notquiteisraeli | Entries tagged with lists

1. I am now the proud owner of a KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer and a new air fryer. Eyal also wants to get a new microwave, and I'm okay with that - our current microwave is 14 years old and was a hand-me-down at the time. Anyway, we have unboxed the air fryer, but decided to wait until after Pesach to unbox the stand mixer. No point unboxing something that's basically made to make leavened products when the flour in the house will literally be locked up and sold to a non-Jew for a week (I am not making this up).

2. I have made myself neat little schedules in Excel and forwarded them to my therapist for discussion. Some of the stuff can be easily swapped out for other things (e.g., if it's not a good day for me to work on my website, I can work on marketing or action plan reading). Others are more or less fixed (showering, bedtime).

3. I have started taking biotin to see if it will help with my hair growth. So far, my use of a different shampoo, conditioner, and detangler/heat protectant seems to be helping. And my new haircut is a lot more flattering. Yaniv knew what he was doing.

4. Going back to item 1 - we will be doing Pesach in Tel Aviv with Eyal's cousin Dorit.

5. Hoping that we get our new glasses soon.

6. Tuesday night we had a delightful evening playing Chez Geek with Regev and Esti at Esti's place. (Regev is Eyal's coworker, Esti is his girlfriend and works as a lab tech at Soroka Medical Center). Both of them are sweet and fun, and Esti's pup snuggled down in the chair next to mine to rest and accept pets. He's a love, a small guy who's 13 years old. (Still puppy.) Esti won both rounds of Chez Geek. Eyal is swearing revenge on me for preventing him from winning the second round and "throwing him under the bus." In good fun, I might add - he gets that the whole point of the game is to throw your friends under the bus.

7.Therapy later today, pharmacy after that, and tomorrow, we take my father-in-law to the Israel Philharmonic to hear Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart. And then for lunch.

Current Mood: chipper

1. CELTA continues apace. I taught my first lesson today! My tutor gave me some encouraging feedback, while also pointing out some weaknesses - I could stand to be more organized, as well as work on time management. He also pointed out better methods of presenting the material. Overall he was pleased with my first ever lesson. Of course I was crippled with self-doubt and did not spare myself in the self-evaluation. After the feedback session, I would have run for the liquor cabinet if I had been a drinking woman (and if we had such a thing). As I am not a drinker, and we do not even have a liquor cabinet, I went for the next best thing and ate a miniature Twix and miniature Milky Way (NB: in Israel Milky Way is a Three Musketeers and a Mars Bar is a Milky Way). Still, my lesson was graded Pass (CELTA assignments are Pass/Fail).

2. I am a bit behind with laundry, so I told Eyal that I'd be doing one load a day, taking turns between my clothes and his. He was a little put out that I hadn't put in his clothes today.

"I have nothing to wear to the office tomorrow!" he wailed.

"Let's see, shall we?" I replied. I went into his closet. "Okay, here's an undershirt, and here's a long-sleeved L.L. Bean shirt. Perfect for work."

"It won't be warm enough!"

I rooted through his warm clothes.

"Here's that brown sweater you really like. You can wear that on top. Here's a pair of jeans." At that point I opened his sock drawer. "You want socks?"

"No."

"Okay." I opened his underwear drawer and pulled out a pair of boxers. "Underwear. You have a complete outfit. I'll do a load of your clothes tomorrow."

He gets easily overwhelmed by clothes.

3. With regard to the above - I don't mind it. Every spouse has different care and feeding needs. He takes care with my ridiculously finicky appetite and picky eating, my meltdowns of self-doubt, and puts up with my hot flashes and crankiness. So we care for and feed each other. There have been kinks - and not the fun kind - but it's coming up on a year married and I wouldn't undo it for the world.

4. Our friend Yehuda came down from Holon on Monday for a visit! We had lunch at Goomba, which is an Italian chain. It's...okay? I mean, it's Beersheva, you can't be too picky. It's better than Olive Garden. I know. Low bar. Yehuda is from New Jersey, with a plethora of excellent Italian food, and he agreed that it was acceptable, though not comparable to our beloved mom-and-pop red gravy joints. (I do miss those places, though I make a mean spaghetti and meatballs.) After that we retired to our house and played Taki until it was time to take him back to the train station. He agreed that he'd come down for a longer visit when he could engage a cat sitter for his feline.

