Late to the Bat (What a) Mitzvah!
 

That is a long weekend of events. When I used to go to these things, they were just the service and the evening party after. I think it would be a bit odd to show up at the party if you didn't attend the service, though people probably do it all the time. It is the equivalent of going to a reception without attending the wedding.

As for the kids during the service question, I would inquire informally about whether that would be appropriate. If the invite was for your family, I'm sure it would be. If only to you an your husband, maybe not. THe length of the service will depend on the type of jew that the family is. Reform - 30 minutes. Anything other than reform - an hour or more.

Late to the Bat (What a) Mitzvah!
 

It was for Mr. and Mrs. X. I could get a sitter for #1, but #2 comes with me unless he is sleeping (ie. at night) since he refuses a bottle. I'll have to get Mr. to ask about this since he knows them.

Yeah, I know, but everything is so spaced out time-wise. It takes me hours of planning just to get to the grocery store right now...argh.

An hour or more? :eek:

ETA: Thank you.

Late to the Bat (What a) Mitzvah!
 

The Saturday ceremony could be even longer. Friends of mine who didn't know the scoop showed up at 9:30 am at the beginning whereas most showed up at noon or so. It could be 3 hours.

Late to the Bat (What a) Mitzvah!
 

That sounds like Hell in a very small jar of herring. I would make an excuseto miss the whole thing. If you don't want to take my advice, then cash is the appropriate gift, and no matter how much you give, it won't be too much in the family's eyes.

Late to the Bat (What a) Mitzvah!
 

There's your ticket out. I'd take it if I were you.

Live Freaky, Die Freaky
 

These musicians are totally retarted when they try to make the Manson thing so cool. Charlie was short, smelled, his ideas were unoriginal, the chicks around him except maybe 1 or 2 were zitty flakes with unwashed hair, disco mitts and were clingy. The whole group ratted each other out just to score a few pieces of chocolate from the local cops (seriously!). They didn’t know shit about the White Album and after knifing a middle aged woman and her husband (the Labiancas) they couldn’t even spell “Healter Skelter” right. Yeah, those murders were really cool, especially the first one – “Tex”, a 6’3 dude attacks this young teenager (a paperboy):

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...son/parent.jpg
and is such a pussy he shoots the kid 4 times at point blank, just to be sure. How these fuckers got elevated to “cool” and ended up on "hip" t-shirts and shit is beyond me.

Live Freaky, Die Freaky
 

Not that I think Manson is cool or anything, but it occurs to me that you seem to have more than your fair share of opinions.

Late to the Bat (What a) Mitzvah!
 

Wonk, did you have problems at your bar mitzvah- two affairs scheduled that weekend and the pretty little blond schicksta you liked went to the other? Cantor corrected your Torah reading mid-stream? Dish!


You can bag the ceremony and the morning thing and just hit the party. Especially if you don't know the kid, it'd be cool. On the other hand if you've never been to a BM they are sort of interesting. The problem comes when your kid hits 7th grade and you get invited to a dozen (kids 4 dozen).

Late to the Bat (What a) Mitzvah!
 

Just throw the invite in the garbage and say you never got it. It's like a freaking wedding filled with 12 and 13 year old boys so whip out your tits if you're ok with being jerked off to more than Stacy's Mom.

Live Freaky, Die Freaky
 

Thanks, Diane. Your post was like a much needed splash of cold water to the face. I followed that link posted by the evil bunny, and within minutes I was taken in by the insidious message of these so-called "musicians." I found myself thinking that not only was Manson maybe not so bad -- I thought he might even be a misunderstood hero. How I could have gotten to a place where I not only accepted but actually embraced the drug-fueled killing spree of Manson and his so-called "family," I don't know. I blame the orange fabric in Central Park guy. Anyway, thanks again for setting me back on the path of righteousness and making me realize that brutal killings by insane people are not as "cool" and "fun" as this movie suggests.

Live Freaky, Die Freaky
 

Really?

You know Roman Polanski raped a 13 year old girl right? That's why he can't return to the US today. And you know his brothers in the film industry helped spirit him out of the country- powerful men who run the studios- Jews who when they invite people to their affairs, the people are honored and not trying to figure out how many of the events they can miss.

Anyway, the girl, by 1969 now 18, had met and bewitched Manson. He went there that night to kill Roman. Sharon Tate was just an unfortunate bystander and Roman was luckily out for the evening. Sure there was rage on Manson's part- but Query: if it had been your daughter raped- would you not be moved to anger?

The girl wanted to testify for Charlie, but the studio heads blocked the move- box office gross of Roman's next movie would be at stake, and he was teed up for some sympathy oscar consideration. As always the almighty dollar won- Charlie now wears the mantle of "lunatic" and not the more deserved "Champion of young women."

Str8 will deny much of the above, but truly the money flow that pays his bookies is more responsible for the Tate-Labionco killing than is Charles Manson.

Live Freaky, Die Freaky
 

Now I just don't know what to think about Manson. I mean, I feel really bad about the clean cut paper boy with the bow tie whose picture Diane posted, and I tend to agree with her compelling argument that maybe this kid did not deserve to die a brutal and random death, no matter how cool Manson is/was. On the other hand, your portrayal of Manson as a complex figure who was maybe motivated by factors beyond drug-fuled blood lust has really gotten me to thinking. You also got me mad at the ingrates who don't want to share in their friends' childrens' religious rites and accompanying parties. Anyhoo, Manson is clearly a controversial figure about whom reasonable people can disagree.

Ooga Chocka
 

I am loathe to interrupt the discussion of the complexities of Charles Manson's bloodlust, Roman Polanski's sexual perversion, and moral relativism in Hollywood's Babylon. However, I have discovered a relic of extreme historical and cultural importance. I bring you.....

David Hasselhoff, musical genius

Ooga Chocka
 

Tolerable for a minute.

The 7 pound dildo might keep you entertained a bit, er, longer.

Ooga Chocka
 

Say what you will, at least the guy has a sense of humor.

Kanye West should take note.