Posts Tagged ‘Members’

Holiday Traditions – Joyous Pancha Ganpati

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

By Sonal S. (ComeGo)

Pancha Ganapati, a five day festival celebrated from December 21 through 25, is a Hindu festival in celebration of Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture.

Pancha Ganpati is a modern festival. It was conceived in 1985 by the founder of the publication “Hinduism Today” to offer Hindu families a way in the West to celebrate a time for celebration, gift giving, food and family in the month of December which sees many other celebrations such as Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa.

Pancha Ganpati includes outings, picnics, feasts and exchange of cards and gifts with relatives, friends and business associates. A shrine is created in the main living room of the home and decorated in the spirit of this festive occasion. At the center is placed a large wooden or bronze statue of Lord Panchamukha (“five-faced”) Ganpati, a form of Ganesha – the elephant headed Hindu God of wisdom. It lasts five days- paanch (five in Hindi) from December 21-25. Each day is associated with a color and a ritual/meaning.

Yellow on 12/21 – Prayers, shrine setup, asking for blessings

Red on 12/22 – Gifts and apologies to family and friends

Blue on 12/23 – Gifts and thanks to employees and business associates

Green on 12/24 – Arts and cultural programs

Orange on 12/25 – Thanks and prayers to God, blessings for the new year are sought!

Hindu Festivals by Swasti Mitter

Lord Ganesha’s Feast of Laughter by Meera Uberoi

Ganesha – Remover of Obstacles by Manuela Dunn Mascetti

Eternal Ganesha by Gita Mehta

Tags: Book Suggestions, Members
Posted in Holidays and Special Dates | 3 Comments »

Reflections on the Season

Monday, December 19th, 2011

By James L. (JimiJam)

The last few months of each calendar year are positively riddled with holidays. It’s a time in which we find ourselves touching upon our own unique patterns of behaviors through which we hope to weather the darker, colder months of the year, as we also say goodbye to it and turn to welcome the coming of another. These various traditions, both institutional and familial, all seem to possess, at their cores, a theme consistent with one another. The universal aspects of the many holidays in which we participate spring forth from, and speak to, the very heart of our shared humanity. It is in light of this perceived interconnectedness, this pervasive and perennial celebration not only of the passage of time, but of our truest inner spirits, that I approach the end of each passing year.

The holidays celebrated as autumn sets in are rooted in remembrance, of times past, as well as people who have passed. The traditions we perform offer us some semblance of permanence in a world that is anything but. Whether it’s the baking of a treasured family recipe handed down over several generations, or the passage of such traditions from one living generation to the next, the many feasts we enjoy are fraught with remembrance. Whether or how we decorate for each passing holiday is often done in honor of the ways of the past. Those of us who move on to forge new traditions have no less of an eye for reflection, investing now in similar nostalgias yet to be experienced.

We begin to take stock of the year as it enters its penultimate month, pondering how this year’s experiences compare to the summation of years that have preceded it. In areas in which it may appear worse, we wax nostalgic, recalling with warmth and fondness days which we deem to have been better; in areas which have improved, we look proudly upon the distance traveled, the hardships successfully traversed and, with hearts abundant in hope, look excitedly to a future all but certain to begin once our ritualistic goodbyes to the past have been said to yet another year.

As the pace of time itself seems to quicken, these days of significance rush to meet us with fierce rapidity, we find ourselves clinging ever more desperately to our days, even as they nevertheless slip through our fingers as always. In those moments, however, those all too brief, shimmering instances of clarity, we look at our lives, and hopefully each other, and see the innate value in even the least we behold. Despite the winnowing of time, we experience small bursts of timelessness, of the Here, the Now, and the wonders that make life so worth living.
We approach the winter solstice with no small amount of eagerness. On the day of that celestial event, as the Earth finally crosses the threshold of our shortest day, even without realizing it, we breath a collective sigh of relief. Huddled together, in spirit if not in person, we await the moment at which the hours of daylight begin to grow again. We forge ahead, across the whole of the northern hemisphere, thankful for having once more survived the darkest of months. And, while the coldest months still lie before us, with that darkest day of the solstice behind us we raise collective cries of gratitude and joyousness, affecting our happiest and most generous personas for the festivities with which we bid farewell to the year.

