Manchester england england across the atlantic sea

And I’m in Manchester new Hampshire
or am I?

Let see- meeting a sales guy in an airport hotel and working in the bar

He is drinking Sam Adams light beer and me with diet cokes- I think diet cokes are stronger

I explained the guy about the rules of state counting

So the next morning we were driving up state new Hampshire- through wood lands, and nice rivers- and he says “you see that tower” (it was  a cell tower), I say “yes”, and he says “you’ve seen that, that must count for something”- nice effort but not enough

So we ended up in Lebanon , a nice little place with a small hospital- a lot different than the original Lebanon-with nothing interesting at all- unlike the original. So I was never in new Hampshire after all.

 

So right now I am doing extreme camping- very hard conditions

Our tent has room for now- and there is a divide to split the tent into 2 rooms, there is a mattress in the tent, the other campers in our groups- made burgers for supper, eggs and sausage for breakfast – seating on folded comfy chair and a great cool weather in the woods- like I said, extreme camping. Later today it will be more extreme – we will go white water rafting and to another natural water slide in the river- and then maybe a little hiking- followed by more camp fire and barbeque- and  – so no complaints

 

The 2^nd jogging week continued- 4 so far this week- rafting will count as 5 (weekly committed minimal activities)- so we were walking through a street by my house and there they were, skunks- less than 200 meters from my house- at night, and I had no idea, never seen skunks before(other than the French skunk in the bugs bunny cartoons)- and the 1^st skunk never seen me before, and he raised his tail against us- ready to fire- he didn’t but it smelled dangerous, 2 more skunks later my awe was gone- but still a very interesting experience – with the noticeable white stripe on the tail.

 

So on the way to the camp site- I am in Pennsylvania now- we go by a church “Indian head church of god”- what a creepy name- I imagine they killed an Indian , cut off his head- and place that on the cross- I can’t think of any alternative- and that is a church of god!- so we drove away

 

Gone rafting….

 

 

 

FW: on buffalos, cops, and karma

 

Sorry (are you?) for not writing sooner- school took most of my attention in recent weeks- but now the 2^nd test is over and looking good- 1^st test just got a result of 87 so my mood is good and I am spending a day in Chicago- since that is the closest embassy – I will not think of the ticket price, parking, sub way and other costs of 1 test!- oh I just did,.

 

So I was walking the Chicago shore line which is full of cement- till I reached some actual sea sand- Cleveland lake sand is like the kineret- little pebbles- but here it is like the sea. So I climb to some high place and then I saw a sign- AMC theaters- so I treated that as a sign- which is what it really was and now waiting for the mummy 3 to start.

 

So what did we have last month- I had to check the blog to see where I left off

So we moved on the Colorado parks till the Colorado national monument – which is a great (but smaller) beautiful grand canyon- the combination of red rocks and greenery will accompany us in our way to Vegas- that combination is why I liked kings canyon (down under) the most- so here I have many parks with similar formations- I am beginning to understand why Americans don’t travel much abroad- they simply have it all here (but don’t get me wrong- international travel is always on my road map)-

So we visited zion, arches, canyon land , the grand canyon and Brice canyon which is by far the most beautiful.

Mostly views- not much hiking due to the existence of kids and pregnant woman, so we had to pace down-  Sedona was wet change- they have a thing called the sliding rock- natural glitch glatch- to slide on and pools to jump from the top of the rock- like sachne meets timna- so of course I had to jump.

There is not much to tell about natural parks- they are amazing beyond words- go there… I know I will be back.

 

Vegas was the last destination on the trip (13 days) – and Alla joined for the weekend- my last trip to Vegas 9 years ago- started with a night in a tent, falling asleep in a strip club and all you can eat buffet which lasted 24 hours (the not eating part afterwards). This one was different- the theme here is music- clubs and shows

3 vegas clubs over all- including the playboy club- mr u hafner was not there- just some tired bunnetes – all and all just a club- the ceaser’s palace club was nicer- we got in as VIP

VIP stands for- very important people are in front of you, please wait. You have the guest list- which is like first class- we were not, then you have those who have VIP cards or not but who are paying- so it’s business- then you get those with VIP cards- how to get a VIP card- simply come earlier and they will give you one- the only good thing about it is not paying but line waiting is a part of it- so we waited- and the club was full of people dressed like no one who knows them goes there- mainly not dressed- but I didn’t complain .

