Wednesday, 30 September 2015

I got to bed a little late last night, and I was awake for a bit in the middle of the night, too, so I got up too late to go out for my morning walk.

I taught 8 units of Berlitz lessons today (6 hours): 9:00-10:30, 11:30-1:00, 2:30-4:00, and 4:00-5:30.

I ate lunch at home.

In the evening, I again walked over to the green strip and sat there a while enjoying the fading light. It was a bit warmer this evening, though. I felt tired, so I walked directly home instead of going up the strip and coming back down on my street.

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

I got up early and went out for my full walk in the lovely light of the basically still full moon. Lovely!

I went to the WIZO English speakers' meeting this morning. It was at Fay's house, since the WIZO house is closed during Sukkot, and it was very nice to meet, especially since the last two weeks' meetings didn't happen due to Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur.

I ate a quick lunch at home and then drove down to Ice Mall and again walked around and around for 45 minutes.

I had 4 units of Berlitz lessons today, but the second 2-unit lesson turned out to be a late cancellation: 3:00-4:30 and 5:00-6:30.

Monday, 28 September 2015 (First day of Sukkot)

I made sure to get up early this morning to see the lunar eclipse. When I first stood up and looked out my bedroom window, about 1/4 to 1/3 of the moon was still lit. By the time I got outside on my walk and to a place where I could again see it, there was no more direct sunlight on it. I continued watching it through most of my walk. A few times, it was behind hills, but I deliberately walked towards the outdoor gym since there would be far fewer buildings blocking it on that route. I last saw it, probably pretty close to peak occlusion, before I headed down my street to return home. It was barely above the somewhat more distant hill. What a great sight to see!

I relaxed for most of the day. In the early afternoon, I drove down and walked around and around at Ice Mall for 45 minutes. But I returned home to eat a rather late lunch.

In the evening, just after the sun disappeared behind the mountains, I walked over to the green strip and just sat there and enjoyed the beautiful evening for a bit: a lovely dry desert breeze, birds singing, and people walking by with kids and strollers. What a beautiful place I live in! Then I walked up the strip to Harim Road and back home down my street (Ein Yahav).

Sunday, 27 September 2015

I got up VERY early this morning because I was wide awake and got in a nice walk.

I did the weekly grocery shopping this morning at Shufersal, and the place was a zoo! Still, I got it done reasonably quickly, and it's nice to see so many people getting ready for the happiest holiday of the year.

This evening at sunset, we entered the 7-day holiday of Sukkot ("Booths"). So, have a happy holiday, everyone!

ושמחת בחגך, והית אך שמח

"And you will rejoice in your holiday, and you will be ONLY happy"

Shabbat, 26 September 2015

I got up early this morning and walked to the gym to work out there a bit. Along the way, I petted not one but TWO cats, neither of whom I knew from before. The first was a beautiful calico, and the second was a yellow ("gingi") cat.

Once again I enjoyed watching the recording of last night's BCC (Beth Chayim Chadashim) kabbalat Shabbat service.

I drove to Ice Mall and walked around and around there for 45 minutes, and then I drove over to the Gulf Restaurant for lunch, my usual: a Greek salad.

In the late afternoon, I talked with David's sister, Joyce.

This evening, I decided to sign up for a new Coursera specialization, this one on building apps for iOS (iPhone, iPod, and iPad) and the Apple Watch. I hope it will be interesting and fun!

Friday, 25 September 2015

I got up a little late this morning, but I still went out for a full walk. Later, but still before breakfast, I also walked down to recycle cardboard and buy challah for Shabbat.

I taught 5 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-9:45, 10:00-11:30, and 11:30-1:00.

I had my traditional Friday lunch at Il Pentolino today.

As the sun slipped behind the Eilat Mountains to the west of here, I lit candles, drank a bit of sweet red wine, and ate challah to welcome Shabbat.

I'll close with the blessing said right after the ברכו (Barkhu), the formal call to worship, in the morning prayers:

ברוך אתה, יי אלהינו, מלך העולם, יוצר אור ובורא חשך, עשה שלום ובורא את-הכל

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the world, Former of light and Creator of darkness, Maker of peace and Creator of all!

