Technical Difficulties

My computer is TOAST!! Check out the flickr link meanwhile for the last photos, and hold tight until I'm back up!

Thanksgiving Bike Ride

P1010769
Originally uploaded by debad.

I decided to take you along on a bike ride today. I have to say, you slowed me down quite a bit. But I planned a leisurely cruise full of photo taking.

Then I met Anat and Amir on the way. They planned a big ascent of the Carmel and descent down the other side through the Druze village of Daliat al Carmel. Their plan seemed more fun, so I tagged along.

I'm not sure if I annoyed them, with all my stopping for picture-taking. But I think when they see all the great shots I got of their butts, they will be glad. Check out the whole ride in my 'Bike Ride' set on the Flickr link.

What a perfect glorious day. The ride was long and hard, but such a pleasure on a day like today that I hardly felt it.

Okay, I really felt it. 37 miles, at least 22 of them up hill - I felt it. The climb up the Carmel is particularly long, and I huffed and puffed through the end of it. Anat, my new friend, is working toward being a professional rider, hoping to get a spot on a European team somewhere. At the summit, she was cool as a cucumber.

If I was looking forward to the peak, the descent can only be described as hair raising. I'll leave it at that.

How did I ride all that way AND fix a Thanksgiving turkey? I didn't. I'll make my turkey tomorrow for Shabbat. I tried to organize a dinner today, but I couldn't figure out how to cram it in between all the kids' activities. And forget about having guests over. At one point during my ride, I was in mid-adrenaline-flush, and I was sure I could do it ALL. Then reality hit and I realized it would be much more relaxing tomorrow.

I was famished later on, so I went out for a Thanksgiving kabob. I was very thankful for it.

A Perfect Moment

I have nothing on my mind.

?????? 2006 144.jpg dor beach
Originally uploaded by debad.

Mid-freefall, as I descend, my mind is blank. Any remnants of worry are washed away as soon as I enter the smooth-as-glass, aqua seawater. Perfect.

Most Fridays, My friend Yossi and I try to meet up for a beach run. We run roughly 5-6 km along to beach to this point at the edge of a hilltop of ruins of the ancient port city of Dor. Nice days we jump in, then run back. This was last Friday.

The weather was perfect. The sea was so clear and blue that we could see perfectly to the bottom of this deep pool, carved between the rocks by the ancients. We didn't know we were being photographed. Some strangers also took advantage of the beautiful day for a photography expedition, then emailed us the photos later. Cool, eh?

My life is not always this perfect, but I guess moments like this are why I am still here in Israel. Since I last wrote around holiday time, I've had many fun adventures, and many trying moments as well.

We had a great time when Hugh was here, including an excellent excursion to Sinai. Check the Flickr link for photos. But then he left and it's been a really LONG time since I've seen him.

My kids are home from school at 1:00, then it's "Ima, Ima, Ima..." with no break until we all fall asleep at around 11:00. Normal stuff, I am not complaining. Chauffeuring to afterschool activities, trying to keep track of each one's busy schedule, feeding, cleaning, etc. The mornings I try to organize, shop, teach/take classes, get some exercise...

Luckily my parents came recently to break up the time until Hugh gets back. We also had some excellent adventures together which you can peek at on the Flickr link.

Less than one month to go until Hugh gets back. Hopefully it will go quickly. Or, I can try to fill the time with more mind-emptying moments. How can I make them last???