Oh God...

Someone's using my username, and it's not me...

Yeah 4000 Hits!

Thank y'all who read this, and keep on coming!

Keep Your Wrist Straight

Ok fine...last Shabbos, Peggy beat me at Scrabble, 271 - 231.

And yes, Tziporah came in from St Louis last night (weee!) and we went bowling today. And yes, I bowled 6 strikes in a row. I must say it was freakin awesome. I ended up with a 188--my highest score EVER!
The Gemara [I believe, but I'm not sure where] says that one of the King's of Yehudah (Yoshiyahu I think...again, not sure who) would have been Mashi'ach--but he wasn't. And why not? Because he didn't sing "shira LaShem," songs of thanks to HaShem. He didn't thank HaShem, so he didn't become Mashi'ach?

Wow, that's harsh.

Must be pretty important to thank people, right?

In that case, I would like to thank the person who I owe my 188 points today--Marni. At Adina's birthday party back in May, she was the only one there who was really really good at bowling (I mean, come on, what else is there to do in Columbus, OH, right??), and she said to me, "keep your wrist straight." And I did, and I got 6 strikes in a row, and I bowled a 188.

Thank you Marni.

Franky Boy

We all like Frank Sinatra, right? Well, you'll probably like him even more now...

Italian Zionism

Thank you Rabbi.

It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World

What's this world coming to?!

Bieber Receives Two Months in Prison

3- and 5-Year Olds Held In Police Custody for 20 Hours

Here's Your Change, Sir.

Why is it that us Orthodox Jews think that just because we're of the Dox, we don't have to act nice to people? Because of our nastiness, there is Change for 50 Shekel, which could do even more damage now that, in fact, he is no longer of the Dox, but, of Jesus.

Thank you, oh bretheren.

SWEET!

OH BABY!!

You scored as Link. You are Link, the up-and-coming hero in all of the games. You do what is right, like make others happy and save the day without any thought of your own well being. You are generally well-loved by all...except by the bad guys Link 83% Tingle 67% Saria 63% Zelda 50% Ganondorf 46% Which Legend of Zelda character are you? (to be updated) created with QuizFarm.com

I Feel Bad For THOSE Guys....

I was walking home from shul today, and I'm looking at the cars as I do sometimes, and a car passes me with the license plate, "LETHAL."

I wouldn't want to be in the cars in front of him....

Journeys III - Abie Rotenberg - Yerushalayim

Journeys III
Abie Rotenberg
"Yerushalayim"

Come let us sing the song of a city
Known for its beauty splendor and grace
Come let us find the words to describe her
She is not like, not like any other place

*Chorus*
Yerushalayim the place to live
Yerushalayim Harim Saviv (Tehillim 125:2)
Yerushalayim ir shel Shalom
Yerushalayim we're coming home

Yerushalayim the sky so blue
Yerushalayim return to you
Yerushalayim ir shel Shalom
Yerushalayim we're coming home

Walk down a street named for the tzaddik
Who lived by this very road
Step into a shul, you almost can hear
The words of the sages speaking wisdom of old

Where else in this world can you find a wall
Whenever you touch it, it touches you
Reach for its stones, it's moist with the tears
Of our hopes and our dreams, that we know will soon come true

*Chorus*

Dreams of past splendor and whispers of glory
Your walls tell your story your song...waiting so long
For the time when our tears will be stilled
Our prayers fulfilled, our city rebuilt...

Join in the crowd rushing to shul
As the siren invites the queen
Shabbos has come bringing peace to each home
The city's at rest, the feeling is so serene

Travel the land, the mountains and valleys
There is a story behind each stone
But when you return, your heart will rejoice
As Bruchim HaBa'im, appears and you know you're home

Yerushalayim the place to live
Yerushalayim Harim Saviv (Tehillim 125:2)
Yerushalayim ir shel Shalom
Yerushalayim we're coming home

Yerushalayim the sky so blue
Yerushalayim return to you
Yerushalayim ir shel Shalom
Yerushalayim we're coming home

Stupids...

I have been seeing this overplayed commercial over and over again about Botox. It starts off with these three women, each saying something different. They say, "I fit into my jeans today." "I had a good hair day today." "I found these great shoes today." Then of course it says, "get botox today."

What the hell does botox have to do with a good hair day?? Or SHOES?! Am I missing something here?! Jeans I can maybe hear, but shoes?!

Stupids...

Nice, Nice

Didn't think it would be short...but nice!

Which lightsaber are you? Dark Blue Mace Windu What military aircraft are you? EA-6B Prowler You are an EA-6B. You are sinister, preferring not to get into confrontations, but extract revenge through mind games and technological interference. You also love to make noise and couldn't care less about pollution.

Just Waiters, Or Secret Service Too?

