Wow, we just got home!!!  

Damn I am tired.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 04:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 11 words, total size 1 kb.

Is up!!!!

Click and Enjoy!

I wont be able to check this over until I am home.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 10:36 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 20 words, total size 1 kb.

Today in Israel is Likud's primary.  I know if I do end up making the aliyah...this is the political party I would likely join! 

Many Jewish blogs (the Muqata and Jewlicious are already blogging them and given recommendations on who to vote for.)  GO BIBI!!!!

Good luck on voting today!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 10:35 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 53 words, total size 1 kb.

Yep we are getting ready to head back to AZ.  With some luck we will be there around 4 pm.  I already got most of my homework done!!!! YAY me...just need to grade like 7 more papers and post feedback.  So, no movie tonite probably....but at least I wont be rushed to get everything done at the last minute either!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 10:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 63 words, total size 1 kb.

Ok Ok...I forwarded this already to Tasha and Dishka!  Each of them could potentially enter....I just thought that this is just so up their path!

I hope..I hope I HOPE they enter....it would be awesome if they did!

Jewlicious has the scoop!

Here is the gist of the contest:

Are you the next Spielberg, Brooks, Allen or Coen Brothers? Want your film to be seen around the country? Create a short film on a Jewish subject and you could win a huge cash prize or win a trip to Jewlicious Festival. Winning films will be shown at Jewlicious Festival and film festivals around the country. This nationwide film competition is for young filmmakers age 18-26. Submissions will be accepted until Midnight, February 11th, 2009.

All films will be eligible for two awards- the Grand Jury Prize, and the Audience Award. The Grand Jury Prize will be chosen by a panel of veteran filmmakers from Hollywood and New York. The Audience Award will be chosen via online voting.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 06:27 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 170 words, total size 1 kb.

Today was the day I was very much looking forward too....the day I got to spend most with Grandma.   As usually I was up early...around 7 am.  My sister wasnt up til about 10!  Grandma had a dr appt so we had to wait until about 2 to get there.  So, we had lunch with Jonathan at Carlos O'Briens (Mexican) restaurant and it SUCKED...it was no where near as good as it used to be.  Oh well nothing stays the same.  But we did have a good time reminsicing about the places we have been...and what once was in and around Riverside.  Seeing Jonathan was very cool...LOL he still has that age issue..where he wistfully feels that he is um...23 years old instead of being..well 37! Sorry Jonathan, but we are damned near the same age! LOL

Then Jonathan and I went to Barnes and Noble where he told me I was nuts for wanting to move to Israel..and that I only wanted to do it since Israel was the first place I ever really travelled to overseas.  I disagree because I did not feel any connection to London or Mexico LOL...I tried to explain it to him...but I know he doesn't really understand until I sort of got him to admit that if he could move anywhere he has been to..he said he would move to Tahati.  Since he fell in love with the place when he was there in the mid-late 1990s.  Once we were done catching up he dropped me off at Grandma's.  That was fun...she wanted to see everything...I showed her my souvineers and pictures.  She was very interested in seeing the pics of who I went to Israel with and to see pics of our friends.  I showed her the various cities and towns of where we visited and she really enjoyed it.

She did give me the third degree about me moving to Israel.  The end result was she just wants to make sure that this is what I really want and that I am not making a mistake.  All underestanable concerns overall.

By about 8:30 we left their house.  We were beat!  Laurie got the new TV working for them!  And we lived through another Earthquake! LOL  I felt it first...Laurie freaked out and ran under the door frame - I laughed.   I never had a problem with Earthquakes (ok unless they last longer than 45 seconds!) 

So we left and we decided to get something to eat before we get to the hotel.  So we go to In n Out - its likie a mile from the hotel and it's good food.  I am paying - or I should say I was paying.  When I pulled out my credit card the cashier said the driver ahead of us said Merry Christmas and they paid for our food!  HOW COOL WAS THAT!  My first pay it forward experience!!! How sweet is that!  So now Laurie and I are going to have to do that!  So we had a free dinner tonite!   Very cool and unexpected!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 10:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 518 words, total size 3 kb.

OJ just got sentenced for 15 years in prison!!!

Fucking finally!  He should have been in jail 15 years ago!!!  But at least justice finally caught up to him!!! 

