonderful boyfriend, Kenyon. We adore him and enjoy spending time with both of them.  

Rachel and Kenyon

Kenyon and Rachel

Rachel took her PSAT and is preparing to take her SATs and other college preparatory tests. It's hard to believe that our little Rachel is preparing for college! Even more amazing is that Rachel now has her driver's permit, meaning that Greg and I are getting chauffeur driven everywhere! She's doing a very good job driving and plans to take her driver's test in March. Rachel brings us much joy and laughter, is quite bright and engaging -- she makes us so proud and we love her very much. 

Greg and Biscuit

Greg is in his fourth year working at Mission Hospital in the radiology department. In his "spare" time, he continues to do amazing graphic design. In fact, he was part of the team that earned an international award for the 2010 annual report created for United Therapeutics. It was a great honor and we are very proud of his accomplishments! Greg continues to create beautiful landscape in our back patio and side yard. Everyday I open the blinds and see the beautiful flowers and vines that he maintains. 

This year, Greg and our wonderful neighbor Marwan, planted a garden which has yielded many delicious tomatoes, bell peppers and chilies. Greg loves to spend time with our wonderful beagle Biscuit, now in his 12th year and is bringing us lots of joy and laughter.

I am in my 4th year working at Experian in Costa Mesa doing project management in the Global Project Management Office. I just became certified as an Experian Ambassador, so I can now train others in the community on understanding, building and managing credit. My desire is to help high school and college age students understand how to use and manage credit wisely. Continuing with my photography, I am now a freelance photographer with Orange County Jewish Life magazine. In addition to being on the Board of Trustees for Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot, focusing on Social Media (Facebook) and managing the SHM Photo Gallery, this year I represented the Irvine Jewish Community at the annual Global Village Festival.  

Pumpkin Chili with Corn Bread

Danielle, Rachel, Janet, Greg, Susan
and Grandma Rosa Lee

I've spent a lot more time creating interesting and often successful dishes in the kitchen. Something about cooking for my family helps me to express the great love that I feel for them. I love spending time with family and friends and keeping everything.

 

One of the extra benefits of living in our wonderful neighborhood, is spending time with our next door neighbors, Marwan, Rula and their beautiful daughter Chloe. She had her first birthday this year, was Baptised and was the star at the celebration!

Grandma Rosa Lee, Greg, Chloe, Marwan
and Rula at Chloe's Baptism Celebration

  Ciara's dad John, his girl friend Tina, Greg and I took a weekend trip to Paso Robles and had a fantastic time tasting wine, dining and taking in the beauty of the land. What a gorgeous town -- like being in Italy, without the expense!

John and Tina

Greg and Janet

Paso Robles

The four of us, plus Ciara, Rachel and two of Ciara's friends from the East Coast are headed on a cruise to the Caribbean in February as an early gift for Ciara's upcoming July grad school graduation. We had planned it before she took the head coaching assignment at Becker College, so we decided to just keep the reservations and celebrate before the graduation - sort of like, "Life is short, eat dessert first."

 

Dessert made by Rachel and Janet
at TSpoons Cooking School

We are ever so grateful to have you in our lives and we wish you good health, peace and much happiness in 2012.

Love, Greg and Janet

snopes.com: General Electric China Move

snopes.com: General Electric China Move

Ayalon: 'End Unequal Treatment of Refugees' - Global Agenda - News - Israel National News

Ayalon: 'End Unequal Treatment of Refugees' - Global Agenda - News - Israel National News

Muslim Brotherhood Holds ‘Kill the Jews’ Rally on Election Eve

Where is the outrage? Did you hear about this in the media? This is not political -- this is not about Israel -- this is anti-Semitism! This is no different than what has happened over and over in history (even before modern day Israel existed).  Today it starts with the Jews and it will end with  non-supporters of radical Islam. This is a similar pattern that we've seen with other oppressive political movements and dictators. Choosing to do nothing may feel better and be easier, but in reality, it lends your support to this type of hatred that is taking root all over the world -- even in our own country -- even by people that you know. What will you tell your children and grandchildren that you did to prevent the spread of this type of hatred in our world? -- Janet

Muslim Brotherhood Holds ‘Kill the Jews’ Rally on Election Eve
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, which expects to win at least a plurality in Monday’s legislative elections, held a “kill the Jews” rally in Cairo Friday.

Thousands of supporters attended the pre-election rally at a mosque on the Muslim Sabbath, promising to “one day kill all the Jews” and wage war against Jerusalem’s “Judaization.”

The demonstration was held on the anniversary of the United Nations’ proclamation of the 1947 partition plan that established the State of Israel and which was immediately followed by a pan-Arab war aimed at annihilating it.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which generated the Hamas terrorist organization, has drawn the anger of leaders opposing the provisional military regime, staying away from the Tahrir Square protests last week that resulted in deadly classes between soldiers and protesters.

Smelling victory, the Brotherhood is suddenly promoting itself as a party that favors non-violence rights for women, but it boasts its hatred of Jews and Israel.

