it's been a year since i last wrote something

The longest day just ended.. or so I hope- nothing beats spending a holiday at work- I will make up for it soon don’t be worried

 

So some where late last year- I went to paddle and paddle – which is a nice 16k bike ride- which went by too fast followed by a kayak trip (pictures soon) along some nameless river

The river is nice- since there is water on the one side, you bike in the middle and another canal which looks like a mossy, swampy, grassy river on the other

So lots of green at the beginning of the fall, some ducks, a hawk of some kind, a depressed wild turkey- he kept his head down- must know that thanks giving is approaching

And a river turtle- I never so them in real life- I head those small ones who died in the aquarium at my house when I was young, and I saw gigantic ones at sea- but never small regular sized turtles in a river- I scared it and it jumped in the water and swam away (and fast).

But after 2+ hours of kayaking (I canoed a lot but never kayaked) some areas in the body don’t like to remain in the same position – next time bring a cushion

After that we had a barbeque- not as gourmet as last week but good enough.

 

Some people are lucky ones- others get to see the movie with that name – good cast (rachel mcadamas and tim robins) but I guess it’s for Americans-  but I do have something in common with the main characters- all wounded soldiers with very minor injuries- thus lucky ones (don’t worry its not a spoiler), and good acting- but again- for yanks

 

Yesterday for rosh hashana I went to Alla’s sister – who hosted family friends and me to a honey full meal (and tirosh J)  with some holiday games and questions (she said they never done it in Israel- just a way to keep tradition alive),  poor Alla – had 3 tests in 3 days… so she wasn’t there. But an evening I was and was not looking forward too went well.

 

So after wards I had few free hours- so another movie- eagle eye- with Indiana jones’s son in the movie- better job on this one

Good thriller- and other then 10 kitchi minutes,,,,why must they ruin it????…. it is still the best movie I saw this year  (shai you will like it, amit go to the cinematic)

 

My new arrival date is October 26 till after the election

And till that there are some octoberfeast events- these people will drink for any nation, any religion with no bios of any kind….

And 2^nd week of my soccer career is tomorrow… it’s hard to do worst then last week, but I am sure we can

 

Oh and yom kipur is coming so I must confess my sins- mosquitoeCide

Huge mosquitoes- entered my place- not many but extremely large and easy to hitJ so I killed one- and more came for the funeral- I sent some more to meet the 1^st one – hope they are gone by now.

 

I missed today an indoor rock climbing event and a juggling class- so nothing left to do but go to another movie…should I get a TV? no

 

Have a happy tzom gdalia and shana tova

 

 

 

 

how to lose the clothes off your back

For those of you who don’t know my past, I had a great soccer career

I remember my 1^st practice in hapoel kfar saba (a major league team, most of the years), I was somewhere between 6-8, and my dad took me to a practice, everyone was wearing green, we ran some laps and kicked the ball around, and that’s it. Never played in a team again.

Till today, I joined a local club- I was suppose to meet the team just in time for the 1^st game which was also today.

The league here is 8 a side- 5 guys and 3 girls max per team, we had 6 and 2 girls – so we had to play only 5 guys. 3 of us (myself included) with no soccer shoes on a moist and slippery grass pitch, none of us knew each other, and the game began- we swept the field and 5:0   to the other team…

But next week is another game….the other ream cheated – they knew what they were doing.

So after we finished the hike-I took of my shirt and some of the wet clothes from the day before and placed them on a rock to dry, no surprise when I came home and they weren’t there- lucky someone from the group found them- I hope they give it back after laundry

 

I have a 2 new pets- the vacuum, which got out of the box and actually worked for a while- both of us were shocked!

 and a lizard

For about 5 years I had a lizard hiding in a towel, waiting to be hung on the wall and never used as a towel

And finally, way way over due it is sitting comfortably on my wall

 

That is it for me- my muscles are crying (after another hike yesterday and the game today)…

 

Enjoy the Paul McCartney concert, he was the most talented member of Wings( according to h.simpson- ‘Mr burnse’s heir’ episode)

Hike photos

Hike photos

it's not the butter ,it's the extra butter

So after leaving Mississippi- I missed “talk like a pirate day”- apparently there is such a thing and I didn’t know till after- nobody is telling me about the interesting things