As we reach what is to the West the bridge between the fading year and that yet to be realized, we continue our appreciation for the good things, and beloved peoples, in our lives. And yet, at the doorway, we say our last goodbyes to all that has passed, and thusly unencumbered, turn hopefully and anxiously to face the impending year. So it is that so many of us, peering into January from the precipice of December, sing out tearfully “Should old acquaintance be forgot…” Ultimately, the year’s gloaming heralds the culmination and inevitable conclusion of another chapter in each of our lives. Having spent months preparing for the darkness and cold, girding ourselves with warm thoughts and hearts, the focused and combined energies of our remembrances and regrets, our traditions and nostalgias, our hopes, dreams, triumphs, failures, gains, and losses, merge into a single feeling, one cathartic singularity, from which erupts the momentum that carries us through to the birth of another year, another chapter, and another trip around the sun on this curious blue island we all call home.

As the last few weeks of the year wind down, I am humbled and honored by the relationships I’ve had with those whom I have known, and look forward to those I will come to know in the future; I am grateful for the passage of time and all with which it has presented me over the years, and for everything it may yet hold in store for me; Smiling wide, I shake my fist at the cold, from the warmth of my heart; with eyes fixed on the future, I salute the year that has passed, and everyone who shares this purview. Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays, and the brightest of new years!

Tags: Members
Posted in Musings | 7 Comments »

Happy Chanukkah or Hanukkah or Chanuka or Hanukah or…..

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

…..…you get the idea.

by Ani K. (goddessani)

What is it and why is it spelled so many ways??

Let’s start by telling you what it is NOT. It is NOT the Jewish Christmas (which doesn’t make sense on so many levels but whatever). Unlike Christmas, it doesn’t fall on the same day every year. The Judaic calendar is lunar based (13 months) and Chanukkah falls on the 25^th day in the month of Kislev, which can fall anywhere between late November and late December. Last year it started on December 2^ndand this year it starts on December 21^st. All Jewish holidays begin at sunset of the day before, so the first candle will be lit on December 20^th.

Chanukkah means “dedication” and commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C.E after Judah Maccabee removed the pagan statuary.

In 168 B.C.E. the Temple was taken over by Syrian-Greek soldiers. Because they feared reprisal if they fought back, the Jewish people left it alone. In 167 B.C.E., the Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus made it punishable by death to observe Judaism.

The rebel Jewish Maccabee tribe regained control of the Temple in 165 B.C.E. In order to cleanse the Temple that had been spiritually defiled by others, the Jewish troops wanted to burn ritual oil in the Temple’s menorrah for eight days. However, they discovered there was only enough oil for one day’s worth of oil left in the Temple. Once they lit the menorah, the oil lasted the full eight days. Chanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrates this.

Menorrahs , Latkes and Dreidels – Oh My!

A menorrah (or, more appropriately a hanukkiyah) is a candelabrum that holds 9 candles. One sits higher than the others and holds the shamash, or helper candle. It lights the other candles but is set apart from them. Each night, beginning on the right hand side, a candle is lit until on the 8^th night, all 8 candles are lit. Specific prayers are said during the lighting ceremony.

Chanukkah is actually a very minor holiday. It has grown in spectacle in the last few years. I have no way of verifying this, but in my mind it became bigger with TV. Once the stations decided to become more PC and started mentioning Chanukkah, it seems as if it’s become bigger and bigger. In my own household, we’ve tried to keep it small. We gift our sons with gifts each night but the most expensive gift (usually given on the eighth night) costs no more than $25. We know others that spend more and some people who give no gifts.

