14 October 2012

This morning I got up quite early and was out of the house by just after quarter to 6:00.

My main goal for today was to get the 60,000-kilometer service done on our car. So, I headed over there as early as I could. They took the car in right away, and I was out of there within about 2 hours. I consider that quite good.

For lunch, we again went to Greg at the Ice Park & Mall. There weren't that many people there today, so it was easy to get a table. I picked one over by the railing so that I could watch the people skating below. Our favorite waiter, Ronnie, talked a bit with us (we only learned his name today). David had pizza with feta cheese, olives, and mushrooms. I had their breakfast (omelet, Israeli salad, guacamole, cheeses, cream cheese, bread, and butter). We both had big ice-cafés. The music that was playing there today was very relaxing, sort of post-new-age, post-piano-jazz. I actually didn't want to leave.

I did the grocery shopping after that (David waited in the car).

A common thing here in Israel when people can't do something right away (for whatever reason, really) is that they'll do it or it will happen אחרי החגים akharei he-khagim "after the holidays". Although there are many holidays throughout the year, the big clusters are in the Spring and in the Fall.

In the Spring, it begins with Purim, which is REALLY big here, then continues with Pesakh (which is a month later, but, with all the frenetic cleaning it might as well be right after Purim), Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzma'ut (2 days in succession), and Shavuot. These are actually spaced somewhat, but, you know, we can't really expect anyone to get anything serious (or otherwise!) done between them.

In the Fall, it's Rosh HaShana (which comes on the heals of the regular summer vacations, of course), Yom Kipur (9 days afterwards), and Sukot (only a few days after Yom Kipur and lasting for EIGHT whole days!). Again, one couldn't possibly do anything BETWEEN these closely spaced holidays.

So, now we are finally akharei he-khagim, and, of course, now there is a HUGE overload of work to be done. Actually, though, it may STILL have to wait until "after the holidays" -- while at the market today, I saw sufganiot, the jelly donuts that are the hallmark of Khanukah here, which is only about 2 shorts months away... Oh dear!