HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my AMAZING GRANDPA!!! Today he is 84 years young! WE LOVE YOU!!!
Grandpa with his 10 grandchildren and first great-grandchild!
In honor of my grammy, Shirley Alter May 6, 2010
My grandmother was an AMAZING woman. Sadly, on May 2, she passed in the night. She was a strong woman who did everything from battling polio, breast cancer and heart disease, to raising 4 wonderful children and 8 grandchildren. She was a pioneer, pre-feminism feminist and incredible philanthropist. She will be missed every single day. Below is the reading the grandchildren put together for her funeral.
I miss you Grammy.
There are 8 of us grandchildren, now aging from 12 to 30. Growing up, we didn’t all live in the same city, but we never felt physical distance that separated us. This was because of our grandmother. Grammy was the energy that brought the family together and made us feel like a unit. She had so much love to give and we all felt it. She taught us the values of fairness and equality in a world that doesn’t always treat everyone equally. She taught us that family is family, no matter where you come from or what you look like. And most importantly, that family is something to take pride in and to cherish.
Grammy taught us how to cherish family by instilling in all of us the value of tradition. These were not just traditions, but the foundation of a stable and happy family. These values are what brought us together for everything from holidays like Thanksgiving, to rituals like B’nai Mitzvahs, and even what some of us called Camp Grammy during the summer. She brought us together, and what she taught us will keep us together.
We are all lucky to have had her as a pivotal role model. Now that we have added 2 spouses and a great-grandchild, some of whom will never have the honor knowing our amazing grandmother, we know that they will continue to benefit from her wisdom and goodness. Grammy’s presence and the legacy that her golden heart has created will forever be a part of our lives. She will continue to guide us as we move forward and create families of our own. Not only will future Alters be able to enjoy great stories about our Grammy, but their lives will be better because of her life.
No I did not break your toilet! January 9, 2010
Ok so the lady I lived with until today is, well a bit NUTS! Here is a quick look at my week at her home:
Sunday:
She serves me brown mush and soupy oatmeal for dinner.
Monday:
The toilet was broken when i woke up.
She tells me that my room is not organized enough and that I can not keep stuff on the tables in my room.
The internet goes out and she tells me 15 times that the guy will com fix it
Tuesday:
Got upset with me that I did not put the stool and squeegee (which she keeps in the shower) back in to the shower. But the shower was not draining and thats why I waited. I told her and she freaked. She had no clue. When was the last time she showered?
Internet went out again
She bought (essentially) Drano for the shower. Here is what happened between 7 and 8 PM:
G – I got “the liquid,” can I put it in?
D – I am going to shower first.
G – Ok it needs 12 hrs
D – Ok I will shower now
G – Ok let me know when you are done – When do you want to eat dinner?
D – 8
G – What time is it now?
D – 7 oh and the internet doesn’t work again
G – But the tech came yesterday.
D – I know but its broken again.D – I am done, do you want me to put in the liquid?
G – no no no I will do it. Are you done showering?
D – (in new clothes with wet hair) yes
G – Are you going somewhere? You are not going to eat here?
D – Yes I am eating here. I am leaving afterward.
G – So I can put in the liquid? It needs 12 hrs
D – Yes you can put it in.G – here is 50 pesos. Go buy dinner. There has been too much tonight between the internet and the shower for me to cook (this is at 8, one hour later) There are good restaurants on X and X corners and pizza on X corner. Don’t spend it all.
D – Ummm ok
G – Are you going to go now?
D – No I am going to wait for Magaly and we will go together.
G – So you are not going to go now?
D – Mo I am going to go with her
G – Oh ok good. So I can put in the liquid? It needs 12 hrs
D – Yes you can put it in
G – Ok I will shower first then put it in.
10 minutes later
G – Have you showered yet? I want to put the liquid in the drain because it needs 12 hrs.
D – YES!!! (WTF?!?!?!)
So ya she gave me money instead of food, and I was fine with that!
Wednesday:
After all of it, the drain was still not much better
My room was not organized enough and its not the Argentinian way and I need to do something about it. These are COINED’s rules not hers… (so she said)
Yelled at my about not having a constant dinner schedule — but asked me what time I wanted to eat.
Thursday:
Barely saw her 
Friday:
Told me that mail is bad here when I asked her if it was ok to have a box sent here a week ago and she said yes – what?!?!
She tried to make me pay for the toilet that I did not break and got mad at me when I told her I didn’t do it and wouldn’t pay for it.
That is just some of the great times I had with Graciela and why I now live on the other side of town with a woman named Theresa in MUCH nicer place.
Military Service and Social Media December 16, 2009
Facebook is a great way to stay in touch, reconnect and, let’s face it, even stalk people. But while looking through my news feed, I came up the “Wall-to-Wall” of a friend of mine whose husband is overseas with the US Army. He has been gone about a month of his one year in Iraq, and they have posted on each others’ walls just about every other day if not every day. I have a number of friends in different sectors of the military that have served in various regions overseas, but I have never had a boyfriend over there. And with the recent deployment of more troops, it made me wonder: how do social media sites, such as Facebook, affect the relationships of couples and families split up by military service?
Please vote and discuss below:
Father’s Day June 21, 2009
Happy Father’s Day to the BEST Dad in the world!
This is a tradition of ours. We take a picture like this at every big, formal event in my life. This one (a bit old) was Prom.
My Dad is honestly the most amazing man I have ever met. He runs his own business, spends an enormous amount of time looking out for and hanging out with me, my mom and my siblings and he takes care of the rest of our family. So here’s to you Daddy! Words can not describe how much your family loves and appreciates you!
Thank you for everything Daddy!! I love you!