As I said, Tali's bas mitzvah yesterday was fun. It was catered, so all the waiters and whatnot were dressed in black suits, wearing black bowties, of course. During the fruit cup though (a minute or two after mine and Ed's conversation about our favorite fruit cups/bowls), all the waiters were standing in a line, in front of the buffet tables, like they were the SS or something, guarding the president. I was thinking of running past them to try and get food, just to see what they would do. I didn't though. I should have.

I told Raanan to take a picture, but he was holding Netanel, and by the time he had gotten the camera ready, they had dispersed.

I wonder if they each had ear pieces...

Support A Cure

Savta asked me this morning to go to IGA (a mini supermarket right here..wouldn't a mini supermarket just be a regular market...?) and get her some Snapple. As I'm walking back, I see one of those ribbon magnets on a car, it's pink, and says, "Support A Cure." And that's it. I'm thinking about it, and I say, uh, duh? I'm not going to support not finding a cure. I think I should make those magnets just to be annoying that say, "DON'T Support A Cure," or, "Support A Non-Cure." Something like that. OF COURSE I'M GOING TO SUPPORT A CURE!

And Dani's right, the spell-checker that's part of blogger doesn't recognize the word "blog."

Idiots.

Ramblings Before Bed

The following conversation took place at my Tali's bas mitzvah party today (it was lots of fun--I got a sword!)

Rabbi *speaking to everybody*: ...as you're finishing your fruit cup...
Ed: Tonny, you're my favorite fruit cup.

Tonny: Ed, you're my favorite fruit bowl.

Tali spoke today about Rus's chessed. And then she said the last passuk of Rus. Finally she made a Hadran. I didn't know Hadrans existed for things like this.

I played Scrabble on Shabbos afternoon. First game was 1-on-1 me vs Savta. At the end of the game, we were tied, 253 each. Then we both went and both got 18 points--271 each. Then stuff happens (I don't remember what), and in the end, I beat Savta 285-283. It was a lot of fun, let me tell you.
The next game was a 4 person game this time, me vs Savta vs Abba vs Peggy & Tali (they were one team). At one point, I had SARINER in my rack, and I said to myself, there's no way I'm not getting a 7-letter word here, so I was playing around with it, but I had nothing. Then I saw a blank on the board that was already being used as an "N," so I took it (in our family, we play a variation that we can use exchange the letter for the blank, but the blank must be used that turn, or else you have to put it back). I played around, and got RAIDERS (the D is the blank), and I put it in the perfect place--right under a "B" that was on the triple-word score all the way on the right, in the middle of the board, and I got BRAIDERS, for 27 points (9, then times 3 for landing on the bottom-right TWS = 27), and then + 50 (50 point bonus for using all 7 letters) = 77 points, for 156. Abba was still winning though, he had 161. Abba's next turn, he got 24 (I think) giving him 185. Then my turn, I had _IEU (the _ is a blank). I was hoping to put LIEU out somewhere, but I couldn't find a place to put it. But alas, exactly 4 squares under the top-middle TWS there is a "C," so I surrounded it with my "I" & "E," making ICE--but I wasn't done. I then looked at my _U in my hand, and got an idea, I put down the _U in front of the ICE making....JUICE. Since that hit the TWS, that gave me 18 points (6x3 = 18), and since I finished my tiles first, I got everyone's points on their racks form their leftover letters. I got 2 from Savta, 3 from Abba, already giving me 23 points (156 + 23 = 179. Not enough yet to beat Abba with 185), and Peggy gave me....11, giving me 190. BOOYA! I won 2 games in a row BHYY.

Anyone sleeping yet? Eh, whatever....

I like Dani's blog too.

And I like my cousin Yehonatan. He was here for Shabbos. I hope you had fun at the wedding today, Yehonatan.

I love Raymond. Everybody should.

Marie: Robert, this is about you, you do what you want to do.
Ray: Yeah, then when you get married, you do what she [your wife] wants you to do.

Aight, laila tov vachalamot metukim.

Tonny

Wow, Been A While...

*whistle* Well, I was in Boston which was awesome. Learning was great, Sefardi minyan was cool, Maimo Shachris was weird. In Shachris, the ba'al Shachris TOTALLY skipped a whole paragraph, Atah V'chartanu. And then because the Rav holds this way, they leined Aseres HaDibiros twice. Whatever. And then there's Shachris on the 2nd day....Well, I must say, that it was NOT worth coming to shul before leining. The dude who lead Shachris wasn't good, and the guy who leined Rus (sorry Gila, Rut), was tone deaf. *sigh* Whatever. Seeing people was great.

And my nephew's here now! Weeeee! Yay Netanel!!

Going To Boston! Weee!

I'm leaving The Heights soon. Adina wants me to go to NJOP so Meir wouldn't have to stop another time or something like that. Nice. Now I know how to get to NJOP and stalk them everyday, MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Just kidding. Don't worry Adina. You shouldn't either, Phoenix.

Yeah, leaving at 1145. I can't wait to see everbody!!