 

I had a discount in the hotel for my willingness to listen to a time share presentation. For me, such a presentations are not good since I have a tendency to accept- I almost paid lots of money some years ago to a pyramid schemes- but I backed out in the last minute- so I was more anti than usual which frustrated my presenter- who had to go along with the show knowing it’s a no go. She kept promising me some incentive- I was so anti and she didn’t even offer it in the end- but I got some prices for coming- 40$ in casino chips and a money enough for one buffet in another hotel (of course you have to pay for the other one)- so this is how I got money in the casino- cashed in the chips and walked away.

Vegas was more expensive than I remembered- buffet than was around 7- now 25$- crazy not worth it- so the next day we had the usual junk- sub way and ice cream

 

Then came the shows- Mr Elton John- did 90 minutes of great performance- gigantic balloons (shaped like ice cream with a cigarette bud, hot dogs, hearts, letters)- lights, suggestive porn videos in the back ground and ELTON on an amazing red glowing piano. All you can accept from a primadona you get with Elton- the bad side that he missed some songs- the songs he didn’t sing could fill another great show- especially One- which is my elton’s favorite. So this adds up to a bunch of bands not singing my favorite song- I believe it’s a conspiracy- I need to make a CD of best unsung hits (Elton- one, scorpions- under the same sun, sting- Russians, gypsy kings- amore the mis amores)- all concerts I have been with unsung songs. But I love almost all his songs so I had a great time.

 

A surprise came from the half price ticket booth – which is never half price- but a good name after all- the regeneration tour

A 4 hour concert of 5 80’s bands in one show (one after one)- so of course I had to go- I didn’t think I knew lots of songs- but I was happily surprised

Opened the show was naked eyes- which I knew only one song- the singer kept trying to get girls to come on stage- no luck- the good thing for him is that he gave me a high five… I am never washing my hand again (line stolen from Samantha missaly)- so mr naked got off the stage and the show began.

The flock of seagulls – with one of the craziest hair styles of the 80’s- now with a ht to cover boldness- but still good voice and good songs

ABC- lead singer looks and sounds great- some of their songs I thought were sang by spandue ballet

Belinda Carlisle came next- love her songs-best part of the show

And the human league came next- I thought I only knew- don’t you want me- but they sang for an hour and I knew a lot- a whole new league

 

It’s time to get back to karma- after my gas angles from last time- some one gave us a coupon book (which you get for free anywhere) but they didn’t know it- so we gave our lunch ticket to some surprised couple- and were rewarded by karma back in Cleveland-

If you recall – when I went to the brian adams concert the tickets were sold out and I missed it- and now he came back as a warm up session for rod Stewart- so we went

 

We both didn’t have enough cash(only 25$)- and they sold tickets are crazy discounts (20$ ticket price)- and would not accept credit- so- we had a problem- then a couple came and said they had spare – and wanted 20$ for both- I offered 25- they said no- how lucky is that?- so this is karma – so I need to find a way to pay it forward again.

Today I had a chance and passed it- on the way back from vegas- we had 2 seats in different rows- alla in a very Israeli huzpa way- asked some lady to switch her isle seat to my middle- and she did- I had the same case- but no one asked me (a mom and her kid)- I should have offered though - so one point bad on the karma list- but karma takes time to pass the beurocracy – good test and weather today- but it will get me tomorrow – or perhaps it already did- details after the concert

So brian adams gave a great show – and heavy rains began- we were standing under a blanket and singing, and rod Stewart sang all his hits and some of other people so my concert summer is looking very well.

So back to karma- if you do recall my car was left in buffalo for 2 weeks (oh and I saw a buffalo in Zion park, but it was in a fenced field so it doesn’t count- but I have a photo)- the car was doing well there- meeting friends and having a blast- then it came back- after 2 weeks of non driving the car felt bored so she decided to speed- it wasn’t me- it was the car- but the cops did not believe and I have my 1^st ever speeding ticket- in the 1.4 mile from my home to work – I manage to do that- very talented.

