Old ring/New ring

 

 I've been wearing this ring for over 50 years.  It's from Dennis' family but I don't know who (why not?).  Slightly before I got married I replaced some lapis with some jade.  Worn it ever since.  But lately I saw that the gold around the stone was wearing out and catching on things.  My jewelry person pointed out that the jade was cracked.  So time for something new given that it's our 50th anniversary.  Here's my new stone.  It's malachite with some striping.  I like it!

Our seder

 Bowen knows that the table is set real fancy.  He hopes that means that we will have company.  He LOVES company!  Especially family.  He is very fond of matzah and often there is plenty of matzah for dogs.  He doesn't know it but Melina has made a special cake just for him.

He's right!  Company comes!  I know, I know, the haggadot are not consistent and this causes a lot of merriment and confusion.  From far left around the table -- Melina, Chris, Dennis, Naomi (holding the seder plate), Stephen (the engineer, why doesn't this make sense?), Megan (obscured), Scoutie (age 3) and Suzie.  Scout finds the afikommen and then later had to hide it again and again for us to find.

Suzie and Megan make the matza ball soup, Stephen and Naomi make the hard boiled eggs and charoses.  Melina brings the dessert (including the dog cake).  We skip the main meal this year and nobody noticed.

Glad to do it.  I'm doing it for Scoutie...

Visit to Port Townsend

 Sunday before last Dennis and I went on a day trip.  Taking the dog.  We went to the Olympic Peninsula via ferry (oh the inconvenience!) going to drive around Hood Canal.  But once we got there, Dennis pointed out that it was likely to miles and miles of driving down narrow high speed tree-enclosed roads.

It was 42 degrees and raining.

So we changed the plan and went to Port Townsend instead.  Washington does not have many cute towns but Port Townsend is pretty attractive with a downtown with older buildings.  And lots of water views.

Picture is view from Chetzmoka Park.  Very cute, never been there.

We have a history with Port Townsend.  A while back, Dennis' parents decided to move to Port Townsend.  They live a ways away in a raw development, Cape George.  Beautiful view with a cutting wind to match.  They were always wanting us to come visit.  But it was a difficult reach.  At least 2 hours each way including that stress-inducing annoying ferry.  With 4 small children and not extra money for treats.  If we missed the ferry, it was sitting in the dark with 4 squirrely kids for 45 minutes or so.  We would be going with the usual ferry crowd which made it more likely to be a wait.  Reasonably fun when we got there, we could go down to the beach and mess with clams, etc.  However Dennis' mother's mental health was deteriorating and it got increasingly tougher.

But they were always on our case to come visit.  But it was SO much trouble.

So we thought "Port Townsend,oh yeah, we've done that a lot"  But when we got back, I started thinking, how long has it been?  So hard to sort out the chronology.  They moved here from California in reaction to my pregnancy with Ilana.  Naomi was born in 1989.  I do remember being there at Christmas when a pre-school Danny was very concerned that Santa (Ho ho) would come.  So conservatively 1990?  When did they move over here?  I remember them bring here when Susanna's team won the city tournament which was maybe 1995.  So, if we go with 1994, that would mean 32 years!  Even though it seemed recent, it's been over 30 years since we've been there!  A long long time.

I had no idea.

Seder in the midwest!

 One of my daughters had a seder on Saturday.  With family members and quite a few young children.  My son in law sent this picture, I think he was taking it.  His parents are there but are probably sitting at the end of the table.  His mom cooked a lot of the dinner.  They set up a long table in the living room.  My grandson Simon is in the foreground in the high chair.  He's present and seeing it.

I am giving a small seder this evening.  9 people.  I think everybody will show this year.  I'm not cooking that much.  Dennis CANNOT believe that I didn't make a brisket.  I gotta go upstairs to mess with the parsley and grape juice.

Ilana won a nice award!

Ilana won a nice award.  As a mom, I get to brag!