I might be off til after Shvuos, we'll see. So have an ENERGIZING and INVIGORATING Shabbos, and AWESOME and SOLID (Elie I hope you don't mind me using these...and I'm tellling you this here like you're going to see it...anyway) Yomtov! I love y'all.

Love
Tonny

Hehehe

Cyprus international airport operations were disrupted when a man drove a car under parked planes and forced a taxiing airliner to change course to avoid a collision, authorities said.

Hahaha!

Zsh: i hope they were chocolate chip ^.^

I Just Realized

That I have to change the profile that as of this point until the next time I post, just to the right of this. I'm not in 12th grade anymore. Nor do I go to MTA anymore. Besides the fact I still have 2 regents--that doesn't matter.

WOW.

I'm Home!

Baruch HaShem Yom Yom, I am home (hehe, that rhymes). And Saba and Savta are here! Weee! Tonight Savta asked a question:

Savta: So the Shabbos of the Bas Mitzvah, who's got the first game of Scrabble?
Tonny: Me.
Savta: Against who?
Tonny: You?
Savta: Ok.

Yeah, that wasn't supposed to be funny. I just thought it was...funny...ok fine, SHUT UP!...funny that we are deciding now who's playing Scrabble first on Shabbos afternoon.
Raanan: Scrabble in our family isn't just a game, it's a personal vendetta.
How true it is.
I hope Josh gets back to me soon about staying at his house for shabbos. Becasue if I can go for Shabbos, I won't have to pay for a both on the way there, just on the way back. I mean, dude, it's around $60 round trip, only $30 one way. I would love to spend only $30 on traveling on a trip to Boston.
Laila tov vachalamot metukim y'all.