Although the Muslim Brotherhood party is widely hated by liberals, its image of a defender of Egyptians is likely to catapult it into the dominant political force in Egypt this week.

"The Muslim Brothers really screwed this revolution. They've done everything possible to monopolize and hijack the revolution," said Democratic Front Party member Wael Nawara, quoted by the Pittsburgh Tribune.

"The Muslim Brotherhood (is) very opportunistic. They don't care about the Egyptian blood. ... They only care about taking power," said Azza Kamal, a political activist.

Tags: Egypt ,Jews ,Israel ,Muslim Brotherhood

Learn what is going on and how you can make a difference -- check out Act! for America -- founded and led by a Lebanese Christian women who knows first hand what this type of hatred can do to people and to a country -- Janet

PA Admits Israeli Sanctions Are Cutting Deep

 The PA attempted to use the UN to takeover land that Israel acquired in legitimate wars and is necessary as a buffer against the never-ending terrorist attacks against civilians in Israel.  As a result, Israel imposes sanctions, which we learn have had a devastating impact on the PA. Israel asks the PA to go along with a peace-making initiative to continue talks without pre-conditions, but the PA says no. I think it is reasonable that when the PA is ready to talk peace, then Israel will lift the sanctions. Additionally, the more the PA teams up with Hamas, the less motivation there is for Israel and the US to work with the PA. It seems to me like the PA is moving in the wrong direction.


1. PA Admits Israeli Sanctions Are Cutting Deep
by Gavriel Queenann

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad admitted Sunday Israel's decision to freeze tax revenue transfers to the PA were cutting deep.

Fayyad told reporters Sunday that the sanctions have a "devastating impact" on the economy in PA-run enclaves.

Israel froze the transfer of tax revenues - amounting to roughly $100 million per month - after the PA launched a series of unilateral moves at the United Nations aimed at attaining recognition of a state based on pre-1967 lines at the world body.

Officials in Jerusalem said the moves, which began with a now-moribund application for statehood at the UN Security Council and culminated in UNESCO voting to induct the PA as a 'member state,' were a direct violation of the bilateral Oslo Accords.

All contacts and cooperation with the PA - including the transfer of tax revenues - occur under the auspices of bilateral agreements that proscribe unilateral moves like those the PA is pursuing, Israeli officials note.

PA officials were forced to suspend their unilateral track after UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon withdrew his support for their statehood bid at the world body in the face of promised funding cuts to UN agencies by the United States. The United States underwrites 22 percent of the UN operating budget and 27 percent of its peace keeping operations

Senior economic officials in Ramallah have long said Israel's transfers of tax revenues along with foreign aid are crucial to keeping Fayyad's the cash-strapped administration afloat. Israel's funds freeze to Ramallah coincides with a downturn in foreign donations to the PA – especially from Arab countries coping with the Arab spring.

Last week Fayyad told reporters if Israel did not resume the transfer of tax funds the PA would have to close its doors.

Israeli officials, however, say they are unmoved and that funds will not begin flowing to Ramallah again until PA officials accept a proposal by the Quartet for Middle East Peace for resumed talks without preconditions.

Israeli officials have accepted the Quartet proposal, which calls for a final status agreement by the end of 2012.

Previously, officials in the office of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said, while the PA shutting down would be "unfortunate" it "would not be the end of the world."

Tags: Salam Fayyad ,PA ,Israel ,Tax Revenues

1. Israel Slams UN Security Council on PA Rocket Attacks
by Chana Ya'ar

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations is asking that body's Security Council why it's not “shocked” by the constant barrage of rockets and mortars fired by Gaza terrorists at southern Israel.

Ambassador Ron Prosor declared Wednesday during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council that the unstable security situation in southern Israel should shock that body's members – which have often expressed deep dismay at similar situations elsewhere in the world.

Prosor criticized the Council at its session on Wednesday for not condemning the attacks by Palestinian Authority Arab terrorists, who earlier this month killed a 56-year-old Ashkelon man and physically wounded 16 other people in a barrage aimed at the southern region.

Another 14 people were also sent to the hospital with trauma reactions and severe anxiety attacks during the five-day period in which rockets and mortars were fired at Israeli civilian communities.

“The pain caused by these attacks is permanent,” Prosor pointed out. “The scars are both physical and psychological... One million Israelis were compelled to stay home from work last week to ensure their safety... 200,000 children were kept home from school.

“These stories should shock and appall the Security Council and all decent people. Yet, not a single world of condemnation has been uttered by this Council. Not one word.

“The silence speaks volumes,” he said.

Holiday Season 2011 - Birth of a New Tradition

This was sent to me from a friend...I like it!

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Here are some alternatives to buying goods "Made in China" --

1. Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
2. Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
3. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
4. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
5. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
6. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
7. Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
8. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
9. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
10. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.
11. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
12. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
13. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? 
14. When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas and the Holidays are no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. The holidays are now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Holiday tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?


BUY AMERICAN - BE AMERICAN   The job you save might be your own!