5. The cats. Oh, boy. We discovered why Cheddar loves doing a runner onto the patio when we open the front door. He loves to sniff pigeon shit. No joke. He reacts to it like other cats do to catnip. He's weird. Other cats roll in nip, he huffs pigeon doodoo. I don't get it either.

6. I have more energy these days, though you wouldn't know it to see me on class days. Those days fucking drain me to the limit. But every other day I'm doing my work for class, doing my chores, keeping up with life. It's nice.

7. I've managed to cut down to two colas a day, and swapped out regular Sprite for Sprite Zero. I drink a cup of coffee (milk, no sugar) and a glass of orange juice each morning. All these things are good. I eat breakfast (eggs, two pieces of toast with a schmear of butter). My cardiologist didn't recommend any specific diet, simply advised me to eat a balanced diet and try to cut out sweets and junk food as much as possible. So this, I think, is a good start.

8. We're going to game night on Sunday night. Yay!

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: Hugo, "99 Problems"

1. Game night! Much fun and laughter. There was pizza (good pizza, which is not easy to find). There were plenty of drinks, most non-alcoholic, though there was beer for those who wanted it (and no one overdid it). And there was Munchkin. There were five of us: Peter and Regev (Eyal's coworkers), Esti (Regev's girlfriend), and Eyal and I. Only Peter and I had previously played Munchkin, but everyone got into it quickly. We agreed at the end of the evening that yes, it would happen again. Yay!

2. Chanukah is currently ongoing. It's pretty low-key in Israel. We don't do presents, just traditional food (latkes, sufganiyot, and dairy foods - the latter a Sephardic custom I've adopted since moving to Israel). Candles, of course. And songs. But that's it. We had planned to go to Tel Aviv last Thursday night and do Chanukah with Alon, Sarah, and the boys. However, Sarah texted me that afternoon to let me know that the boys were sick, so it would be better if we stayed home. Sad face.

3. This week is Eyal's birthday week. Tomorrow night: a comedy show in Tel Aviv and dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Wednesday is his actual birthday. He has to go into the office, but I'll be sending him in with his birthday cake. Saturday night we'll head up to Modi'in for the family party at Orit's.

4. A week from tomorrow I have my cardiologist appointment. And the day after, I start my teacher training. Goodbye, social life.

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: The Churchills, "Too Much In Love To Hear"

1. My interview with CELTA Athens went well, and they offered me a place in the course starting January 7. I have made a down payment on tuition to guarantee my spot. Yay!

2. Saw the cardiologist. Dr. Slutsky (stop giggling) treats a lot of young women, which is a plus. He ordered a stress echo so he can see the extent of the damage - if any - and decide how to prevent future damage. He specifically said that he avoids invasive testing unless absolutely necessary - a good thing. Blood tests have also been ordered. (If you think his name is funny, imagine the fun Israelis have with the name "Zona"...which is Hebrew for "whore".)

3. My brother-in-law Alon had his 50th birthday party, which was a romp. Good food, cake, sufganiyot, and lots of laughter. He's usually a pretty serious guy, so it was nice to see him loosen up and smile. The last time I saw him loosen up like this was at our wedding. He went out of his way to tell me that our present was the best present he could think of (we gave Alon and Sarah enough money to pay for a date night and volunteered to babysit the boys). Also he imitated a parrot that he knew when he was a kid that had interesting vocabulary. (The boys were out of earshot by then.) Hearing Alon croaking "Maniak! Maniak!" had everyone cracking up. (Maniak means "fucker".) All in all, a great night, well worth the drive to and from Tel Aviv.

4. Today I received a pre-order copy of Az Nashir: We Will Sing Again. It's an anthology of Israeli women's prayers written since October 7, in Hebrew and English. My friend Rachel Sharansky Danziger was one of the editors and contributors. It's really wonderful - a worthy addition to the Jewish tradition of women's private devotions.

5. On order: the Twin Peaks Tarot.

6. Eyal and I have already made our anniversary plans: we're seeing the Toscanini String Quartet in Tel Aviv. Strangely, my therapist was surprised when I told him, saying he didn't realize we were so much into classical music. Well, we are. Very, very, much. Particularly chamber music. A favorite of ours? Beethoven's cello trios, as performed by Daniel Barenboim (pig!), Pinchas Zukerman (cute smile!), and Jacqueline du Pre (team Jackie!).

