New Books

Yesterday I went Garage Sale hopping and bought wayyyyy to many books!  You would think that with my Nook, I would stop buying books.  But nope.  Below is the list of ally my new books!  Please let me know what you would like to borrow.

A Room of One's Own- Virginia Woolf
Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy- Sharon Lathan
Loving Mr. Darcy- Sharon Lathan
My Dearest Mr. Darcy- Sharon Lathan
Bitter is the New Black- Jen Lancaster
Bright Lights, Big Ass- Jen Lancaster
Such A Pretty Fat- Jen Lancaster
The Queen's Fool- Philippa Gregory
The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own- Nina Garcia
Change of Heart- Jodi Picoult
She's Come Undone- Wally Lamb
Time of My Life- Allison Winn Scotch
The Dante Club- Matthew Pearl
Hot Pink- Susan Johnson
The Bell Jar- Sylvia Plath
Wasted- Marya Hornbacher
Vanishing Acts- Jodi Picoult
Night- Elie Wiesel
Girl, Interrupted- Susanna Kaysen
Little Earthquakes- Jennifer Weiner
Mr. Maybe- Jane Green


If you guys have read any of these books, please let me know what you thought about them.  I have a super long list of books to read, but if any of these are AMAZING, I will move it to the top of my list! 

Getting Pudged

As everyone knows, I have a pug, Pudge.  On September 29, he will be turning 7 years old.  CRAZY!  I still remember the night my brother brought Pudge home, a Saturday in December.  I was at a birthday party for my friends grandmother.  My brother went with our dad to go look at dogs.  My brother called me up and told me he found a dog.  He was 12 weeks old at the time, and very hyper.  When I got home that night, there was a cute little puppy in my brothers arms.  I honestly don't think Pudge was on the floor the whole night.  I had a friend over, my brother had friends over, and Pudge just went from person to person, being cuddled, kissed, and cooed.  

Finally it was time for bed, and we had to put Pudge into his crate.  This was a little difficult.  Every time we put Pudge into his crate, he would just start to cry and cry and cry.  My mom kept trying to tell Jeremy and me that we should leave Pudge alone, he will eventually fall asleep, but of course we couldn't just leave him alone.  He was so tiny, and he looked so sad in his crate, trying to escape.  Eventually Jeremy and I got some sleep.  I'm pretty sure Jeremy had to wake up in the middle of the night to take Pudge out, and then again early in the morning.  At twelve weeks old, Pudge was pretty rambunctious and energetic.  He enjoyed playing with his toys, playing with the family, and running around the living room/dining room/kitchen (he couldn't climb the stairs yet).  

As Pudge got older, and became "potty" trained, he started sleeping in my brothers bed.  Jeremy would bring Pudge upstairs and throw him onto the bed.  After Jeremy was all tucked into bed, and after my mom said goodnight, Jeremy would shove Pudge under the blankets.  This is how Pudge learned to love heat and be a very good cuddle-er.  

Now at seven, Pudge occasionally likes to play, but he's not very good at it.  He will run and get a toy, bring it over to you and just stare.  Pudge won't drop the toy on the floor for you to pick it up, and if you try to grab it out of his mouth, he will turn away.  I guess we forgot how to teach him how to play when he was a baby.

As for running, Pudge will run around the house when the mailman is outside.  Pudge gets very excited, and starts to bark way too much.  He will try (and usually succeeds) to eat the mail.  We attempted to close the door leading to the entrance hall.  This worked for awhile, until Pudge broke one of the window pains.  After cutting out all the sharp edges, we started closing the door again.  Of course one day Pudge jumped through the window pane hole and got stuck.  My dad walked downstairs and saw Pudge in between the front door and the second door.  That's my Pudge!

Over the years, Pudge has also gotten lazy.  He spends most of his days sleeping.  The whole house is one big bed.  He enjoys sleeping on all the beds, couches, rugs, and cold floors during the summer.  One of the couches in our den is in front of the radiator.  Pudge enjoys spending hours on top of this couch, soaking up the heat.  When you pick him up, he is literally burning.  We sometimes will use him as a heater.  At night, when people are home, Pudge can either be found on the carpet in the dining room, watching all the action, or in the kitchen, crying to get into someone's lap.  And since he's spoiled, he usually does get picked up and cuddled.  Then there comes the bedtime.  When Jeremy is away at school, he will sleep in my parents' room.  Pudge likes to be on top of us when he sleeps.  He will usually lie on my mom or dad's legs, making it hard for them to move around in the middle of the night.  When Jeremy is home, Pudge will sleep in his bed.  This usually consists of him cuddling up underneath the covers.  When I am the only one home, Pudge will sleep with me.  I try very hard to not let him go under the covers, but when he is standing over my shoulders crying, it's a little hard to ignore him.  Especially when he does this in the middle of the night.  But no matter where Pudge is sleeping, he snores nice and loudly.  If you can't tell, Pudge is one spoiled dog!