The car didn’t have enough and that very same day- so managed to get hit in the back side from some jerk who didn’t leave a note in the parking lot- so I had to see the police again-and they can’t do a damn thing to help(no cameras in the parking lot)- only good for tickets. Not a serious damage – but still looks back on the rear side bumper.

I had another surprise on my way back from vegas- I forgot my house keys in the rental.- it took 2 days to arrive- so at one point I was in Cleveland, house key in Vegas, car keys in Nashville, and car in buffalo – I am breaking my own talented records- try to top it- near impossible. So karma did get me back- I have to behave…

 

This week other than studding was about jogging – we committed to 5 days of sport a week- week one is over and we jogged 5 times- 2-4 k each- which is great for me- but still not in shape. Week 2 begins later today.

 

Last week we went dragon boat racing- I was told they were dragon shaped boats- but no actually long Chinese racing rowing boats- so we paddled for an hour or two then went to beach volley ball- love this city.

Saw some movies- journey to the center of the earth was lots off fun- as expected, mama mia- go if you love abba music- the lead actress forgot her name (the river wild) is a great actress but a poor singer- they tried to cover up- but was to obvious- but still a great fun- and I can sing abba all day. I think a I saw a romantic comedy which I liked but can’t recall the name- oh baby mama- good one.

War inc was a surprise – john cusak is always good- but his sister- joan Cusack rules- a great satire on Iraq- a must see cinemateque type movie.

And today was the mummy 3- a fun summer movie but something weis from it’s assence was missing- a sense or rachelism was not there- and jet lee can never be in a good movie.

 

This week was the week of the great black out in Cleveland- actually the neighborhood went dark while I was in the hallway- my apartment are hotel type- so long corridors- I went in and got my flash light then went down the stairs in the dark- and seeing to many movies- so images of scary movies tried to creep up on me (Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr….) but I didn’t see them- since it was dark….

 

Got to board…. Chat soon.

 

 

 

Toto, we're not in kansas any more

It’s the 25 year anniversary of the original road trip movie with Dan aroid- I would look it up but no signal here in the Rockies- I should not be writing but should be looking at the amazing view

So let’s go a few days back

 

We left Ohio and headed west through Indiana and Amish country- it’s not polite and against their religion to take photos of Amish- we tried but sinned a bit- though tried not to make it obvious- we drove through the Amish heritage trail and enjoyed the greenery and craftsmanship of the Amish ( got a souvenir)- other than views Indiana was not impressive- but a heritage site is a major point in Indiana- so state #25

Illinois was next- I have been here before so nothing new- but we detoured through south Chicago- Obama  birth place- and though my brother is a big though not allowed to vote supporter- we hurried out of there.

We drove across Illinois and entered Iowa- and looked for a place to crash- but Davenport- a big city on the Mississippi river was fully booked- not a single room available- an unusual thing when there is no convention and no special event- the blame is on the weather- recent floods have blacked out all of eastern Iowa-so the population moved from their homes to hotels with generators-  is was late already when we started calling ahead for a round- 2 hours later… we found 1 room and crashed- this is what happens after driving to much with cruise control- bad quality but  still… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQywpxnOGM

 

 

The next morning we looked for special attractions in Iowa-and believe me it’s hard to find- so we found a nice place that does wood work- on the left is a chicken

On the right is an Iowa style – Gym bicycle (it’s actually a schnitzel maker- a schnitzel hammer was not invented yet)

 

But the biggest attractions was Iowa’s world largest wall nit rocking chair- there are largest chairs but from other trees- or for other functionalities (like non rocking chairs)- but not like this

The bellow photo is a common Iowa view- the left silo is just a corn silo but the right one holds another type of grain- ICBMs- all of America’s rockets are stored in corn fields.

 

 

Amish country carriage and Amish food

 

Iowa has a bad rep- it is very green and pretty- but we missed the world largest Swedish coffee mug  - again there are larger Coffey mugs- but Norway ones in Finland- but you can’t fiind a bigger Swedish one. So we moved on to the bridges of Madison county

 

My mother was excited so she hit this electric pole- the car survived but the pole was in pain- as a result- the west side of Iowa went dark

 

Lucky for us we moved on- escaped the CFPD (corn fields police department) and went briefly through north Missouri and drove by the city with no beds or showers in their suite (Kansas city) which is not in Kansas – and then we entered Kansas.

