Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

First sale


Noach's Cheesecakes

Place your order. PRM

Monday, December 21, 2009

He's home

About 1am, 3 1/2 hours later than expected. And for a final aggravation, he had to sit on the plane and watch some guy take his guitar out of the baggage compartment of the plane and carry it away. He asked the stewardess to help but she was not interested.

He was very kindly treated by his hosts in NYC. The dad was a "Judaean" too, so of course, he let Yakov stay with them. PRM

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Well, that was unexpected

Last Wednesday, Noach, Shoshie and I took a short trip to Tennessee to see my mom for a few days. We spent 2 days visiting with her and other elderly family members and had quite a good time. We planned to return Saturday, leaving early in the morning in order to be here for the return of Yakov who is coming home from Israel for 2 weeks.

That was the plan. Before the snowstorm. The storm dumped 12 inches or more on much of our path back home. And even more in Newark where Yakov 's plane from Tel Aviv was to arrive.

We plotted a new course, driving about 30% farther but coming home from the south where it had warmed up enough for the roads to be clear. We had to spend last night on the road but we did get home safely this morning.

Yakov is not here yet. His flight from Tel Aviv must have been largely unchanged because he was in Newark at about the expected time. But his flight home from there was canceled. He was stranded in the airport for at least 24 hours, possibly longer. He had $20 and no credit cards, no cell phone or warm clothes.

The Young Judaea family network to the rescue! Shoshie contacted a friend of hers in NYC. She and her family welcomed him into their home last night. He took a taxi from Newark into the city and they were planning to pay for his taxi. The details of his visit with them are not known to me but I cannot express how much we appreciate their helping him out.

He is supposed to get home tonight but the plane is already delayed. And he still doesn't have a cell phone so we can't communicate with him easily.

I will be happy when this adventure finally comes to a happy ending and all our little ducks are tucked into their own beds. Tonight? PRM

Monday, December 7, 2009

Homeschool science fair

Just helping out our Virginia friends who had a great homeschool science fair. I wish we lived a bit closer.

Thank you to the following homeschool-friendly businesses for supporting the GUESS Homeschool Science Fair and the young scientists of Hampton Roads!

Green Olive Tree is an internet company based in Portsmouth, Virginia and owned and operated by a homeschooling family. They offer a broad range of internet services, from reliable web hosting to corporate infrastructure solutions and server administration.

SKS Science supplies homeschoolers and other educators with all the science supplies you need to turn your dining room table into a proper laboratory. Browse their site for test tubes, bottles, face masks and other lab supplies and books.

Book Exchange is the largest used bookstore in Eastern Virginia. Unlike most musty and confusing used stores, this one is clean, bright, inviting, and has a huge selection of used homeschool books. There's always an interesting curriculum find on these shelves!

Folkmanis Puppets makes the most delightful animal puppets available outside Santa's workshop. Meet their most unusual creations like llamas, Chinese dragons, ostriches, flying squirrels. Unusual materials create realistic textures, and they all move in very realistic ways. Irresistible.

The Happy Scientist, Robert Krampf, hosts an online wonderland for budding scientists. With online science lessons, experiments to try at home, a science photo of the day, and new content added all the time, you'll love setting your kids loose on this site.

Mad Science is Hampton Roads' premier provider of science enrichment classes for children. Summer classes include "Crazy Chemistry" and a space camp developed with NASA! New homeschool science classes are being offered in Norfolk and VA Beach, with more planned for fall.

Moore Expressions is a homeschool bookstore in Virginia Beach, VA. They sell used and new homeschooling curriculum, host a support group, and publish a newsletter called the Bayith Educator. They are the premier source for homeschooling books in the Hampton Roads area.

Norfolk Karate Academy offers classes in Tang Soo Do (Korean karate) and Gracie Jiu Jitsu (Brazilian grappling and self-defense). With classes for children, teens, and adults, it's a great way for anyone to get in shape and kick things in a socially acceptable way!

Brooks Systems offers standalone software and web applications that check legal compliance in all municipalities in all fifty states, and create truth-in-lending documents for residential lenders. Using Brooks for your automated mortgage compliance, you can be sure your loans are safe.

eScienceLabs creates boxes of joy for science loving homeschoolers. In each kit is a complete science experience -- from individual lessons to full years of high school labs. Hands-on science kits are the answer to your laboratory woes. Everything is in there: test tubes, goggles, and fun.

Mariner's Museum has amazing programs for homeschoolers learning about maritime science, history, and even pirates! Their spring homeschool series features lessons about the Civil War. Visit Mariner's Museum for historical exhibits and educational programming.

Virginia Air and Space Center was host to the homeschool science fair this year, and delivered awesome