I Think Of You More As A Monkey

Apr 29, 2009

Feels like forever since my last post.. It was three days ago. Lately quite a bit has happened. I saw Of Mice And Men at the Steppenwolf with my class. It was amazing and it really made me want to read the book. There were so many.. hmm.. subtleties? I saw it last week so I’m trying to remember. But I liked it a lot. Oh yeah, I saw some of my friends from another school there, too. WEEIRD.

And here’s that video from New Zealand I mentioned before (a little late, I know). Good times..

Other than seeing Of Mice And Men and studying for the Constitution test, I’ve been mostly preparing for my Bar Mitzvah, which is THIS WEEKEND! Tomorrow is the dress rehearsal.. Oh my God. Speech: check. Suit: check. Torah: learned. Blessings: learned. Awesome video: made. Personalized yarmulkes: ordered. Surprise awesome party favors: also ordered. Uh, I think I’m prepared. No, I am prepared (I’ll just keep telling myself that). But I really am..

Today we went dress shoe shopping because when we bought our suits about two weeks ago, Sammy was already too whiny and gelatinous as it was; we couldn’t spare another hour looking for shoes that actually fit a thirteen year old. So we went to DSW today and spent more than two hours looking for a pair of shoes that were not too classy, too dorky, too small, too big, or too expensive. And after going to three stores, it was a success. I am wearing Hush Puppies and Sammy is wearing Converse.

On Tuesday I had a meeting with the Rabbi (yes, the cool one) about my Bar Mitzvah speech. It went really well and my “d’var” is looking very good. At first, I was kind of disappointed at how short my speech was, and I didn’t think it had enough of my personality in it. But I reworked it and I’m really liking it now. The meeting was mainly for him to get some tidbits about my grandfather and I for his own speech. It ended up with a lot of philosophical conversations and stories about Nelson Mandela and mustard seeds that relate to Buddhism and yes, the secret of life. Every time you talk to this dude it’s like the Age of Enlightenment happened again.. inside your brain.

I’ve been really stressed out this week. Overly stressed, maybe (probably). But – and again I’ve been saying this a lot lately – you’d think things would be slowing down now (end of the year, everyone’s lazy). This is not the case. April has been one of the busiest months of the school year, with a big school performance coming up (May Mayhem), the infamous Constitution test, Independent Study, and oh yeah.. My Bar Mitzvah. Sorry I’ve said that like five times. IT’S IN… one, two.. THREE DAYS, OKAY?

watermelon-mouth

THIS IS WHAT I FEEL LIKE.

Finally, I just wanna say that the 3/4 of a year or so spent on my Bar Mitzvah training has been totally worth it. It’s been really hard, and really fun (at times), but most of all I’m just thankful that it’s going to be over soon! This experience has really been great. No wonder you’re supposed to be “a man” after this.. I’m so excited.

bnai-mitzvahs-for-newbies

WHY DOES THIS NOT EXIST?!

I have to go sleep up for my dress rehearsal tomorrow.. Wish me luck!

DAD: Do you guys think of me more as gone or home?

ME: That’s changed a lot of the years.. Now, home. Then, away.

SAMMY: I think of you as more of a monkey.

| Posted by Spencer on Apr 29, 2009

12 Comments

elvellon03
Apr 29, 2009 at 10:06 PM

well.. april is the cruellest month!

but, its over. allready!


 
Sarah
Apr 29, 2009 at 11:35 PM

First of all, that video is a crack up! You say ‘fish and chips’ or should I say ‘fush and chups’ real good in a kiwi accent! Second of all, Sammy is a scream! ‘I think of you as more of a monkey’. Hee hee I love it! And thirdly, all the best for your dress rehearsal and barmitvah!! Ok, maybe now I have exceeded my exclamation points quota…


 
Sarah J
Apr 30, 2009 at 5:00 AM

My friend and I rotfloled when we saw that, and we’ve been going “FUSH AND CHUPS!” ever since. :) “Dreyaas!”
I’m uber stressed, too, but I guess we all have to go through it sometime.
Okay, “I think of you more as a monkey” is totally one of my favorite quotes now!


 
Sarah J
Apr 30, 2009 at 5:37 AM

Damn… I messed such an amazing quote up.


 
Sarah
Apr 30, 2009 at 8:47 AM

Sammy is officially King of Surrealist Quotes.


 
mrs. eberhard's 7th gr. class
Apr 30, 2009 at 11:51 AM

ok we’re loving this post! we’re feeling the same pressure with exams looming. good luck at your bar mitzvah!! can’t wait to hear how it goes! peace out..


 
KWild
Apr 30, 2009 at 1:22 PM

Be’hatzlacha! You seem totally prepared and more importantly, you seem like a level-headed and kind kid-almost-man.


 
hazel
Apr 30, 2009 at 6:16 PM

(conversation night before my bat mitzvah)

me: so, rabbi, like…what if i drop the torah? i’ll be okay…right?
rabbi: well, you’ll have to fast for 70 days
me: LAWLZ AHHAHAAHAHAHHA
rabbi: (straight face)
me: wait…are you serious?
rabbi: (straight face)
me: uhhhhhhhhrabbiuhhhhhh

GOOD LUCK YOU’LL BE AWESOME DON’T BE STRESSED TRUST ME, I KNOW HOW YA FEEL IT’S ALL GONNA BE GOOD.

best feeling ever = after da service getting ready to partay

p.s. i totally didn’t drop the torah…


 
Patrick M
May 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM

Hey Spencer!!!!
I am so psyched that you’ve finally made it! Your big day (erm, weekend) is finally here and those of us who’ve been on the ride with you are so proud and excited. Since I’m not even a little Jewish and never got one, it’s been fascinating to read and we’re all so psyched.

So don’t know if you’ve heard through the grapevine but I’ve been down in Texas helping take care of my mom as she goes through cancer treatment, so I won’t be able to make it. :-( But Julia will be there and will bring all of our love for you and Grandpa Pedro. Please give him a big hug for me too and hug yourself for me as well.

Congrats. Today you are a man! Well, almost.
Much love to you and family from Houston,
patrick
PS: If you haven’t heard it yet, give a spin to Julia Sweeney’s “Letting Go of God” on the iTunes Store. You’ve still got a whole day (I think)!!


 
Patrick M
May 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM

Hey, it nicked my URL!


 
sheebs
May 2, 2009 at 10:16 PM

sammy is a genius, obviously. so sad i missed the bar mitzvah
today, billy said it was glorious and he cried. but i’ll be at the
party tomorrow! oy vey what am i gonna wear? i don’t have a
STITCH!!


 
hazel
May 4, 2009 at 4:52 PM

yep. the poster i made is a lyric from the song “Starlight” by Muse. It’s also the name of their album. suuuch a good song


 

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