 

This year, we are proud to highlight our achievement award winners via email. These individuals exemplify excellence in leadership, scholarship, mentorship, and service, leaving a lasting impact on librarianship. In this email, we recognize Ilana Stonebraker, the recipient of the BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award, for her outstanding contributions to the field. You’ll learn more about her career, leadership, and impact, along with messages from our sponsor and the award recipient.   We also extend our gratitude to LSEG Data & Analytics for their generous support of this award and their contributions to recognizing excellence within RUSA.

BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award Sponsored by LSEG Data & Analytics

2026 Award Winner: Ilana Stonebraker, Head, Sciences and Social Sciences Head, Business/SPEA Library Librarian, Indiana University, Bloomington, is the 2026 winner for the BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award.   Ilana Stonebraker, through her research, publishing, teaching and collaborative spirt is noted for making a positive impact on the world around her and has distinguished herself as a business librarian and leader.   Her scholarship is widely cited in business librarianship literature, illustrating "her ability to elevate the theoretical and the practical while addressing real-world challenges." Ilana's strong leadership and service to the profession is demonstrated by her progressively responsible roles in ALA, including as BRASS Chair in 2020, and RUSA President in 2024. She is also known for mentoring and supporting numerous graduate students and colleagues. Her strong involvement in the Purdue Teaching Academy and her recognition as recipient of the Purdue Libraries Excellence in Teaching Award speaks to her passion for teaching and how much she is valued by her students. Her commitment to the profession, to the many faculty, students, and colleagues who benefit from her knowledge and generosity for sharing, speaks to Ilana's joy for our professional community and the meaningful connections and contributions we make.   The BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award selection committee was chaired by Susan Klopper.

My parents' headstones

I was going through some old picture folder.  From 2012.  And found this picture of my parent's grave markers.  My father died in 2007, my mother in 2010.  They are buried in Mishkan Israel cemetery in New Haven CT.  In the newer section where everything is flush to the ground.  I was visiting my cousin Mary Ann; we were doing family history research.  When I go to visit my cousin, we always always go to the cemetery.  This is not optional.

Dennis and I will also be buried in that cemetery.  In the older 19th century part.  Next to my great grandmother Delia.  I'm sure I've told that story here.

This was only two years after we had come to bury them.  We went to the cemetery and it was kind of hard to find them.  14 years ago.  But it gives some sadness and finality to see them here.  They had a good run and led the life that they wanted.

 

Rabbi John Franken stolpersteine

My third cousin Rabbi John Franken placed some stolpersteine recently in Berlin for family members.  He has the artist Gunter Demnig there doing it.  He posted it on Facebook.  He's related to me through my great great grandfather Maier Zunder.

You are welcome to watch my film I produced of my event https://vimeo.com/1083713066

 

My new thingee

 Here's my new thingee.  Not the stapler, that's just to give you an idea about the size.  Actually it's a microphone.  Really small and light.  Unobtrusive.  The problem is that I'll lose it!

I have found that I'm not understanding the professor in my class especially when she gives side comments.  And I couldn't understand a lot of a lecture I heard.  My access buddy told me that I could do something about it.  If nothing else, I am eligible for disabled student services (which I already knew).  I talked to the 'hard of hearing' guy and he told me about these little microphones.  I went to the audiology people and bought this device.  For $350.

So, I give it to my teacher and I can hear everything she says!  It comes directly to my hearing aids via blue tooth.  During my small group discussion, I handed to the student speaking and I could hear them.  If I have trouble hearing the TV, I put it down next to it and I can hear it so much better.

Just working on strategies to not lose it.  Dennis put a label on the side with my name and phone #.

I think it's good!

Simon and Frank

We went to Indiana earlier this month to visit our daughter Ilana, her husband Matt and their two little boys, Frank 4 and Simon 2.  A great time and VERY busy.  A lot of the time when they were home, Frank and Simon were doing this, chasing each other in the family room and kitchen making lots of noise and having a gay old time.  Frank loves having a little brother and he looks forward to a future together (When I grow up, I'm going to have a house so Simon can live in it)  Of course, Simon thinks everything his big  brother does is very important.  But Simon has his own mind about things.  He feels that he is the one who decides what he does.  And he doesn't miss a thing.  A great joy for everybody to see given his birth injuries.