Back at work

I took the #1 city bus to the beach and walked to The Dan Hotel. After eating breakfast and chatting with co-workers, I went in the Gulf to exercise. You can't see it in the pictures, but there were scores of other people walking hip-high in the water. After 40 minutes of this, I swam a few dozen strokes before sitting near the beach to dry off and read. Swimming was very difficult; I guess I haven't really regained my strength post-surgeries.

It was nice to be back and see everyone. The gulf was a shade of blue I've never seen before, and although it was very hot the breeze was fairly steady. I did stand in the water must of the day and also dunked my arms and my hat to keep cool.

Thankfully, Ayoub didn't have anyone at the pool wear the plastic face shields. He had tested one yesterday. It gave him a headache in two minutes and couldn't see through it. My friend, Alan, a waiter made the same complaints and later in the day, I saw him wearing a regular mask. 

Almost half of the kids today were really unruly. Usually, after one of the guys relieves me for an afternoon break, the kids are better behaved. Today, when I returned, Vladmir declared the kids meshugenah and practically ran away.

The behavior of about nine boys and three girls just got worse and worse. I assumed it was a post-lock-down issue, but according to my boss, "The French are the worst."

When Vladimir came to close up the slide area, the kids wouldn't take sagor (closed) for an answer. At that point, I would have blocked their way all night, but he shouted down to the lifeguard to turn the water back on and we started to send the kids down. There was further balagan because some kids decided to climb back up the slide.

Alan and I left work at the same time and walked along the tayelet together. He was going home and I was going to the regular bus stop because I don't know the correct worker bus to take to my new home and I was too tired to experiment.

Arlan had a good day, swimming and eating at Japanika. In the news, Israeli restaurant and pub owners are really worried because they can only be at partially occupancy.

There were not many cats around this evening. I was right on time, so I don't know why that was the case.

Tonight begins the 49th day of the Counting of the Omer:

We are mortal; therefore make every day count. We are fallible; therefore learn to grow from each mistake. We will not complete the journey; therefore inspire others to continue what we began.

For the first time ever, I have successfully counted all forty-nine days of the Omer!

Lock-down is really over!

I walked down to north beach today to exercise in the water and pick up my new worker-bus pass. Ayoub and Pavel were working. Later, Ayoub brought me a new bus pass and we chatted for a while.

Misedet HaMifratz (The Gulf Restaurant) almost ready for business!

 He was very proud that he'd fasted all through Ramadan. I told him, "Mazel tov!" We talked excitedly about John's and Mary Jean's expected baby. Then Ayoub warned me that at work we'll all have to be prepared for the new corona world. I wonder how hot a face screen will be when I'm up on the slide. There's no doubt that the newly-enclosed towel desk will be hot. 

The meetings Ayoub has to attend at The Dan are stressful and some of his managers are yelling at each other. There were dump trucks aimlessly navigating the beach and several inexplicable piles of dirt that worried Ayoub. He wants guests to enjoy their stay. He also pointed out something I'd noticed earlier: the umbrellas that survived the storm are in such poor shape that a strong wind will send the thatch flying across the beach. 

Ayoub hopes that coronavirus will make us all kinder people-- and pay more attention to people in Africa who have no water or food. (The world corona map shows no cases in most of Africa, but I don't know if that's a result of isolation or under-reporting; in any case, people in places like Bangladesh and Africa certainly need our help.)

When I was walking back to the bus, I saw that SunWay was open. I finished my ice-cafe and went in for an extra large burkini. (Was I just writing about the suffering in Africa and Bangladesh?)

Maya and I texted about a nice Tatar girl from her hometown. We wanted to play matchmaker for Ayoub and Galiya. We didn't immediately consider the difficulties of immigration nowadays. Such a shame, because they're both wonderful people!

In the news:

• מה פתאום
• i24 News is broadening is suddenly covering issues unrelated to corona virus, some more significant than others.
• Russian mercenaries are being pulled out from a year-long war in Libya.
• There will be no more European basketball this year. 
• Iranian oil tankers arrive in Venezuela. 
• China is trying to squash the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

Ayoub sent out the schedule this afternoon. I will be working tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday! Fairly long hours, too-- but I'll have time to swim before work.

Tonight begins the 48th day of the Counting of the Omer:

Whatever your achievements, there is always a second mountain to climb, 

and it may turn out to be your greatest legacy to the future.

Post lock-down blues

I went to the outdoor gym this morning just long enough to get my heart rate up and then spent the day watching YouTube videos.

This post lock-down/pre-work period is harder on my sanity than the lock-down was.

This evening, after feeding the cats, I went to the store and spent some time strolling in the park watching families and pets. It's the third of Sivan (tonight) and the moon is a sliver in the sky.

Tonight begins the 47th day of the Omer:

To make love undying, build around it a structure of rituals.

Maya and I were texting tonight. She told me that she had received a monthly newsletter from the human rights NGO in which they mentioned my work on the document that I'd edited during Pesach.

I was going to tell you, some time ago Daniil sent over a monthly newsletter for all the NGO volunteers. He told everyone about the project you’ve been into and about the crazy amount of work you’ve done. He quoted the Committee of Ministers who apparently said they’ve never before received such a vast communication. He also shared a link to the document, and I’ve taken a look. Goodness, it’s really huge!!!!

I'm so pleased they liked my work. Hopefully, this means they will contact me again.

Rebuilding Eilat

Today is the 45th day of the Counting of the Omer:

Never be in too much of a rush to stop and come to the aid of someone in need of help.

This morning, there were no tourists and few Eilatis on the tayelet:

Some rebuilding along north beach:

The Dan Hotel's umbrellas survived the storm; its board walks did not:

I saw Alessandra's mom and sat with her for a while. Alessandra came out of the sea like Bo Derick. (I guess a more high brow reference would be Aphrodite, but Bo Derick is who came to my mind.)

I walked in the surf for a while:

Below is a view of the Dan from the water. The storm waves reached all the way to the bottom of the red "rocks" beneath the Dan's water slide.

(I peaked through the gate and saw Ayoub, Pavel, Damien, and two other men I didn't recognize, cleaning up the pool area.)

A nice place to read and enjoy the views:

On my way back to the bus stop. I window shopped for a new burkini (SunWear was closed), actually purchased two pairs of harem pants, and chatted with workers at Misedet HaMifratz (The Gulf Restaurant)-- they will reopen on Wednesday!

In the news:

• Israelis are celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the withdrawal from Lebanon. That means 14 years of (relative) peace.
• The left and right are demonstrating outside the PM's residence, so loudly they drown out i24's reporter.

Tonight begins the 46th day of the Counting of the Omer:

Make sure the story you tell is one that speaks to your highest aspirations, and tell it regularly.

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 day after the seder

The songs of parrots through my open windows woke me. I went outside immediately.

I walked to the top of the hill that is west of my building. On it are the oldest above ground burials in the world.

Despite the sign prohibiting fires, ashes in most of the structures indicate that many a Lag B'Omer has been celebrated in these ruins.

Last night's reading of the haggada had left me with many questions that I marked with post-it stickers. Would the Koren Sacks haggada answer some of them?

I worked on document from HCR Memorial for several hours. Then Daniil sent me a revised version. Arlan and I met after I fed the cats and we talked until dark.

Maya and I spoke over Facebook Messenger in the evening. It was really pleasant to spend time with her. David spoke to me a few times, too.

From Rabbi Sacks Omer calendar: “God believes in us even if we don’t always believe in ourselves. Remember this, and you will find a path from darkness to light.