Shir, I agree with javachik. I'm interested in your posts because they are not only about you (and that's enough to be important around here) but also because they are about life in a part of the world I wish I knew more about.

Hmmmm. On one hand, my running group is starting tonight. I enjoyed it the last time I participated, and I certainly need the exercise. The people involved are nice, too.

On the other hand, it's going to be mid-60s F and quite likely rainy. And half my department either is or recently has been out with the 'flu. I know that getting cold and wet doesn't make you sick, but it can lower your resistance.

So, cardio with potential 'flu or dodging the virus, but having that dodge be the only notable exercise I get today?

Oh, y'all. I love this place.

I'm not sure how well I represent Israel: I can only represent myself, and I have some difficulties with doing that alone sometimes.

A good example that one of my Seattle hosts used, describing Israelis, and that there's a warp and woof or religious beliefs and political opinion. One can be on any of the places: orthodox and left wing, or secular and right wing. It doesn't matter, and everyone has a place (though most people here will say that they feel they don't have a place. I think that if you can say that, you're aware of your place or what it should be. One of the most important things I learned from analysis of historical texts is to look what's not written in them. So I somewhat feel like if you can articulate your need for place, you've already made the first step in creating it).

Shir, you're an Israeli view. We don't get enough of those in the U.S., so of course we're interested.

And we'd no more expect you to be the Israeli view than we'd expect any of ourselves to give the U.S. view.

I'm finding your perspective fascinating , Shir.

ma for Bartleby

ION, i don't want to go to work today. But If I don't the rest of the week will be less fun.

t rubs belly

I ate too much spinach, mushroom, feta, and artichoke pizza.

All the cupcake talk recently gave me a yen. The DH, who does not have nearly the sweet tooth I have, surprised me last night. When I suggested that I stop by Yummy Cupcake and pick up dessert for us tonight, his response was an instantaneous "Yes, that is a BRILLIANT idea."

And we'd no more expect you to be the Israeli view than we'd expect any of ourselves to give the U.S. view.

Of course; I thought it's worth repeating from time to time.

Sister news: she got a few days off the army after the ER, until they'll accept her in an army clinic to have a bunch of tests on her (in her case, EMG test). The ER doctor thinks it has to do with a problem in her electric innervation (no way I translated it right), but has no idea why.

She's furious. She never took any army sick days, because she's way over responsible to her army job. She doesn't want to take all of the sick days now, but she has no choice (mostly after my mom argued with her and made her come back).

Poor thing. She supposed to finish her service on November 1st, but she's thinking about continuing for a few months.

spinach, mushroom, feta, and artichoke pizza.

WANT.

I highly recommend The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land by Donna Rosenthal.