I could have RRRRRR…. All day, well next year

So I needed a book- since mine was finished- and the name Robert Harris was familiar so I bought it- I didn’t remember till minutes later that the last book I finished (earlier that day!) was by Robert Harris- only in Hebrew – so I failed to connect the names- must be the jet leg (1 hour difference)

So on Saturday morning after seeing what the storm did to my apartment (5 leaves managed to sneak in the open window) and seeing that the power was fully restored- we went backpacking

Back packing is basically a hike- with camp- so you carry your tent and stuff on you and as Amit is my witness – in never liked carrying a back pack- I am a pouch kind of guy- but too much stuff for a pouch forced me carry. The hike was 3 hours away – 12 of us went there through small roads- small towns with nothing to do, and great yellow fields of Soy (the color is the only good thing about them)- photos attached- we made it to the hike on time after running in to a forest ranger lady who was very bored and told us about every possible hike in the area, and every road on the map(and she had a detailed map). The hike wasn’t long- 6 miles to the camp site- and 6 miles back through another road the following morning- through a fir forest before the fall- all green.

We made it to the camp on a very nice lake which is actually a reservoir (what a concept- blocking the water in- so you can drink them in times of dry years- someone should tell that to the Knesset!!!)- but looks like any other lake- and we swam to the other bank- the water were cold but not too cold- and very refreshing after a hike. The purpose of this trip was apple pie, the camp was in an apple orchard- with real apples- not like store bought, they were smaller , sour and filled with spot (no pesticides) – like all natural Orchard apples- so we picked them- and these guys are equipped- brought pie crust and pie Oven- and made fresh apple pie- I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it since I never liked apple strudel – but Yammi! With lots of caramel- and the group were very organized- one guy made cheese fondue, another made beef stew, others made Smores ( you all had roasted marshmallow before- but this is one step up- you roast the marshmallow and put it in 2 pieces of chocolate, and the outer shell is Graham cracker (like petty bar)- the marshmallow melts the chocolate and the result- lots of calories

There were Perogy  which I was told were polish- I am half polish and never heard of them- must be from another side of Poland, and roasted sausages on a stick- I managed to kill two of them by dropping them to the fire- 3^rd time was lucky. And some other good stuff. And of course alcohol- wine (not for me), but Banana schnapps – probably the only drink I enjoy other than  some blue kirisao with sprite (a liquor weaker than root beer). I tried some cherry rum- strong stuff (strong cherry, not rum). I brought nuttela!

So we set by the fire and the night passed, with beautiful stars, no bears and no rain, morning brought us breakfast burritos and left over pies and we hiked up hill back.

The only wild life we saw were chipmunks which are very cute, and an ugly spider who crawled on me when I woke up. I don’t know why we say ugly spider- can we ever consider a spider attractive? Not unless it’s a cartoon, James (when a man loves a woman), or a car- but the animal will remain ugly.

 

2 days before I thought I lost my wallet- I didn’t – but I thought I did- I had lots of cash, credit cards- the usual but because of the hike was in a natural park- my thought were on the national park pass which will save me 10$- but couldn’t care less about the other stuff. Typical of me.

Before we left Mississippi we stopped for a quick bite at Popeye’s- not the cartoon (though I have started to eat spinach leaves recently) – it’s a chicken place like KFC but better- they have this biscuit – with so much butter…so good.- it’s good that there is not branch here.

 

Does anyone know what is a dinor? Well a dinor is a north west Pennsylvania diner and no one knows where the name came from- but more than one place is spelled like that.

 

Today I got a glimpse of days to come- I saw frozen river- a movie which will probably not appear in the cinemateque – cold depressing but good- with no one you (or me) know.

But so far the days are still hot- sun still shines and another hike is coming up on Tuesday…

 

Next week is a full 5 days week in the office- I didn’t have such a week for a long time and it’s much appreciated (though some one will get me on some flight tomorrow…)

 

p.s yes there is a guy in a kilt

 

miss issipi

It’s polite here, everyone is called Mr or Ms- and I which is more informal than most- having some hard time saying Mr

I do but it feels weird on the tongue, not natural

I think that the Miss in Mississippi is to get people to be more polite- before it was called heyYouSissipi

 

From all the places I have been, the accent here is the hardest to understand- they swallow wordsJ unlike me…

 

 

I usually don’t share work stories, but..

