Perfection iIs A Difficult Task

Writing can be extremely difficult.  I have written many times.  You must edit with a fine tooth and comb.  After publishing, I noticed that I may have omitted a word which destroyed the sentence.  I'm sure all writers are guilty of this.  I am working on a new novel based on the Holocaust.  This is one that is going to take me a long time to complete.  I definitely do not want to make careless mistakes; especially when writing about an important topic.   I am also finding it challenging to write it and be historically accurate.  I am also contemplating if I should make it into a novella or a novel.  I have many decisions to make.  Once I am in the middle of writing it, I have a difficult time stopping, but it takes me a while to start.  I excel at procrastination.  I will keep you posted on this difficult journey.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to comment.  I always open to suggestions.   

Rock and Soul: The Advertisement

Recently I published on Amazon a short story titled: Rock and Soul.  I am selling it for .99.  The story depicts the life of a rock.  This rock is found in the middle of an enchanted fairytale kingdom.  All of the infamous characters such as Cinderella, Repunzel, Pinoccio, as well as the little old woman who lived in a shoe, and much more come to life.  They are affected by the rock just as the rock us affected by each encounter he has with each fairytale character.  If you like a whimsical tale that has never been told through a rock, then read "Rock and Soul." I'll leave it up to you: do you believe an inanimate object can possibly have a soul?  Please feel free to review.  I would love to get feedback.
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Soul-Michele-Arrose-ebook/dp/B06XB1RBZK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490750612&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Michele+Arrose+review

Mishpatim

A few weeks ago a woman from my temple asked me to write a D'var Torah.  This is a speech that has meaning and is usually done by someone in the congregation rather than the rabbi.  The speech must explain the part that is discussed in the Torah and usually should teach members of the congregation leaving them enriched with a new found insight or understanding.  I was asked to discuss the topic Mishpatim. The congregants enjoyed listening to my speech and my husband encouraged me to post it on my blog.
The way I understand Mishpatim is that it is basically laws set up from Hashem (G-d) so that we are fair to ourselves and to our neighbors.  As an educator, I have to set up my own laws or rules.  Without them, my classroom would be full of chaos.  Mishpatim concludes with the promise from  G-d to lead us into the land of Israel on one condition, that we hold the Torah ( Jewish bible) and do mitzvahs (good deeds). One thing we definitely need in this world is order.  We need order especially when lately we are surrounded by hate.  Many people I know have recently faced anti-semnitism.  However, as Anne Frank once said, "I do believe in spite of everything that people are really good at heart." I agree with Ms. Frank, but unfortunately I definitely feel evil is amongst people as well.  Lately many people expressed anger and hatred toward people in the political world.  I am not going to mention the infamous names that we hear about in the current media.  However, when G-d gave us rules, I think that he expects us to try to look past and be a fair person no matter what..  If we don't agree with someone's philosophies or political views then that is ok. We have the right as human beings to believe in whatever we want to.  That is what makes us real.  However, we owe it to ourselves to not promote hate in this beautiful but scary world that we live in. We must realize that laws gives us order. Order gives us structure. Structure gives us a sense of belonging and that in turn gives us peace.
Thank you for reading my speech and I hope you found it insightful.

A Chance!

Many people have voiced their concerns to me that ever since President-elect Trump came into office, discrimination has risen.  Some close friends of mine have been experiencing it firsthand.  I, personally do not blame President-elect Trump for this.  I am a very objective person and in observing everything I do believe that people can be very cruel.  People have made him a scapegoat and blame him for society's troubles.  It is easier to place the blame on someone; especially if you did not want him to be your president and represent your country.  Unfortunately, people who are racist have the chance to seize this opportunity and spread their hate.  This gives them a chance to also blame a scapegoat and spread their evil.  Unfortunately, Trump is caught in the middle.  I am not saying he is a victim, but I do see how the world around him is using him in different directions.  I also notice that many people who are upset because he was elected president have been behaving like a sore loser.  I have seen celebrities tweeting that he is a rapist.  This to me is shocking because he never raped anyone.  Rape is a horrible, strong word and when it is used it must be used truthfully.  He may have talked some locker room talk which men and even women have done before.  He may have said some tasteless things, which I do not condone, but that is part of him being part of the human race.  One of my favorite shows, Sex  and the City stars a character named Samantha Jones.  She is known for her wit and promiscuity.  On many episodes she has made some real sexual comments toward men.  Examples: "I masturbated to my priest...Friar F*ck.."  "Look at his robe. So "Robin and his Merry Men."  Besides one thing my grandmother used to say to me is, "talk is cheap."  She was right.  People have the right to say things.  They should try to refrain and hold back, but men and women have had locker room talk since the beginning of time.  I am definitely not saying that  he is a perfect man.  I am saying that he deserves a chance.  Many of our past presidents made errors in their own personal life, and yet they were given an opportunity to show us what they can do for our country.  As fellow Americans, we owe it to ourselves to see how he can make America great.  Everyone deserves a chance, no matter who they are!  Let's not become immersed with hate or we are equal to the haters and bigots of the world.

Shoplifting Allowed? What is this world coming to?

A few weeks ago, I went to a Duane Reade in Brooklyn, NY.  I was in search of Zyrtec for my allergies.  When I was in the aisle, I noticed a clerk that worked there.  I asked her where the Zyrtec was? She said about 10 minutes ago, she saw a woman stealing it as she put the last box in her purse.  I looked at this clerk as if she had two heads and questioned her as to why she didn't stop her.  She said she is not allowed to do anything.  She can say something, but cannot apprehend someone or call the police.  I walked out of Duane Reade without my Zyrtec in disgrace.  I can't believe what this world has come to.

High Hopes, Let Down

Sorry I have not blogged in a while.  I have been so busy with my life that I forgot about Michelle Arrose.  Someone today at work lit my spark again by asking me when I plan on completing part 2 to my novella, Ignition.  That made me feel good and I knew I had to blog.  My title to this blog is High Hopes, Let Down.  Have you ever had such high hopes that you believed what you were feeling or believing to be true?  You may have dedicated so much time and thought to whatever it is, but when you find out the outcome you expected is inaccurate from what you thought, you feel as if you were hit by a freight train.  This has nothing to do with me as a writer, but rather me as a human being with my own private hopes, thoughts, and dreams.  The hard part is accepting the reality and getting past your let down.  Any thoughts?

Don't Let Social Media Control You!!!

Humans are truly insecure.  For example, why do we all choose to have so many friends on Facebook. Are we truly friends with the person we just clicked, "like" after reading their post?  Do we click like to satisfy our own insecurities?  We know many people clicked like and so, we want to fit in and click like as well.   Why do we feel the need to post our latest photo.  Does it really matter if Shelia, Ted, Bob, Bethany like our photo?  I saw a wonderful, but tragic advertisement for AT&T regarding texting while driving.  A woman put her baby girl in the back seat.  As she was driving her phone went off.  She looked down and made a comment to her daughter.  "Everyone likes the picture I posted of you."  At that moment, she collide with another car.  Her car spun out of control, lifted up in the air, and that was probably the end of them.  It is sad that we live in a world where social media controls us.  The next time you look at Facebook; ask yourself: How many people are my actual friends?  Why did I just tweet the world what I was up to?  Why did I post a photo on Instagram for the entire universe to see?