YAY!!! I am happy...

I hope his cell mate does him even more justice!  YKWIMAITTUD.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 11:22 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 46 words, total size 1 kb.

Yesterday was an interesting adventure.  Before I get too far in this...I HAVE THE BEST SISTER EVER! LOL

The day started early for me....had room service breakfast and did my school work before we were off...to Los Angeles.  We told Grandma that we were going to check out our grandfather's grave...which was an adventure from hell...because we were told the wrong cemetery!  I sort of knew this in advance and told Laurie about this...but grandma was certain Mount of Olives was the correct cemetery.  It wasn't.  In the end it was Mount Carmel.  Which ironically enough was only like 2 miles from Mount of Olives!  So in between we had panicked my uncle and grandmother because it wasnt the right cemetery...having him hunt for her paperwork (since she has a plot next to him) and by the time we get there...the cemetery is CLOSED.  FUCK!  Park Lawn Cemetery, next door (or as my sister called it the Gentile Cemetery) was open til 6pm.  The Jewish Cemetery closed at 3!  But at least we confirmed that is where he is at.  So all is well.  By now it's about 4 pm....well after 4 and we were deciding to head back..either to do dinner with grandma or something...but my sister had the BEST IDEA ever!!!...since we were in LA we would see about trying to hunt for Goldstar Beer!!!!  Did I say she was the best sister ever...yes I did! LOL

So we spent the next 4 plus hours going through the Jewish communities in Los Angeles - getting lost in LA is always an interesting adventure...it just sucks when traffic makes a 20 min ride to a 1 hour drive.  We call Kearns Kosher Market near Wilshire and they confirm...they have Goldstar...so we are off to Beverly Hills/Wilshire and West Hollywood.  Takes us over an hour to get there.  And they fucking lied to us! They had Israeli Beer...but it wasn't goldstar!  FUCK  No it was a non-alocholic version called Maltstar! Geez...so a couple of people told us to try this Kosher Market in La Brea just off of Wilshire...and well parking was a bitch (luckly my sister drove the entire time).  We find the market and they have LOTS of wine...but no Goldstar.  By this time its about oh...6 pm and we were both beat.  And wanted to just get to the hotel.   It took almost 3 freaking hours to get from LA to San Bernardino!  Traffic was insane.  I am so glad I don't live in California anymore - well at least near LA!  Keep in mind LA to San Bernardino is 1 freeway (the 10) and only about 45 maybe 50 miles..so it normally would take under an hour...if one was going normal speed. 

So last night we get in to San Bernadino - stop off at Mimi's cafe....and then head back to the hotel.  I check on my classes and crash.

Oh my sister just kept freaking out because when we were in Pasadena we went to her FAVORITE restaurant - the Hat.  We both shared a french fry and we both got their famous pastrami cheese burger...she inhaled hers.but I never opened mine! LOL  She totally ripped into me for not even taking a bite out of it...it was just way too funny!!!!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 11:14 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 550 words, total size 3 kb.

Yep we made it here safe and sound.  We got here around 9 pm last night and went straight to our grandma's house and gave her the Xmas present - a 32 inch LCD TV.  Grandma and my uncle both loved it.  Sam loved it so much that he started hooking it up right then and there! LOL  That was great to see.  After a quick met and greet we left for the hotel.  After some minor issues got settled in and did my school work and ate a bit.  I dont think I got to sleep until about 1 or 2 am.

Today we are going to the Jewish Cemetary and to deal with the Rabbis for me.  So I can get my paperwork sorted out.  And hopefully to get some better food since the Hilton in San Bernardino SUCKS.

Friday we will be with grandma the entire day!!!   I am looking forward to it!!!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 08:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 160 words, total size 1 kb.

It looks like we will be going to California tonight!  Once I leave work....I will pack up...take some of my souvineers..and my laptop and I will be off!    We should get there pretty late tonight!  Fun fun fun!

Take care guys!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 02:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 43 words, total size 1 kb.

But I suggest everyone to see it.  It's ugly...it's infuriating...its gut wrenching...but one cannot deny this is what will happen to not just Jews..but all Westerners if this plague on humanity is allowed to continue and people..that plague I speak to is the Religion of beheading otherwise known as Islam!

CLICK HERE.