For some reason I had to open one of our carts, and typical me I didn’t bring a tool set

So I took some from the custodian Mr joe- he had some fitting tools, but not for all- so I had to go look for some specific size Allan wrench

This city is a ‘huge’ one- so no walmart or practically any other store – so they sent me to the autoZone- which is not even a store but a mechanic shop

The mechanic Mr Brian, looks and can’t find a proper tool- but – he spends about 5 minutes finding me something that fits and doesn’t even want to be paid!(I just need to get it back)

So my appreciation for Mississippi and mechanics just went up a notch- so now the issue has been resolved.

 

The question of the day is do you tell someone senior that something seemingly minor is not right?

Since tact was never one of my virtues- I did

My co worker here(a very tactful one) said Never to do that

All I did was tell a COE of a hospital that he has a problem with outlets- so equipment can be damaged- I don’t know-

We tend to disagree- and whenever we do she would say ‘typical guy’, but on an debate today I told her that she was ‘typical woman’- to the enjoyment and laughter of a nurse here-so it’s fun.

 

Tomorrow is back to Cleveland where I hope the power is restored- and to a weekend overnight hiking trip with some apple dish made from picked apples on the spot- it’s apple season (‘some fruit company’).

 

Oh, in front of the hospital there is a big cemetery, just depressing- that should be behind it- but at least there is no false hope

 

 

 

Cheers…

6 months? already????

So I had some light in my apartment – not in all the rooms- still no entirely fix- and cold shower is not recommended in a cold morning-

But hot shower tonight, full electricity and TV- the good stuff in life- yes a hotel again- Mississippi this time.

 

6 months ago tonight I landed in Cleveland for the 1^st time- time flies too fast

 

Weight = remained the same- I had concerns on this issue

Height also

 

Over all a good decision.

 

 

Just arrive in Mississippi so nothing interesting to write just yet- but rumors say Ike is making a U turn just for me

 

Good night

sorry- it's dark still

I need electricity powder, or light powder- that would work too- 300,000 people have no power and I had to be one of them

Not the whole city is out, just certain neighborhoods- I drive around and one side of the street is laughing and the other side is closed and dark.

All because of a hurricane which was in Texas- and Cleveland just got the leftover winds- the winds of Ike should be here in 2 days- so more fun is expected

the moon is full and with nothing to do- I went to the movies of course and tonight was woody Allen’s Barcelona- he is better with age- especially when he is not playing- just writes, directs and something else probably.

I knew I should have seen another movie after wards- now it’s 9:22 and I am going to sleep.

 

Due to work related delays I am forced to postpone my trip, the later the better- the question is to when- I hate impossible scheduling

 

So rosh hashana is out, and kippur looks gone too – sorry guys for the ruined trip.

 

I think since I am missing the holidays at least do something productive (other than work!) and exercise my civic duty and vote – so I will probably come around the 27^th of October (after the supply cabinet beta) and return after the election.

 

For those of you who live or/ and can vote in Ra’anana- u can’t vote for Uzi anymore- so elect Meretz for city council(my brother is running)- and whomever you want for mayor and tell all your friends, families, pets, mailman, milkman, and the altizachen. At least there will be one interesting election this November- I think palin is the candidate with most color- but those CNN idiots keep focusing on her daughter and other non important stuff- so more of the same in either case.

 

Obviously bored and nothing to write now- so good night

 

 

 

 

 

 

alone in the dark and out of the woods

It’s dark, power out- a fun way to spend an evening- winds reaching about 100k are suppose to be outside- they don’t seem to be that strong- maybe elsewhere in the area

The friendly Ike should be ere later this weeks- or at least its tail winds- so more fun later on.

 

Today I went by a tailgate party- which is the pre football game party- the idea is simple – you come in the morning of the game- with a tent, barbeque friends and most important – lots of beer, and some more beer- you drink, pass out, throw up, drink some more- get arrested for drinking, get out and drink- than it’s game time- this weekend against the mortal enemy of Pittsburgh.

I verified who am I suppose to hate

It’s Pittsburgh in football

Michigan in college football

And everyone should hate the Yankees- so since I really don’t care, I am hating Pittsburgh, yes they suck.

These crazy people were drinking since early morning for a game which starts at 8 pm!!!

