Some poetry -

Instants
By Jorge Luis Borges

If I could live again my life,
In the next - I'll try to make more mistakes, I won't try to be so perfect.
I'll be more relaxed,I'll be more full - than I am now.
In fact, I'll take fewer things seriously,
I'll be less hygienic,
I'll take more risks,
I'll take more trips,
I'll watch more sunsets,
I'll climb more mountains,
I'll swim more rivers,
I'll go to more places - I've never been,
I'll eat more ice creams and less (lime) beans,
I'll have more real problems - and less imaginary ones.

I was one of those people who live prudent and prolific lives -each minute of his life,
Off course that I had moments of joy - but,if I could go back I'll try to have only good moments,
If you don't know – that’s what life is made of, don’t lose the now!

I was one of those who never goes anywherewithout a thermometer,
without a hot-water bottle, and without an umbrella and without a parachute,

If I could live again - I will travel light,
If I could live again - I'll try to walk bare feet at the beginning of spring till the end of autumn,
I'll ride more carts,
I'll watch more sunrises and play with more children,
If I have the life to live -
but now I am 85, and I know that I am dying...

--Thanks Mijal Kogan for sending

Only in Israel

Israel is a young country, just 60 years old. The population of Israel were gathered from a wide range of countries and brought to the country many different traditions. That is the reason for Israel to include a range of so many tastes, experiences, and cultures, in such a small country. Below is a text that shows that for everything in Israel the culture of a different culture is favored, and it is very funny one. I'll try to translate it in the next few days for the favor of my non-Hebrew speaking friends...

--Thanks to Itay Gliksman for sending

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הכי נחשב בישראל זה כש...

במטבח:
הפיתה- היא עיראקית
הקפה- טורקי
הגבינה- בולגרית
הסנדוויץ'- טוניסאי
הפיסטוק- חלבי
הזיתים- גם סורים וגם דפוקים
הלבנה- דרוזית
המרק (והצעד)- תימני
הסלט (והסוס)- ערבי
האורז (והחתול)- פרסי
השניצל- וינאי
סלט הגזר- מרוקאי
הנקניק- רומני
ארוחת הבוקר- קונטיננטלית
הקבב (והכבוד)- מזרחיים

מקומות:
המושבה- גרמנית
הגבעה- צרפתית
השכונה- בוכרית
הכרם- תימני
הגן- בהאי
הבוסתן- ספרדי

אופנה:
השיק- פריזאי
הנעליים- איטלקיות
המכנסיים- ברמודה
הבושם- צרפתי
הסנדלים- תנכיי"ם

חפצים:
המפתח- שוודי
השעון- שווייצרי
הסיגר- קובני
התריסים- ונציאניים
הכיפה- בוכרית
הפסנתר- רוסי
הקבקבים, הפרה והרחוב- הולנדיים
המכונית, החלקת השיער וסכין החיתוך- יפניים

אנשים:
המטפלת- פיליפינית
המאהב- לטיני
האמא- פולנייה
הדוד- מאמריקה (או ליתר דיוק 'אין לנו דוד עשיר באמריקה'- משפט אופייני להורים, שמגיע מיד לאחר התובנה העמוקה 'כסף לא גדל על העצים'- וכל זה נאמר אם חלילה לא כיבית את האור בחדר שעזבת לרגע)

שונות:
הדייקנות- יקית
המסאז'- תאילנדי
הטוסיק- ברזילאי
ההומור המשובח- בריטי
הקרקס- רוסי
הצמות- אתיופיות
היופי- אקזוטי
המוזיקה- אתנית
לוח השנה- גרגוריאני
הנימוס- אירופאי
הפצצה- אירנית
ההתנהגות- אינדיאנית/ברברית
החושך- מצרים
השיר אהבה- בדואי
המילים- מהמקורות
הלחן- עממי
ביידיש- זה נישמע יותר טוב

והחוצפה? ישראלית!!!"

יש פה מישהו שלא מסכים עם זה?

So true... :)

-- Thanks to Itay Gliksman for sending.

Our life here in the past 4.5 months

On one of the first days at Evanston, I was invited to a really funny "get together" students' show at Kellogg. This is one captures of it -

Then we met wonderful friends -

Of course, in this opportunity I must mention the amazing group of friends we already had from the KWEST trip to Mexico -

With whom we continue to party every now and then -

A cute raccoon we saw on the way back from a party in Chicago. It is like a small zoo here with many different cute animals like rabbits, chipmunks, and more.

Costco... Everything in the U.S.A is sooo big!

Luckily - we have many tastes from Israel :)
Not that we are so lonely... We have many friends from Israel that are with us here -

On November I was called to urgently come to Israel for some modu issues... On the way back I stayed with my good friends, Roman and Liad, in New-York.

New-York is so inspiring. Here is one view from the 36th floor viewing the Columbus Square -

This is one result of the inspiration -

When I came back to Evanston it was really snowing, and this is a photo from my desk next to the window from home. I think it looks like a dream! I enjoy the snow - everyday - like a little girl!

Then Christmas came . While Oded visited Israel, I was invited by our lovely new family, through Kristen, Oron's wife (my cousin), to come for Christmas with them, in their home in Dyer, Indiana. They live next to the forest that is on the border of Illinois and Indiana, in a lovely neighborhood. Here is a picture.

With all these deer, don't you think that only Santa was missing?

Look at this Christmas tree in the mall, next to our home...

This brings us to January 2009.

Well, now it is really snowy... But we were in the army - so the snow is a small obsticle, and we don't let it change our way of life (until now). And anyway, meanwhile, as I already mentioned - it is so new to us, and we love it!

CNN News Interview New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

The following video is very interesting -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGgBjZTsPaw
Preview:
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is in Israel today. He stayed in a hotel in Ashkelon last night, and visited Sderot this morning. In this CNN interview he rips apart the 'disproportionate' nonsense as ...