Thursday, 30 July 2015

I went to sleep early and easily last night but woke up only about 2 hours later, needing to pee. Then, I was unable to get back to sleep for 3 hours because of almost a panic attack. So, of course, I didn't get up until very late and didn't go out for a walk. In fact, most of the day today I haven't been feeling very good.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:30-12:00, 12:00-1:30, and 3:00-4:30.

For lunch, I took Me'ir to Jaknis.

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Last night I got to bed late because I picked Me'ir up from the airport and took him to eat, since he hadn't eaten all day. I flew to the center because BOTH of his parents are in the hospital in bad condition.

Not surprisingly, then, I got up way to late to go out for a walk this morning.

I taught only 3 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-9:45 and 2:30-4:00.

I ate lunch at home: chips (American corn chips, NOT French fries! LOL) and salsa, potato salad, cheese, tomato juice, and a little cake.

Tuesday, 28 July 2015

I got up early enough again this morning to get in a full walk -- very nice!

I enjoyed the weekly English speakers' meeting, as always, at WIZO this morning.

I ate burekas, olives, a hard-boiled egg, and cucumber and tomatoes for lunch today at the local bakery, Shibolim.

I taught only 2 units of Berlitz today: 7:00-8:30 (in the evening, of course).

Monday, 27 July 2015

I got up a bit late this morning but still managed to enjoy a full walk.

I taught 7 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-10:30, 2:30-4:45, and 6:30-8:00.

For lunch, I had a "celebration salad" at Café Rachel.

I did laundry for Me'ir today and took it back over to him this evening. While I was there, I met and chatted for a while with an interesting young man who made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from Croatia. He spoke English fluently with a bit of a charming accent. He also spoke Hebrew.

Sunday, 25 July 2015

Although I went to bed early last night, I got up very late because I was awake for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night for no good reason. Oh well.

I did the weekly grocery shopping this morning at Shufersal, and then I just stayed home for most of the rest of the day. I didn't even have the option of going out for lunch because today was Tisha B'Av, and all the restaurants (and other places of "entertainment") were closed.

I did, however, go over to Me'ir's for a couple of hours in the evening, and Gadi, my new friend, was also there for a while.

Shabbat, 25 July 2015

I stayed quite late last night at Me'ir's party, mostly talking with a new friend named Gadi. Although he's Israeli, he used to work for the Jewish Agency, and for a number of years he represented them in Montreal and Toronto, so his English is near-native level. The first part of our conversation was in Hebrew, but we eventually switched to mostly English. He also lost his partner, but it was a number of years ago, in a traffic accident, which, I think, would be exceptionally hard to deal with. Anyway, it was nice to make a new friend, even though I really didn't get enough sleep last night, despite getting up WAY late.

I took Me'ir to lunch at the Gulf Restaurant today and spent a little time at his place, meeting a few other people, all of whom I only talked very briefly with.

Friday, 24 July 2015

I woke up in the night last night and was wide awake for a while. I don't know why, but, of course, I got up very late because of it. I did manage to walk down to recycle cardboard and buy challah for Shabbat before breakfast.

I taught 3 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-9:45 and 10:00-11:30.

I took Me'ir to lunch again at Café Rachel today. I tried their breakfast, which was a little more food than I really needed but was very delicious.

In the evening, I made Shabbat over at Me'ir's place.

I'll close today with my favorite verse from the entire Tanach (Hebrew Bible):

הגיד לך אדם מה-טוב ומה-יי דורש ממך כי אם-עשות משפא ואהבת חסד והצנע לכת עם-אלהיך

You have been told, humans, what is good. And what does the Eternal seek from you:

To make judgments, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the Divine Presence.

[Micah 6:8, my free translation]

Thursday, 23 July 2015

I didn't sleep really well last night and so got up too late to go out for a walk.

For a time, David enjoyed listening to audio books, so I got a membership at Audible and paid monthly for points that I could use to buy them. At first, I got just one a month, but later I upped it to three. Then, he lost interest in the books, and so the points began accumulating. If I canceled the monthly payments, I would lose all the points, so I was hesitant to do that for a while. Finally, a few days ago, I figured out what to do. I bought a couple of the more advanced levels of the Pimsleur Hebrew course for ME (and one or two other books that I thought I might like), using up all my points. THEN, I canceled my membership. Today, I started listening to the Pimsleur course, and I am very happy with it. I haven't encountered any new vocabulary yet, but I'm more interested in working on fluency now, anyway, and this will DEFINITELY help with that.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 12:00-1:30, 3:00-4:30, and 5:00-6:30.

For lunch, I took Me'ir to Café Rachel today.

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

I got up early this morning and walked to the outdoor gym and back. I also went on a couple of the machines for a few minutes while I was there. It felt great!

I taught only 2 units today: 10:30-12:00.