Thursday, 24 September 2015

I got up early this morning and got in a great walk. I even got to pet and hold a beautiful white kitty, who followed me (meaning: zigzagged relentlessly in front of me, always threatening to trip me!) all the way up the green strip. So cute, though!

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:00-11:30, 12:00-1:30, and 3:00-4:30.

I had frozen petite peas and vegan weenies wrapped in a whole-wheat tortilla for lunch at home today.

In the evening, I cleaned the bathroom. So, now all the "public" areas of my apartment are clean, and I have only my office and my bedroom to go (which are, basically, very easy). I am SO proud of myself. Furthermore, I discovered (probably to no one's surprise but mine) that it's NOT so hard to clean and make the place look quite nice. I'm going to try to be MUCH better about cleaning from here on out.

Wednesday, 23 September 2015 (Yom Kippur and September equinox)

I woke up early this morning and went out for my usual walk. Even though it was Yom Kippur, I saw 3 vehicles driving around. It was clear why the 3rd one was -- it was a van that takes hospital workers between their homes and the hospital. The other 2 were probably also doing important, essential transportation of some similar sort.

After that, I just stayed home the rest of the day. I did get several important things done, though.

I did a fairly thorough cleaning of the living room and hall: quick dusting, moving most of the furniture, sweeping, and mopping. I also cleared everything off of the cabinet that serves as a divider between the living room and the kitchen. So that whole end of the apartment now looks much better.

I also did a load of laundry, drying it on the balcony.

Finally, I read through most of the more important prayers for Yom Kippur in a makhzor (High Holiday Prayer Book) that I have.

Another important event happened today. The sun passed over the equator from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere at 11:22 a.m., local Israel time. This is known as the September equinox and marks the official beginning of fall in the North and spring in the South.

So, another Yom Kippur is finished now, and we look forward to the most joyful holiday of the Jewish year, Succot, זמן שמחתנו (the time of our happiness), beginning next Sunday at sunset.

Tuesday, 22 September 2015 (Erev Yom Kippur)

I got up early this morning on got in my full, beautiful walk, still going up the stairs when I arrived home.

I had no Berlitz lessons today, since I am never available on Tuesday morning (due to the WIZO meeting which actually didn't happen today because of the holiday) and since Berlitz treats the day before a holiday like a Friday, in which I don't work in the afternoon.

I ate lunch at home because I knew, from past experience, that all the restaurants would be closed by the time I wanted to eat. I had chips and salsa, plums, and a piece of apple honey cake.

I cleaned the kitchen quite thoroughly today. I cleared everything off the counter and cleaned it and then did the same for the table. Finally, I moved the table, the chairs, the trash can, and the recycle can out and then swept and mopped the floor. This is WAY more cleaning than I've been able to get myself to do for AGES, so I'm kinda proud of myself. In the same way, I hope to manage to get the rest of the apartment cleaned over the next several days.

As the sun faded today, Yom Kippur began. This is the one day of the year when EVERYTHING shuts down here in Israel. NOBODY drives except for serious emergencies. The majority of adults fast, even most non-religious people (I'm not fasting this year, though). Children, and some adults, too, ride bikes in the streets and even on the highways! Many people, of course, spend most of the day in a synagogue (i'm won't be doing that, either). All this lasts for a full 25 hours, until well after dark tomorrow evening.

So, I wish a צום קל (easy fast) to those who are fasting, and a גמר חתימה טובה (a good sealing in the Book of Life) to everyone!

I close with this important quote from the Machzor (the High Holy Day prayer book):

ויאמר יי סלחתי כדברך

And the Eternal One says, "I have forgiven you, according to your word."

Monday, 21 September 2015

I got up early this morning and did my full walk, including walking up the stairs.

I made a trip to the pet store to buy mice Goldfinger (my rat snake) and cat food and litter for Pascal (my cat, duh!). Poor Goldfinger hadn't eaten for weeks because I couldn't get mice for him. But today, he enjoyed a nice one.

I taught only 4 units of Berlitz lessons today: 11:30-1:00 and 4:30-6:00.

I ate onion quiche and a small salad for lunch at Rachel Café today, and then I drove down to Ice Mall and walked around and around for 45 minutes before returning home.

Sunday, 20 September 2015

I got up late again this morning, but again I walked to the gym and worked out a bit there, thereby avoiding the rising sun in my eyes on the way back home.