Love
Tonny

Dude...Uch I Can't Think Of A Title

Hey y'all, whazzup? Been a while, again.
Shabbos was nice, I had Fri night eats with ima (and yes, I said eats...), and that went totally fine. Her sister is here from EY for Tali's bas mitzvah and my graduation (which was last night and I'll get to later), and I haven't seen her in like 15 years (besides when I went to see her on Weds and she gave me a niice Israeli wallet), so it's good being with her. She's funny too. Then Shabbos afternoon I was at abba's, I started reading such an awesome book (The Greatest Game Ever Played by Jerry Izenberg), and played Aaron in Scrabble. He's in 8th grade, so I kinda beat him...285 - 198. Yeah...Motzash I moved furniture, and that's pretty much it.
Sunday was fun. I woke up at 600, packed, davened, ate, and went to Bi Cultural in Stamford for the SATs. They were ok. Too much english, though. We kept getting english, english, english, at one point I was like, dude no more english!! Didn't work though...I didn't know the essay would be first, so it was nice getting it out of the way, especially unexpected. My essay was so bad though, it was half a page. Whatever. I think I totally ROCKED one of the english sections though, the one where it has a sentence, and a word/phrase is underlinded, and you have to choose if that's the error, or not error, so yeah that one. I totally ripped it up I think. So we finished, Bex called me and I'm like you're done? She's like yeah...so we chilled, waited for her mom to pick us up, we had lunch at the JCC (it was pretty good--good bbq ribs), then went back to her house and just chilled. It was a lot of fun. We should do it again Bex. Then I took a shower and changed into my suit. Bex's mom drove me to the train (BH for nice people), and off we went. Oh God though, my bag was SOO heavy because of my boots. Jeez, I never realized how heavy they are. So I got to GC, and I had to walk from there to the Marriott (well, I probably didn't HAVE TO, but I did anyway). I thought GC was near Broadway, but nooo it's not. So I walked to Broadway, then to 45th st, and BH for other Jews, because I wouldn't have seen the Marriott. I asked them and they're like, it's right there and I say, ohhhhh. So BH I got there. But not before seeing the naked cowboy...what's this world coming to? Anyway, I got there, put on my tie jacket and hat (what, I'm going to walk in that weather with a jacket on??), went up to the 5th floor. After registration I dropped my stuff off. But registration...When I got there, I didn't know what to do, so I said my name, and they're like, who are you with? "NCSY." "Pittsburgh?" "No, New England Region, [have you heard of it?]" Whatever. So I'm wondering around, I see Denah--BH someone I know. But she wonders off, whatever, then I see Ari! WEEEEEEE! YAY ARI! So yeah, I walked with him a little(he didn't like ANYTHING at the reception, what the hell?! I was wondering why he didn't take anything...), saw some other people, saw Rabbi Jack, that was cool. Met some Pittsburgh and Celeveland NCSY people (apparently, like, all of Pitt came the night before or something...OH RIGHT FOR MIKEY! Nevermind then...). I was talking with Denah at one point, and this dude comes up to us and I'm like I know you. He's David/Long Island/goes to Rambam. I'm like aight whatever, so then later he says his last name is Bloch, and I go "OMG SHABBOS COMES ALIVE!" He's like oh right! I sang with him on Shabbos Comes Alive (he's next year's Long Island Regional President, btw), so that was cool. And just like me, David and Amanda, another Island NCSY dude, they couldn't find their names on the list. And it's weird because Jack had our names there. Like, he told them we were coming. Whatever. We ended sitting with Denah at table 73. But then after Att. General Gonzalez spoke, we had to move because we were in dudes' seats, so we went to the back, Amanda went to talk to Jack. And before this, we went to see if our names were on the list again. So we went, I said my name, and I saw my name on the list (I was reading upside down, but I could still read), and she's like, sorry you're not here. Idiots...I hate women. No I don't just some are so stupid. Anyway, Jack comes back, and table 79 was open, but no one was sitting there, so they asked if they could set 3 spots there. So the waiter's like, I have to ask my manager. But in the end, a few people didn't come who were supposed to sit at table 38 (or 39, I don't remember), so they put us there. It was awesome, because all the Ffld people (Mr's and Mrs's Macy and Augenraun, Dr Allen, Mr Parker, R' Engel, AND El Solomonte`. So that was cool. And Denah spoke, intrpducing the Mikey Butler video. That was cool. OH I saw rebbe there at the reception, because R' Shachter is his father in law, who got an award for all that he does for NCSY. So rebbe was there, which was weird. Anyway, it was cool. Lotsa fun. At the end, David and I serenated Denah, Amanda, and the other girl who was with us, we sang for them Mendy Wald's Pihah Pasichah (Yeah Adina! I KNOW you like that! :-) Asirght!) I sang melody, and David harmonized and I must say, we sounded SO FREAKIN AWESOME! Adina, you would have LOVED it. We sounded really good. Then we maarived. It was so annoying, 20 minutes after they announced maariv and special Yom Yerushalayim dessert downstairs, it was gone already, like, what the hell? Whatever, I got my stuff, walked to the 1 at Broadway and 50th, got on, sat down eventually, dropped my stuff off at the dorm, then went to Phoenix's to pick up Ed (yeah, he was supposed to come to the dinner also, but Adina DAC and Ariela all didn't feel well so they're like Ed just skip the dinner and stay with us? And he's like sure. So at first he didn't tell me that and I was annoyed, but after he told me that, I was like, oh ok, I would have done that also (I hope). So in the end, I'm glad Ed stayed with them). We got back to the dorm, got him a mattress, and went to sleep. It's funny, because Avishai didn't know he would be here, so I was like Ed, he's probably going to be like, WTF? When I woke up at around 930, actually, I heard Avishai say, Tonny be careful there's a crazy man sleeping on our floor. I was like hehe and went back to sleep. Or tried. But then we woke up and davened.
Time to start the day. I'm like, yo, you want to walk St. Nich? I need to get a pair of really nice fake sunglasses for $5. So he says ok sure. So we go, we're walking around, checking stuff out, he's like, dude, this is actually fun. We went into a store called Anna House--it's a sports store, sleeing jerseys, hats, etc. It's a cool store--Ed even took a picture of the overhang thing with the name of the store on it, I guess for his sister. So we're going, see stuff, we got to 181st, saw a ciask thing, a lot of sunglasses, but not the cool-looking kind I'm looking for--they all looked gay. Well, or for women. Ed was looking for a Braves fitted-hat, but no one had. So that was the far side of the st street--at around 179th we crossed back to the near side of the st. and at around 180th and 181st, there was a store with sunglasses on sale for $4. I saw a pair I liked, tried them on, but they were broken a little, which was annoying, because I didn't see another pair I liked. I went to the other selection they had in the store--again the gay looking ones. So I went back, and saw the same exact pair, but not broken, Ed's like they're fine, and BOOYA! I got sunglasses, $4! SWEET! So then we went back to YU, talked to dudes for a few minutes, picked up my cap & gown, said hi to people in the beis, dropped off the c & g in my room, then went to Dougies to have lunch with Devora and Ari! WEEE! So Ed and I get off, get to Dougies, and Ari says, no fleish, come to 79th by Filene's basement. Ok fine. While we're walking, I say to Ed, dude, we BETTER let Ari know that we wouldn't walk a whole subway stop for anybody. Ed then says, I bet he'll be like, no let's go to 86th..and then we'll end up back at The Heights and eating at Revaya because Ari wanted to see how far we'd go for him...so true, btw. So we called, and we ended up at Estihana (sp?). I must say, they have really good food there. It's funny, because I don't even like sushi. The honey baby ribs we're really good, and Devora's cripy beef things were also really good. The wontons in the wonton soup werent big enough though--but still good. It was sooo good to see Ari, and Devora. I saw Ari at the dinner, but like, he all over the place, he said it's hard for him to talk to like, one person at something like that, and that was ok. And Devora I haven't even talked to in such a long time--since I stayed for Shabbos in the heights. *sigh* AND when Devora called me at banquet, I couldn't find my phone (I knew it was in the bunk though, somewhere), so I couldn't answer it...:'( Devora I really miss you so much! And I really want to come over to see your new apt.! After Estihana, Ed and I came back up to The Heights, wasting $4 because we went down on the wrong side of the tracks--we went down the "downtown" one, and we needed uptown...yeah whatever. It was pretty funny actually. So we got here, we saw Rabbi Bronstein in front of the dorm, so we talked to him a little bit, I went to math, Ed chilled in my bed, I came back, more chilling, went to Golan, then I changed, then graduation.
Wow, this is becoming a long post...
We went to the Beis, and got in line, abc order. At 730, we had the procession, sat down, Levine (who in MBC) and Speigel sang HaTikva and Oh say, then people spoke, we had chants, like M!T!A! M!T!A! and the like. We did the slow clap, we made it interesting at points. "Mr Merrill." And then we went up to get our package-stuff, with the fake diploma, contemporary halacha thing by Al's shiur, and the awards we got if any. I got the Amy Something-or-other Memorial Award, from the class of '78, for going to EY. $600 baby!! Asright! So then we had food, said bye to everybody, took pictures, took one with Rabbi Schimmel (yeah Rabbi! I'm going to miss you! I definately have to call him next year...THAT'S a number I;m not getting rid of). Got presents from R & R (and Netanel), Sara Adina (thanks SOO much again for the picket knife!), G-parents serkin, ima and stu, from Amit. Weee! I got a baseball book from R & R--yeah baseball! :-D Then I hung out, went online, studied for math a little, went to bed.
Woke up today, davened, went online, ate then studied, then the final--which wasn't so bad, I answered 8/11 questions, which I know did pretty much correctly, so I think I did ok BH. And now here I am, iyH going home soon til next week. IYH I hope to be in Boston for Shabbos (not official yet, but I'll get back to y'all), and definately for Shvuos. Weee!