7. On Wednesday, Eyal asked me if I'd ever heard of a card game called Munchkin. Long story short, a game night involving one of his co-workers and a couple other friends is in the works.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Jerusalem Quartet, Beethoven, String Quartet No. 18 in C Minor Op. 18 No. 4

How much does your personality change when you’re around different people?

Not nearly as much as it used to change. This is a good thing.

When and where was your first kiss?

Summer, 1995. Raccoon Lake State Park in Rockville, IN.

What’s your guilty pleasure movie?

Probably The Money Pit. It's not great, but neither is it gloriously bad. But it's my cinematic comfort food.

How do you like to be comforted when you’re sad or upset?

Hugs. Phone calls. Cuddling with kitties and doggos.

Have you ever been bullied?

Yes, but here's the catch. What was painful was that when it was teachers doing the bullying (this is a Thing) no one believed me; when it was peers doing the bullying, my brother not only refused to defend me but joined in. When I was bullied at summer camp, it was completely ignored and dismissed as "girls will be girls." So I've always felt isolated, and that was always the worst part.

What are the top three things that stress you out?

Uh, I think living in a war zone is up there at number one. Below that? Getting my schoolwork done, and making it to appointments.

Who was your first friend, and are they still in your life?

Sarah, and yes! We are still in touch. She is a freaking rock star awesome attorney, wife, mom, and friend. We have literally known each other since infancy.

How did your parents meet?

Through my dad's sister, who was my mom's roommate. My aunt noticed that my mom listened to the same music and read the same books as my dad. And the rest is history.

What’s the biggest lesson your last relationship taught you?

My first marriage? Well, along with don't ignore the red flags it taught me that you cannot make someone love you.

What’s the biggest leap of faith you’ve taken?

Moving to Israel, aged 38, with one carryon suitcase.

Who was the last person to make you cry and why?

My brother. He told me to shut up when I was trying to talk and everyone was talking over me.

What did you dream about last night?

My paternal grandfather, who told me that the many pro-Hamas demonstrators were nothing but "ignorant crotch goblins." Now, Granddaddy didn't know that term - I mean I don't think he did - but I appreciated the sentiment.

Do you believe in aliens?

I think they fulfill many of the same needs in folklore as the Fair Folk stories did in the past. The tropes are remarkably similar. I'm not going to say it's impossible that they exist, but it's very improbable.

What does your name mean, and why was it given to you?

Anna is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Hannah, which means "grace." I was named after my great-great-grandmother.

Current Mood: drained
Current Music: The Secret Sisters, "He's Fine"

1. Family call today. My cousin Ruth begged me to come back to the States. I love Ruth, but it ain't happening.

2. Besides, about the only unsafe thing that has happened to me this week? I fell out of bed this morning. My head hit the sliding glass door, cracking it; the rest of me hit the tile floor. No concussion, fortunately. However, my entire left side is achy as fuck. Especially my shoulder and hip, which took the most impact. Paracetamol has helped get it down to a dull roar. Resting and snuggling with Cheddar has also brought some relief.

3. While Beersheva has not been hit with rockets, our other friends further north have not been so lucky. Mutzi's town, Kiryat Bialik, was hit. Currently he's taking refuge with his brother.

4. The memes. Oh, the memes. They just did not stop. If you're a terrorist group, it's just not a good idea to buy a fuckload of pagers from totallynotthemossad.co.il. Same goes for walkie-talkies.

5. Mind you, we do get blamed for shit we don't do. I mean, Nasrallah probably blames us every time he gets jock itch.

6. I have ordered a CD burner and blank CDs. So...bearing in mind I have three mixes in varying stages of construction, let me know if you want one! I can't promise timely delivery, between not knowing when I'll get my stuff, not to mention the absolutely crap service with Israel Post, but you will get them.

Current Mood: sore
Current Music: Elephant Revival, "Sing To The Moutain"

1. Today I got my student loans out of default. We'll see just how much they judge I should pay in the Income Driven Repayment Plan. I can tell you that I'm hoping it won't be much, given that my monthly income is ₪4250 (or, if you prefer, $1125.98). It would be lower if the Department of Education knew about the insane cost of living in Israel (even though Beersheva has the lowest cost of living of any major city in Israel, this is not in any way to imply it is low compared to, say, Glens Falls, NY). Still, there's a light at the end of this tunnel, and it ain't the 8:30 express.