While the first night is considered the most holy, a tradition begun in my family as I was growing up and that I’ve tried to continue is to have friends, both Jewish and Christian, over on 8^th night. I’m not sure why my family started on that night but I think the hanukkiyah is the prettiest that night with all the candles burning. We play a version of the White Elephant game wherein I ask all guests to bring a wrapped gift that costs no more than $1. Even before the advent of Dollar Stores, it is amazing what you can find!

During Chanukkah, children often play with a dreidel which is a four sided top. On each side of the dreidel, there is a Hebrew letter. During the time the Syrian-Greeks had taken over, Jews were not allowed to openly practice their religion. When they would gather, they would bring along a dreidel. If soldiers appeared, they would pull out the dreidel and it would look as if they were playing a game. Jewish children still play as a remembrance of this time. Each Hebrew letter Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Pey stand for the Hebrew phrase, “Nes Gadol Haya Po” which means “A great miracle happened here.” Children play with gold wrapped chocolate coins, called gelt. Everyone starts with an equal portion of gelt. When the dreidel is spun, you must do something according to the Hebrew letter that lands upright.

Nun (nichts) means “nothing”. The spinner loses their turn and passes the dreidel to the next person.

Gimmel (ganz is Yiddish for everything) and the spinner gets everything in the pot.

Hey (halb) means half so the spinner gets half of everything in the pot.

Shin or Shem (shtel) stands for pay and the spinner must add another gelt to the pot.

When you run out of gelt, you’re out of the game. But as I was growing up, we all had to resettle at the end of the game and we all ended up with whatever we had started with!

One of the yummiest ways to celebrate is with our special foods! Latkes (a fried potato and onion pancake served with applesauce) and sufganiyot (a jelly filled doughnut, often covered in powdered sugar) are traditional treats. They are both fried foods to remind us of the miracle of the holiday.

So why all the different spellings of Chanukkah? Since its not an English word, there is no direct translation from the Hebrew to English. Where I was brought up, we spelt it Chanukkah (the CH is pronounced like the Scottish word loch). So that is the common spelling to me. But for others, it is spelled without the C, with only one K, no H on the end, etc. All forms are considered correct!

My First Menorah by Salina Yoon

World of Festivals: Hanukkah by D. Rose & A. Clark

The Very Best Hanukkah Gift by Joanne Rocklin

Latkes and Applesauce: A HannukahStory by Fran Manushkin

Tags: Book Suggestions, Members
Posted in Holidays and Special Dates | 8 Comments »

Catching Fire Book Grab Winner!

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

The winner of the Grab This Book contest is:

Erin G.

Congratulations to Erin for Grabbing this copy of

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Your book is on its way to you.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Stay tuned to the Blog for more chances to win books from Most Wished for Books on PBS.

Tags: Contests, Members
Posted in Book Grab Giveaways, Contests | 2 Comments »

VostromoScope – SAGITTARIUS

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

By Greg (Vostromo)

Image courtesy of FreakingNews.com

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except Ozzy Osbourne,
Who couldn’t find the bathroom;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Clay Aiken soon would be there, so we could shut him up.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Miley Cyrus danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
Rather than listen to “Party in the USA” one more time.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up on the sash,
Because you shouldn’t get up that quickly after so much mead.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wandering eyes should appear,
But Marisa Tomei, Elisha Cuthbert, Lucy Liu,
Sarah Silverman, Jennifer Connelly, Katie Holmes,
Milla Jovovich, Kelly Brook, Tyra Banks,
Christina Applegate, Teri Hatcher, and —
Is that Don Cheadle? wtf? —
So I was feeling pret-t-ty good. Note to self: buy more mead.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Ted Nugent;
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name,
And I’m pretty sure he was thinking:
“Man, what a waste of some perfectly good flank steaks!”