Wow, this is a long post--I wasn't expecting THAT.

Boy, Are We Screwed Up...

I was watching the news while doing the math section of an SAT yesterday (got a 600), and they were talking about the case of the 9 year-old girl killing her 11 year-old playmate over a rubber ball at a Memorial Day bbq, and they wanted to know if it was a crime, and if she should be punished [like an adult]. This Christopher guy was analyzing it, and brought in a case in FL going on now where they're trying to figure out if they should try a kid who beat up and killed his 7 month-old sister because he was jealous of the amount of attention she was getting. His last line did it:

"It's sad when a 7 year-old doesn't know the value of life. It's even sadder when an adult doesn't know."

How true it is...

Ooooh, I love it!

I love you too Devora.

"So how many girls do you have in your harem anyway??"

-Peggy

New England Region Spring Regional, Camp Seneca 2005

Awesome.
Amazing.
Tremendous.
Outstanding.
Stupendous.
Spectacular.
Fabulous.
Wonderful.
Fantastic.
That was the shabbaton in a nutshell--and yes, I used a thesaurus.
Keep in mind that this is take II of this post, so it's not going to be as good as the original one would have been. And this is a long post. Really long.
The bus ride was fun, seeing people again, especially some of the people getting on at Stamford. Advisors, Beth got on there, Bex of course, DJ, Lauren Wex, etc., fun bus ride.

We got there, brought our stuff to the bunk, picked beds, chilled, etc., saw all of my old friends, made a few new ones. We had lunch, R Miller introduced the regional board and advisors, and then an icebreaker. Devora Miller passed out letters in different fonts, and you had to find the people with the same font as you to make the word, then to get with other groups and eventually, find the message, and it was a welcome message. Ed and I didn't get one, which we didn't mind. Then during that, Aron and Meir got into a "fight," and the only way to decide this was to split everyone up and duke it out. Yup, color war. Weee! My first one, too. I was on Meir's team (BH), we were Yellow. Ed, Abby Vish, Lauren Wiz, Gonzo, and I were all the same team. Schepps also, Charles was too. The Winklemans were, and that chevra. Adina, Devorah, Rachie, Ari I think also. We went to go play dodgeball. It was awesome, Yellow won all 3 games. The first was everyone, next game was girls only, and then boys only. The girls only game we killed, and the boys only game we won by that much. Mike Epstein caught a ball as R Miller was counting down, 3, 2, 1...It was awesome. I was so into it, I had already lost my voice by davening time. After d-ball, we chilled a bit more and then got ready, and wrote some Shabbat-O-Grams. Sometime on Friday I got my regional board sweatshirt. OMG THEY'RE SO FREAKIN HOT!! They're red, and like, AWESOME! As Ed said, and I realized also, he said, dude, these are going to be sooo hot in the beis next year at yeshiva. I'm like asright boy! ... Then shul time, Baruch Levine did Kabbalas Shabbos instead of Aron, because he had also lost his voice by then. Baruch Levine, he was on D'veykus IV and sang HaMalach Hago'el. Great voice still, and K"Sh was no different. Then we went to go eat, and actually the food was really good. Then I introduced Abby Vish and Effy for divrei torah, bentched, then the "Dr Shmill show" skit. IT was funny, it was done really well. Sooo HMS omg. Then we had an oneg, in which I taught the family Raninu Tzadikim epon the request of Shifra and Devorah. I had been losing my voice already, so it didn't so that great, although everyone liked it. Then Gonzo did shtick and told a fake Kehaneshama Mehira story, and we sang the song. Meir was smiling I think. At 1230 we moved it to the gazebo outside so Meir can serve his 1 of 2 chulents he made--one for now, and the other for after Qiddush (don't ask me why, but the Quf is really with a "q," so I hear) before lunch. So we had some, and Meir told the real Kehanishama Mehira story, sang the song and a few more, and then went to bed at 200.
We woke up around 845, 900, with minyan being at 930. I had been losing my voice, so again, my singing and Shachris wasn't that great, but again, everyone loved it. I did the slow Ein Ki'erkecha, and went into E-l Adon. And for Nekadeish and Az Bekol, I did Yedid Nefesh from Aish I, and Mimikomicha was Esa Einai. IT was fun. Then Charles leined and BH you came Charles and thank you once again, you are my savior. I got Maftir, which was cool because it was the first time (and last, apparently) I had done the Haftarah on a Shabbaton. So that was cool. Gabbaiing was fun too, and Charles leined quickly, which was good. We finished around 1130, had Qiddush, and had more Meir chulent, and Meir demanded a dt or no chulent would be served, so I said one. So we ate, chilled, talked, Abby Vish was and Anna were over there in the other gazebo, so I sat to Abby's left, then Shifra sat to my left, Bex was there, Schepps was there, it was fun. We tried tying Twizzlers into knots in our mouths. Abby did it very well, and almost even did it to a regular Twizzler. She's good. She can also lick her elbow. Anyway, so then Shifra and I left and chilled for a bit, that was fun. Then we had lunch, more chulent. Then more divrei Torah, bentching, then team commercials. We got a certain passuk, and had to make a commercial from it, my team got "hochei'ach tochi'ach es amisecha--you shall surely rebuke your nation." There were some funny commercials, including Team Green's about companion or death, and Rachel and Akiva being one of the successful couples. It was really funny. Then one of the other Team Yellow ones, with Ed and Abby Vish and Schepps, the girls fell, and a group of guys came upon them, and said, we'd help you, but we're shomer, and started singing Can't Touch This, it was great. Then we Minchaed, then Menuchaed...
It's 753 and I'm going to shul now to talk to God...
Ok I'm back...God's good.
First thing I did during Menucha was play Scrabble with Abby Vish, and Laurens Wiz and Wex. I went first, and my first rack I got E, X, C, T, I, N, G, so I passed my turn, because there was NO WAY IN THE WORLD I'd give up getting a 7-letter word and its 50 points just to go first. So I passed, waiting for an I, and when my turn came, no I was there, but there was a wide open, a for EXACTING, double-word score, 86 points, and won by a lot with 165 or something. Then I chilled with Hinda a little bit before her session. Then I went to her session--it was really good I was really impressed with her. Then we had Ask The Rabbi, which dealt with vegetarianism according to halacha, what's with cursing, smoking etc., and other stuff. Then it was shaloshudes, and ebbing. Ed spoke really well, of course. Ebbing...well, what there was of ebbing was amazing, they were so into it. Ed said to me (and once again we were thinking the same thing and I noticed also), we've been on many shabbatonim, a few with 250 people, and they are louder now with 70 people. Then his next line made me cry, he said, we definately did something. I was like, dude we did, and it's awesome. But, ebbing stunk because it was so short. HaMalach Hagoel sung by Baruch Levine, Devora Miller spoke, then Lev Tahor and that's it. Ed and I just sat there. Adina came over and said that things change, but we will be able to sing later, and we could make it happen. And Meir said later to me that R Miller didn't know how much longer he'd be able to hold them for, so he stopped them there. I hear that, I really do, but like, ebbing is that special moment you only have once, and for us it just wasn't long enough.
