Anna

I saw my therapist yesterday. I told him that - despite having action plans and timetables - I was feeling a distinct letdown after finishing CELTA. And I also told him that I knew it was going to happen, dammit!

He reassured me that it was perfectly natural. And he encouraged me to give myself exactly one week of grace, to feel the letdown. During that time, keep up with household chores and work on writing up a weekly structured schedule, but nothing else. Give myself time to feel.

After that week, take action.

Strangely, I felt heartened. Something about allowing myself to feel something instead of just trying to plow through it.

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I've been on a cooking kick to cheer myself up. Eyal is indulging it...not that it isn't to his advantage. He recently sanctioned the purchase of cake pans, a lemon zester, a double boiler, and a set of whisks. He's also agreed to a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and a new air fryer (the latter is a necessity, as our current air fryer is five years old and on its last legs), to be purchased on Sunday, along with (finally!) a new television.

See, Eyal loves my cooking. No matter what. Not that I've ever fucked up too horribly, but he loves all my creations. And I've never thought of myself as a good cook. Good baker, yes - I have an instinctive touch with baking and I've been turning out tasty baked goods since my teenage years. But cook? I've always thought of myself as merely adequate as a cook - good enough, but not outstanding.

But lately I'm realizing that I'm pretty good. I make my own spice blends. I can think on my feet and problem-solve. I don't mind the tedious repetitive jobs, as long as I have good music playing. And I get genuine pleasure from Eyal's enjoyment of my creations. Maybe that's what makes a good cook.

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Next week: shopping trip to Big (that's literally the name of the shopping center) for kitchen gadgets and television, gaming night Wednesday, and Friday morning to Tel Aviv to take my father-in-law to the Israel Philharmonic. On the program: Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart. The latter two are his favorite composers, and the Mozart piece (Symphony No. 41, "Jupiter") is Eyal's favorite. It's also a nice call back for me, as I saw Emanuel Ax perform the same piece he's performing (Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3) in 1992 with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood. Mind you, at the time he was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt (summer in the Berkshires can be a wee bit chilly at times, and it was a rehearsal), but it was no less magical for all that.

And by next Thursday I'll have a weekly schedule ready to hash out with my therapist.

One of the things I have been trying to do is enjoy Israeli media. Improve Hebrew, etc. It's been fruitful - I've found lots of stuff to enjoy. So I present to you some recommendations.

1. HaShoter HaTov. Israeli sitcom about the misadventures of First Sergeant Danny Confino (Yuval Semo) and his comrades at the Petach Tikva precinct as well as his dysfunctional family. Sadly only season one is available on Netflix, but that's where it's streaming.

2. Juda. Some TV series end before their time. (Thanks COVID-19 pandemic.) This is one of them. Sexy, stylish, clever, and innovative. A vampire show that's Jewish to its core. Both seasons streaming on Hulu.

3. Srugim. A dramedy about a quintet of late-twentysomethings in Jerusalem, all religious, looking for love and meaning in life. Smart and moving. Streaming on Amazon Prime.

4. Nevsu. A Culture Clash dom-com centering on Ethiopian Jewish Gili, his Ashkenazi Jewish wife Tamar, their daughter Ma'ayan, and their respective families. Yes, hilarity ensues, but the basis in reality for much of the cast lends it authenticity. Streaming on Netflix.

5. The Amazing Journey of Aharoni & Gidi. The only reality show on this list. Singer, actor, and all-round entertainer Gidi Gov joins celebrity chef Yisrael Aharoni on journeys around the world learning about local cultures through the food. Copious food porn, plenty of laughs, and priceless chemistry (and a sweet bromance) between the two hosts. Not streaming anywhere, sadly.