I got a new phone today! For roughly the same monthly amount I have been paying, I now have a new iPhone 6 Plus with 64 GB of memory instead of my old iPhone 4S. Actually more importantly, though, I am now paying with my U.S. credit card instead of paying from my shekel account. My shekels are a little short these days since I no longer have David's disability income. Interestingly, the representative who was helping me told me she had a girlfriend when I explained my need to change the phones from David's name to mine. Luckily, I had taken a copy of his death certificate and his ID card with me. I would never have guessed in a million years that she was a lesbian -- no indication at all!

In the evening, I was invited to tea at Fay's house and had a great time there with several other WIZO friends whom she had also invited.

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

I got up late this morning because I got to bed late last night. I was helping Me'ir get supplies for the first event of his new business that will be happening at his place tonight.

I enjoyed the weekly English speakers' meeting at WIZO this morning. The highlight was many of us sharing memories of our childhood summers.

I ate lunch at home today -- canned baked beans, cheese, and cookies.

I spent a little time at Me'ir's place this afternoon. He's having some kind of problem with his right eye that causing him a lot of pain. He's been to the eye doctor several times already, but, apparently it's just going to take some time for it to get better.

I was scheduled to teach one 2-unit Berlitz lesson today (6:00-7:30), but it turned out to be a late cancellation. I was notified before the lesson, though, so I didn't have to wait.

Sunday, 19 July 2015

I got up just a little late this morning and didn't go out for a walk.

In the morning, I did the weekly grocery shopping at Shufersal.

In the afternoon, I took Me'ir up the Arava a few kilometers past Yahel to help his friends (5 uber-cute guys) whose car had broken down. After some discussion (not involving me -- I waited in the shade in the car!), we ended up bringing 3 of them back with us to Eilat while the other 2 waited for the tow truck to bring their car back, as well. Everyone in the car (except me, of course) fell asleep on the way back.

After returning, I took Me'ir to Rachel Café for a VERY late lunch (or slightly early dinner).

In the evening, I started a new blog where I plan to regularly give hints and tips about correct English and grammar for non-native speakers. I'm actually hoping that, but inserting ads, I'll be able to make some money on this eventually. Later, I may also start one for math hints and tips. Here's the link to the new blog, which so far has only one post, of course.

Shabbat, 18 July 2015

I got up early this morning and went for a great walk. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a bit more breeze.

The rest of the day, I was pretty much lazy and rested. Recently, I've taken up the hobby of watching videos on YouTube, and today included a lot of that. In particular, I've discovered a great series of videos on geography, hosted by a young guy name Paul Barbato in SoCal. It's called "Geography Now!", and each video is about a different country. He's covering them alphabetically, and we're still in the B's, so there will be many more to come. I think I've now watched all the countries he's done so far. His style is both fun and informative -- I highly recommend these videos!

I went to the Gulf Restaurant today for lunch. I had a Greek salad, and, of course, enjoyed the little "salatim" they bring for free. I also drank a strawberry-banana fruit shake, which was good but a bit more than I really needed.

Friday, 17 July 2015

I again slept in too late and didn't get out for a morning walk. I did, however, walk down to recycle cardboard and buy challah for Shabbat.

I taught 3 units of Berlitz lesson today: 9:00-9:45 and 10:30-12:00.

I ate my traditional Friday lunch at Il Pentolino today.

In the afternoon, I just relaxed and tried to envision new ways of using my skills to increase my income. Mostly, I only went down blind alleys today, but I think the process will take time.

As the sunlight was about to fade from our beautiful, hot valley, I lit candles, sipped sweet red wine, and ate a bit of challah to welcome Shabbat.

לכל זמן ועת לכל-חפץ תחת השמים:

עת ללדת ועת למות

עת לטעת ועת לעקור נטוע:

עת להרוג ועת לרפוא

עת לפרוץ ועת לבנות:

עת לבכות ועת לשחוק

עת ספוד ועת רקוד:

עת להשליך אבנים ועת כנוס אבנים

עת לחבוק ועת לרחק מחבק:

עת לבקש ועת לאבד

עת לשמור ועת להשליך:

עת לקרוע ועת לתפור

עת לחשות ועת לדבר:

עת לאהב ועת לשנא

עת מלחמה ועת שלום:

To everything there is a season, and a time for everything under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die

a time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted

a time to kill and a time to heal

a time to break and a time to build

a time to weep and a time to laugh

a time of eulogy and a time of dance

a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones

a time to embrace and a time to shun embraces

a time to seek and a time to lose

a time to keep and a time to discard

a time to rend and a time to sew

a time to be silent and a time to speak

a time to love and a time to hate

a time of war and a time of peace

[Ecclesiastes 3:1-8]

Thursday, 16 July 2015

I slept in this morning for unknown reasons and so didn't go out for a walk.