Usually a drive through any state would not count- but I did all there is to do in Kansas- and the list contains

1.

2.

And 3…

That’s it- nothing to do- s a drive through (6 hours) makes is # 26

Dorothy has no idea how grateful she should be for that tornado- we longed for a whirlwind for ourselves but were not so fortunate                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

By night fall we reached Colorado springs and we didn’t forget to say the sentence in the subject

 

I like Ohio- but so far Denver is the most beautiful state I have ever been too- so took a tour to the top of pikes peak- in the neigBearhood of 4000+ meters – making it my highest land point ever – and drove down on bicycles (real ones’ not Iowa’s)  - 19 miles down hill thses are sock gloves the traditional photo

a mountain lion, of course

 little big horn ship-

 

Wasted the rest of the day on shopping and drove a couple of hours in the afternoon looking for bears-

 and there he was (or was is a she bear?)- climbed fig tree and ate and ate and ate- did not care that we were staring ad taking photos

This brown bear is actually a black bear- though it was brown

 

This ended 3 days ago- closing this post- too many photos for email already

More coming soon

 

p.s- if I ever get a good signal- family movies will be posted on you tube- look for my profile (ILeprichaun)

on dead racoons, leprichauns and angels

Oh so much to tell so little time- it’s short stories week


How to kill a dead raccoon?
It’s very easy any way- you just drive in south ohio- sooner or later a dead one will seat on the road- it’s kind of a hangout for them
It was sleeping in the middle of the road- so I moved directly on top him but it hit the bottom of my car- so I killed it after it was dead- still not nice…
I still haven’t seen a live rackoon not in a zoo

So my car was punished and is now in detention 4 hours away from here- in buffalo new York – after being in 4 states in 1 day on Thursday- I ended up in olean new York – we had a demo to do and something was broken in shipping so I took Sean (a sales guys) rental SUV with the cart to the office and he took my car to fly home- so it’s there now, with nothing else to do but watching the plains go by- still no plan on how to get it back…

The way to Olean was interesting – 3.5 hours drive at night is always fun- especially when the gas light turns on- and all the gas stations on the way are closed… I passed by 4 stations in small town- no life- and no way to pay even with a credit card- drove close to 50 miles with the gas light on- using no gas on downhill, closing the AC- finally got to a gas station.

So after a day at the hospital with only a salad (lots of 1000 islands sauce…) we were about to go back- with each other’s car when this woman comes and offers free pizza- she was making it for people at the hospital who went home- so we shared some- and took some for the way- she only asked to pay it forward (yes, like the movie) so I redeemed it by releasing a moth… later
So I drive back with a red full moon and 3 hours later I get sleepy so I stop at a junk food place with the tray of pizza from the pizza lady, that place which was closed- so I move next door- to ‘pizza hut’ with a tray from another store- they had no bin on the outside so I am hiding the tray behind my back while ordering soup- and throwing the other tray away in the bathroom
The waitress talks on the phone with her boyfriend who broke his finger and apologizes to me for not being quick- crazy nation

Speaking of nation- I went to Plymouth rock which is where the 1st immigrants landed- and seen a replica of the original mayflower and where they lived and such- they would be please to know that their city is now a shopping mall- but they gave honor to the Indians who were friendly to them…big mistake… he could have changed the world- now the Indians are stuck in reservations with casinos.

So what is the difference between Irish festival in Israel and US
I think I like the Israeli one better- it’s smaller, and you dance Irish dances and go to shows- same concept here but with a lot of shopping – but you have more shows, original Irish food like Italian sausage, Hawaiian smoothie and Greek gyros- but still had lots of fun.
The young Dubliners were a highlight of some kind of a highlight- playing Irish rock- the issue is they are not from Dublin- I was there I didn’t see them, and not so young any more- but still fun.