I did the weekly grocery shopping this morning at Shufersal.

I drove down to Ice Mall again and walked around and around for a little over 45 minutes before sitting down to have vegan shwarma wraps for lunch at Greg Café there.

In the evening, before the late faded, I walked over to the green strip and sat on the bench there a bit before returning back home.

Altogether, I walked further today than any day since I got my new iPhone (which tracks these things): more than 10.7 km (almost 6.7 miles)!

Shabbat, 18 September 2015

I got up quite late this morning, but I still went out for my walk. It was a bit cooler, so I went to the outdoor gym and worked out there a bit, as well. This also meant that I wouldn't be walking into the rising sun on my way back.

This morning I again watched the Kabbalat Shabbat services at BCC (Beth Chayim Chadashim) recorded last night. The person giving the drasha (sermon) was a female Muslim professor from the Claremont School of Theology (I hope I've got that right), and she was actually excellent, talking about restorative justice.

Before going to lunch, I drove to Ice Mall and walked around and around for about 45 minutes. Then I drove over to the Gulf Restaurant for lunch, having my usual Greek salad, plus all the free little salads.

In the late afternoon, I talked for some time with David's sister, Joyce, in Ohio. Both of us look forward each week to these conversations. She thinks of me as her brother, which is a great honor.

Altogether, I walked 8.71 km today (about 5.4 miles).

Friday, 18 September 2015

I got up early this morning and so easily got in my full exercise. I also walked down to the bakery later, still before breakfast, to buy challah for Shabbat.

I taught 5 units of Berlitz lessons today (more than any other day this week!): 9:00-9:45, 10:00-11:30, and 11:30-1:00.

I had my traditional whole-wheat spaghetti with Palermo sauce for lunch at Il Pentolino today.

I didn't use the elevator at all today, which means that I climbed the 72 stairs up to my apartment 3 times in all.

As the light was about to fade from our beautiful valley, I lit candles, sipped a bit of sweet red wine, and ate a little challah to welcome this Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat of return.

I close today with the refrain from my favorite High Holy Day prayer, Avinu Malkenu, the very first Jewish prayer I ever learned (in high school), LONG before I had any idea what it meant or knew any Hebrew at all:

אבינו מלכינו, חננו ועננו כי אין בנו מעשים

עשה עמנו צדקה וחסד והושיענו

Our Parent, our Ruler, have mercy on us and answer us, because we have no deeds.

Do for us alms and favor, and save us.

     [my gender-neutral translation]

Thursday, 17 September 2015

I got up early and got in my full walk including climb up the stairs again this morning. It feels good, and the weather is getting just slightly cooler, too, at least for now.

I taught 4 units of Berlitz lessons once again today: 9:30-11:00 and 3:00-4:30.

I again drove down to Ice Park and walked around and around but not for as long as yesterday, and I came back home to eat lunch.

I walked more than seven and a half kilometers (more than 10,500 steps) altogether today.

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

I got up quite late this morning, but I still went out for my full walk.

I taught just 4 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:30-12:00 and 4:00-5:30.

I had creamed potatoes and a small Israeli salad for lunch at Café Café today, at Ice Park. After eating, I walked around and around the mall for 45 minutes.

Altogether today, I walked 9.69 km (over 6 miles), climbed the 72 steps in my building twice, and went up the steps from the lower level to the upper level of Ice Park (36 steps, through Landwer Café) 3 times.

Tuesday, 15 September 2015 (2nd day of Rosh HaShana 5776)

I got up early this morning and did my full walk, including coming up the stairs on my return.

Much of the day today I felt tired and a little sad. I cried several times. But I felt better in the late afternoon after driving to the Ice Park mall and walking around there for about 40 minutes.

This morning, I decided to study the 23rd Psalm a bit more closely, in the original Hebrew. I typed a version with partial nikkud (vowel pointing) into my computer, and then I did my own English translation. Here it is:

A Psalm of David

The Eternal is my shepherd, I will lack nothing.

Onto green grass He will urge me.

Upon restful water He will guide me.

My soul He will return.

He will lead me in the cycles of justice

For His name’s sake.

Even when I will walk

In the gorge of the death-shadow,

I will fear no evil,

For You are with me.

Your rod and Your support

Will comfort me.

You will prepare a feast for me

Against my troubles.