Of course I could go on and on about my Pudge, but I will stop here.  Below I have posted some pictures of my baby!  Enjoy =)

Prepping for Yom Kippur

As promised, I am writing more about Little Women.  I honestly haven't read the book in a few days because it is making me a little too sad.  For those of you who know the novel, I am up to the part where Beth is very sick with scarlet fever.  It is a difficult for me to get through this part because I know what is going to happen to Beth.  I can also not get through this section because I do not want the three sisters to be so worried, upset and sad about Beth's illness.  For some reason I think that if I hide the book, Beth won't get too sick, and eventually she will recover.  

For those of you who have not read Little Women, Beth receives scarlet fever by going over to visit a family that is less fortunate than her family.  The family literally has nothing (barely any clothes, no money, and no food).  Mrs. March (the mother) normally visits the family, but she had to take care of her sick husband.  Beth is the only sister who went to visit the family in need.  The other sisters kept saying they would visit eventually, but they never did.  I wish I could be more like Beth.  She doesn't procrastinate or ignore people.  I would love to be like her.


Reading Little Women has really gotten me to think about everything that I have.  A nice warm house, both my parents with incomes, an always-stocked refrigerator and freezer, more clothes (shoes and bags) than I need, a comfortable bed, tuition money for school, and anything else I could possibly need or want.  The March family used to have money, but then something happened, and they no longer have much money.  They have enough money to buy food to put on the table, but that is about all they can afford.  Their dresses are torn, burnt and stained.  Their gloves are ripped, and shoes too tight. 

At the moment, I have stopped reading Little Women.  Beth is extremely sick, and I’m too upset to read.  I know what is going to happen; yet I still cannot continue.  All I can think about is the fact that Beth caught scarlet fever by being a good person and helping a family in need.  Beth is always looking out for her friends, family and dolls.  This brings me to my question: Am I always looking out for people.  I know I do whatever I can for my friends and family.  I will go out of my way to do whatever my friends and family need.  But what about everybody else? What about those who don’t have a house?  Or food and clothing?  What about parents who can’t find jobs and support their children? 

My basement is filled with bags of clothes I want to donate.  I probably put those clothes down there six months ago, saying to myself “I’ll bring them somewhere next week”.  Well “next week” has passed many times.  Those bags are still taking up space downstairs.  I also have more clothes and bags in my room that I can donate, but I’m too lazy to go through everything.  I also find that some of my clothes have sentimental value, and “maybe” I will wear them someday.  New rule: if you’ve only worn it once or twice, get rid of it (except for fancy dresses).  There are people who need these clothes and shoes.  I also have a huge bag of books that I want to donate, but haven’t yet.  If you're looking for a place to donate your old clothes, shoes and bags, Google it.  I just looked, and there are so many places I can donate!

My goal is to de-clutter my room within the next month.  Rather than thinking about it as “throwing things out”, I am going to think about it as finding things to donate.  What do I have in my room that someone else might love or need?  With the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, approaching, it is time to think about asking for forgiveness.  G-d (and mommy), can you please forgive me for spending all of my tuition money on shoes, clothes and bags?  Bad habits are hard to break.  I would also like to ask G-d to forgive me for not volunteering very much since graduating from URI.  I honestly don’t think I’ve done any volunteer work at all and I feel very guilty.  I would always say I’m so busy with babysitting, working for my mom, and going to grad school.  This year however, I have decided to change that!  I just started volunteering at a Jewish day school, helping with the library.  I shelve books, put up posters, and organize the whole place.  I may also be able to make up lesson plans, so this will help me in the future.  Even though I do this two times a week, I would like to do more volunteer work with those more needy.  If anyone has suggestions of where to go, please let me know!!  If anyone would also like to do volunteer work with me, please tell me.  