 

At the time- I was beach volley balling on whiskey island- this is a Caribbean island which got drunk one day from whiskey of course and got pushed with the current from the Caribbean sea to lake Erie, when it woke up and sobered up- it could not find its way back so it remained there- this is according to the local myth I invented the 1^st time I heard the name- but actually it’s a prohibition island- they smuggled whisky from Canada to this island- and now it is a beach volley ball park- so I dove like crazy, got sand where sand shouldn’t be.

 

This week was all about driving- 1200 miles alone- a personal record I do not want to break- though I saw nice views and the fall begins, but Its simply too much driving. So next week it’s Mississippi again- my 3^rd time there already- but still hadn’t found good southern cooking- good meaning that I like it- if not. It’s not good

 

The finalla of the week is finally finished my book- a walk in the woods- took me 5 months- the longest ever- and its interesting- I guess I was busy- but now it’s over- it tells about a guy walking the appalation trail- 2200 miles from Goergia  to Main – he does about a third of the way in months-I need to find a shorter route myself (Israel trail)- and the best thing to do when finishing a book- yes, pick up another one- so Pompey has started… and I would be reading right now if I had light!!!

 

Lap top is low on bat – so need to go

Btw the new Cohen brothers movie is funny- brad pit like you never seen him before- not an Oskar performance – simply funny like tom cruise in tropic thunder

 

 

Got to go…

just screwing around

I have managed to leave the endless mountains- it wasn’t simple- for the 1^st time not in a city that I wanted a GPS- the Gil positioning system was failing for some unknown reason- maybe it was the gram pie- never heard of this pie before- which is why it was selected- but there is no need to repeat previous mistakes…

 

Endless is a rich place= Old money as the locals call it and a hospital which was actually just a house at some point- the fall is threatening to break- most trees are green but some are yellow or red – and my favorite season is approaching- to bad its always the shortest one.

 

This was my 1^st solo install- and I was not nervous for a second- which is surprising to me- I assumed I would be- and today was my 1^st solo sales demo- since someone was sick-and I was calm- must be the air. The last part of the install – I had to crate the old carts and ship them back- not an issue with a drill – which I had- so I was drilling and dentists from all over came asking what is that noise- and then the drill decided to take a break- it lacked electricity powder. The person who screwed these crates did a thorough job- lots of screws and lots of time to screw and screw- note to self- when you are told to take a spare battery- listen!, than again I never listen… so this will happen again

I was bonding with the staff- had a discussion with a holistic nurse about doctors giving to many medications- she wanted to recommend acupuncture – I saved my comments to myself.

And a discussion with the local pharmacist which is Lebanese- so we had a short political discussion where we both agreed to get rid of all governments for the good of all mankind.

  

At endless I didn’t see the famous fat fingered nurses- they must have retired – and I spent a night at an amazing bed and breakfast –the breakfast was simple- cereal but the house!- 19^th century Victorian house- and every corner and room are full of taste- I have photos from my phone- forgot my camera….but had a great lasagna(best so far in the US)

I was in the purple room – named for it’s purple walls- not original I agree but a nice bed. So I left the endless mountains and moved to Carthage, new York- a spit away from Canada- and after my demo- I went to view the surrounding- you may recall seeing a junk mail about an area with 1000 islands- each with a big house between lakes….this is where I am right now- on the US Canada border overlooking 3…7 of the 1000 islands- some are very small so I don’t know how they count… there is a photographer here- sitting and waiting for the “right” time to click- I don’t have that patience- so I got some quick photos and sat down.

 

Today is 9/11 and the TV and radio shows ceremonies all day- but the street appear indifferent- no flags are posted on houses, or cars- the streets are empty- there is a small dog show behind me- just another day.

 

I think I saw my 1^st possum- it was on the road- but surprisingly alive- I seen lots of new animals in a less active mode- so it’s good to see one making it.

 

Sun is coming down- the photographer is focusing on something unclear- I am 3 minutes away from the border but I am not going through- you may guess that I don’t have my passport- that will be a good guess normally but not today- the days of the quick check are over- now I am in the experiencing mode- under a day is not enough for any normal area- but I will find the time.

 

Have you ever seen a town made from water?- neither have I, but I am staying in Watertown ,ny- and that is a normal city-not even on a lake!!!-bunch of lying town founding fathers

 

It’s time to go (mosquitoes…)

 

Enjoy the photos (sorry for the phone quality)

 

p.s does anybody know if the sauce comes from here?