All’s Hectic on the Western Front

Back on track:  As I get older, it seems to take me longer to get back into the swing of things after a trip.  Add having to make up training sessions, and the “recovery” schedule becomes really fun.   I have 15 hours of training (25 hours of real-time work) this week, and the same next week. 

Farewell, Benjy:  Yet another STC Israel person passes away as Benjy Wolfson (z”l) is laid to rest yesterday.  Benjy served as chapter treasurer and was just an all-around good egg.  We’ll miss him.  Ironically, in sorting through STC chapter photos, I came across this one with the entire convention committee for STC Israel in 2003.  Benjy is the bearded gentleman in the middle of the back row.  The gentleman in the white shirt in the second row is David Marcus (z”l), whose loss is still felt by the chapter.  And before that, we lost another active member, David Wolicki (z”l).  What is it about this career and brain cancer? 

It ain’t the Times:  Someone sends me pictures of a pro-Israel PR campaign, saying, “Look at the nice things that the NY Times is saying!”  Uh, not so much.  Yes, it was a very good piece of PR, but those were paid ads by ADL.  The Times was willing to take their money, but will continue to be extremely biased against Israel.  (Is “sh*t-for-brains” hyphenated?)  

Spring Blossoms

Eat your heart out, New England! Northern LS is in the Old Country right now, visiting family in a surprisingly cold and snowy corner of the US. While we are enjoying soft, balmy air scented with lemon blossoms and Cape honeysuckle, LS is coping with snow and ice. She shares these pics with us. Can you hear me laughing like the evil villain on a 60s-circa James Bond movie? Bwaahaaahaaa!

Snow Days

What’s that cold white stuff? Yup, snow. Not in Karmiel, but lots of snow in Jerusalem, S’fat, and all other high elevations. There was a dusting a white on the hills around Karmiel, and the temps have stayed unusually cold for the past few days. Kids in various communities got a late start to their school days as the snow piled up. Check it out.

Peace sports: There may be a chill in the air, but the playing field is heating up. In a good-will game featuring a joint Israeli-Palestinian team against a Spanish club, history was made. We got massively creamed, but everyone left in great spirits.

A real thaw? As Olmert meets with Abu Mazen, and there are hints of Shalit’s release, we hold our breath and hope that 2007 ushers in a more peaceful and hopeful year for all.

On a personal note: Mazal tov to fellow blogger and colleague Laura on the birth of her baby girl. Mom and kid are doing fine. Mazal tov to Marcie S. of Karmiel, whose Celtic music band appeared live on Gidi Gov’s morning show this AM. Tres cool!

Assuffie Update

Assuffie has been found! Gilah just got a call from the city. Folks, chip your pets, because it really works! Thanks to everyone for sending good thoughts in Assuffie’s direction. I’m sure it helped.

Now get back to work…

The Lull, part 15

Every mother’s nightmare: A frantic email arrives this morning from Gilah. Assuffie, her darling constant companion, has gone missing. This sweet little thing is a delicate four kilos, almost 12 years old, and dependent on daily heart medication. While I don’t expect her to show up in your neighborhood in Seattle, Houston, Calgary, or London, I know that all of you animal lovers will join me in wishing Assuffie a safe return home. Luckily, she is chipped, so if she is picked up, she should be OK.

Capolito’s adds eye candy: Our fave hangout on the midrachov, Capolito’s, has always had a young and hip wait staff. But the pretty young women have been joined by some very pretty young men. Looking around, I realize that most of the outdoor tables are populated by groups of women. Perhaps the owners are getting smart and catering to their clientele.

The latest sacrifice: The alter of Political Expediency gets another sacrifice as Major-General Udi Adam resigns. Adam, head of Northern Command during the war, has ended up taking flack for what amounts to political dithering and screw-ups. The news comes the same day as the initial report investigating the war in Lebanon is submitted to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The report contends that the government failed to protect us, not the army.

And the Oscar goes to: Assad delivers a stunning performance as he manages to keep a straight face while claiming that Syria wants peace, but Israel is unwilling. (Oh, wait, that is the comedy category…)

Definitive proof that pasta makes you smarter: Roberto Calderoli says that Italy needs to pick the right side. “Sadly… we seem to have increased support for Palestine, for Lebanon and, even worse, for Syria and Iran, without a clear stance on support for Israelis or Israel,” he says in an interview with Ynet.

True sportsmanship: The Andorra national team coach screams anti-Semitic and anti-Israel messages at the Israeli players (according to Israeli player Yossi Benayoun). It is always so nice to see sports heroes setting a good example for children everywhere. Of course, the dignified response is, “We beat your sorry butts 2-0, nyah, nyah-nyah nyah nyah!”