It was a hot day so we left the festival in the middle ant went to cool down in the lake-
You may have seen Baywatch- with the life gourds- but the lake watch are something else
You can probably recall the army days when you could sit on watch – the last/ first 10-15 minutes of every hour- and you sat on both- well here it’s the same- they get 15 minutes off- the problem is that all the life gourds are off duty at the same time- so the blow the horn- and everybody exists the water- the entire beach- I was surprised by the discipline – this happens every hour on the clock- they have cops ready to give tickets for those who want to enter the beaches unsupervised – these cops of course work only 15 minutes of every hour….
When in lake watch – follow these rules
No going deeper then chest high.
No jumping off somebody’s shoulders (mine)
They take out all the fun- safety is overrated.

So we went back to the festival grounds and after my near no gas incident with my car- I didn’t learn my lesson and actually ran out of gas with the rental- damn SUV gas eating monster
We get stuck in the middle of an intersection- so I get out and start pushing- and a Hammer looking car from behind- pulls over- this guy (Mark, mortgage broker)comes out and starts to push with me.
His wife(colleen , a yoga instructor who graduated today from yoga school) in the car pulls ahead of us and we nearly hit her car- but she is quick, and moves away- they pull us over to the side- and drive us to the gas station nearby.
We get a tank – but the SUV is hungry- and it’s not enough to get it started- so they drive us again… and back- road angels indeed
And they wouldn’t accept a dinner invitation- but in 2 weeks after Vegas – we will take them out.

On the road from akron to Olean last Thursday the road passes by Cleveland- so I listen to an Israeli collection and the cruelest song is played just as I go by the exit to my place- ‘ani hozer habayta (im coming home)’ which is a rip-off of an Italian song- so I am singing with it while driving away- do not pass go, or collect 200$ but drive 200 miles…

Are the French smarter than the Irish?
In Israel we have an Irish pass- mostly in the north- you drive and then the road will go down to a small creek and go up again very steeply- that is an irish pass- the problem is that if there are water in that creek- they have the right of way and you are stuck,- the French came up with a better solution of putting the road ABOVE the water- a new concept – and every such bridge is called ‘french creek’

Sunday was a leisurely so we went to a Canoe O event- O stands for orienteering – the idea is you go in a canoe in a very nice lake and race like in orienteering to get to as many points in a given time (2 hours) so we road like crazy- it was me, Alla and crazy Robert ( I need to load something on you tube) – at some areas there are points on land- so we drop Robert of and he runs to one side of an inlet and up a hill through a swamp to get us points, then we do another inlet so it’s my turn to run- I am a great sprinter but a bad long distance runner- the distance is short but after an hour of canoeing – it seems long and I am poorly dresses for running- sandals, and sweat pants already soaked with water- and they are heavy and pull me down- so I am lifting my skirts(pants) and running slowly like that barely breathing but I can’t stop (they guy was in a swamp…), raspberry thorns get stuck in my feet- I kind of make it there in time. Then we row quickly to the finish line with 2 minutes to spare (you get panelized heavily if you are late) and we come in 2nd place- not bad for my first canoe-o event. The 1st team cheated by the way- they were in better shape.


And finally the best shirt in the world- have you seen my ‘god made grass, men made booze, who do you trust?’, t-shirt
I love that shirt- I took it to the Irish fair and got so much attention (u know I love the attention)- 20-30 people actually stopped me to praise the shirt- I should have gotten then on camera- I asked one but he refused
Not lying, as god (AllA) is my witness, and lots more just see the shirt , laugh and walk away- I am looking for another festival to wear it again- special occasions only.

Oh I almost for forgot about the old man and the shoe- based on the classic the old man and the sea- Moti- my mother’s husband is 60 minus 4 days today- that is why we are all meeting in Denver to celebrate- my mom and shai are here in Cleveland now and we are driving there with a stop at cedar point today…. Any way- moti through his back and could not bend to tie his shoes
So he got a Romanian assistant to do that (my mom)- with a very funny scene which is now on you tube http://www.youtube.com/v/UQXiAG3NGK4

Since this is infect a blog- it’s time to movie it to a real one- the blogil will be published soon at an internet near you

And on the way to the lake we stopped at a gas station and asked for directions- a guy came out and was driving to his home which is just by where we were going and offered us to follow him- what are the odds of such a timing- that was angel 3 over the weekend (pizza, gas and road) so I must be lucky