We then Maarived. I started crying during my Shma Koleinu, and I just got stuck on one point, like Lord what the hell?? (don't worry, nothing about the shabbaton or whatever--something I daven for everyday) And I couldn't move on in my Shma Koleinu, I just kept like, Lord please let _______ and let it happen already, they don't deserve what has been happening to them. It was probably aroudn 20 - 25 minutes long Shmoneh Esrei, and I was late to Havdallah, but whatever. Havdallah was awesome, it was around an hr and 15 minutes long, and just so amazing. And yes we sang Someday. And then mad crazy dancing after it, whew! Then we had a bbq melaveh malkah and talent show. Ben rapped "Must Be My Rebbe," "I Want To See Your Neshama," and the halacha song, although I don't know the title--Ben if you're reading this, if you could, please indulge us of the title. Thanks man...anyway, then he tapped. That was freakin awesome--dude, Ben is awesomely talented. I wish I could rap. And then Bunk C did their thing, The NER Breakers--I wish I could break dance too--the ladies like that...hehe, jk. But seriosuly, I wish I could break dance. But then we went back to our bunk to go to bed. But...Ed got us on regional board these small water guns, so Ed, Schepps and me had an excursion to Bunk C to get Rabbi Boaz. Schepps and I walked in with the waterguns behind out backs, and everyone's like "take off your shoes!" (since it was rainy, it was muddy, and they wanted a clean floor...) And Schepps and I are like, uh NO and I started shooting Gonzo, Schepps went off, and Ed went to the back where Boaz was, emptied the gun three times on him, and when Boaz locked himself in the bathroom (not really, they were these flimsy curtain-looking doors), Ed stood on the sink and splashed water up through the top onto Boaz. So we were leaving, and as I left I turned around to see Ed barreling a kid over, and so Schepps and I ran down the stairs, and Ed wasn't coming out, so we realized he was still in there, so I yelled, "Man down! Man down!" We got back, we saw Gonzo on top of Ed on the bed, so we jumped on them to get Gonzo off, I shot him more, and Ed and I left, and I think Schepps got captured. But we forgot about him cuz my gun broke when I fell on my deck going into my bunk, and Ross (one of the head camp dudes) came driving by in his atv so we told him about our excursion. Then Schepps came out though. Then we went to sleep.
We woke up about 800, minyan at 830. We davened, breakfasted, then sports started! There was baseball, hockey, football throw (yeah Charles!!), soccer, etc. I did baseball against Rube. Batting cages, 15 pitches. He beat me by 1, he was 13/15, I was 12/15--but I smacked the ball and probably would have had two homers at least. And I batted lefty. But it was still cool everyone cheering me on, it felt good. Hockey I missed all 3 of my shots, but it's ok because Shifra did too for the other team, so it's like we Xed each other out. Then we had a few more and we had lunch. And then after lunch regional board helped Devorah (technically I think it's that she helped us...) set up for banquet, like balloons, sequense (sp?), etc. it was fun. Then I chilled with Aron, Ariela and Shifra, then hung out with Ed's parents, then Abby and Lauren Wiz serenated me and Ed with their version of "I Want To See Your Neshama." When Ben was rapping it, I was rapping along, and I was just looking around and across the way Abby Vish and I caught glances, so I was serenating her sorta, and then at the end I'm like, Abby I met your parents already. So yeah, then I chilled with Beth for an hr, and Charles came, and DMD, Hinda, and Dovid. Then she gave me a letter she wrote to me. She thanked me and other stuff, it made me cry. I love you Beth.
I got ready for banquet, showered, dressed, put on cologne for the first time. 'Twas nice. Smelled reeeaaallly good. Minchaed, then gave my siyyum on Seder Nashim. I can safely say that HMS has helped me improve my public speaking by like, a lot. I did it on the last part of the last mishna in Sotah, about the bad stuff right before Maschiach comes, mainly for the last line, "On Whom can we rely on? On Our Fathr in Heaven." I wanted to apply it to everything to give everyone chizzuk. I looked right at Shifra when I said, if someone wasn't accepted to something...she noticed that. Good. Then we took pictures, regional board guys, then regional board and Devorah, then HMS picture. That was fun. Then just walked around saying hi to everybody. Shifra was my "date," and my tie and her dressed matched--silver. It was cool. So then I took a picture with Lauren Wiz, little sister Abby Vish. I think that's it. Then we had chapt president walk in, regional board walk in, then advisors, that was funny. Then is started, Ed spoke amzingly, again--he made up something on the spot. He saw a sign on the far wall which said from Pirkei Avos to make for yourself a rebbe and buy a friend. Then we got Journeys' cd's as a token of appreciation, then all srs going to yeshvia in EY next year got a book from West River Regional Director R' Shlomo Ressler. Good book. Then we ate, videos, then awards started. Aron introduced the award, Kesser Shem Tov--and I got it. That was cool. And then Shifra got it right after me. Weee! That was cool, because you know she was my "date" and all. Then was Ben Zion...4 chairs were set up, and standing behind them were Ariela, Devorah, Adina, and Devora Miller. Ed was annouced and said to me, If you're not in, I kill you. When I was announced, he hugged me and said, "Welcome aboard, b****." Then Rube was announced, and we said, "Biaaaaaaaaatch!" Hehe R Miller probably doesn't even know what we're saying...Then Devora Miller got Lauren Wiz. Us 4 this year.

