It's a holiday back in the States

An early morning walk, a trip to the bakery, some Hebrew study, and then John picked me up for a morning at the beach.

There were lots of purple jelly-fish in the water. I saw one that was in danger of being washed onto the shore. I kept filling a cup with water to get it back into deeper water. A woman spoke to me later and explained that it's safe to touch these jellies (meduzah/meduzot). These don't sting as do the white ones in Tel Aviv. They are a rare visitor to Eilat.

Ethan and Ana joined us, and got to listen to a long conversation in Hebrew between Ethan and the Israeli couple.

Later, I swam out further and on the way back stopped amidst groups of meduzot. John had brought a speaker, so we listened to American music. Ethan had brought beer, so we toasted the US Memorial Day weekend. A man, originally from Wisconsin, and his children and grandchildren set up a camp site next to us. They live on a Kibbutz in the Arava. John shmoozed with the man while Ethan and I saw some more and Ana sat in the waves.

Still no word about work resuming.

Tonight begins the forty-fourth day of the Omer:

To lead is to serve. The greater your success, the harder you have to 

work to remember that you are there to serve others; they are not there to serve you.

The שרב continues...

I went out around eight, this morning and it was so hot! I got a call from the delivery service and gratefully headed home to wait for my package from the States and change into even lighter clothing. I also texted Damian about picking up my Passover bonus.

I finally had a relatively productive day! And I also watched a brilliant two-hour lecture about Solzhenitsyn, the Gulagag System, and Existentialism.

Alessandra came to visit me this evening. She stopped by Arlan's first and admired Pascal. We chatted for a long time and then walked to my place, which she hadn't seen before. We chatted until after dark.

I learned more useful Hebrew words:

לחפף l'cha'fef - to do a half-assed job (the Pa'al version of the verb means "to wash hair")
חפיפניק cha'feef'nik - someone who does a half-assed job.

It was great to have most of the gang back together again.

Neither John nor I heard from Ayoub about work.

Tonight begins the forty-third day of the counting of the Omer:

Never define yourself as a victim. There is always a choice,
and by exercising the strength to choose, we can rise above fate.

Heat wave

Dr. Rachman looked at the records of my visit to Yoseftal during Pesach. He was shocked that they released me; my bloodwork was not good. He prescribed a blood test and an ultrasound, as well as visits to Dr. Gluck and a surgeon! Oy.

Jeff spent an hour on the phone asking Hot to connect my internet and television. They raised the price, so he taught me the word, רמאות (rama’ut), which means fraud and deception.

It was hot today, and it finally got to me! (In the news; Israel's worst heat wave and much controversy about girls wearing shorts to school and not being allowed in.)

Back home, I found that the internet was working, but not the tv. Later in the evening, John discovered that the technician had plugged the cable into the wrong outlet.

We went to the beach at sunset. It was a hazy evening, which made for a nice sunset. The temperature dropped to 34C and the breeze was pleasant. I only waded out and saw purple jelly fish and some gorgeous shells, presumably occupied. I wonder if the March storm damage will ever be repaired.

Ayoub texted our group. The hotel will reopen on the 27th and he'll be calling each of us tomorrow. I hope I'll be working soon! (I have to contact Damien who still has my Passover bonus.)

Tonight begins the 42nd day of the Counting of the Omer:

Don’t wait for the world to get better. Take the initiative yourself. The world is waiting for you.