For the young at heart

Today we held a very nice birthday party for my niece. She just turned two, and though this might excite myriad comments, and I sure hope it does, she happens to be the cutest two year old niece in the universe. Bar none. Don't even try arguing. This party was preceded by an epic stomach ache, the kind that results in feeling like your going to faint in 770 during kriah, vomiting up several cups of Coca-Cola Classic (always the real thing) during the shabbos seudah, plus that morning's yogurt and some challah, cucumber (not zucchini, thank you very much) and potato salad, and not feeling up to the gargantuan task of blogging. Fortunately by this afternoon I was able to eat some sushi and keep down the four cups of Coke (drunk entirely for my health of course). By the by, I did manage to expel all that shabbos lunch directly into a stationary potty, a fact which some people, I am sure, are quote gratified to hear.

Anyway, at this party of ours, one of my niece's aunts, no particular relation of mine, decided to make a "secret Santa" for the whole family for the upcoming Chanuka festivities. Though some suggested that we call it a "Hannukah Harry anonymous delivery system", this idea was roundly and soundly objected to as being much to unwieldy for a family-style blog such as this one. Another, slightly more normal suggestion was made, and that proposition did propose to only draw the names of the recipients moments before the gifts were distributed, which would allow for more spontaneity. This idea was also shot down, as it was pointed out that this very same spontaneous selection would also result in a non-ability to tailor the gift to the recipient.
Thus, the fatal decision was made, and all gathered round as the names were solemnly drawn from a plastic bowl. I got someone-you didn't actually expect me to tell you who I got, did you? What if my niece's aunt were to, by some odd quirk, read this very blog? Would I escape the wrath of a scorned 15 year old Beis Rivka girl? Would not death, in all its sorrow, be more desirable? Well, perhaps I exaggerate a bit, but still, the point can easily be made that I would be trifling with my life if I were to reveal the object of my gifting.

Meanwhile, in other news, tomorrow it's back to the grindstone. But before that, let me just mention that tomorrow is the day before 19 Kislev, and therefore we, as Chabad Chassidim, cease and desist from the Tachanun prayers, as indeed we will do for the following two days as well in their entirety. If someone happens to be planning on joining a congregation that says the penitential prayers for the next three days, them they should nonetheless not say them, as they will be celebrating a holiday, the New Year of Chassidus, a festive occasion if there ever was one. Plus, I'll have a partial report from the TWO NIGHTS, THREE FARBRENGENS that are upcoming, and if that's not cause for jubilation, then I don't know what is.