“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!
There’s a fully functioning handicapped-accessible toilet
Half a mile away in the strip mall, you can’t make it that far?
I am NOT cleaning all this up every damn year!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle,
Like Britney Spears in her heavier phases, they mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and CS Lewis, too,
So maybe he was onto something.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof —
No, wait, that’s just Bette Midler.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Keith Richards came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
So clearly he’d been high for hours already. Quel surprise.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
I have GOT to lay off the late-night mead!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
‘Cause suddenly it all made sense: Keith Richards was Santa Claus!
That must be what “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was really about!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know he was still banging twenty-year-olds.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings with autographed copies of “Life”;
Then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
I thought, good thing I used that creosote-removing log earlier in the week.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“I’m Sagittarius, half-man, half-horse,
with a license to **** in the street!
Merry Keithmas to all!”

And to all, a Good Night.

What would Keith Richards Do by Jessica Pallington West

A Mother’s Gift by Britney Spears & Lynne Spears

The Bette Midler Scrapbook by Allison J. Waldman

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Boisterous Sagittarius by Therrie Rosenvald

Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis

Sun in Sagittarius, Moon in Mazatlan by Celia Cooper

And Greg’s new favorite book:

My Gemini Sun Pisces Moon Sagittarius Rising Mental Emotional and Spiritual Thought
by Jamie Marie Hall

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Tags: Members
Posted in Holidays and Special Dates, Musings, VostromoScope | 4 Comments »

Member Memories: Our Love of Books

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

We are pleased to announce a new feature on the PaperBackSwap Blog, Member Memories: Our Love of Books.

Thank you Geri for this great idea! And now, our first installment:

By Geri (geejay)

With the ongoing School Donation program I have memories of my elementary school library. I simply can’t imagine what these kids are going through with so few books in the school library.

I remember reading all the biographies in the library. At the time they were athletes like Jim Thorpe. Okay, younger members are going who? He is still described as the world’s greatest athlete today.

We weren’t allowed to remove the books but the book you were reading was put aside for you to pick up the next day. I was reading those books before I got my first pair of glasses at age seven. The librarian noticed that I needed glasses because I really did have my nose in the book. I was bent over the book so I could read it.

Imagine my delight when the public library opened a branch near our house! Oh the joy of having books to read over the summer. I was allowed to take three books home at a time. The librarian wasn’t too sure I was really reading them because of my speedy turn around time. My dad straightened her out. 🙂

Something that really sticks in my mind is the first time my mom took me to the Detroit Public Library main branch. You walked up a majestic staircase, through majestic doors and got hit with the most magnificent sight you can imagine! Four floors of books were visable from that spot. That was looking up, up, up. Then you could walk to the stair case and see that you could visit more books downstairs! I thought I was in heaven!

Centre Park Library in Detroit, Michigan, constructed in 1872. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

My love of books was started because my aunt read to me before age three and one day said now you read to me. I can remember reading the headline that FDR died. I was about three then. There simply weren’t enough books for children so I was reading newspapers. I must admit I liked the cartoons the most but I did go through the entire newspaper.

So many reading memories! Do you have some too?

Tags: Book Suggestions, Members
Posted in Member Memories: Our Love of Books, Musings | 5 Comments »

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

Cyn C. (Cyn-Sama) is thankful for my love of books and the joy I get from reading. It means I am never bored, and never alone.

Diane G. (icesk8tr) is thankful for good friends (including ones I have met on PBS), wonderful family, and the PBS Tour Guides.

Linda (Angeleyes): I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health and for all the wonders of the world…..

CJ R. (cjr) I am thankful for my God, country, family, friends & good health.

Sianeka: I am thankful for Health, family, and friends (these things mean happiness and love to me!)

Leslie P. : I am thankful for another year with all my loved ones around our Thanksgiving table.

Amanda S. (ABCatHome): I am thankful for love. If we have love and give love, we will have a peace that is indescribable.

Hunter S. (Hunter1): I am thankful for PURPLE!

