News10 photographers were there, and I watched the news at 6:00pm. Expected maybe 15 seconds of reportage, but I think the station showed (this just a guess) two minutes. And that's a lot of time on a half-hour news program. The governor's speech, the lighting of the menorah, and afterward the governor surround by 20? rabbis and dancing were part of the reportage. The governor was laughing, and I would say he was having fun. Now, I'm reporting four hours later, and I may be forgetting something, but those were the highlights. And it was better coverage than we had last year.
It was also a better-attended and the weather was a whole lot nicer. Last year was in the evening, and it was coooollllddd!!!
Jon Voigt and Adam Sandler were there, and another person whose name I can't remember, but he's a Hollywood director. The Chief Rabbi of Chabad of California was there, and he and the governor have been friends many years.
One thing I can't understand is why the music has to be so loud. It could be heard four blocks away. Is that really necessary? If people wanted to carry on a conversation, they had to shout. My ears hurt.
Our rabbi's two older boys sang America the Beautiful. I always get a lump in my throat when I hear that song. A group of smaller children, Tiny Tots, were costumed as candles and sang some Chanukah songs. They were so cute!
Afterward, there were jelly donuts served and hot coffee and tea. I had a donut, but passed up the liquid.
A friend asked if she could ride with me, as she doesn't like to drive downtown. She drove to my apartment, and we went together from here. The worst part of downtown is remembering which streets are one-way which-way.
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I finished my shopping for Rena. She needs a broad water color brush, and I found a "Mulit-Bin" circular brush holder, and got that, too. I don't know what she's keeping her brushes in now, but I'm sure this will be an improvement.
I was invited to show some of my art, but I explained that I had given away almost everything. But I have photographs. The gentleman asked to see those, too. So I think I'll finish the one painting that has been languishing for months, and take the two that I haven't given away, plus the album of photographs. The photos are a poor substitute, but that's all I have. Maybe that will encourage me to take up painting again. I have a bunch of pictures in my mind, but they don't do much good there.
We'll see.
Well, Shalom for tonight.