Post Yom Kippur Wrap Up

Services seemed quick this year. We even kinda sorta knew what was going on, 'Oh, I recognize this one,' we thought at the beginning of many prayers. Oldest Daughter went up to the Bema this year and led a few prayers. Which was nice.

We find ourselves thinking of our grandfather on Yom Kippur, especially during the synagogue chair's donation pitch. 'Those dirty bastards,' Mark Stroock II would say. His grandfather helped build* the sanctuary of Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan. After our grandmother died in 2003, he rejoined the synagogue. He even bought up the pew seats his grandfather held until his death in 1937. Mark Stroock II made substantial yearly donations. Needless to say Temple Emanu-El would return our calls if we bothered. 

Mrs. Stroock is on the board of our synagogue, and we suspect they're grooming her for the top slot in the corporation.** 

The insurance guy came the other day and wanted evidence of flooding, flood levels, etc etc. We told him that our basement was in the gigantic dumpster parked out front, so feel free to have a look.

We've got contractors giving estimates now. It's possible the basement will be completely redone by Thanksgiving. 

No decisions on the library.

In other news we thought the minivan (12 years old) was going to die after Mrs. Stroock came home and declared smoke was pouring out of the engine. But it turns out the van was gushing coolant and only needed a new water pump.  Which is good. Our mechanic said everything else with the van is good. Which is also good.

Reader(s) are probably aware of the car shortage in America. Mrs. Stroock called a few dealers, and they wouldn't so much as give her a quote without walking onto the lot. When pressed they'd give the MSRP. If they're talking about MSRP, things are bad. We've never paid MSRP and we will continue not paying MSRP.

Below, your Friday post-Yom Kippur flag:

This box survived the flood

*Planning and finance, not swinging a hammer or anything like that. We bet Temple Emanu-El was built by Irish carpenters and Italian stone masons.

**Reference.