I wish there were an English translation to the Hebrew word that's a greeting for when somebody gets something new, because that's exactly what I wanna tell you.

ooh! sounds like a good word. What is it in Hebrew? Thanks for the good wishes.

I don't mind talking to people, but I tend towards shy. I know two of my current neighbors, but the rest I'd like to avoid as much as possible.

I am in a blind panic because the childcare situation I had arranged fell through when my coworker lost her own nanny. So, starting today, I have to find a childcare place that I can afford and I really feel like vomitting and crying.

Ugh. I wish I could quit my job and just be a SaHM.

I've lived in the same house for 18 years. I've had the same neighbors on both sides, and I still only know them to nod at and comment on the weather. I'm friends with the woman across the street, but that's only because she had a yard sale, and I went over to look. Somewhere in the conversation, we realized we both went to the same university. I just can't make myself to go up to someone and say, "Hi, I'm your neighbor." My mother drives me crazy by chatting up everyone she sees. Sometimes it takes hours to do the simplest errands, because she will Not Stop Talking.

I got a stalkerish email from Amazon telling me that since I bought Kim Cooper's 33 1/3 book on Neutral Milk Hotel and that I like Tom Waits I might like David Smay's new 33 1/3 book on Tom Waits.

Did you e-mail Amazon back and tell them that you read an advance copy?

Kat, I'm so sorry. Solution~ma to you.

What is it in Hebrew?

The word for "new" in Hebrew is "khadash" (the "kh" is that sound that doesn't exist in English, that's sometimes written as "h" and sometimes as "ch". Both "a"s are like in the word "are" or "after").

So the wishes for somebody who has something new is "titkhadesh" (if it's a male somebody-who-has-something-new) or "titkhadshi" (if it's a female somebody).

Oh, and, again, the "a" is like in "are", and the emphasis is on the end of the word, in both cases.

I remember posting with erinaceous once about this word and its sad lack in the English language. We started to suggest replacements and translations, but didn't manage to get further then "newify", which doesn't really fit. It's more like "newgratulations", or something. Only a verb. And I'd better stop here, before I get even more entangled in my own words, both Hebrew and English.

So, Vortex, titkhadshi!

Oh, Kat. I'm sorry. WHY can this not be easy in any way shape or form for you????

t shaking fist at sky

Vibing that something AWESOME happens, like, today.

Oh, Kat, I'm so sorry!

I hope a solution finds its way to you as quickly and minimally-stressed as possible.

So, Vortex, titkhadshi!

so, teet-kah-DAHSH-ee?

teet-kah-DAHSH-ee

Only the emphasis (that's what written in capital letters, right?) should be on the very last one, on the "shi".