2. I gifted Eyal cologne. I felt him out about it first, because he didn't really wear it when we were dating even though he owned a few different bottles. He said that he used to wear it on dates and special occasions, but then his mother died and he wasn't permitted to wear it during the first 30 days of mourning. Then the pandemic hit before he could start dating again. By the time we met during the second lockdown, we were meeting in his apartment. He'd shower diligently, and shave, but cologne was off the radar. That is what he told me when I asked him if he would wear cologne if I gave it to him. So he was open to it. I got him English Oak & Hazelnut and Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense from Jo Malone. He doesn't like lightweight scents on himself (though, interestingly, he likes them on me and prefers extremely femme floral scents to lightweight unisex scents on me).

3. We played Truth or Drink with grape juice and one of the questions was "tell me about the one who got away." I simply said one word: Balázs. Eyal knew.

4. This weekend we're taking my father-in-law out to lunch at Indira, a super Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. My father-in-law really likes Indian food, so yay. He has quite the spice tolerance for an Ashkenazi Jewish man...but maybe that helped him survive marriage to an old school Bukhari woman. And they were married for almost 50 years.

5. We talked to my father-in-law recently and asked what he was doing. Swimming three times a week, yoga, and hanging out with his friends at the community center. Sometimes his friend Yehuda comes over and they'll each nurse a beer while watching the footy match. I think that's not bad for 81. He still drives, although we don't like him driving at night. Eyal asked him if he wouldn't like to go on a pensioners' tour aka geezer trip to Italy or Greece, and he was not interested. Not even the temptation of uneven numbers (that is, there are a lot more grannies on these trips than grandpas) tempts him. He's not interested in dating again, and Eyal's mom has been gone almost five years. That's okay, though. I can understand - maybe she was the only one for him. And that's actually amazing.

Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Florence + The Machine, "Free"

Where do the cats sleep?

In our bed. Usually on top of Eyal, which makes sense, because he sleeps on his stomach and doesn't toss and turn much. I sleep on my side and am notorious for tossing and turning. However, both cats have been known to visit me for pets and cuddles, which are always welcome. And yes, I know the difference. Nacho is floofier, and he has a very distinctive, very loud purr.

What jewelry do you wear on a daily basis?

My wedding set. I wear my engagement ring on my right hand and my wedding band on my left. Occasionally I wear a pendant that my mom gifted me when I turned 35 (it's my favorite necklace) and occasionally I'll wear small earrings, but I'm not much for flashy jewelry (my wedding set is pretty understated). I am in the market for a wristwatch, though. (Fun fact: I gave Eyal a wristwatch as an engagement present.)

How is your house decorated?

Um...eclectic? My office is not the same as the living room. If I had to pin it down I'd say nerd flag flying. Just yesterday we finally got a print we ordered awhile ago, of a vintage Israeli postage stamp (Eyal had a stamp collection as a kid). We also have sun and moon figurines that Eyal picked up in Mexico City about eight years ago. And books and cat hair everywhere.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Books and quality skin care.

What is a super-specific museum you want to visit?

At the moment, the Israeli Museum of Cartoons in Holon.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Franz Kafka.

What is the most beautiful place you've ever seen in person?

Jerusalem, and I was fortunate enough to live there. The Mishna says in tractate Kiddushin 49a: "Ten measures of beauty were given to the world. Jerusalem received nine." Second place would be Tzfat.

Would you survive a zombie apocalypse?

No. I would very quickly be zombie chow.

Are you good at solving puzzles?

Depends on the puzzle. I like crosswords and Jumble.

What's your biggest fear?

It's still heights, believe it or not. I have survived multiple rocket attacks and missile attacks and they don't scare me anywhere near as much as a bridge or precipice.

How do you express your love for someone?

Hugs and snuggles. Homemade muffins and cookies. Long conversations. Sending cute memes and photos.

What's the most annoying musical instrument?

Do vuvuzelas count?

Do you think fart and dick jokes are played out?

Fart and dick jokes are immortal.

Do you talk to yourself?

All the time.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Tom Petty, "Zombie Zoo"

Where is your favorite place to write?

My office! It's cozy, full of books, and smells of incense. What's not to love? Barring that, I like writing in cafes, as long as I have my headphones with me to turn on some music.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Teaching! Also, I hope, published.

Where have you traveled other than the United States and Israel?

The United Kingdom. I've been to both Leeds and Manchester. I did love Manchester, and was astonished at the large, thriving Jewish community there. (Hey, TV shows set in Manchester? Where are your Jews?) Manchester's city center was a bit of a surprise - it's incredibly new, since it was completely destroyed by an IRA bomb in the '90s and had to be rebuilt from the ground up. Leeds University is gorgeous and its student pub has excellent chips.