I taught 7 units of Berlitz lessons again today: 9:00-11:15, 3:00-4:30, and 5:00-6:30.

I went out after my morning lesson to get new cartridges for my printer, but I came back and ate lunch at home.

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

I got up late this morning and didn't go out for a walk. I left the windows open during the night, which I've generally been doing lately, but it was a little too hot last night for that. Tonight, I think I'll leave them closed and run the A/C instead.

I taught 7 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-11:15, 3:00-4:30, and 7:00-8:30.

I had a Japanese salad and pad thai for lunch today at Togarashi at Mercaz Big. Afterwards, I went and picked up my new, biometric national ID card.

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

I got up early and took a very nice walk this morning.

Before the WIZO meeting, I went down to the optician and finally got new temple pieces for my glasses (to replace the ones the puppy had chewed on). They had ordered new ones more than 2 weeks ago, but the order still hadn't arrived, so I suggested that they simply take them off of frames they had there in the shop, which they did. I SHOULD have suggested that when I first went in there. Anyway, I now have new temple pieces but am 200 shekels (over $50!) poorer.

There was no speaker scheduled for the weekly English speakers' meeting at WIZO this morning, but a young man (28 years old) who is originally from Zimbabwe showed up, and he agreed to give us a short impromptu talk about the history and current state of the Jewish community there. At its peak, there were several thousand Jews, but the number remaining now is only about 100. It was a very interesting talk! And, how many people from Zimbabwe have YOU ever met?

I took Me'ir to lunch at Jaknis today, where I ate 2 broccoli shnitzels, a big pile of rice, and assorted salatim.

This evening, I distributed more copies of my flyer to the mailboxes of more apartments in the neighborhood, and then I printed out even more.

Monday, 13 July 2015

I got up early enough this morning to get in a great walk.

I was scheduled to teach three 2-units lessons today (for a total of 6 units), but two of the lessons (all except the first) turned out to be no-shows (for which I DO get paid, of course): 9:00-10:30 (the only actual lesson), 10:30-12:00, and 5:00-6:30.

I spent most of the rest of the day working on preparing to do English tutoring: printing and distributing flyers advertising my services and working on creating worksheets for students to practice the English skills they learn. I put flyers in the mailboxes of everyone in my 2-block area except for two of the buildings (because I ran out). I also put flyers on the bulletin boards of buildings where I could (some don't have bulletin boards, and some require a code to enter). I distributed nearly 200 flyers this way, all with my phone number and e-mail address on them. So, we'll see what happens.

I had falafel for lunch today at Mercaz Big, and afterwards I popped over to Shufersal to do the weekly grocery shopping (less than 100 shekels this week).

Sunday, 12 July 2015

I woke up this morning with a bad headache and didn't get up until late. I took 800 mg of ibuprofen with breakfast, and the headache went away within minutes!

I spent most of the day today with Me'ir, taking the plastic cabinet I had emptied out over to him and helping him more with setting up his new business. He'll be offering people the opportunity to have a really fun even on his rooftop area, including his pool and a well-stocked bar (all for payment, of course, and observed 24/7 by 8 closed-circuit cameras). I think we've got everything pretty well in order now.

For lunch, we went to Rachel Café. I had onion quiche and a small but delicious salad.

Shabbat, 11 July 2015

I got up early this morning and went out for a very nice walk.

I spent most of the morning working on a flyer that I hope will lead to me getting some private English students. I think I got it looking pretty nice, so I printed out a bunch of copies and tomorrow and I'll try to place them in as many mailboxes as I can (perfectly legal here, unlike in the U.S.) and to put them on bulletin boards in the lobbies of the buildings, as well.

I took Me'ir to lunch at the Gulf Restaurant (again), and then we went for a drive up the full length of highway 12. It was temporarily closed last week due to terrorist activity in Egypt (it runs right along the border part of the way), but it has been re-opened.

In the evening, I did some work in 3 of my plastic cabinets, sorting through stuff and throwing some things away. I'm trying to consolidate enough that I can give one of the tall ones (I have FIVE of them, as well as one short one!) to Me'ir by tomorrow.

Friday, 10 July 2015

I got to bed early last night and woke up early this morning, allowing me to enjoy a nice morning walk. I also, of course, bought challah for Shabbat.

I taught 5 units of Berlitz lessons today (although the first lesson, 1 unit, turned out actually to be a no-show): 9:00-9:45, 10:00-11:30, and 11:30-1:00.

Me'ir and I ate lunch very late today, so we went to the Gulf Restaurant, where I had their delicious Greek salad.

ויכלו השים והארץ וכל-צבעם:

ויכל אלהים ביום השביעי מלאכתו אשר עשה וישבת ביום השביעי מכל-מלאכתו אשר עשה:

ויברך אלהים את-יום השביעי ויקדש אתו כי בו שבת מכל-מלאכתו אשר-ברא אלהים לעשות:

Heaven and earth and all were finished.
On the seventh day, God completed the work he had been doing,
On the seventh day, God did no more of the work.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because
On the seventh day, God did no more of the work of creation.