Family Love

I am currently in the middle of Little Women.  I read the book in high school, but I think I was way too young to understand the importance of the book.  At 23, I am the perfect age to read it.  From the moment I started reading the novel, I cannot stop thinking about it.  It's magical, sad, frustrating, romantic, family focused, and so much more.  Little Women has really made me think about everything I have in my life: both my parents home with me, a brother, money/time for school, a nice home to live in, mine and my family's health, an extensive wardrobe without holes and stains, and as much food as I want to eat.   (Promise to write more about Little Women in a later blog!) 

My brother left for his second year of college last Thursday.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying having the DVR all to myself and not having to share a bathroom with anyone, but I do miss him while he's away.  When we were younger, the two of us would fight like crazy.  My brother always thought he was older than me, and would try to tell me what to do.  I of course would refuse to listen to him, and try to push him around.  It was fun for us to push each other's buttons, but I'm sure my mom did not enjoy it.  As we got older the fighting stopped.  We both respected each other's spaces and each other.  Now our relationship is close to great.  We are able to talk openly about whatever.  We've both realized that the other isn't as innocent as we thought.  Through the years my brother and I have bonded over baseball, my parents' constant discussions about my dad's business, The Office, and of course the love of our lives, our dog Pudge.  

In Little Women the four sisters are best friends, and spend a lot of time together.  They love to perform plays for their mother, they sit together at night sewing for the men at war, and they sing before going to bed.  No matter what kind of day they have, they are always there for each other at the end of it.  When Jo has to complain about Mrs. March she has three pairs of ears listening to her.  When Amy was punished in school, she had all her sisters and her mother comforting her.  When Meg focuses too much on appearances, she has three sisters to help her become grounded.  Each new song Beth learns, she is able to perform it for her sisters.  These four girls are always together, and always relying on each other.  My brother and I listen to each other’s complaints, comfort each other when we are mad and upset, try to keep the other one grounded when we become so consumed with something, and enjoy each other’s hobbies and talents.  The only thing we don’t do like the sisters of Little Women is actually spend much time together.

My brother was home for three full months.  When he first came home, we spent some quality time together.  We watched all season 5 of The Office.  Once we finished season 5, we stopped hanging out.  We both became very busy.  I would leave for work in the morning before my brother woke up, and I would already be asleep by the time he came home at night.  There were times when we went days without seeing each other (by the way our rooms are right next to each other, and we share a bathroom.  Not sure how we kept missing each other).  On days when I had some free time, I hoped my brother would be home to hang out.  He wasn’t.  Finally August 1 came and I realized that my brother would be heading back to school in a few weeks.  Time to make an effort to hang out with my brother.  The first two weeks of August were a failure for my brother and I. 

Eventually my brother and I found some time to hang out.  We watched Entourage together, watched Monsters Inc., had dinner together, and packed my brother up for school.  I always have a great time hanging out with my brother and was bummed when he went back to school.  At least we have iChat and BBM. 

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy have shown me how important it is to make and spend time with those you love: family and friends.  Life is too short to spend it doing something you’re not enjoying, and with people you don’t even like that much.  The lesson I learned this summer is to make sure I spend time with those most important to me.  I spent a lot of time with most of my best friends, but I do regret not spending a lot of quality time with my parents and brother.  My goal this year is to spend my time equally with all my friends, and to make sure I have time for family.  Let’s see how well this works out for me!! 

Build Me Up Buttercup

So on Thursday I was sitting at my computer, getting ready to leave my house for my first day of class, and I realized that the date was September 2.  Now the whole day I knew the date, but while looking at the birthdays section on Facebook, I realized what the day was.  It had been exactly 10 years since my Bat Mitzvah.  I still can't believe it's been ten years.  I can still remember the summer of 2000 perfectly.  That was the summer I first started Camp Lindenmere.  That was the summer before starting 8th grade.  That was the summer I grew up, and came out of my shell a little bit.  That was a very influential summer for me.

As we all know, I love summer.  It's my favorite season, and I'm not sure if it's because of the weather, or because of my memories of camp.  Until I was 15 years old, I went to camp every summer.  I will be honest (especially since I know Sara will be reading this), I did not always enjoy camp.  For the longest time I went to Ramapo Country Day Camp and I was forced into "playing" soccer, baseball, basketball, and hockey.  I put playing in quotation marks because what I did could not be considered playing at all.  I was the one who was running away from the ball.  I can promise you it was a very funny sight.  As much as I hated those activities, I loved everything else about Ramapo.  I loved having a counselor who was in her teens/early 20's.  I loved going to cooking class, and making yummy treats (like cookie pizza).  There was ceramics, arts and crafts, jewelry making, lanyard, theater, go carts, horse riding, and the list continues.  This list is partially what made me love camp.  The other reason why I love camp so much is because I love being part of the "bunk".  Yes girls can be bitchy, but I have made some very good friends over my summers.  I think summer camp is also the place to become friends with girls you think you would never talk to during the school year.  