What inspires you in life?

A lot. Eyal is top of the list. My family, which includes my in-laws. The cats. A lot of stuff that I will simply put under the banner of spirituality, because I believe that such things are incredibly personal and private.

What is an important life lesson you have learned?

You can't outrun yourself.

Cupcakes or ice cream?

On most days, ice cream. But a well-made cupcake can make my week.

What's one piece of clothing you couldn't live without?

Breathable, comfortable socks. (Sorry to be so boring.)

If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

The late '70s or early '80s and get to know my dad as a person.

What's a piece of advice you'd give your younger self?

It's not cool to be snarky all the time. Sincerity is underrated.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Reading, writing, journaling, embroidery, talking to friends, going to the gym.

Describe where you live.

In a four bedroom townhouse with a small garden, in a nice neighborhood, in Beersheva, Israel.

What's an ideal date with Eyal?

Something out of the ordinary. The monkey sanctuary in Kfar Daniel was one of our happiest times. Also our couples massage after hiking at Ein Gedi near the Dead Sea. Walking around Salem, MA was great. And stand up comedy is always great.

What's your favorite lipstick?

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Peony Pink. Cool-toned your-lips-but-better pink. Perfect for a cool-toned fair-skinned girl.

Do you wear makeup on Zoom calls?

Depends. Not with family or therapist, but definitely if it's professional. Indoor lighting does me no favors and I prefer not to look sickly.

So, what are you wearing?

Loudly printed pajama bottoms, a gray t-shirt printed with "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot", gray socks, and Crocs. So sexy.

Current Mood: awake
Current Music: Bill Withers, "Use Me"

Last night, Eyal and I were discussing pop culture (as you do) and the topic of the venerable Desert Island Discs came up. Naturally we started discussing what we would take with us.

So I put this to my readers, what would you take? For those unfamiliar, here are the rules:

You may take eight recordings. In addition, you are allowed one religious text, as appropriate (Christians the Bible, Jews the Tanakh, Muslims the Koran, etc - if you don't have a religion you can choose a philosophical book) and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. You're allowed one additional book, and a luxury item. It must be inanimate, and incapable of giving you communication with the outside world.

Eyal insisted that we add in one film and one television series. So! Here are mine.

Recordings

1. J.S. Bach, Brandenburg Concertos, 1-6
2. W.A. Mozart, Piano Concertos 20-27
3. Beethoven, Complete Piano Trios, Barenboim-Zukerman-du Pre
4. Schumann, Dichterliebe, Op. 49
5. The Beatles, Abbey Road
6. Kate Bush, Hounds of Love
7. Paul Simon, Graceland
8. Gram Parsons, GP/Grievous Angel

Books

Tanakh
Complete Works of Shakespeare
The Koren-Sacks Siddur - my prayerbook

Film

Casablanca - for its sheer rewatchability factor and for introducing me to queer romance (the real love story is Rick Blaine and Louis Renault and I will die on that hill). Eyal suggested The Human Centipede 2, and in response I suggested divorce court. After that he switched his choice to Life of Brian, which he considers the funniest film ever made.

Television Series

Series 4 of the Doctor Who revival, because it got it so right. So many characters that deserved their own spin offs. Perfect chemistry between Doctor and companion. Eminently perfect television. The revival has been trying to match this season ever since, and while it's scraped great heights, it's never quite measured up.

Luxury Item

My bed, in all its California King, extra thick memory foam glory. After sleeping on horrific beds for years, then an adequate one when I moved in with Eyal, we both agreed to splurge on our current bed. It is just *chef's kiss*.

Please leave yours in the comments!

Current Mood: curious

Here be 25 random bits about me. Proceed with caution.

1. I have been hospitalized numerous times, but my first hospitalization was shortly before my fourth birthday. I had some sort of nasty infection. I remember: my mom's prominent Walter Mondale campaign pin, a big IV, terrible food, and being sad that my dad couldn't visit (he was still on anti-rejection medicine for his kidney transplant).

2. When I entered university, I planned on becoming a linguist or translator. In the middle I switched to becoming a historian. When I left - without a degree - I was pretty much exhausted for plans and stayed that way for a good twenty years.