It was nice, I don't know how they decide who escorts who, but Adina escroted me to my seat. That mean[t/s] sooo much to me, because of all people there, I think I knew Adina the longest, being Fairfield Advisor and all. Thank you so much Adina. I love you.
Then Ed got a scholarship for $2500 for yeshiva next year. Then videos, dancing, etc. Banquet was really beautiful, it was great sitting at the dais. I loved it. Then after Banquet we bentched, yearbook--that was good. Every time Meir was in it wearing his tzahal uni from paintball at Winter R, I yelled out "Meir is so hot!" It was great. It was made by Shimmy, and after it, Ed and I did the Shimmy chant. It went over well. We didn't forget you Shimmy. I miss you.
I didn't forget you either Devora. I wish you could have been there, but I understand and it's not your fault. I love you, I want to see you next week.
Then we had team skits, Green's was pretty funny. Then we had the kumzitz. At first I was like, eh, because it was mandatory and everyone was there, but it was great. In the middle though, Bex left, and I hadn't yet talked to her, so I left to go talk to her thinking it was the last time we see each other before I go to EY, forgetting about the SATs on Sunday...anyway, so yeah I went to talk to her, that was nice. I miss you Bex! Then I went to get my sweatshirt for Shifra. But then I was cold and she was going to change her skirt, and she had my Devils sweatshirt from Fri night, so she got that and I had my regional board sweatshirt. Then I spoke, I thanked everyone, including Ari and you, Shimmy. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me in the 10+ years I have known you. I love you Shimmy.
Then we davened Maariv, and again I started crying in Shma Koleinu, for the same reason as the last night. (I don't get it, but Peggy was reading this, and she guessed it!! Jeez...is it really that easy to know what I'm talking about??) Then we had another kumzitz. There were smores, and in the beginning the atmosphere was like, eh, but as it got later, the atmosphere got better. I sat next to Ariela and Devorah, and then Shifra and Anna came, surrounded by them. It felt great. I felt safe. At that point I couldn't sing anymore, I would crack everytime I went up even a note. Devorah was like, sing, I'm like it doesn't sound good, she's like, I like it anyway, or something like that, so whatever I sang. And then I cried about the same thing I did during Maariv, but that went away soon. We had to stop at 4, and at 355, I started Nishmas from Shalsheles III. I was singing from my stomach (the diaphragm as Beth said), and I reached everything, it was awesome!! I couldn't believe it. I saw Adina looking at me like, wow, he never ceases to amaze me. Yeah I'm probably TOTALLY wrong. Whatever, I like guessing. So the kumzitz ended, went to bed, talked with Meir about the awards, and ebbing. When we went to sleep at around 450, it was already getting light. Woke up at 800, minyan at 830. Packed, davened, went back and packed some more and brought my stuff to the front. Breakfast, evaluations, helped Adina bring her bag to the front. Brought some of Meir's stuff to the front. Then we started the goodbyes. We got in the big circle, R Miller started thanking everybody, dancing, then after the song, I realized that R Miller wasn't thanked, so I took the mic and said one person hasn't been thanked yet. There's a Gemara I think that says that one of the kings of Yehuda (I think Yoshiyahu, but I'm not sure) would have been Maschiach, but he didn't say Thank you to God. So please let's all thank R Miller. It was cool. Then the crying started. Rube started, and he's emotionless as we all know, and he said, "What is this salty discharge [coming from my eyes]??" It was funny. I was crying too. Then we started the goodbyes and thank yous. I started with Adina. OMG, it was so hard. I've known her for 10 years or something, and like, just, so hard. And then the other stuff I said, and we were both crying at the end very much and being shomer sucks! But it has to be done I guess...But I said to Devorah, Hinda, I think Ariela was there too, Ed was, I'm like, Devorah, I'm not in NCSY, I don't have to be shomer anymore. Ed was like, yes, Tonny I'm so proud of you! I was kidding though. Saying goodbye to everybody, was annoying, a lot of them I'm not going to see for quite awhile. Before I got on the bus, I had to do one last "Meir is so hot!" and I did, it felt good. I asked R Miller if he knew of a place to stay for me if I were to stay in Boston, he said I'd be able to stay at his house, mostly likely, just give him dates.
The bus ride was good sat next to Beth, talked with her, talked with Hinda. Sat next to Ed a little bit, talked with Devorah on the phone, txts, Bex, she called, she met us at Stamford at Agudas Shalom. I had to say goodbye to Beth, I hope it's not the last time I see her before EY. And DJ, I told him when I come back I want him on regional board. He said he was going to try.
At Fairfield, I had to say goodbye to Ariela and Lauren. Lauren was crying. A lot of times we're dude, you have such an attitude, I don't appreciate it, but we're always joking and we love each other. I'm going to miss her. And Ariela, oy.
And then I came home. I'm still on the shabbaton high, but I already feel the emptiness. I miss NCSY so much already.
Aight, I have been spending literally all day on this post. Laila tov vachalmot metukim. I love all of you. I would list all of you, but that will take to long.

Love
Tonny