You anointed my head with oil.

My cup was full.

Only goodness and kindness

Will pursue me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Eternal

For days unnumbered.

Monday, 14 September 2015 (Rosh HaShana 5776)

I got up at just the right time and went for a full 50-minute walk, including walking back UP the stairs when I returned to my building. I also walked up them THREE more times during the course of the day.

Other than recycling bottles and containers, I really did almost nothing today. It was actually rather boring, to tell the truth. At least I got my exercise.

Sunday, 13 September 2015

I got up at a good hour this morning and went for my regular walk -- very nice!

After breakfast, I went to the pharmacy to get my monthly supply of meds, and to the health food store and Shufersal to do my weekly grocery shopping.

The rest of the day, I most just relaxed. I took Me'ir to Togarashi for pad thai for lunch.

I wish you all a good, prosperous, and sweet new year! And I'll leave you with this thought:

כל העולם כולו גשר צר מאוד

והעיקר לא לפחד כלל

The whole world, all of it, is a very narrow bridge.

But the important thing is not to be afraid at all.

[a saying of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, that is also a popular song]

Shabbat, 12 September 2015

I got wakened at about 2:00 a.m. by the sound of David's metal kiddush cup hitting the floor in the kitchen. I knew immediately what had happened: Pascal (my cat) had gotten up on the brown plastic cabinet to check out the bouquet of flowers that I had put up there (to keep them away from him!) and had knocked the cup, which was also up there, down. Actually, he had already been there once before to check them out. He KNOWS he's not supposed to go there, and it's not easy, either. He has to go on the counter and over the refrigerator to get there. But he's determined to get to those flowers! Anyway, it took me nearly an hour to get back to sleep. Partly because of that, and probably also partly because of how EARLY I had gotten up yesterday morning, I slept until quite late this morning and so didn't get out for a walk.

This morning, I again watched the Kabbalat Service from Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC, our old synagogue in Los Angeles) recorded last night. It was very moving and touched me deeply. I'm going to continue this new tradition for my Shabbat mornings. If any of you would also like to watch, here's the link to their page.

I ate a late lunch at Landwer Café and then walked several times around the Ice Park mall in order to get at least a little exercise in for today.

Friday, 11 September 2015

I woke up VERY early this morning. The dust was still in the air, but there was clearly less of it, so I went out for a lovely walk. Later, before breakfast, I walked down to buy challah for Shabbat. Altogether today I walked UP the steps in my building THREE different times -- more good exercise!

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

I took Me'ir to Il Pentolino for lunch today.

In the evening, I lit candles, drank a bit of sweet red wine, and ate a little challah to welcome Shabbat.

One of the additions during the Days of Awe to the prayer for peace in the Amida:

בספר חיים, ברכה ושלום, ופרנסה טובה, וגזרות טובות, ישועות ונחמות,

נזכר ונכתב לפניך, אנחנו וכל עמך בית ישראל,

לחיים טובים ולשלום

In the book of life, blessing, and peace, and good income, and good inscribing, saving and mercy,

May we be remembered and written in Your presence, we and all Your people of the House of Israel,

For a good life and for peace.

Thursday, 10 September 2015

I again got up early, but there was again too much dust in the air to go out and exercise, alas.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:30-12:00, 12:00-1:30, and 5:00-6:30.

I ate lunch at home.

Wednesday, 9 September 2015

I woke up early enough to go out for a walk this morning, but I decided I had better not because of the amount of fine dust in the air due to the dust storm.

I taught only 2 units of Berlitz today: 10:15-11:45.

I had planned to eat lunch at a restaurant at Ice Park, but the parking garage was closed and I couldn't find any other parking places very close (I didn't want to walk far in the heat and the dusty air), so I just gave up, drove to Rachel Café (where it's very easy and free to park nearby), and had lunch there. I actually ordered their breakfast, in fact!

I was too lazy to do much for the rest of the day. Maybe it was because of the dust, maybe it was the lack of exercise, and maybe it was the small amount of teaching -- I don't know.

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

I got up early this morning and got in a great walk despite the rather oppressive atmosphere. It was a bit warm, and there was very little breeze. I decided NOT to walk up the stairs.

