Quick checkin before Shabbos!

I know, I've been bad. I'm sorry.

Things have been a bit crazy lately. In a good way, of course. Arielle is here, as I mentioned and now so is another friend, Jodaya. In the past couple of days, we've been in and out of the Old City and going on expeditions and adventures. Last night we went to an amazing restaurant that I want to update everyone about in detail with pictures on the next entry.

But with this blog entry, I really just wanted to wish everyone a good Shabbos and let them know I'm still writing, just there's been so much that has been going on I haven't had a moment.

Shabbat Shalom and I'll write more soon!

Rude Awakening

I've actually been awake since about 6:50am. I was awake in time to bid Arielle good morning on my way to the bathroom before she headed out to class. The construction, once again, was what woke me up. They are putting in the cement to the foundation now as I type. That actually didn't bother me so much though. I had almost gotten used to it but I am beginning to miss the college area for it's house parties and screaming college students. That's quiet compared to this.

I headed back to bed to snooze and watch some TV on my computer via our slingbox. I was eating cheese and some leftover corn bread from the other night when we had met up with Torah High girls for dinner at the Village Green. At one point I looked up and thought I saw a shape go past the window. I thought nothing of it though because perhaps my eyes were playing tricks on me.

The noise outside was rather loud at this point. I had the volume up on the 11pm news from San Diego that was broadcasting live on this Israeli morning. Suddenly, I noticed the living room got a bit brighter. I looked through the doorway and saw OUR FRONT DOOR OPEN!!!!!!!!!

"Arielle?" I cried out, thinking she perhaps came back from classes early. No answer. I got up and pushed the door open some more to look into the living room where Arielle had been sleeping last night. No one. Now I was pissed.

I grabbed the empty Pringles container as if that was to be my weapon to murder the intruder with (in retrospect, that was a rather stupid weapon) and proceeded cautiously to the bathroom and then the kitchen. No one there, thankfully.

Now I was thinking maybe one of the Arabs from the construction site thought they might be able to come in and take a break or something and then heard me yell and bolted. That pissed me off even more. I threw on clothes and a snood and ran outside looking for the perp. I went and closed the shudders to the windows and walked around the outside of the apartment on the balcony. No one.

I went towards the stairs and there, standing was a woman who was tzniusly dress, wearing a tichel. She had a phone and a book. Turns out, this was the cleaning lady. She told me we were supposed to be out by today and that she was sorry. She said she knocked (who could hear that with cement trucks outside) and then when no one answered she figured the place was empty. Well, it wasn't.

We are paid here until Monday. There is no excuse for this. Apparently, there was a mix up. After a few moments of confusion, it has become clear that the paperwork got mixed up and they thought we were the people downstairs. I'm not a happy camper.

Not only is this place filthy, not only is the bathroom straight from Ukraine, not only is it totally not what the photographs looked like online, not only is there a construction site literally on our doorstep that no one warned us about, but now we have people barging in. The only thing I really am thankful for is that Arielle wasn't still asleep when this happened because I wouldn't want her to be freaking out when a stranger just opens the door.

Naturally, we called the people in charge of the apartments and they apologized profusely. I think they should give us our money back, at least in part, personally. No dice, of course.

I Come From The Land of Thunder

So it's kinda raining right now. Not really hard, just a little. It's like 7:30-something. The Arab workmen outside and next door at that construction site are at it with the pounding and the cutting. I woke with a start thinking someone was at the door. Alas, it was just the insipid pounding of our construction friends. It's good I'm up now though.

I knew exactly what kind of day it is going to be when I woke up though. I have "The Final Countdown" (otherwise known as the theme song of Arrested Development's Gob). It's gonna be a GREAT day!

I'm waiting for Arielle, my friend, to come. She is on her way here from America and is due to stay with us for a few very exciting days. I'm not exactly sure what she's going to want to do when she gets here, but I'm sure it has to do (at least partially) with sleeping most likely. Jet lag is an uppity female dog.

As for yesterday, we didn't make it to Ir Dovid. We got out too late. Mike was sleeping and I chatting on skype with friends back in San Diego. I miss home now a bit. Always happens two weeks into a trip. I'm always torn between wanting two places, the familiar and the Israeli. Someday, I hope the two will be one.

But because we got a late start, we decided to make sure we got a space on the Ir Dovid tour for the next day.

When we finally went out, we first got some breakfast (mmm Crepes!) and then did a little shopping. We went to Mea Shearim. We found skirts (both for me and for other people) and more gifts! I took lots of film photos as well as digital ones. Here are some choice ones that I took . . .






After shopping, we cut back by way of the shuk and stopped to get some cheese since we were pretty much out of our beloved exotic cheeses. Basher is the place to go in the shuk, or even Israel in general, when you want cheese. They are AMAZING and you get free taste samples! Every kind of cheese you can imagine, and kosher. Now, I asked about a particular cheese last time we were here and they didn't have it at this cheese shop. When we checked in yesterday, I decided to ask again for Gjetost.

