28 Again

I am 28 again. It is very easy to remember, because my mom is 29 and it's impossible for me to be older than my own mother.

The little cake and birthday wish is from the hotel. They have to have a copy of my passport, so I think they spied on it and marked my birthday in their system. I won't complain. It's kind of nice to come back after a long day at work and be greeted at the front desk with a "Happy Birthday" and impish smile.

You call that DRIVING??

I have to say that I am very amused with what passes as 'Driving' here in Israel. Lane control are two words that I think cannot possibly coexist in the same sentence, and certainly not anywhere near a road.

At first you wonder if someone is changing lanes, cuz they are creeeeeeping over into your lane. But then, they slowwwwly creep back. (It's most fun on a curvy road, while you are trying to pass.) When they do change lanes, they actually use their blinkers more than the folks in Oregon do. But then it's as if they forgot what they were doing, and wait for a while... then slowwwwly creep halfway across, straddling the line. There they wait, pondering what to do next.

Traffic lights are also different. A red light still means stop, but it gives you a warning yellow before turning green. Makes me feels like I'm a race car! 'Gentleman, Start Your ENGINES!!!!!'

Before turning red again, the green light will start to flash, usually 3-4 times. In Oregon, that would mean ACCELERATE! Not here. Slam on your brakes, and stop, while you wait for the light to turn yellow for a few seconds, then red. Seriously, I almost rear-ended a van that stopped at the green light. I did find out that my little Mazda has ABS.

Being Prepared

I know how important it is to be prepared to survive and thrive, so I have canceled my surfing lessons and the scuba diving trip, and am immersing myself in the culture here. Incredibly, as an add-on option to my Hebrew language lessons, I am also able to get my fighter pilot's licence. The online quizzes and the $50 Microsoft Flight Simulator program have really paid off, and I go out solo tomorrow.

Party on...

Yes, we do suffer terribly while on assignment.

I went to a fun barbeque at my friend's house in Old Jaffa. (This is the same place where Noah dropped off one of his sons, and where Jonah ran to catch a boat instead of heading up to Nineveh.)

My friend got here about 4 months ago, and landed a beautiful apartment. For a brief couple of days it looked like I might get a place in the same building, but the landlord had raised the price out of the allocated company budget, and no amount of fussing brought the price down.

This is the view from another friend's place. (Hard to see, but that's the Mediterranean between the buildings.) Sunsets are often golden, as there is very fine dust from Africa blown this way. I've even heard that on some days it can rain mud!

Warning, it's a groaner

So, (that one's just for you, Grace), I have been learning a lot about the many cultures here in Israel. I visited one area that was about 85% Arab and 15% Christian. I saw some big mosques and some little ones. Turns out that the big mosques are simply called mosques; the little ones are mosque'itos.

Whewww - HOT!!

Weather Underground tracked the temp and humidity yesterday. I felt like I was back in Boa Vista, Roraima!

Masada

M and I took a Saturday and ventured to Masada, south of the Dead Sea. Though the struggle we faced to get there was not of the same duration as the Roman soldiers laying siege to the mountain-top fortress, I did begin to wonder if we'd ever make it. You see, we got trapped in Jerusalem, wandering for forty minutes and forty seconds, waiting to stumble onto Highway 1. Hwy 1 eventually revealed itself and we were finally making our way, down, down, down towards the lowest "outdoor" point on earth.

My Mazda lease-car enjoying rest at a desert mirage

(First place in a long time that I've had to pay to use a restroom)

The southern bit of the Dead Sea

M thought it'd be fun to run up to the top of the mountain, but my new Mazda wouldn't hear of it! No hot and sweaty runner was going to blemish its new interior!! He had to be happy with the tram ride up instead...

The Trail of Sweat and Gnashing of Teeth in a Hot Dry Climate
(or why Sarah is not in charge of naming things)

A Byzantine church (built well after the days of Herod)

New Apartment

The apartment M and I chose is just finishing construction, and should be ready at the end of the month. Here are some pictures. I am anxious to see what odd assortment of furniture and appliances I'll get....

My New Apartment (red box)

Lobby Entrance

View towards north beach

View South

View of kitchen from living room (front door is where the guy is standing, one bedroom/bath off to the right)

View of living/dining room- hallway towards three bedroom, two baths off the right

Kitchen (Laundry room entrance in view)

Alive and Well

Hi ya!

M and I got into to Tel Aviv Sunday night, had an early (at least, early for us) dinner, then hit the hay... where I did a lot of tossing and turning and very little sleeping. M was out like a light, so unfair.

Monday, we met up with our "relocation specialist" and started the process of choosing where to live. Tel Aviv is about 1 to 1.5 hours from my work, but certainly a fun alive place. But the price of fuel is SSSsooooooooo expen$ive, and the apartments so overpriced for what you get, that I decided to move closer in to work, but still on the Mediterranean.

I chose an awesome apartment, quite near a marina and a beach. It's got rooms and bathrooms galore, so pleanty of space for visitors. I'll take pictures soon. It's a brand new place, and will still take about one month to be move-in ready. (They still have to install AC, appliances, furniture, etc)

With the skewed work week, I work Sunday through Thursday officially, though because of the work I do with my teams back in the US, I also put in hours from 7pm to Midnight+ on Monday through Friday so I can actually meet and interact with them. Then, I have to swim, eat, bike, and sleep. Oh, the life....