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.

Is it really Thursday and how can April be over already?

Pomegranate tree on the walk to the center of town

My alarm should have rung... maybe it did... Arlan called me a few minutes later. I stumbled down the street and was a grumpy companion all the way to Macabi Pharm. After that, we got ice cafés, then went to Daggidog and the caspomat (ATM). We took the bus back and Arlan stayed on the bus instead of getting off by his place to show me which stop was closest to the market.

Feline security guard at pet food store

Security guards need love, too.

I did laundry, created a cover for all the damn cords covering my desk, read a little more of The Last Days of Dogtown (I didn't want to finish it), studied a little Hebrew, and watched another episode of Unorthodox. 

Two Russian ladies called me and were quickly able to switch to English when I couldn't understand them. One was from Ichilov and one from Macabi Eilat. 

Arlan came up and joined me while I fed the cats. Both Boudica and Grey Tom expect me and (more or less) trust me. Louie, and eventually his "friends," joined us while we were sitting in the park. I wish I understood cat culture. Initially, all but Louie walked away from their food. They sat apart. Eventually, one, then another, went back to his or her food and ate it, without any abuse from Louie.

While Louie lay next to me, an Israeli couple walking past joked with Arlan about the "exercise" we were taking.

Tonight we say, "Today is twenty-two days, which is three weeks and one day of the Omer."

The highest achievement is not self-expression but self-limitation:
making space for something other and different from us.

A children's craft kit at the the market

Yom Ha'Atzmaut

Bibi is slick.

Tel Arad is, according to the Black Hebrews, the real city of David.

Some of my neighbors gathered for an Independence Day BBQ. (Shh. Don't tell.)

I continued reading Diamant's Last Days of Dogtown. The character development is great, but she leaves you to ponder some actions (or lack of them).

Didn't exercise. Didn't study Hebrew. Didn't read anything serious.

I hadn't known there would be an air show to honor of medical workers, but I saw a video later in the afternoon. (There were three planes and I'd really like to know what type they were.)

Tonight is twenty-one days, which is three weeks of the Omer:

We should never feel anger. But there are times when we should show it.
People sometimes need that shock to help them change their lives.

Memorial Day and the Eve of Independence Day

The Memorial Day siren sounded at eleven o'clock.

I had tidied the studio and listened to a Hebrew video many, many times before the siren. Afterward, I went downstairs to exercise.

I just can't hear whether he's saying "oochooli" or "vachooli."

Since the outdoor gym is still taped off, I tried to do some exercises on the lawn. I was quickly covered in stickers, so I took a walk instead of doing my planned exercises.

Kelly-Ann called at one o'clock for our session.

• Listen to music or podcasts during exercise to keep myself motivated and my mind off the discomfort; keep photos of the exercises on my phone
• Since I have lost interest in tarot during lockdown (??!), she suggested I put on "tarot glasses" and when looking at the world or watching a show, consider what card could represent that situation
• Continue eating right 
• Don't push too hard on Hebrew, immersion and listening are more useful than "studying." (My Hebrew actually improved after I stopped studying last April.)  
• Bring Jewish elements into my personal practice
• Contact Daniil for more editing work, ask him for a referral, and make a list of my skills

In the news:

• Terrorist attack today (Memorial Day) in Tel Aviv. 19-year-old Palestinian stabbed a 67-year-old woman. A bystander stopped him. Both are in the hospital.
• IDF soldiers are tending graves.

I lost track of both the time and what day it was! At 4:30, I realized that I had half an hour until lock-down. I hurried to the store and picked up food for myself and some things Isobel wanted. Then I met her outside her yard to borrow a wine glass.

I didn't finish those two errands quickly enough to also feed the cats before five o'clock. And I only had only one night's worth of dry food left because I couldn't get through on the phone to DaggiDog today.

I considered skipping tonight. I knew the other cats would be okay, but I was worried that Boudica and Gray Tom. I decided to break the rules and went down at 7 p.m. I stayed inside the property instead of walking outside the edge of it, but I didn't need to worry; there were lots of people outside. I doled out half portions because DaggiDog won't be open tomorrow.

At the second to last stop along my route, Boudica approached me for the first time. I gave her most of the canned food and sat with her. Grey Tom arrived when she was still eating. I gave him the can with the remaining wet food and just sat there while they ate. The other cats came to eat the dry and didn't bother Boudica and Gray Tom. When those two were finished, I walked to the end of the property and fed the fat cats. So many greedy kitties! I love them.

Israel's 72nd Independence Day celebrations were televised from Mount Hertzl in Jerusalem. The ceremony always begins with a transition from the sorrow of Memorial Day to the exuberant joy of Independence Day. Because of corona virus, the usual military drills and formations were not performed (apparently a great disappointment to many Israelis) and there was no audience, but twelve torches were lit and celebrities performed songs, some had been recorded before the pandemic.  

A cultural oddity: using canned silly spray is a popular Independence Day tradition in Israel.

Tonight begins 20 days, which is two weeks six days of the Omer:

We tend to become what our friends are.
So choose friends who are what you aspire to be.