Isn't it Hanukkah?

One of my roommates is Jewish. She isn't a close follower of religion, but is probably as in-tune with her religious background as I am with my catholicism/lutheranism (my family converted to lutheran church when i was 14, while my grandparents attend catholic mass daily). Since a fair amount of my friends in NY are Jewish, I consider myself pretty in-the-know with where the holidays fall.

Me: "Hey, isn't it Hanukkah still?"
Roomie: "I'm not sure. Is it?"
Me: "Well, it started last week. Tuesday I think."
Roomie: "Then I guess it's still going on."
Me: "Shouldn't we light the Menorah?"
Roomie: "YEAH!!! Let's do it."

And so I found myself learning my first Hebrew prayer this evening. She had been given a Menorah by a few gentleman passing them out on Flatbush a few years ago. The candles were rainbow-colored and curved on top of one-another, but it was still cool all the same. Sadly I didn't know any of what the prayer meant until after she explained it to me, but I do have to say I have an appreciation for religious ceremonies.

The only problem with our Menorah is that the flames are CRAZY. A recent pyrotechnic incident rendered my hand useless for a week and I'm fearful that the candles will start our kitchen on fire. Not to be a downer, but that would probably seriously alter my appreciation for ceremonies of any kind involving flames.