Thanks to Ace for posting the link!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 01:14 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 66 words, total size 1 kb.

FINALLY I got my appraisal information! 

Well I took a 15k hit.  My house has been appraised at 160k.  OUCH.  Well...at least I can get the refi done AND now I have base to go on to sell the property when I end up relocating to Israel for the aliyah. 

Not as good as I wanted, but not as bad as it could have been.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 10:18 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 67 words, total size 1 kb.

Today the Stock market really tanked.  It lost almost 700 pts in ONE DAY.  Today it was also announced that for the past year the US has been in a recession.  Yes the two are connected.  And, it's not like this is a big shock to anyone.  I think any joe off the street could have told you that yeah the economy kinda sucks.  It isn't horrible......yet...but it can easily become horrible.  The problem is that this issue is not just going to stop because Obama promised us unicorns and free gas.  No, this is going to get alot worse.  If the market doesn't rebound tomorrow (and I doubt it will) I think that the Dow could easily go into the 7000's again and pretty much stay there for a while.  Right now it's at 8150 (estimated).

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 02:25 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 141 words, total size 1 kb.

Over at Jewlicious and other blogs the question seems to be - how do we respond?  What do we do?  How or SHOULD we even fight back?

Here are my responses to some of those questions: 

Should we fight back - HELL FUCKING YES!  To do so is weakness and appeasement in its most insane form.  To not fight back would just allow the perpetrators to escalate their attacks on Westerners and Jews to the point where a new holocaust is BOUND to happen.

How should we fight back?  How do we respond?

This is the tricky part.  Obviously the current path we are on has helped, but it simply is NOT enough.  There are still chances that the terrorists can hit us again, and I believe they will.  In essence we are fighting this war with one hand tied behind our back.  Until we are willing to fight this as we did during WWII we will continue to string this along and more people will die.  Until we allow Israel to hit with full force and power - more Jews and Arabs will die.

My comment that I posted at Jewlicious is quite simple.  Prior to WWII Germany and Japan were one of the most formidable and warlike nations (empires) on Earth.  It took two world wars to BEAT the war out of both Germany and Japan (Yes Japan was an ally in WWI).  If one wants to learn from history - let's fucking learn from it.  We need to literally beat the war out of these people. 

One fear I have heard is that if we fight with resolve and utmost dedication we run the risk of becoming them.  I call bullshit.  We did not become like Germany and Japan - we as a nation frown upon war for good reason - it is an action of last resort.  War is not something we look forward to and are eager to fight.  We do it because it is something we MUST do.  And I believe the war against Islamofascism is one of those concepts that we must eradicate and we must beat the war out of these people failure to do so will only invite more and greater acts of terrorism.

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 12:15 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 377 words, total size 2 kb.

Since I had my meeting with the Jewish Agency....I now get regular updates from them and Nefesh B'Nefesh.  One of the benefits of this is that I get to find out when they have seminars and workshops..not just in LA but here in Phoenix!  With that in mind I have been notified about an upcoming workshop on December 9th!

This one is important for me because it is an informational meeting focusing on the following IMPORTANT topics:
____

Phoenix Aliyah Planning Workshop

Hosted by Liz Bernstein

Tuesday, December 09, 2008
8:00PM-10:00PM NST

Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 11:36 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 152 words, total size 1 kb.

Let's start December with some cool music!

First a Mash up of StartDust and EBTG


Give this a chance - BOTH songs are really good...and the mash up is outstanding!

Eyereel allstars - Get it on


Raze - Break for Love

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 09:24 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 43 words, total size 1 kb.

This Thursday I leave to go to California.  I will be there til Sunday.   I get to see my grandmother and some of the old places I used to haunt.  Maybe I will get to catch up with some friends (Jonathan!) LOL  But one of the very important things I get to do is going to my grandfather's cemetery.  I need to do this so that I can push forward the aliyah process!   I already have the money order - I do not yet have the 4 passport photos - that I can get anywhere.   But the proof of Jewishness, that is a harder nut for me to crack since the only other way would be to involve my grandmother, and I dont want to cross that road except as a last resort. 

It would be cool to also drive by where I used to live in Pasadena.  Depending on how much time we have.  Of course I will be taking my laptop with me.  Fun times!

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 07:27 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 171 words, total size 1 kb.