As always, I enjoyed the weekly English speakers' meeting at WIZO this morning. The next 2 weeks it won't happen because of the upcoming holidays, and I'm really going to miss it. When I came back home, I DID walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

I had vegetarian weenies wrapped in a tortilla, a tomato, and chips and salsa for lunch at home today.

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

A terrible dust storm covered the whole country today. Here in Eilat (where we're used to getting these from time to time) the visibility was quite limited, and the dust was so thick that we didn't see the sun all day. There was also a strange, orange-brown color to EVERYTHING.

Monday, 7 September 2015

I got up early enough to get in a full walk this morning and again walked up the steps instead of taking the elevator.

I taught 8 units of Berlitz lessons today.

I ate falafel for lunch today at Mercaz Big.

Sunday, 6 September 2015

Even though I went to bed about 3 hours late last night, I only got up about a half-hour late and still went out for a full-length walk this morning. I even walked up the stairs when I got back instead of taking the elevator!

I filled the car with gas, got it washed (badly needed!), and did the weekly grocery shopping this morning at Shufersal.

I checked out a couple of new stores near the tourist area (Big Outlet and Poza). Each is in its own, new building. I wasn't really very impressed, although Big Outlet might possibly be a good place to get shoes if I ever need any new ones (somewhat doubtful, at least for a long time). Then I went to lunch at Togarashi, at Mercaz Big.

In the evening, after the sun went behind the mountains, I walked over to the green strip and sat on the bench there for a while, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and taking advantage of the 4G coverage there to read a long article about the history of Shi'a anti-Semitism. Then I walked up the green strip to Harim Road and walked back down our street to get home. It was very pleasant.

Shabbat, 5 September 2015

I got up early this morning, walked to the outdoor gym, worked out a little, and walked back home. I even went up the steps instead of taking the elevator!

I did 2 loads of laundry today, so all except for a few white items are clean now.

I ate my usual Greek salad at the Gulf Restaurant today (as well as most of the "salatim" -- little salads -- that they give everyone).

Other than those things, I just stayed home and relaxed today.

Friday, 4 September 2015

I didn't quite make it out for a regular walk this morning, but I did walk down to recycle cardboard and buy challah for Shabbat.

I taught 3 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-9:45 and 11:30-1:00.

At 1:30 I had an appointment with my psychiatrist. He decided to change my medicine, but it will have to be done gradually.

As the light was about to fade from our lovely valley, I lit candles, drank a bit of red wine, and ate a bite of challah to welcome Shabbat.

Here is a link to a YouTube performance and here are the words to the refrain of a Shabbat song that I heard for the first time last Friday night, at the wonderful Kabbalat Shabbat service on the Mediterranean beach of Shavei Tzion, just south of Nahariya:

מתנות קטנות

מישהו שלח לי מתנות קטנות

רסיסים של כוונה עיגולים של אמונה

מתנות קטנות

מישהו שלח לי מתנות קטנות

כמו הכוח לקבל את מה שאין את מה שיש

מה עוד אפשר כבר לבקש

matanot ktanot

mishehu shalakh li matanot ktanot

r'sisim shel kavana igulim shel emuna

matanot ktanot
mishehu shalakh li matanot ktanot

kmo ha-koakh l'kabel et ma she'en et ma she'yesh

ma od efshar kvar l'vakesh

[my transliteration of the Hebrew]

Small gifts

Someone sent me small gifts,

Fragments of intention, circles of faith.

Small gifts

Someone sent me small gifts,

Like the strength to accept what is not and what is.

What more could one ask for?

[my translation to English]

Thursday, 3 September 2015

I got up early again and went out for a full walk.

I taught only 4 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:30-11:00 and 3:00-4:30.

I went over to Me'ir's for lunch today, and we ordered pizza, bread sticks, and Greek salads from Domino's since he wasn't feeling well enough to go out.

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

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

I taught 5 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-9:45, 11:30-1:00, and 4:00-5:30.

I ate lunch at home.

Tuesday, 1 September 2015

I slept well last night but got up too late this morning to go out for a walk.

I took Me'ir out to Rachel Café for breakfast this morning.

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

I ate vegetarian weenies wrapped in a tortilla, corn chips and salsa, and ice cream for lunch at home today.

I taught 7 units of Berlitz lessons: 3:00-4:30, 4:30-6:45, and 7:00-8:30.