[Genesis 2:1-3 -- the original, as in the Torah, and my somewhat poetic translation]

Thursday, 9 July 2015

I got to bed a bit late last night and so also got up too late for a morning walk.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lesson today: 9:30-11:00, 12:00-1:30, and 6:00-7:30.

I took Me'ir to Café Rachel today for lunch, where I splurged and ate their Balkan platter -- lots of delicious cheeses, cherry tomatoes cut in half, cucumber slices, and toasted bread.

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

I spent much of the day today helping Me'ir with more things regarding getting his business going.

For lunch, I took him again to Jaknis at Mercaz Mor.

I taught only one 2-unit Berlitz lesson today: 2:30-4:00.

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

I got up very early this morning despite going to bed very late last night, so I got in a great walk.

I did a little presentation at the WIZO English speakers' meeting this morning, playing some of the music from "Start and Stripes and Pipes", my album of arrangements of traditional American music for organ.

I spent most of the rest of the day helping Me'ir get his new business set up. He will be arranging events and parties, so if you know of anyone who's interested in having a fabulous party on the roof of a tall building (12th floor) here in Eilat, with a pool, let me know. It could be a lot of fun!

Monday, 6 July 2015

I got up a little too late this morning to go for a walk.

I taught 7 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:00-12:15, 3:30-5:00, and 5:00-6:30 (but the last was actually a late cancellation).

I had falafel for lunch today at Mercaz Big.

Sunday, 5 July 2015

I got up early and got in a nice, full morning walk.

I spent essentially the entire morning waiting to get David's death certificate from the Interior Ministry. Unlike in many countries, such documents are NOT in the public record and can NOT be obtained by just anyone who walks in. So I had to bring along some documentation to prove my connection to David in order to get it. Luckily, I was able to do that, and so I did get the certificate (2 copies, in fact), and I didn't even have to pay anything!

For lunch, I took Me'ir to Jaknis, where I had broccoli shnitzel and potatoes (and plenty of the little salads that they bring for free).

I spent much of the afternoon helping Me'ir order business cards and set up advertising in the local newspaper for his business of planning events.

I also did the weekly grocery shopping at Shufersal.

Shabbat, 4 July 2015

I got up a little late and almost went out for a walk but didn't quite feel up to it.

I spent much of the day today with Me'ir, first at his place, then on a drive up into the hills of Eilat, next for lunch at the Gulf Restaurant, and finally on a drive up the Arava and over and down highway 12 as far as Uvda. It was a pleasant day, and a nice way to celebrate the 4th of July -- with an Israeli who speaks almost no English and, of course, has NEVER been to the U.S.A. :-) He drew a nice page for me, though, featuring a message wishing me a happy Independence Day Holiday and a drawing of the U.S. flag. He learned today that it has 13 stripes, representing the original 13 states.

So, Happy Birthday, America, land of my birth! Not many countries can boast a founding with words as eloquent and beautiful as these:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Friday, 3 July 2015

I got to bed late again last night and so also got up too late to go for a walk, other than the short one to recycle cardboard and buy challah for Shabbat.

I taught 3 units of Berlitz lessons this morning: 9:00-9:45 and 10:30-12:00.

For lunch, I took Me'ir with me to Il Pentolino and ate my usual whole-wheat spaghetti with Palermo sauce.

In the evening, Me'ir came to my place and we made Shabbat together.

ברוך אתה, יי אלהינו, מלך העולם, אשר קידשנו במצותיו ורצה בנו, ושבת קדשו באהבה וברצון הנחילנו, זכרון למעשה בראשית. כי הוא יום תחלה למקראי קדש, זכר ליציאת מצרים. כי-בנו בחרת ואותנו קדשת מכל-העמים, ושתב קדשך באהבה וברצון הנחלתנו. ברוך אתה, יי, מקדש השבת.

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and desired us, and bequeathed to us Your holy Shabbat with love and favor, a memory of the works of creation. Because it is the first among the holy days, a memorial to the exodus from Egypt. For You chose us and sanctified us from among all the peoples, and bequeathed to us Your holy Shabbat with love and favor. Blessed are You, Adonai, sanctifier of Shabbat.

Thursday, 2 July 2015

I slept well but got up late this morning and so didn't get out for a walk.

I taught 8 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:30-11:00, 12:00-1:30, 2:30-4:45, and 6:15-7:00.

I ate lunch at home today because of the short amount of time available.

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

I got up early and enjoyed a great walk this morning.

I had half an omelet sandwich and a small salad for lunch at Café Café at Ice Park today.

I taught only one 2-unit Berlitz lesson today: 3:30-5:00.