Len S. (lens): I am thankful for my daughter who was brave enough to move to California to pursue her career, and then landed her dream job within six months. I am thankful for my brother and his family for remaining strong for all of us during his two recent battles with cancer. I am thankful for my sister who works hard to keep our family intact after the passing of our parents. I am thankful to work for a company that serves a good purpose in the world, and for all my co-workers who help make PaperBackSwap run like a well-oiled machine. I am thankful for the many PBS members who’ve reminded me by their actions that being kind and helpful to virtual strangers is the way the world should work.

Pat L. (PitterPat): I am thankful for the ability to read.

Greg (VOSTROMO): I am thankful for the Normans, who first filled moats with water, without which development no Minions would survive the tossing thereinto.

Deana F. (PBSDeana): I am thankful for family, friends, love and laughter.

Robin K. (jubead): I am thankful for PBS Community and the long lasting friendships I have made over the past couple of years, family and friends. I am also thankful for chocolate covered gummy bears.

Jerelyn H. (I-F-Letty) is thankful for laughter, and for friends and family to share it with. And cheese cake!

Cozette M. (CozSnShine): I am thankful for every person who serves in our military and makes possible our liberty and freedom.

Mary S. (MaryMary) I am thankful for my two wonderful boys and that my husband is back to work! Yay!

Patty P. (Patouie) …the humor that softens rough edges, the different colors of love in my life, the thoughtful conversation with someone I respect who disagrees with me, the many authors who have changed my life in a thousand ways, hummingbirds, rosemary, and a tomato straight from the vine.

Misty (millywv): I am thankful for Family, Friends, Books, Bags, and Shoes!

Michelle H. (mishnpow): I’m thankful for my kids. I’m enjoying watching them grow into themselves.

Joshua: I am thankful for having a great job serving the PaperBackSwap community.

Kathy H. (Nellie): I am thankful for a lot of things, but for this year, my wonderful new husband!

Teresa E.: I am thankful for family.

Maria (SassenachD): I am thankful for Family, friends and for what I have. As of late, I deal with so many that go/do without. My selfishness has a time limit of 7 minutes and that is probably 7 minutes too long. I am very blessed!

Ivy (PBSmaven) is thankful for the roof over my head, my dogs, my friends and family, my good health (I don’t have a lot of it but what I do have I’m thankful for!).

June E. (junie): I am thankful for good health, a wonderful family, for belonging to PBS and making fantastic friends on this site!

Mary S. (kilchurn): I am thankful for the memories of the past, the joys of today and the hope of the future.

Holly (xhollishx) is thankful for family.

Tiffany K. (tiffanyak): I am thankful for being on track to finally get my college degree, and also for the family and friends who have helped make it possible.

Jaime (jaimefowler): My family and friends.

Joy L. (vintagejoy): I am thankful for my relationship with God, my family, and the fact that after 5 years I have little to no foot pain!!

Zack: My wife and I are thankful for the many blessings God has given us this year, most especially for our family and friends who greatly enrich our lives.

McGuffyAnn M. (nightprose): I am thankful for the memories of yesterday, the blessings of today, and the possibilities of tomorrow.

Joan D. (keeponreading) is thankful for all God has done for me and family.

Cathy W. (Firefly): I am thankful for family, friends, food, and good books.

James L. (JimiJam): I am thankful for the chill autumn breeze, for hot teas and warm sweaters, for the promise of feasts all too quickly approaching. I am thankful for my friends, for their friendship; for their ears and their shoulders, and their reliance on mine. I am thankful for the passage of time, advancing undaunted, the challenges and changes of years past, the adventures and growth yet to come.

Photo by Michelle H. (mishnpow)

Photo by Robin (Jubead)

Cheryl G. (Poncer): I am thankful to all the contributors to this Blog, to the many who have contributed throughout the year, and to the many who will contribute in the future. Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Please share with us your own reasons to be thankful by leaving a comment.

Tags: Members
Posted in Holidays and Special Dates, Musings | 16 Comments »

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