3. Best movie date ever? Surprisingly, over twenty years later, I maintain that Shrek is a perfect date movie. Fight me. Anyway, it's perfect for cinema dates. Introduce your sweetie to the Criterion Collection stuff once you've moved in together and are sure that they won't freak out over your passionate attachment to Lynch and Cronenberg (to say nothing of Catherine Breillat).

4. When I finally joined a band, aged 37, I was brought on as a vocalist. Since the band also played instrumentals, I was kindly handed a tambourine. (Eventually I bought my own.) To my surprise, I took to it.

5. I have a facial scar along my cheekbone. If it isn't concealed by my hair, it's concealed by concealer.

6. I took the civil service exam to apply for a job at the Crandall Library in Glens Falls. Wish I'd gotten it.

7. I taught religious school as a teenager. Mind, I was an assistant teacher, but I really enjoyed it. My kids were great kids. They all called me Miss Annie.

8. I lost my father when I was five. I lost my maternal grandfather at 13. It was a long time before I realized that neither time was it my fault.

9. I've always wanted to teach in some capacity, but it's taken a long time to take direct steps to that end.

10. I've been writing since...um, since I could write. Banishing my inner critic is a lot harder, though.

11. I started reading aged three. Writing took a couple more years. They're separate skills, and I wasn't so great at the physical aspect of writing (my spelling was fine - I just had trouble getting the physical part down).

12. My IQ is 138, two points shy of gifted. That's sufficient for Mensa, but I wouldn't join that group of pricks if you paid me.

13. From age 18 to about age 38, I kept my hair red (except for that disastrous time I dyed it black). I'm much happier now that my hair is back to its natural dark ash blonde.

14. It took me a long time to get the stick out of my ass and be okay with being a girl, with crying sometimes, and to quit trying to be snarky 100% of the time. I'm much happier this way.

15. I still have a thing for nice stationery and nice pens.

16. My bookshelf probably looks very weird to most people. There's a lot of Jewish texts: the Tanakh in an English-Hebrew edition, commentary, numerous devotional books, a few generalist books. Then there are the numerous books about practical magic: herbalism, spells, folk magic, dream interpretation, astrology. I do not see any conflict in these things.

17. I try to write in a paper-and-pen journal every day.

18. Yes, I wore hair extensions for my wedding, to anyone curious as to how I had such lustrous, full, perfect waves.

19. When it's time for holiday gatherings, my husband's family expects women to seriously glow up: best outfits, makeup, perfume, the works. My first test came at Pesach this year; according to my sister-in-law, I passed with flying colors.

20. I am not fluent in Hebrew. However, I can carry on basic conversations. I don't need an English menu at a restaurant. I can shop without problems. I can understand Hebrew fairly well, provided people don't speak too fast or mumble (looking at my brother-in-law Alon on that one).

21. I have a total of ten nieces and nephews, ranging in age from 27 to four.

22. My 25th high school reunion is this weekend. I am not sad to be missing it.

23. I have received the song "Punk Rock Girl" by the Dead Milkmen on no fewer than three mix CD's from three people who do not know each other.

24. As I recall, the first concert I saw was Willie Nelson at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, TN in 1987. I don't remember much about it. The first concert I saw without my mom was Bob Dylan in 1994. It sucked.

25. Most recent song that made me cry: Nina Simone, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free." I started thinking of the hostages and lost it.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Norah Jones, "Sunrise"

Last book you read: Bird By Bird, Anne Lamott
Last movie you saw: Operation Grandma. Again.
Last movie you saw on the big screen: Inside Out 2
Last phone number you called: My father-in-law
Last show you watched on TV: Shababnikim
Last song you heard: Of Monsters And Men, "Crystals"
Last thing you had to drink: Coke
Last thing you ate: A vegan pretzel dog. (I'm not a vegan, but it's a kosher-dairy restaurant. And they're good.)
Last time you showered: Yesterday.
Last time you cried: Watching Tom Reuveni win a gold medal for Israel. I bawled as they played "Hatikvah" and hoisted the Israeli flag.
Last time you smiled: When I saw Eyal come downstairs a few minutes ago.
Last time you laughed: Last night.
Last person you hugged: My father-in-law
Last thing you said: "There's some Nurofen in the drawer. You should take some."
Last person you talked to online: My aunt Susan
Last person you talked to on the phone: My father-in-law
Last thing you smelled: My office, which always has a bit of an incense smell. Because I burn incense.

Current Mood: okay
Current Music: The Shins, "New Slang"