To my complete and utter delight, the cheese was there! And boy is it inexpensive! You see, Gjetost is a Scandinavian goats milk/caramel sweet delicious cheese that I grew up on. My father would make me sandwiches with it melted in there for breakfast in the mornings! I was given a taste sample and instantly I was transported back to being a kid and eating my Gjetost. Oh my G-d! Cloud 9! It has been maybe 15 almost 20 years since I last had some and maaaaaan is it good! We purchased a small slab for now but I will be getting at least a kilo of it before we leave to go home. You can't find it kosher in the 'States! Only treif! I'm eating some right now. hehehe!

After also being coerced into purchasing a bottle of merlot at the cheese shop, we headed back to the apartment and dropped off items and freshened up.

We then headed back out for dinner. We planned to meet up with some of the Torah High alumni who are now in seminary. It was lovely! We all met up they are looking and doing well! Dinner at the Village Green and then dessert with everyone on Ben Yahuda. It was great to see them! We talked of what was going on now that they've graduated back at Torah High and how they're getting along here in Israel. They then had to get doing due to curfew so we said our goodbyes and headed back home.



I got a call from another friend, Jodaya who was checking in and we made that we will see each other the next day, when Arielle comes and we have Shabbos plans also. YAY! I cleaned up the living room where Arielle will sleep and did more laundry until I passed out.

The rain has pretty much stopped now and it's really only overcast. I thought I saw the sun peeking out a bit ago, but it is pretty grey now. Very dark out. I'm still waiting and debating if I should get out of my adult footies and into real clothes.

We shall see.

Insert Witty Title Here

Good morning again.

I had a thought this morning, as I bit into another fresh chocolate rugalach. If anyone were to eat me, they would most likely find that my meat would be sweet and delicious because I'm living on a high elevation and being fed on sweet and rich things, like a prize veal would. The only drawback, though, would be that my meat might be a little tough because of all the walking exercise. Really, while I'm eating all these sweets and other rich foods, I should be confined to a pen in order to get the maximum texture and flavor.

Yesterday flew by. In the morning, we went to the shuk to get some breakfast and do a little shopping. This made me rather happy because we haven't really done any shopping since we got here and there is much I need to bring back for folks.

I was able to order a kippah for someone, of which will be ready the following Sunday for us to pick up. I also got a snood for another person, and tichels for yet another person as well. I felt rather accomplished. I also was able to purchase two skirts for myself that are fantastic! They are a warm fabric that is still able to be light and flowing. One black, one plaid. I also saw a poncho that I was interested in, but it was too expensive so I'm going to keep an eye out.

We headed back home to drop off our goods and then back out again to catch the bus to the central bus station. We were heading to Tel Aviv. Michael's grandmother lives there and she was due for a visit.

The bus to Tel Aviv was longer than it should have been. We were unable to get seats together, because it was packed. In the back of the bus, there was a very large, rather smelly, somewhat crippled Russian woman who was seated in the middle back seat. I asked her if she could move over to one side or the other and she responded that she was unable to because she needed to stretch her bum leg. All right. So we sat in the two empty seats on either side of her. At first this wasn't so bad. A window was open in the back of the bus and so cool air was flowing freely. I had my ipod in and was listening to the last part of NPR's "This American Life" that I didn't get to when I was driving back from Eilat.

Then, a man two rows up asked the man sitting next to the wonderfully open window to close it. I yelled out "NOOOO!" but no one listened to me. I only got reversed head glares as the window was shut. I thought to myself that he was going to be the first one I should barf on. So there I was, sitting in the very back of the bus, listening to a story on very high volume to hear over the bus noise, with no oxygen, packed like a sardine up next to a large smelly slightly crippled Russian woman on one side of me and a very uncomfortable looking religious man who was reading a paper and muttering to himself on the other side of me.

The only thing needed like a cherry on top of an ice cream Sunday was for our large, smelly Russian friend to fall asleep on me. And she did. Snoring. At this point I would like people to be aware that I didn't scream. I didn't get angry. I didn't barf, though I felt as if I really wanted to. That's right. Be proud.

When we finally got off the bus, I was, however slightly grumpy. I'm not quite sure if Michael knew.

We headed off the bus and onto a small shuttle that takes people around neighborhoods. We visited with Nana (his grandmother) for about an hour and a half. We then visited a park and headed back home to Jerusalem. The bus ride back was rather pleasant as things were not as crowded. Time flew by a bit faster. We picked up falafel for dinner from the place across the street and did some laundry. After which I konked out, exhausted.

Only film photos yesterday.

Today, we hope to go to Ir Dovid. Will write more soon.