After my long stunt at Ramapo, I attended Camp Lindenmere for four years.  What I wouldn't give to go back for another summer.  I miss every night sitting at the flagpole staring up at stars and bats.  Having a nap time after lunch to rest, read, or gossip.  Sitting on our porches, shaving our legs, listening to music.  International male counselors.  Gossiping with my bunkmates and counselors about the International male counselors (Pee Wee and Richy Rich anyone??).  Attempting how to ice skate.  Being super bored at the evening activity.  Color War cheers.  Mr. and Mrs. Lindenmere.  Talent shows.  I wish I was still 13 years old, attending Camp Lindenmere.

My first year at Lindenmere was the hardest.  I had never seen the  camp before the bus dropped me off, so I had to figure out where my bunk was, as well as how to get everywhere else.  Then I had to figure out which bed I wanted for the next six weeks.  Difficult decision.  Luckily the girl on my right became one of my best friends, and I still talk to her this very day.  A lot of the girls in my bunk already had their friends, since they had been to Lindenmere before.  I had to figure out how to break into the groups already made.  Let's add to the fact that I had to practice for my Bat Mitzvah a few times a week.  With all that stress of finding friends, and learning my Haftorah, I thought I would have a horrible time.  Luckily that was not true.  I had the best time.  Leaving my comfort zone was the best thing for me.  Sometimes you need to shake up your life, and put yourself into different/unique/difficult positions.  You never know what you will learn about yourself.

That first summer ended way to quickly.  I signed up for six weeks, thinking that was way too long to be away from my parents.  Not true.  I couldn't get enough of Lindenmere nor my new friends.  But the fun had to end.  Back to 24/7 Bat-Mitzvah practice.  I honestly never thought September 2 would come.  I just couldn't picture myself standing on the bimah in front of friends, family and congregation members, having to SING to them, especially in another language.  The day came and went, and I survived.  I could not believe that I was able to get through the service.  Little, shy Samantha made it through.  

Those four summers spent at Lindenmere taught me a lot about myself.  I learned how to be myself, and not worry about people judging.  I learned that I could talk to all 16 of my bunkmates about different subjects (which helped with sorority recruitment).  I learned to pick out what I enjoy the most and not do what everyone else wants me to do.  I learned to take chances, and try something that is new to me, or something that I am horrible at, like ice skating.  I learned how that I can be in dance performances in front of friends/family/strangers, and even speak publicly.  I learned that sports could be fun when the counselors are hot international men.  

All these life lessons came out of the summers between 2000 and 2004.  Camp Lindenmere thank you for all that you have done for me, and all the friends you have given me.  As for my religion, thank you for helping me overcome my shyness for my Bat-Mitzvah and on.  Thank you for teaching me that when I set my mind to something, I can accomplish it.  No matter how much work has to go into it, and no matter how much I have to learn, I can do it.  Reflecting on those four years always gives me encouragement.  Whenever I feel nervous, or discouraged, I think about what I have done already.  There is nothing that will stop me from accomplishing my goals and dreams.  Hopefully the next few summers will be as influential to me as the ones I've already had.

I would like to leave my fellow Camp Lindenmere campers with one last thing:

Why do you build me up (Build me up)
Buttercup baby just to
let me down (Let me down)
And mess me around
And then worst of all (Worst of all)
You never call baby
When you say you will (Say you will)
But I love you still
I need you (I need you)
More than anyone darlin'
You know that I have from the start

So build me up (Build me up)
Buttercup
Don't break my heart
I'll be over at ten
You tell me time and again
But you're late
I wait around and then
I went to the door
I can't take any more
It's not you
You let me down again

Baby Baby
Try to find a little time
And I'll make you happy
I'll be home
I'll be waiting beside the phone
Waiting for you.

Why do you build me up....
To you I'm a toy
But I could be the boy
You adore
If you'd just let me know
Although you're untrue
I'm attracted to you
All the more
Why do I need you so Baby Baby.....

ooh ooh ooh
Why do build me up .....