"This sukkah doesn't feel very well put together!"

[rebecca_in_blue]

Just when I thought the High Holy Days were over, along comes Sukkot. Our congregation had a little hamotzi and kiddush under the sukkah on the lawn after services tonight. The weather was perfect for it -- cool and crisp and autumn-y. But everyone from the temple tried to fit under the sukkah (Mr. G said, "It's as crowded as a New York City apartment!") until the whole structure started rocking and rolling. I was honestly afraid it was going to come down on top of us at some points. Someone handed me a little paper cup of wine for the kiddush, and when I said that I don't drink alcohol, Paul immediately said, "Pour it into my cup! I'll drink it for you!" And he did. I got a paper cup of grape juice, like Maggie. :)

Ben totally surprised me by giving me two excellent belated birthday gifts yesterday: a big log of goat cheese, and a burned copy of X-Men: First Class. I just finished the last of the goat cheese for dinner, and it was delicious, of course. I've spent a little bit of my birthday money, trying to stretch it as far as I can. So far I've bought a prayer shawl scarf resembling a prayer shawl (I sit in the front of the temple, the coldest part!), bladder control pills for Sable, a new pair of jeans, and a jacket and three shirts in very fun fall colors -- all for <$35. All hail Rebecca, thrifty shopper extraordinaire!

The landlords have been on the property a lot this week repainting parts of the building. The busybody landlady has taken up the annoying habit of scanning the grass behind me when I walk Sable, even though I always pick up his mess. Hmph. And I put my hand/arm down in wet paint two days in a row.

I love my new LJ layout! I had to tinker with the coding a lot to finally get it to show up the same on different browser windows, though. Here's a look back at my old layout (I had this one for about four years) before I forget what it looks like: