ANNOYING STUPIDITY

I should be used to it by now, but idiocy still annoys me. Ok, so I have a car now, but that doesn't mean I have to use it every time I go out. That's not what I got it for. An amazing number of people, who really should know better, have asked me why I still use Harley Too if I have a car. I take much pleasure in telling them that I can't use the car IN the super market, clinic, and other places I can use Harley Too in! Duh!! Some things should be obvious, but, still have to be explained. I know, I know, it's no big deal, just a minor annoyance, but I expect better from the very people who asked.

WHERE TO START?

I can't believe another week has gone by and that England is even closer now. I've actually gotten a few things done over the past week. I got Kiri Four Wheels insured, the letter I need for the gimp parking card arrived yesterday, so I'll be able to get the card. I talked with the guy in charge of sorting gimp parking, which means a space and sign with the car's plate number on it outside Gimp House, and he's promised to let me have a space in the (unenforced) no parking area closest to the house. I park there anyway for now because I simply can not walk one step further. I got about 20 of my music CDs burned for the car, and have 9 more to go. There's not much sense in leaving originals in the car to get ruined by constant handling, and burning them has turned out to be easier than I thought it would be! I also finally got the CD with the song Jessica on it mailed to my niece Jessica. I've only been meaning to send it to her for several years. Better late than never! Plans for England are moving full speed ahead. I'm picking up tids and bits for it. I suspect that it's going to be much colder there this time than it was 2 years ago! Next weeks project will be find boots I can wear and not scream in pain while wearing them. That thing on my big toe is getting worse, and I'm not getting it fixed until after I get my check up for a subsidized car done. Every little thing helps. Orna and Danny's daughter won 3rd place in a local talent contest and I went out twice to watch. That girl can dance! She really should have won the whole thing, but 3rd place came with a 1000 shekel gift cert. for a clothing store which is much more practical for her than the 1st place trip to EuroDisney. It was a very odd contest with both singers and dancers, kind of like apples and oranges and not one of the singers could carry a tune, and made my ears hurt.
I am busy plotting and planning how to get the contractor who stole electrickery from me all summer to pay up. At least things are sorted so he can't do it anymore, and my last electrickery bill was reasonable, and not just because the a/c wasn't used. I'll wait for the next bill, then take several to him and demand that he pay the difference. We're talking a few thousand here.

THE JEFFEY MY HERO

I just can't say often enough how much I admire my baby brother, and how sad it makes me that our mother didn't live to see how well he ended up. He was a monstrous child, but had a certain light about him even at his worst. Just look at him today! He's stayed married to the same woman, brought up her son like his own, and their daughters, the youngest, severely disabled, and most impressive, survived the crap The Philmore and The Wicked Stepmother of Evility piled on him, or rather tried to pile on him. When I called yesterday, his house was full of friends and family who love him. That shows more than anything what a great man he grew up to become. His wife's mother died last week and it's as if he lost his own mother again. They were that close, and yes, she was wonderful too. I'll never forget the day in 1989 that I called him at their house in Brunswick and she ran me through an interrogation the CIA would have approved of before I convinced her that I really am his sister! No strange woman was going to come between her daughter and her husband! The really funny part was that I had to convince him that I really was his sister. Once convinced he almost broke my speed record on Mere Point Rd getting to me. She treated him as a son, and he will miss her as much as Vicky will. My baby brother is one special guy, and I can't wait to get there for Jenny's graduation. Ooof. I forgot to tell him to watch NBC news on Thursday so he can see my translation. I'll call later today and tell Vicky to tell him!
The big storm is over, almost. It's still raining and cold, but they say the rain will let up soon. The minute it does, I'm taking Peg for walkies , then going to get my reading glasses mess sorted. I managed to break the 'bedroom' pair and only have the computer pair which for now have to taken from room to room. With a bit of luck, my glasses guy will be able to weld the 'bedroom' frame back together. If not, I'll get two new pairs, one for the bedroom and another for the *liberry*. I hope he has two purple frames in the cheap Health Fund subsidized section. I'm all out of my favorite Galilee Optics purple frames. They, G.O. are out of them too as I finagled the last two pairs back in 1998! They've lasted a long time so I shouldn't complain, but I do like them.
I had a lovely talk with Kiri Two Legs yesterday. She's home in Wales for the first Christmas in 7 years. She's warned the family that I want to visit in February, and they are agreeable. Yes! I'm going to the smallest village in Britain. It has two whole houses. I can't wait. That's going to be almost as much fun as our planned meeting in Vietnam next year sometime. I say almost because by the time I get to Wales, she'll be back in Indo. That has it's up side. For some odd reason, cell phone and internet reception in Wales is "shite" (her word), but the phone line was clear as a bell. The opposite of when she's in Indo, the texting works just fine, but the phone connection is less clear. Oh, well, just another cosmic example of "you can't have it all"!

ALMOST COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW

Today is one of those odd days when the the whole western world has the day off, but things are 'business as usual here' I'm not sure why it feels weird to me, after all Sundays are regular days here, and this *is* Sunday, but it's also Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah.
It's been raining here for two days now. It started Friday night, continued all day yesterday and let up for a bit a while ago. I took advantage of the lull to take Peg walkies before it starts up again. It feels just about cold enough for snow, but the snow scent isn't there. Maybe it will be later. I hope so. Tonight and tomorrow are supposed to be the worst of this storm, and it looks like there's another one hot on this one's heels. That's just fine with me, but it would be nice to have a day between to get some things done, like getting my reading glasses sorted, more kerosene, groceries, mail, and a few other odds and sod's.
It's almost time to start my annual Christmas calls, so I'd best organize the numbers and get on with it.
The piece I did the translation for NBC will aired on Thursday.

NBC NEWS

After running the usual Friday errands, I came in and got into bed with the local papers to rest up before Bat Chen arrived. Orna and I had everything under control: guest room straightened and ready, floors washed, cooking done, a/c on because she can't stand kerosene. At around 1330 Richard called and asked if he could come over with a friend who needs translation help. I said "ok" and he arrived with Jimmy, one of the Lebanese guys who just happens to work for NBC news and needs someone to translate for the subtitles they run to translate the Hebrew for American TV. I told them we'd have to do it fast because Bat Chen was on the way. I read, translated out loud and Richard wrote. We finished just as Bat Chen arrived. I got her settled with coffee, had a coffee myself, then came here to type the translation into an email for his editor. They both loved the translation, so I just might have me a job doing that freelance! Jimmy asked me how much he should pay me and I told him that if he can organize me some tabouli, it would be considered overpayment! I am in desperate need of a tabouli supplier. I can live on the stuff. He is bringing me a batch of it tonight. When I told Richard to be careful parking outside Gimp House, especially near the red car, he 'got it' and was all excited for me. And most impressed with Kiri Four Wheels. It's been so wonderful that my pals are honestly pleased for me and not narrow mindedly envious in an 'evil eye' way. I feel so blessed, but a bit scared that things are going to well. I'm just not used to it. I feel off balance when things don't go ahead with great difficulty. Bat Chen and I had a long talk late into the night about all that and she thinks I should be grateful for it and enjoy it while it lasts, and stop looking over my shoulder and waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'll try. I still get all choked when I think about it and cry tears of thankful joy often. I am truly blessed.
It's pissing rain and snowing on the Hermon. Poor Kiri Four Wheels is getting all wet.
I have discovered why my electrickery bills have so high. Workers in the area have been using Harley Too's socket for compressors and stuff. I caught one just before he connected to it when I left to go see Etti and Yaakov. He implied that they always use it. I told him that if he takes one more step towards it, I'll call the cops, then went back in and pulled the plug on that socket. I had Danny put that socket strip on the wall so it would easier to get to. Now if they plug into it, they will get nothing. The nerve! I'm not going to let it go quite that easily. Those electric bills were way to high, and now that they can't get it, my bills should go down to a normal level. I'll make a stink about it when I have a few bills to show the difference. Stealing electrickery from a crip is not nice. Redefines the word Israeli chutzpah. What really pissed me off about it was that he actually thought he was entitled to it. I don't think so. If he's sent here to do work for City Hall, *I* don't have to supply power. I pay quite enough in property taxes and power, without them adding to the burden, thank you very much.

DRIVING ADVICE FOR GIMPS

I was born knowing how to drive. I still know how to drive and have a license to prove it.
I had a few problems yesterday when I went to visit Etti and Yaakov at their son, Dotan's plant store near Nazareth.
Rules:
1) Do not put your foot on the brake and accelerator at the same time. It causes insanity, can burn out the brakes, and uses way too much petrol.
2) Do not put a CD in the player unless you are sure you want to listen to it over and over until you get home.
3) Pick up hitch hikers you know so he can change the CD for you.
4) Turn on the headlights so you can see the cop in the middle of the road before turning him into a hood (bonnet) ornament.
5) Go to the loo before leaving on a drive of more than 15 minutes.
I learned all of those lessons the hard way yesterday. The worst was the first. I know I have big feet, but the brake/gas thing was too much. Things got better once I figured it out. Boy did I feel stupid. And now I have to get the brakes checked because driving with a foot on both can cause bad damage to them.
Ok, I did have a lovely visit with Etti and Yaakov, and even bought some plants. I got 4 rose bushes and hyacinth for Orna and Danny's garden and some hanging plants for my ramp and a bonzai for the house. To say I was tired when I got home would be an understatement of epic proportions. I was totally and completely knackered, but quite pleased with myself. I got there and home with myself and Kiri Four Wheels in just about the same condition as when we left.
Bat Chen and Reef are coming for Shabbat and we are eating here instead of at Orna's because there's no way to get her up those 4 steps with her 'lectric chair. I'm looking forward to the first real use of my new table. We have it all figured out. We can open the table, I have the 2 chairs that go with it, 2 plastic chairs, Bat Chen and I in our wheelys, 2 of Orna's kids on the sofa, the computer chair and maybe 2 stools from Orna's collection. It should work just fine. Of course no one will be able to move, but we'll work it out.
I'd better get dressed and go get the local papers, some veggies and the new Harry Potter book that is waiting for me at the book store. Then, I can have a rest before they get here at around 1500 or so.

PLAIN DUMB LUCK

After deciding to buy a car, then not to buy a car, then, not to buy a car unless that Citroen was still for sale, I'm buying the Citroen! I actually have the cash in hand and the money for the insurance sitting in my account. I'm not exactly known for my financial smarts, but I did do one very smart thing. I started a savings account with money from my very first disability payment. That savings account has grown to a very nice sum, and has biannual dates when money can taken out without losing the whole amount. I have more than enough for the January date, and we sorted all the paperwork so it will be done automatically on the date and I can buy the car today, insure it, do the "new old car maintenance' stuff like change the oil, plugs, points, filters, etc, and start planning visits to my out of town friends. The car even has a name! I was trying to think of an appropriately insulting name to the French, then thought that I'd rather have a name with nice associations, and came up with Kiri Four Wheels, in honor of Cab/Kiri Two Legs, who often has red hair. She quite liked the idea, So, KFW it shall be. Of course, I'm not sure how long it will stay red, and I already have plans to have a friend who makes signs, put a picture of my purplegimp on wheelbroom logo on the doors! Woohoo! A car. We are doing the sale and transfer of ownership today, if Orna and Danny's daughter is available. I don't want it in my name because that will make me ineligible for a loan I will need to buy a subsidized car through our Social Security. Insane, idiot, senseless rules, but they can be gotten around. It's not like the car is worth all that much, but the simple fact of it being in my name means no loan, and the loan is for 80% of the cost of the new car, after taxes, which are waved for us gimps. That's a lot of money to throw away, especially as the loan turns into a grant after 5 years. The car can be in Talia's name and get a gimp parking sign because she lives in the same building I do! Just thinking about all those rules is enough to give anyone a headache!
I bought a vanity last week. It's dark, and covered with real leather. Since it was delivered last week, the mirror has been sitting on the table, patiently waiting for Danny to come and hang it on the wall. It is now hung, a few centimeters above the table, and it looks fantastic! I even solved the problem of what to put on that side of my bed for books and other stuff that pretty much have been living in bed with me.
Several years ago, I bought a tiny dark wood stand/table thing with a drawer. I had no idea why I bought it at the time, just that it would come in handy one day, and that day was today. I took all the accumulated junk off it and moved it to the wall next to my bed and put the books and a few other things on it. NOW I know why I bought it. It's another of an ever growing list of things that my ex daughter gave me endless grief about buying because at the time it had no purpose. HA! It does now and I'm happier than ever that I bought it. I do that fairly often, buy things I like, but have no clear use for at the moment, then, one fine day, there's the reason I bought it!! Slowly but surely Gimp House is coming together, and is starting to look great. Every time Mara comes over and sees the improvements, she tells me how nice and cozy and Mainey it is. I love hearing that because that means that Gimp House is an original in this country of 'follow the trend' look alike homes. I am nothing, if not uniquely original.
Right, no sign of Talia, Orna's daughter, so I'll just get the car put in my name for now and transfer it to her next month. Should work. It's only two weeks away.

NETANYAHU WON

I feel like celebrating. Netanyahu won the election for Likud Chairman yesterday, and now all that's left is for him to win the general election. For more on this, go to A Gimps View.
I'm going to let out the world's longest scream of frustration shortly, I think. The Citroen is still for sale but unless I find some extra money in my savings accounts, I can't buy it. I have exactly enough in my checking account, but I need it for other things. That leaves me with scouring savings to see if there's enough left over there to swing it. There's a 'station' coming up there and I just might have it. I'll look after posting the blogs.
Winter is here. It's cold and nasty outside, but, nice and cozy warm in Gimp House, thanks to the new kerosene heater, and I have hot water all day because of the kettle on top of the heater.
Orna put my kerosene soaked sheet and socks in the washer, and I shoved them in the dryer. The nightmare was putting the sheet back on the bed. It took forever and I was exhausted when it was finally on. It wasn't just the physical exertion, it was all the places that always hurt, hurting even more. At least those pains go away as soon as I lie down.
The police called yesterday and after the cop identified himself, I said "But I didn't do it; yet." He laughed and said, "No, you didn't do anything, but you might have been the victim of credit card theft" "Aha" said I, and we discussed the incident. He told me that they suspect the same person that I suspected at first, and he told not to say a word to him. I won't, but I'm not at all happy about it. He still owes me some money from stuff I gave him cash to order, but never came, and Gimp House. com is down. If I decide I can have a go at him about those things, and not tell him the cops suspect him, I'll get him over here and try to get the money back. It's not much and won't make a big difference in the scheme of things. What I really want is for Gimp House.com to work. If he can't sort his server, he can just move it all to a server that does work and pay for it himself. I'll send him a text later. The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

PHONES,CARS, HEATERS AND FRIENDS

If it's not one thing with the cable company, it's the other. The TV and phone are both acting up. I don't think that expecting something to work the way it's supposed to is being spoiled. The remote for the cable digibox is supposed to let you preset the box to change channels, but it isn't doing that now. The phone hasn't worked since yesterday. The TV fixer guy just called and asked exactly where I live. I told him and added that it's the apartment with the ramp. He then asked what floor? Excuse me, but a ramp can only be on the ground floor. I don't have high hopes for the TV getting fixed! Maybe he just hadn't finished his coffee when he asked that question. It's ok. He got the phones and TV working. It's just a matter of wait and see for how long.
I bought a nice new modern kerosene heater heater yesterday and some kerosene. They have to left on low for at least 6 hours the first time they are used. It got the whole house nice and warm. Of course I closed the doors to the *liberry* and guest room. There was a leak in the jerrycan I filled and my slippers and socks got soaked in kerosene. I ended up going out again to buy a new jerrycan, and will take it out to be filled in a few minutes.
I called Elaine on her birthday(Sat) and we had a lovely chat. I called The Jeffey yesterday because I haven't called him a ages. He's so sweet, and good. He's my hero, and I can't wait to get there for Jenny Jump's graduation.
I called another old friend, Nancy who I've been wanting to call for ages, but couldn't find her phone number. She sent me a Christmas card with the number and I called yesterday. We had a delightful chat. Talking to old hometown friends is so comforting. Kind of like slipping into a well worn bathrobe and slippers. Alice is next on the list with our annual Christmas day call.
What a morning!!! The plan was to buy another terry cloth sheet like the one that got kerosened yesterday, but I found those square purple plates I've wanted for ages and bought 4 of them instead. Then, on the way to fill my new jerrycan with kerosene, I SAW THE CITROEN still with a for sale sign on it. I just got off the phone with the owner and we're doing the transfer tomorrow! HOORAY. How great is that? Ok, so it's red, and doesn't start with an *F*, but it looks fine and runs well, and will do until I get the subsidized one sorted! Orna and I got the veggie soup going and my back is screaming at me. It's time to post this and have a rest.

MINOR CHANGE IN PLANS

The plan was to buy a cheap car now, then, start the process of getting a subsidized van. I've pretty much decided to stick to renting a car, rather than buying one and starting the procedure for the subsidy now, unless another really good deal pops up. I found a Citroen for next to nothing a couple of weeks ago, but couldn't buy it on the spot because of the bank's insane policy of waiting a month for a nonbouncable check to clear. I will buy a car on the spot if another one like that comes along. Until then, I'll just rent, and let Mutznik worry about the upkeep and depreciation.
I made a wonderful discovery, or more accurately, rediscovered, an internet 'auction' site where I can get the fridge I've been planning and plotting to buy for 10% of it's retail price.Back in the good old days in Maine we had an upside down fridge-bottom freezer and it was great. There was a company in Israel-Friedman-that made them a long time ago, but Israelis never understood the simple genius of them, and they only reappeared here a few years ago. They cost over 7,000 shekels in a store, but the auction site has them for much less. I'm going to wait, or at least, try to wait until next month to bid on one. There's a monster three door one at 499 right now with only a few hours to go before bidding closes. If I can get it for under 799, I will!
I also am going to get a kerosene heater because I refuse on general principle to pay our outrageous electrickery rates to heat. Our rates include free power to all employees of the electrickery company, which has a union that threatens to turn off the switch whenever their free power is threatened. There's not much that can be done about it in summer as there aren't many cooling options on the really hot days, but, winter is a different story. There's gas, which gives me a headache and makes me nauseous, and kerosene which bothers me not at all.....so, kerosene it will be.
It might be a good idea to get out of here while the sun is still shining and sort the heater. Winter, such as it is, has arrived and we are supposed to have a cold wet week.

HOW TO SHOCK A BANKER

The Dollar to Shekel exchange rate has been going down ever since that check arrived has been going down steadily. It was at 4.70 and is at 4.45 now. That's a fair amount of shekels to lose because the bank is afraid the check might bounce. A check from Met Life? I don't think so.
I decided that enough was enough and went charging into the bank to tell Boris, the foreign exchange clerk to sell and do 1, 2, and 3. He did and I promptly took out 6,000 shekels and told Orna who had been shanghied for the purpose that we are going to clear up their financial mess. Our idiot Social Security stopped Danny's disability because someone told them that he was working. First they stop the payments, then check. He hasn't had a payment in 6 months and their bank is bouncing everything in sight. After the cash was safely in hand, I sent Orna home to get the bills that had to paid and we went to the post office to pay them. There was a line out the door, but I did my 'no line gimp thing' and was in and out in no time at all, much to Orna's amazement. We then went to her bank and covered her overdraft which was the result of bounced auto pay orders and deposited enough to pay this month's remaining bills and most of next months.
Her bank's equivalent to my Mordy just sat there with his mouth open and did exactly what I told him to do. We have one more bill to sort, and all will be well. I simply can't sit here and enjoy my inheritance when they are on the verge of ruin. We'll get things moving at Social Security on Danny's disability later today. Poor Orna was exhausted by the pace I set and the way everyone just did what I told them to do! If we can't take care of each other, what's left? She helps me with cleaning and cooking and whatever else she can, so, why shouldn't I help them, if I can? It's not like she asked or even hinted. I just can't stand to see such wonderful people in that situation because of a jerk who told a lie to Social Insecurity. Not when I'm around. They'll get their disability back one day and repay me in easy installments. One thing you can't take from Orna is that she pays their debts. One way or another, it all gets paid back. Even if not, it's not the end of the world. And it was well worth the looks on the faces of the clerks at the banks!

POSH

Orna and I had a most lovely weekend in Haifa. This after a not great start. There I was all weirded out by things going too smoothly, when I got a call from my travel agent demanding to know why we weren't in Haifa yet. Seems there was a massive misunderstanding. Somehow the reservation got made for Thursday and Friday and I was sure it was for Friday and Saturday. I was sitting in the sun not far from her office killing time until I could pick up the rental car. I flew to her office and after a bit of talking it was agreed to change things to Fri-Sat and that I would pay 400 shekels as they had no available regular rooms and we'd have to take a suite. As the cancellation fee was 500, I jumped at, and went to get the car. The drive to Haifa went fine except for two minor wrong turns. No big deal. We found the hotel and entered a whole new world. The suite had two bedrooms with king size beds, a living room, kitchenette,TVs in every corner, and balconies accessible from every room except the bathroom. We had views of the Med from every window. As neither of us had eaten breakfast, never mind lunch, we headed for the lobby bar for sandwiches. They were so huge we couldn't finish them, so we took the leftovers to the room and had a rest before dinner.
Dinner was a huge buffet affair and very nice. Assistant managers kept coming over to ask if we needed anything, and if all was well. As it should be with guests in suites. Poor Orna had never seen anything like it, but quite enjoyed her new role as royalty! As I was completely knackered from the drive, we gave the evening entertainment a pass. After I climbed into bed, I discovered that we'd left the water in the car and I needed it to take my pills. Orna volunteered to get it and went wandering out in her jammies. That left me in gales on laughter. Her jammies are proper flannel ones that could not possibly be anything else. She arrived back with the water, I took my meds and tuned into the news. I was fast asleep before it was over. We woke up at 0645 or so and went down for breakfast; a coffee emergency having been declared. Another huge buffet, then, back up, I parked myself on the balcony and Orna went exploring. After a while I went in to read in bed and woke up when Bat Chen called. Orna had returned from her adventure (fully dressed this time) and we got ready to go down to meet Bat Chen who came to have a birthday celebration with us in the lobby. They had coffee and cake, I had coffee. We went up to show off our suite to Bat Chen who was properly impressed, then saw her off and went to the other building for dinner.
Another early night and some idiot woke up at 0530 and decided it was 0830 after looking at the watch without glasses. We packed up and went for breakfast at 0700, checked out and headed for home. About 15 minutes out of Haifa proper, something went 'click' and I was driving again. Until that point, I wasn't 100% comfortable driving. I was doing ok, but the old 'this is right' feeling wasn't there until then. It's a bit odd driving with the ball on the steering wheel, but, now, it's ok. I relaxed and we got home in plenty of time to get the car back. The whole weekend was marvelous and Orna had a blast. I think my best moments were reading the texts from Cab/Kiri Two Legs. I love her texts so much. Of course, I'm busy trying to convince that Christmas will be on Feb. 13 this time, as that's the day we leave Bournemouth for Wales, and as she's going home for Christmas, it might as well be when I'm there too. Plan *B* is for her to stop here on her way to or from Indo. I so want to see her.
It's time to get out of here and get my international drivers license. Watch out UK! I'm on the way.

GETTING NERVOUS

After the con in Utrecht that was such a disaster, fun, but a very poorly run fiasco, I decided that Leia Fee and I must go to the sfball in Bournemouth UK in February. I kept a close eye on their site and for the longest time it showed that the tickets I wanted were sold out. Then, one fine day it showed 39 left. I hoped and prayed that there would still be some left by the time I got my new international credit card. I sailed into the house the other day with the new card and called to order the tickets and a room. The tickets were no problem, but the lovely guy I was talking with said there were no rooms at the 'inn' but that he would try to sort one for us. Yesterday I got an email from him that said we now have a room. I now have the flight reserved and paid for, con tickets sorted and paid for, the hotel sorted and it will be paid for before we go. Planning even a trip into town never goes this smoothly. I'm well and truly nervous that something big is going to crop up. The last time I went to sfball I got the dates all wrong and had a very anxious time waiting to find out if the airline was going to hit me with a fine. They didn't, but the point is that things didn't go smoothly, like they did this time. Maybe I should just look at it as a sign that I am meant to go. I'll try that for a few days and see how it goes while waiting for the roof to cave in.
My reading glasses broke last night. I have two pairs of the same glasses, one is kept by the computer, and the other by the bed. The computer pair has a mark to keep them straight. It's ok because I have another frame that the lenses can be put in. I'll get that done today on the way to get the car. Orna and I are off for the weekend in a few hours.
I finally got to see the new Harry Potter movie last night. I'm not sure about. It was darker than the others and left out much more detail from the book than the others. I'll have to think on it for a while and maybe reread the book.
Well, time to get dressed and out of here.

51 FOR THE 4th TIME

I wasn't sure I'd make it, but I did! I turned 51 for the 4th time yesterday. This was very different to the 'black curtain at 30' that I went through until I moved back here in 1980 at 28. For several years before that I knew, KNEW that I would not make to 30 over there. Like most people I could picture my life, but at the age of 30 there was just a black curtain and nothing after that. When I moved back here at 28 the black curtain went away, and I could picture myself after 30. This was very different. The MI made me even more aware that life is fragile and can be over in a flash. I'm not sure that G-d's purpose for me is to enjoy life, but I am enjoying mine, challenges and all. Granted, I would prefer to not be quite so disabled, but it's really not that bad.
I got my new fancy International credit card and promptly paid the second half of this weekend's hotel, then flew home to order the tickets for sfball in Feb. The tickets are set, but there's a problem with a room at the venue hotel, but the lovely chap I spoke to said he'd make every effort to sort something for us, after I played the wheely and birthday cards. I'm hopeful. Even if we have to use a different hotel, we'll go. Maybe I'll just tell him that we'll sleep in the car!
Orna and Danny appeared last night with 4 purple helium balloons that are now floating on the ceiling, and there's a new purple bracelet on my left arm from their son, Eliad. Child Genius was here earlier and gave me a deliciously gaudy purple and green Russian egg that now sits on the DVD over the TV. It was actually a nice day and I didn't have to deal with too many well wishers. Just a regular day, which is how I like it.
I have an appointment to speak with my lawyer later. He asked *her* lawyer for a copy of the trust agreement, so she knows I'm asking questions. He didn't send it to my lawyer; must do something about that. I've suspected her of getting things set up to her liking, and now, I'm more convinced than ever that *SHE* pulled a fast one. Her day will come. I'll talk to MY lawyer and see what can be done. Prison is too good for them, but knowing that I know just might be enough.

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL GIVE IF I WANT TO

Only two more days and I'll turn 51 for the fourth time! Just a month ago I wasn't so sure I'd make it, but now it looks like I'm good for another two days, at least.
I've started a new tradition in the 'hood'. I've been giving my pals presents for my birthday. It's actually much more fun that getting gifts. I'm giving myself and Orna a weekend at a very posh hotel in Haifa that is built so close to the sea that it might just as well be in it. I just want a quiet weekend and Orna deserves one. I'm renting a car for the occasion and we're leaving Friday morning, coming home Sunday morning. There's a monster swimming pool on the roof with a clear cover. I suspect that I'll be up there much of the time dividing my attention between a book and the sea. I have hopes for a wild storm.
I've been very lazy about being at the computer and spending lots of time outside in the sun. It's damp and cloudy today-no rain expected, so I just might stay in today and catch up here and A Gimp's View. The political scene here has gone wild. There's also a slew of emails I should write.

ALMOST TOO EASY

The banking system here is most strange in this day of computers and instant information exchange. I deposited that check on Nov. 11 and have to wait a full month before I can use any of it. Why? Because that's the way it is. Ah, well no use getting all upset about it. I did get what I wanted from Mordy with almost no trouble and didn't even have to show him the asset list. He almost had a stroke when he saw that my other savings were no longer closed away as security for my present credit levels and loan. We zipped that right back up and now he's happy. He originally wanted to close of 25,000 as security for the international credit card, but I got him to agree to only 10,000, which is a much more reasonable amount considering that I only want my present credit limit to continue. It was almost too easy, but as he wrote it out, I'm not too worried about him changing his mind. The card has been ordered and will be here next week.
I put my new "Russians Rule" into effect this morning at the clinic and informed the people (Russians one and all) that as a gimp I don't need to make an appointment or wait in line. It worked and not one them said a word.Pardon me while I giggle with great evility.
The same old guy with the questions was at the bank again this morning and didn't even bother trying to butt in on my turn.
I'm almost afraid to think that there might be hope in that department. I'll just keep on as I started today.
I have two pots of confused soup ready to be put in containers for the freezer, so I think I'll go do that now, then go rest.

GETTING IT STRAIGHT

The annual holiday insanity is well on it's way to nowhere once again. I just don't get what all the fuss is about. The first amendment to the US Constitution is as clear as can be. It says that the Federal Government will not ESTABLISH a national religion. It seems that a dictionary might be required for some of the dolts involved in the idiotic annual "discussion". Having national holidays is not, repeat NOT even close to establishment of any religion. It is simply recognition of the fact that a vast majority of people have a celebration on those days. That's it. Putting up a Christmas tree in the town square is the same and trying to call it a holiday tree is just plain stupid. As long as any religion can use the town square for similar displays, what's the big deal? I don't exactly celebrate Christmas, but I do join in the snail mail card lists at two of my groups and don't get all hot and bothered when I get Christmas cards instead of Hanukkah cards. Sheesh. I even put them up and leave them up for a whole year. I do somewhat deplore what Christmas has become; a celebration of merchandising rather than what *I* think it should be; a sort of Christian Yom Kippur....a time to reflect and atone, but no one appointed me arbitrator for it. So, please knock off this ignorant crap and stop showing the world that you have absolutely no comprehension of English and the US Constitution.
I'm off to bamboozle Murdy at the bank. Early so Bat Chen can't trap me here before I get out!

THE RUSSIANS AREN'T COMING: THEY ARE HERE

I can't stand them. I simply can not tolerate them. They are the only group of immigrants who think that *we* have to adjust to their ways rather than that maybe they should learn our ways. Ok. I will grant that we have a lot of shortcomings but we do have many things sorted reasonably, like lines; as in waiting your turn.Even more annoying is that they just can't be bothered to learn Hebrew. They expect everyone one to have a translator on hand for them and for important notices in the press to be in Russian. Last Monday I almost blew a gasket when the notice on the security channel came up first in Russian. Sorry folks. It should come up in Hebrew first, then in every and any language they can think of, but Hebrew first. No one but no one gave the massive wave of Moroccan immigrants a break and they all learned to muddle along in Hebrew. As did every other group, except maybe the English speakers, and them only because English is taught here and Israelis like to show off their English no matter how bad it is.
Yesterday was fight the Russians day. It started in the bank when a very rude man informed me that he was next in line. He wasn't I was. And aside from that, wheelchairs don't wait in line. We wait for the person being served to finish, then it's our turn. As it is sometimes difficult to maneuver in our wheelys, he got in before I could. Then another clerk arrived to man the desk next to that one, and in I went. Some jerk Russian kept coming over and asking questions until I told him to get lost and wait his turn. Humph. They actually think they did us a favor by coming here. At least that's how they behave. Until yesterday I was perfectly happy waiting my turn at the bank, but no more. I will exercise my wheely rights from now on.
Things went from bad to worse at the clinic. I got there well early but there were 4 Russians ahead of me, and they thought they'd get in to the doc on a first come first serve basis, even though there was a list and I was first on it. One of the office gals came over to sort it and after I got in (I was first on the list) two of them continued to discuss the list in Russian inside the door. I finally got up and shoved them out. And then I discovered that the doc was Russian too, and that his Hebrew was really bad. I corrected him at least 6 times. (ex teacher behavior) and also realized that I know more about cardiac stuff than he does. Must find a proper cardiac quack! G-d help any Russian that gets in my way today.
They came here to get away from the crap that was the old USSR and refuse to conform to our way of doing things. If it's so bad here, go back or anywhere else.
The funny thing is that the Russians who came here in the 70s feel the same way about the Russians who came here in the 90s for the same reasons.
I finally got a batch of whole wheat sourdough rolls made and they taste great. The only problem is that I can't knead the dough long enough.

Orna will have to do that part next time, and I'll finish it off. I have enough for the next few days which will give Orna enough time time to recover from the wedding they got back from at 0300.
My semi macro diet is coming along fine. I've lost at least one of the *triplets* and am well on the way to losing the *twins* and people are noticing.
Orna is doing well too. She's completely amazed at how well it works and that she doesn't feel hungry all the time like she used to. I figured that out too. We feed our bodies so much junk that it demands real food, and when we cut out all the refined stuff like white flour and sugar and go whole grain, no sugar, our bodies are happier and don't tell us they are hungry all the time. It really is just that simple.
I'm trying to decide if I want to go to the bank and argue with the "boss of my money" or stay in and build my whole grain soup. It's not really something I can build, then leave on a low flame, and I'm not sure I want to struggle to get the crock pot out. I picked up some meat on bones for it yesterday (not exactly macro, but there's no substitute for the flavor and Peg gets the meat and bones) and the soup really has to be made today. Ok, crock pot it is, then the bank!

TEMPER TEMPER

I suppose I'll have to apologize to Bat Chen soon. That's ok, because she owes me one too. Poor girl doesn't exactly know English very well, so I'm her solution to all things English. She has been busy putting together a work agreement contract in Hebrew and English for the next time, and I've been putting her off since I was in hospital. I just didn't feel up to it, and she was ok with that until today. She caught me at 0830 before I could escape phone range and we got the English version done. I made the email window nice and small so I could leave the word page regular size and go between them. It took about an hour and a half to get it done as we are both pretty much perfectionists(excluding spelling). In the meantime Orna came to do the dishes and floor, and take out the trash. For a while I wasn't sure who would finish first, and I was hoping it would be me and Bat Chen because I wanted Orna to help with pouring the sourdough started to a fresh bowl. Thankfully, it happened that way and the started was transferred and "fed" with no mishaps. It's looking good, all nice and bubbly. I thought Bat Chen and I were done for the day, and after sorting a few things around the house, started feeling tired and ready for a rest. I no sooner crawled into bed than she called to discuss typos. I told her I was in bed and needed to rest, but she wouldn't let it go and was so gleeful at my typos that I finally lost it and told her that it really isn't that important to me and to just use spell check, and hung up. Come on lady, I had a massive MI and coronary catheterization less than a month ago. Give me a break. Contrary to the way I sound, you don't just bounce back to the way you were before overnight.
I've always been one to push the envelope, but this has slowed me down a bit and when I need rest and tell her so, I expect her to respect it. I'll call her later and explain it slowly and carefully.
I have an appointment with the cardiac doc at the clinic tomorrow. Should be interesting. I'm going to run my rejection theory by him. And he's got the clinic's echo sonar machine. I wonder if that dead part of the heart is still dead. The docs at the hospital said it could come back. I certainly hope it has. It was disconcertingly weird watching the rest of the heart muscle contract and that little part not.
Mordy, *the boss of my bank account* is being diffidcult again, or should I say still. He and I are going to have a very long chat tomorrow. Irit, my loving(not) daughter has been on my account as an emergency something or other since my stroke in '98. I'm taking her off and putting Orna on instead. The bank will be a madhouse tomorrow, but I have a few things to do there, among them, explain to Mordy that the money might be there for now, but it can be taken out PDQ and the rest doesn't have to even go into that bank. A reminder that he'll have to explain how and why my account left that bank to the big bosses.

SOURDOUGH

It's been a few decades since I've bothered to bake bread. The bread here is actually quite good, so I quit making it back in the early 80s. It always felt a bit odd not to be baking bread twice a week like I used to back in Maine. This heart attack nonsense has motivated me to start again. I have no doubt that the attack was result of all the stress back in September and the fact that I pitched my semi macrobiotic diet out the window and went wild on things I hadn't eaten since I don't know when, like butter and fatty lamb and beef. No more. I'm back on my semi macro diet and am getting ready for weekly bread baking. I've got a sourdough starter bubbling away in the pantry and it will be ready to use on Monday.
Orna's sister in law dragged her to a guy in Safad who dabbles in natural healing, and I told her exactly what he would tell her! She is now into this new healthy food thing with me. We are both getting compliments on how much better and thinner we look. Of course it will take me longer to lose what has to go because I am much fatter than she is, but we are on the right track. She already feels better and is quite pleased.
We are going to be doing the bread project together. She found a bakery that does some very nice whole wheat rolls for 1 shekel each. Ok, that might be cheaper than baking them at home, but, we can fancy them up ourselves, and play with different flours. I also have found my prized copy of the definitive rye bread recipe, and can't wait to make it.
It(the recipe) was lost for years, but turned up in an old recipe notebook one fine day. That will be the second bread we make. The first will be some whole wheat rolls for freezing.
I also figured out what that second incident of chest pain was that landed me back in the hospital for two days. It couldn't have been because I didn't take those pills, like they said, because after they let me out, the first thing I did was get those pills and promptly put them in the drug drawer and forget about them! I only discovered them when I had to refill my drug box and they were all there in the package, and I never had so much as a twinge. I am taking them now, but have come to the conclusion that the pain was some form of rejection. I'm seeing a cardiac guy on Monday and will run it by him. Human bodies don't come with preinstalled stents, so it makes sense that my brilliant body tried to reject the stent. Someone really should give me an MD degree, based on experience alone!
It's a beautiful warm day so I think I'll go sit outside and enjoy the sun for a while.

IT'S A COSMIC CONSPIRACY

If my son doesn't call me just after I've fallen asleep, Bat Chen takes over. Aren't post heart attack gimps supposed to get their rest? I guess not.
I met Bat Chen back in 1999 at the first major crip demonstration in Jerusalem and we realized that we feel the same way about a lot of the stuff that goes on in our world of cripdom, and decided to do something about it. We started our own non profit 'help the crips' organization called Ygal which in Hebrew is an acronym for "Got Your Back" It works in Hebrew better than in English, so I'll just use Ygal. Of course me being me, it wasn't long before I decided that I wasn't happy with the direction things were taking and I quit. Bat Chen being Bat Chen, decided that I quit because Arieh Zudkevich, the head of the group that organized the demonstration had threatened me for being involved with Ygal. Not even close to true. I don't react well to threats and told Arieh that. Ah, well, Bat Chen can think what she likes. It hardly matters now and *I* know what really happened.
To make a long story longer, we stayed in touch, mostly when Bat Chen needed help with English. At one point she decided to translate Solomon's Key to English, and came up here for a long weekend to do just that. We made a good start, then she decided to give it to a proper translator to get it right in the few places I had trouble. A few weeks later we decided to bring Ygal back and made a good start. Then, my father died and she started a renovation on her kitchen and we let Ygal ride. Somehow she got involved with a couple who have two disabled sons and run an agency that supplies foreign workers to disabled people. This couple also set her up with the contractor for her kitchen. She decided to get a worker through them as well. The worker set up is a bit dodgy. Bat Chen has license for a worker from the Interior Ministry and they brought her one from India who turned out to be problematic. The way it works is, Bat Chen gets the worker on her papers, he works for her, stays with her and then works at other places. She doesn't pay anything. This arrangement is not legal. In the meantime, the kitchen contractor turned out to be a thief, and did crap work. He also supplied her with a false ID and company details and never gave her a receipt for the money she paid him. The ever so helpful couple took the contractor's side in the dispute. I suggested that she report the contractor to the tax authorities and let them deal with it. She wanted to try and recover her money, and we had a few heated discussions on the subject. At this point I realized exactly who and what she was dealing with. Con artists of the worst kind. A few days ago they brought her yet another worker, this one couldn't have been more illegal if he tried. For starters, the law says that foreign workers that have first degree relatives here can not come here. This one has a mother and brother here. Ergo. On top of that, he was deported back to his country and was obviously not eligible to come back, regardless of relatives already here. Not to be deterred, he got his hands on a passport in the name of a dead citizen of his country. It also turned out that he had open heart surgery which makes him uninsurable here. That lovely couple told the worker and Bat Chen not to declare the surgery to the insurance company. At this point Bat Chen balked, and decided to cover herself by having him sign a statement declaring all the illegal things that couple had him do. Bat Chen and I have been having heated discussions about it for days now. I keep telling her that the only way to deal with these people is to call their bluff and report them. The money is gone and she'll never see it again. It's time to cut her losses and let the cards fall where they may.
yesterday. While arguing with her about the whole thing, I realized that I was getting upset and that it's not good for me, to put it mildly. I told her so and ended by reminding her that there is no way to make a ham sandwich kosher, and no way to make this worker legal when the whole thing is based on a counterfeit identity. It can't be done. Apparently she thought and thought and tortured herself all day. I do understand how hard it is to let go of the hope of recovering losses to conmen. I have Striar The Liar, after all, so I really do understand. I also understand that a point comes when you have to let it go. The major difference between her situation and mine is that I got most of what he owed me and that due to his health, suing him was out of the question. And it would be impossible to get him arrested because technically he didn't do anything illegal. I let myself be swindled. The people Bat Chen is dealing with are involved up to their eyebrows in criminal activity.
So, she had it out with herself, decided I was right and decided to turn everyone in to the relevant authorities, and called me at 0230 to tell me. She's a bit worried about reprisals, so I told her to get her house keys back and to come up here for a few days. I'm expecting a call any minute from her. I don't know if they'll come up today or tomorrow, but I will have company for Thanksgiving. I feel much better that she is going to do the right thing at last. The fact that our national leaders are corrupt doesn't mean we can be too. Sharon et al and my very own local elected officials are about as corrupt as can be, but that doesn't mean we can be too.
Details and updates, as and when.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

I ended up staying in yesterday as Harley Too isn't feeling right. Orna came over early and did the dishes, then ran home because they came to install her cable phone. I spent a while at the computer, then settled myself in bed to watch Charmed. Towards the end of the show, there was some thunder, which I love. There's nothing like a big loud noisy thunder storm. I love them. It wasn't long before the sound of thunder turned into the sound of mortar shells and katyushas. In the 15 years I've lived in this town there was never such a sustained barrage of any kind. It just went on and on. It took a while and a phone call from Achy for me to figure that *they* were shooting at us and not the other way around. Incoming sounds pretty much like outgoing from this distance. Those sneaky hezba'loonies' used the thunder as cover for their attack. After a while they switched from mortars to katyushas and things got a bit insane. Knowing how freaked Orna gets by katyushas, I called her and told her to get over here and into my shelter/*liberry* with her kids. They came right over and we turned on the TV in there and put in some chairs, then we went to the living room to smoke. After a few minutes, other neighbors started knocking on my door looking for shelter. The neighborhood shelters were locked and Army Jeeps were driving around with loudspeakers telling people to go to the shelters. They forgot to mention that the shelters were locked! By the time they got this neighborhood shelter open there were 10 people standing in my shelter and 4 kids sitting on the available chairs. After everyone left to go to the newly opened shelter, I got back into bed to watch TV and listen to the noise outside. It went on for hours, and helicopters and planes joined in.
The timing couldn't have been better. Our government is non existent for all intents and purposes. Whiskers (Amir Peretz) election as head of the Labour party brought about an abrupt end to Sharon's coalition of corruption, and Sharon's announcement that he is forming a break away party with all his corrupt cronies, was as good a go ahead signal as any to Nassralla. The thunderstorm also helped. For once the army was ready and had been on a high alert up here as a result of good intelligence. It's so typical that our idiot local dimwits were caught totally unprepared. With any luck local heads will roll. Our local criminal elected officials are all under investigation for a variety of no nos. They must think that if Sharon's hench men get away with it, they can too. Our mayor and at least half of the city council spend more time in interrogation rooms than they do in town, along with some senior clerks and other over paid functionaries. It's quiet now, but I wonder how long it will last. Never mind the explosions, it's the non stop phone calls that get me. Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment behind them, it's tiring telling everyone the same thing. I think maybe for the next time I'll pre-record all the rote answers. Saying the same thing 20 times gets boring. I think Cab/Kiri Two Legs was more shaken by it than I was, her being in Indo and all. I kind of didn't send a coherent text when things got insane at Gimp House with the flood of refugees and phone calls. I'd best go reassure her now.

CHAMPAGNE MATTRESS

I was sure that the first night in ICU that if the heart attack didn't get me, the bed certainly would. The floor would have been better. At home I have one of the best mattresses to had anywhere in the world, and have an anti pressure sore one on top of that, as well as my well traveled 'between the knees pillow' That pillow is a miracle. Of course, I didn't drag my pillow or air mattress with me in the ambulance and had the most miserable night I can remember. There *is* however a branch of an organization that rents crip stuff in the hospital, so I sent someone to get me an anti pressure sore mattress. It was brand new, still in it's sealed nylon wrapper. We got it sorted and it was like sleeping on Champaign. As it was brand new, the motor that pushes air through it, made little popping sounds that felt like Champaign bubbles. It was a joy. I retired my old mattress and hooked up the new one (they can't be returned) to my old motor and it's still like sleeping on Champaign. Little wee champion bubble poppings. What a delight! Hospital beds should be outlawed, but that's not likely. The nurses kept telling me they were new beds. Well, ok, so they were new. That hardly makes them any more comfortable.
I was drifting off to sleep last night, enjoying the bubble effect, when the phone rang at 0130. It was my son calling to explain some more about what the Wicked Step of Evility had to say about the will. This after he called the other day at 0230 to tell me the amount. If what he says is true, lots of money is missing, I mean hundreds of thousands. Or, the WSOE doesn't understand the very will I have no doubt she dictated to the shyster. There's no way Dad made that will on his own, not at the age of 80.
I am working very hard at keeping calm and have decided to wait until I get the notice Aron and The Jeffey got last week before doing anything. If it's like they both reported, I'm going to demand a full accounting be given the probate court of all Dad's assets. Something is very wrong there. Right now there's not much I can do except wait for the mail.
In the meantime, I'm busy planning my Feb. jaunt to England and a quick weekend to a luxury hotel at The Dead Sea for me and Orna. We deserve it after what we've been through with my hear attack. Three days of lazing around and being pampered. She really needs a break from her day to day struggle, and I just want a change. I'm waiting a bit before buying a car and after 'driving' myself nuts trying to figure out how to get there, remembered that I can rent a car! So that's what we'll do. I think, either the weekend before, or after my birthday. Yup, that's a plan! And a not bad way to spend a rainy day.

MINDLESS MEANDERINGS and MUSINGS

We've all seen heart attacks on TV and read descriptions of them, and I'm pretty sure that is why I'm still here to write this. I knew what was happening pretty much as soon as it started, and called the paramedics. It was a very strange experience for several reasons. One was that I was conscious the whole time. Wide awake, no where close to passing out or anything like that. Yeah, it hurt, but I've had much worse pain just about every day since that run in with the katyusha. Most of the heart attacks on TV show the victim as unconscious and in dire need of electric shock heart jumper cable restart therapy or clutching his chest while writhing in pain. I was wide awake the whole time and remember it all, including the cardiac catheterization. I watched the monitor with the docs and even bantered a bit with them. Why don't they show stuff like that on TV? I'm trying to figure out if it's better to be awake like I was, or out of it. I'm not totally sure that these are memories I really want to have. It might be better to wake up afterward...........? As no one asked me, I guess I'll just have to deal with the memories as they exist.
I *do* have a lot to be thankful for and I am, believe me, I am. I'm not afraid of death, it's just that there's a lot more I want to do in this life. I still have to sort things for The Jeffey, and help Bat Chen get Ygal moving. She's not moving much on it and that's too bad because there are lots of issues that have to be addressed.

LEGAL RELEASE

It had to happen. I have been so proud of my perfect record for never staying in hospital until released by the docs, that I am very disappointed in myself now. I went to the clinic on Sunday to get an ECG done so I'd have a tape to take with just in case. The hospital docs recommend that, and my doc didn't like the read out, so he sent me back to hospital. Richard took me this time, and I went prepared to stay with all my equipment.
The ER didn't quite know what to do with me other than to check me in for observation. They wanted a chest X Ray for some reason, and wouldn't let Richard take me in BBC. They insisted on an orderly taking me in the ER bed. Richard tagged along with BBC and I turned it into a race by sitting up and making wheely chair movements with my arms and making tire squealy noises around corners, and siren sounds when we met beds going in the other direction. The orderly/bed driver was wearing purple scrubs and I kept up a running request for him strip on the spot and give them to me. Looking back, I think I'm lucky they didn't put me in the psychiatric unit for observation, but it was fun and livened things up a bit. When they finally decided that they wanted me for observation in the cardiac unit, Richard and I had my bed all set up with my pillows and anti pressure sore mattress before the nurse got there to admit me. She was most impressed. They hooked me up to a remote ECG thingy and the leads kept falling off, so I'm not sure how much use it was. I was a good gimp and stayed in bed or in BBC out on the balcony. Striar The Liar showed up every day to entertain me, and I was nice to him. He's off the hook now that I've gotten the insurance check.
They decided to let me out on Tuesday and Richard came to get me at 1830. It's so good to be home again. I went to the doc to get the meds sorted. The hospital docs said the latest incident was because I didn't take one of their pills. I couldn't very well take it because it had to be ordered through the clinic and that took a few days. I don't think that was the reason at all. I think it was the excitement of the insurance check arriving and Mordy's nutty reaction when I deposited it! It kind of looks like any kind of excitement is to be avoided. Would someone please explain how I do that?
It's getting late and I have to do a few things before the ex gets here.

GOT ONE KID RIGHT!

Aron called the other day to find out how the old gimp is doing. Yes, the kid who had so much trouble with his mother has suddenly found himself and come to the conclusion that I really am not the vile witch he used to think I was. We talked for about an hour and it was wonderful. I'd almost forgotten how funny he is. Then, he dropped the bombshell! He votes Republican. I almost fell out of bed. I'm so used to my kids doing the opposite to what I do that this really threw me. He even said that he never told The Philmore because it was assumed that Aron voted Kerry (random choking sounds) that he was sure that if he fessed up to voting Bush he'd be out of the will. He's probably right on that score. He got quite a laugh when I described what I did with a bottle of Heinz ketchup the day after the election. Especially as it was Irit's ketchup. He knows as well as anyone that I don't touch, much less eat the stuff.
We talked about his sister a bit and he's horrified by her behavior and asked if she knows about the heart attack. I said that she probably does and from the same place he found out. (his father) We had a bit of a giggle over how disappointed she must have been when she found out I'd survived it. Bad luck is following her around lately. I survived, and it seems the new baby is colicky. Am I allowed to enjoy that tidbit?
I'm feeling better day by day, but still not up to writing about the thing just yet. That day isn't far off.
I had a fantastic moment at the bank. Mordy, the ass't manager who so loves to make my life a misery, had the authorization of payment letter from that life insurance policy shoved under his nose, and was told very calmly to do this, this, and that. With that amount before his very nose, he didn't have much choice than to acquiesce! It's not
$ 6500, it's $ 8100! And it should be here any day. Is it any wonder I'm feeling so much better? I'm venturing out today to sort a few things that left unsorted by my abrupt departure by ambulance.

SORT OF BACK

If Orna, my self appointed guardian angel, catches me posting here, it'll be all over! She'll never believe it's just a quick post to say that I survived a pretty nasty heart attack, treatment at the local hospital, a Murdockian escape, and a few other not fun things. I'm feeling pretty good this morning, and the plan is to go out for a quick trip to the clinic, by way of the local scooter fix it guy. Harley Too's charger seems to be on the blink, and with luck it's just a blown fuse.
The quacks went all "quit smoking" on me, so I'm compromising. 3 fags a day, 1 with morning coffee, 1 after lunch and 1 after dinner. That's me, defiant as ever.
I had enough presence of mind when it happened to shove the cell phones (but not the chargers) in my bag before the ambulance got here. By Thursday morning the batteries were out of juice. Orna and Danny brought them on Saturday and I sent Cab/Kiri a text about the heart attack. Bless her. Our somewhat crazy texts kept me in as good a mood as possible. She called me yesterday, and I laughed/cried for ages. She makes me feel so good. Achy came by to see me twice and only he and Cab/Kiri seem to understand why I had to get out of there AMA. I called the ex on Saturday and he'll be in the country on Friday. I hope he'll find the find the time to come up for a visit. I rather suspect that his daughter is going to get an earfull from him as her behavior was a major contributor to the stress that brought on the attack.
I kept notes while in hospital, and will sit down here with those notes and write the whole thing up one day soon. Some of the notes are in the cell phone, some on the covers and blank pages of the 'what to do after a heart attack' booklet they gave me. I also have to sit down and write a strong letter of complaint about that so called hospital. You'll be able to read all about it in a few days. Enough for now. I just wanted to let my 3 faithful reader know that I'm ok and back!

TELEPHONE OBSESSION

The cable phone guy just left. He confirmed that something indeed was very wrong. Mr. Installer Guy forgot to connect a critical wire, so only one cable connection was working, the cordless phone! Now all of them are. I'm happy to report that I'm only one phone short in my insane network. There's a phone in both lines in the *liberry*and, next to the computer. All I need now is one more for next to my bed to be able to have Bezeq for incoming calls and cable for outgoing. Richard and Mara have two of my phones. As they don't have a line at all, I think I'll ask for one back. Not a bad system when it's functioning. I had a loverly snooze after a cup of nice hot (fake) chicken broth only to be awoken by Striar the liar. I love telling him "It's ok, I had to get up to answer the phone anyway." Drives him bonkers. He's very concerned about my inheritance, and I am having great fun not telling him anything except vague outlines. Let him suffer. Even if he were to get his hands on the will itself (public record) there are no amounts there! Who knew payback would be so much fun?
I have a short list of subjects that I wanted to get into here, but don't have the time today. Tomorrow I *will* stay in. Right now it's time to call The Jeffey!

CAUGHT OUT

It simply can not rain in this country without me being outside without rain gear. It happened to me again today! The weather people (would someone please shoot them and put me out of their misery?) said it would rain all day up here. Well, it didn't start until I'd left the house. The original plan was to stay in, but last night I woke up with an insane craving for something sweet and I generally do not like sweets, so there were none in the house. I have learned to listen to cravings, so decided to go out and get something sweet. Of course I had no sooner checked my mail box than the rain started, and I was in my BasscatcherBob vest over a thin jacket, and my BU cap. Being a slave to my cravings and having been shot against flu and pneumonia, I continued on my sweet quest.
As I couldn't get the shop I wanted, thanks to some spoiled fat assed jerk who parked his la-di-da Chevy on the ramp, I continued on to the supermarket, where it took me almost an hour to decide what to buy. I finally settled on some cheap Israeli wannabe counterfeit Oreos. They were cheap, and of course when I left the store, a great big truck was blocking my only exit. I ended up waiting untill it moved, by which time it was pouring rain. Did I get wet? What do you think?
I'm home and dry now, and yes, the rain has stopped! I am now going to crawl into bed with a nice hot cup of (fake) chicken broth, and read, and maybe nap.

UPSET DOESN'T QUITE COVER IT

Ok, now that I've read and pretty much memorized The Philmore's will, and thunk hard on it for a couple of days, I'm just about ready to the rage out here.
The first person who tries to tell me that it's his money to with as he pleases had best start running real fast. It is, and it isn't. Every single thing/penny he had was due to my mother, and she made the mistake of leaving it all to him with the explicit understanding that it would eventually go to me and The Jeffey. She obviously didn't take Aunt Sylvia's( auntie Yenta) match making tendencies into account. Auntie Yenta decided that The Philmore and The Stepmother of Evility would be a good match, and so they were. The SOE never liked me, and she absolutely detests my bother. So, what's wrong with the will? Now, don't get the idea that I'm a money grabbing bitch, because, I'm not. I'm more upset on The Jeffey's account than my own. After all, I have a very nice disability payment every month, so I'm set for life. The thing that so enrages me is that the way The Philmore set things up, the SOE can do anything she wants with everything and anything he had, including give it to her kids at any time. There's a clause that says that she gets 50% of the funds in the trust, the residue of which is supposed to divided between me, the Jeffey, Irit and Aron after she checks out, but until then, it's hers to do with as she wishes. Be pretty hard to divide nothing between us. He also stipulated that if I pop off before she does, my kids get my share. No way. They have their own shares of that nothing. I must find a way to be sure The Jeffey gets my share, and that there's a share to get. I guess I'd just better be sure I outlive her, so I can make sure The Jeffey gets it. Once it's mine, there's nothing anyone can do about who gets it. I just knew there would be impossible strings from his grave. And I don't trust that SOE as far as I can walk. Of course there's a no contest clause. Did anyone think for a minute that there wouldn't be?
I'll be talking to my Florida lawyer in the next few days to see if an eagle eye can be kept on the residue, in spite of her. There must be a way. She had her own small fortune when they got married and The Philmore took care to tell me, before they got married, that what was his, would go to us and hers, to her kids. Hmph. I see her at work here.
The SOE completely ignored the fact that The Philmore was married before she even heard of him, to OUR MOTHER. I just hope there's a legal way out of this. Hells, any way is ok with me. Gotta get The Jeffey settled.

PIGGY BANKS ETC.

There was a report on the news recently that some bank in England decided to stop using the term piggy bank out of consideration for their Mussie clients. Odd, we have the same, if somewhat older, restrictions about pigs, but as far as I know no Jewish person ever thought to ask anyone to stop using the term! Hells, the term is pretty much universal in Englishes speaking countries, and can refer to anything used to save coins, from an old coffee tin to a proper piggy bank in the shape of a pig. I even know people who called the JNF(Jewish National Fund. The money that was used to buy land here in the name of the Jewish People) collection boxes 'piggy banks'. What is the world coming to when we have to stop using the words 'piggy bank' because some Mussie might take offense? Don't bother answering that, I already know the answer. I'm sure you've all figured out by now that I've done my bit for Western democracy, and freedom of expression, and bought a piggy bank today! It might be in the shape of a purple hippopotamus, but that doesn't change the fact that is, and, always will be a PIGGY BANK! It's giving in to them on these seemlingly small issues that will come back to haunt us in the near future. Must go and put it in pride of place and dig all the small change out of the mortar bowl that was until today my piggy bank! I have a good spot to retire the mortar and pestle to! It served long and well.

WORDS OF WISDOM and even MORE ABOUT TELYPHONES

Here's some very important advice: If you happen to be a gimp with foot problems and find it easier to lurch around in big fluffy doggie slippers, and decide to go out on a very hot day, wearing a sleeveless dress, do not forgot to take the slippers off and put sandals on. The minute you lurch out the door you will feel a right idiot wearing those slippers. I know this to be true because it happened to me last week. Also, if you are a gimp that has to shower sitting down, take those slippers off BEFORE you get in under the water. Those fluffy furry fuzzy slippers take forever to dry. I don't have to repeat myself and tell you how I know, do I?
One more bit of advice: If you get a will in the mail and are on an electrick scooter, do not stop under a shade tree to read it unless you are prepared to tell every single person who goes by why you are crying. There is also the hazard of blurred vision when you finally realize that it can wait until you get home. Trust me here. This I also know to be true.
Back before the century of holidays started, I saw a fantastic telyphone at Sari's store. That woman should be against the law. She has many things purple and wooden. I just adore the things she has there. I've had that phone, an old fashioned looking one with one of those funky skinny receivers that sits on those brass hooky looking things that stick up, and an old round rotary dialer. I decided on the very day I saw it that I must have it as it will fit in my living/dining room perfectly. It's all roundy curvey like the table and chairs, and is a nice dark wood.
I bought it today! And it looks even better than I thought it would. Of course my trip to Sari's couldn't end with just a telyphone. There had to be something else! This time the something else was a leather covered vanity table with lots of little drawers and a mirror and matching stool. It was love at first sight, and Sari will hold it for me. It's an amazing piece of furniture and will fit right in with my dark antique stuff.
I'm home now, so after a shower without doggie slippers, I'm then crawling into bed to memorize the will!

Cab/Kiri's blog

This should be required reading! http://kiriokiri.blogspot.com/

THIS IS GETTING OLD

I'm getting well and truly fed up with saving this page where I want it. It stays there for a day or so, then self deletes!
Didn't get much done yesterday or today, but at least the month (it seemed like a year) of holidays is over, and tomorrow I'll be able to get back to my usual activities.
Peg ran out of food last night, so first thing this morning I called the doggie store. They are supposed to be here with it any minute. I was zipping blissfully though the several thousand (or was it million?) posts at the VA when Bat Chen called and asked for some emergency translation. We plowed our way through that in an hour or so, and nothing else got done.
I never even finished my first coffee!
The idiot new cable phone isn't working so I unplugged the modem in the hope it will sort itself. If not, I'll call them. Nope, no joy there. The lights are all blinky. Gotta dig out their number and give them a shout! Even before that, I think I just might make a fresh cup of coffee and finish this.
Cab/Kiri is doing pretty well with her blog. It's a joy to read. If you want a fun read, look up Funkadelic Sandwiches at Blogger. It's well worth it.
I've been driven wild over the last few months by Dwight fans who joined the Dark Matters list and started gushing all fannish there. I've had a private word with two of them, and luckily the third emailed me off list to ask, and I headed her off at the pass. Granted, a fair number of us are there because of him, at least that's how and why we went there to start with, but most of us sort kind of almost forgot he was there too and really got into the list and radio show on their own merits. Doesn't the guy deserve one list where he doesn't have to run for cover from over zealous fans? He *is* very generous about sharing himself with us at cons. It annoys me that some just don't get it and need to have it explained of words of less than syllable! If this latest lot behaves themselves, maybe he'll stop in and post more often. He's certainly done enough for us, isn't it time we give him a little too, even if it's only peace and quiet from fannish behavior? Poor guy, you'd think he has enough to contend with, with me flying all over the globe to see him?
Off now to organize fresh coffee and catch up on the guy who went boom in Hadera, today.

SOMETHING IS WRONG

There seems to be a minor problem with Firefox. Every time I try to add this page to the tool bar folder, it self deletes after a few minutes. I hope I'm not the only one with this problem and that they'll sort it soon.
I'm pretty much recovered from the worlds shortest case of the flu. All that's left is an itchy nose, but no more leaks from said appendage, and I feel just fine, if sleepy.
Yesterday I figured out what is bothering me so much about the Wicked Stepmother of Evility. She never once asked me or The Jeffey if there were any of Dad's things we wanted. There ARE two things I want and I know they were in the house not long ago, at least one. Way back when I was in Jr. High, I made a clay thingy of a face and glazed it half black and half white. It actually won a prize and Dad was so proud of it that it was always on display. I want it. He also had a slide rule in a leather case. I want that too. I'm really not up to calling and asking her for those things partly because she should have asked, and partly because I just want to forget that she even exists. I *do* have the important things though; Dad's baby book, and the love letters he wrote to Mom. And a few other things like the telegrams they got when they got married, their wedding picture, and some things he gave Mom over the years. I told Dad that I had them about a year ago and he thought that was great! I think so too, especially in light of the way she ignored the fact that he actually had a life before they met. I'll ask The Jeffey if there's anything he wants and if there is, I'll make sure he gets it. At least he has some of the stuff from the Longfellow Ave. house we grew up in, like the insane French Provincial mirror with the shelves and the nik naks that go with it, and some other things. Funny how comforting those things are. I still get a bit weepy when I look at them, but I am a well known senti'mental' slob, and blubber at the slightest excuse.
The holidays are almost over, and things should get back to normal(?) by Sunday. This bunch of holidays all in the same month is a bloody pain as nothing functions until they are over. Not that things ever function as the should in any event, but at least the government offices aren't on group vacations and shut down. Now, they can all go on their annual post holiday strike!
Orna asked why I haven't been going there on Fridays for dinner, so I explained about the texting, and she didn't much like it. I'll go this week, and see how she likes it when I get going with the texting! There is nothing in the world I'd rather do than text with Cab/Kiri, unless it's to actually be able to sit and talk with her face to face, or should I say Murdockian to Murdockian? If The Plan comes off we'll be able to do that in 2007, and it can't come soon enough for me. It might even happen sooner than that, if she could stand a nice quiet weekend in some resorty type hotel over there in her area. That idea is running rampant in the remnants of my mind. I'd much rather go volcano climbing, and general exploring, but that's kinda hard to do in a wheelchair! A nice 4 day weekend at a resorty place is much more my speed. I'll start working on that as soon as I get the next two trips organized. UK in Feb, Maine in the spring, then, the Far East.
It's coming up to nap time now. I was up most of the night for no good reason, made a quick run into town for fags, fish and ground beef, so I can go crash in bed for a bit.

THE SUNDAY AFTER

These weekend text sessions with Cab/Kiri always get me to thinking of the oddest things. That much be yet another reason why I love her so much. She gets my brain into gear and there are so few people around who can do that, especially since Teadrinker decided that I am beneath her notice. I still don't know what I did to piss her off so, and I miss her. Back around Yom Kippur I sent her an IM asking forgiveness, but she never answered. That means that either she never brings up Yahoo, or she won't forgive me. I suspect it's the latter. It's not like EVERYTHING I did to/for her was bad. I told her how to get maximum benefits, her first wheelchair, arranged for her to get an electrick scooter and paid for part of it, taught her that she can spend money on herself, got her off the charity case list, and made her buy things that otherwise she'd be without, like a new fridge, washer, dryer, TV, CD player, bedroom set, sofa, chairs, cell phone (which I paid for for a long time) and the list goes on. There were several times that I got fed up with her, but always 'forgave' her and we picked right back up from where we left off. Then, out of the blue, she told me to piss off,(without telling me why) so I did, until Yom Kippur. With my daughter I pretty much know why we aren't talking and it's her problem, not mine. Teadrinker is another story and it hurts worse than I imagined. We always understood each other almost without words, but that connection failed just when I needed it most. She sent several IMs that day that were perfectly normal, then, out of the blue she sent the meanest email imaginable. Ok, enough beating that dead horse. All those texts with Cab/Kiri brought it crashing back last night. It's entirely possible that I'll get in my car, when I get it, and drive down there one day and have it out with her. Yup, sounds like a plan.
Cab/Kiri got me to thinking about relationships I've had and why they were with who they were with. It seems to divide into two groups, those who are brighter than I, who challenge me to keep up and those who are not, but because of other qualities I like them. It's not that I think I'm brightest bulb in the fixture, but I'm not stupid and I love to be challenged by people who make me work to keep up. Cab/Kiri does that. She awes me with her writing ability, hells, she just plain awes me. Awesome is the word that best describes her. Her major flaw is her lack of confidence in her abilities, but she seems to be getting over that. It's what holds her back from doing what she was meant to do, write. Of course other things interfere as well, like the need to earn a living, but she's doing that in a most adventurous manner, and if "The Plan" comes off, she'll be able to use that to write the "Great Novel" It's in her and it's starting to fight to get out.

Orna and I went grocery shopping this morning and I found pomegranate juice. Yum.
I heard from Ciara in England yesterday and as I have her address, can look her up on the map and figure out how to get there. I still don't have Finger's address, but should soon and add that to the growing file. I had a lovely chat with Rosebud/Karen yesterday and we sorted the care package to Cab/Kiri, and her map is already in the file as I've actually been to her house before! This next jaunt is going to be so much fun.
Time to go chat with The Jeffey.

I JUST LOVE FRIDAYS

Friday is the end of the week here, which is quite enough of a reason to like it, but lately, Friday nights have turned into the most wonderful text chat evenings with Cab/Kiri. That gal is the most amazing person I know. She's over in Indonesia running a bunch of English schools, and seems to never rest. When she's not at work, she's off having adventures in volcanoes and in rain forests in Borneo. She's one of the few people I know and quite possibly the only one who is actually LIVING her life. Add to that her genius, yes, GENIUS as a writer and that's my Cab/Kiri.
I climb into bed early on Fridays and wait for the smart ass phone to buzz with her first text of the evening. There's a kind of weird connection between us that lets us understand even the craziest texts. Of course last night it took her a few minutes to get a Murdock reference, but she did!
Crazy lady is going through a bout of anemia, as being a vegetarian in Indo is difficult. It's hard to get all the fresh greens she needs over there, so I'm going to try and organize an airlift of tinned veggies for her. I'd ship off a few crates myself, but I don't think the Indos would be too happy about it, being as the tins would have Hebrew all over them and the Indos and us are not the best of friends, and I don't want her getting arrested for consorting with the *enemy*.
I don't care what she says, she *is* one of the bright shining lights of this time.
On to the mundane. I'm almost out of fags and have to make an emergency run into town. My preferred brand won't be in the store until Monday and I only have about 4 Duty Free fags left, so I'll be off soon to get enough to last until Monday. Other than that, the plan for today is to do some more planning for England, look at more maps, and stuff. I'm also going to call Rosebud/Karen and see if she can ship some tins of greens (no peas) to her cousin, then have a chat with The Jeffey. I just got a new super cheap rate to the US and UK and fully intend to take advantage of it.
I *did* look up flight schools in Israel as I fully intend to take flying lessons, and found two in the north. I'll call them next week and find out if they have a crip plane. One of them should. Leia's does in Wales, so, we should have one here. If not, I might just have to figure out how to learn over there. I've only always wanted to learn how to fly, like ever since I can remember, and I will.

GOING TO ENGLAND

Now that I've found a reliable Pegasus sitter, I can travel! The next trip will be to a Star Trek con in Bournemouth England. I went to it 2 years ago with Jipster because Dwight Schultz was there. That was just about the only reason, unless you want to count the fact that I wanted a trip. The con itself was a blast, and I could indulge in one of my favorite pastimes, people watching. Jips and I spent a lot of time in my 'meet and greet' position near the front door as well as in a strategic spot in a corner.
About two days after the crap con in Holland,(the con was crap, but we had a great time) I decided that sfball was a must. Granted I don't much care about Star Trek, and am so not a Trekkie, but that is one well run con and the people that go are just great. Yup, I'm going to it, and intend to go to Wales and as many other places as I can squeeze into a week. There are a few people I really want to see when I'm there, mostly VAers.(Fingers, want company?) I must get busy with a map and start planning properly.
Got my annual flu shot today, and stopped in to tell Dr. Sawbones that we aren't doing any more structural repairs until after England and the first project will be to see if we can do anything about my free floating collar bone. He gave me the forms for X rays and an ultra sound. I'll do that next week, and then we can figure out if anything can done about it.
I went into the bank to see if I could pay off the balance on my credit card, and of course, it can't be done. How annoying. Ah, well, the 2nd isn't that far away, so I'll just wait. Insane Israeli banks.
As happens every year with the flu shot, I'm sleepy. The nurse who shot me and I had a good giggle about the bird flu hysteria! Really, it's too much. Ok, so zillions of birds fly over us, but our poultry business is pretty modern and chickens are under roofs, not out and about just waiting for a migrating bird to infect them. It seems people are even afraid to buy chicken.
Either there will be a pandemic, or there won't. Why get all crazy about it now. In any event it will be different to the one in the 1500s. Medicine has advanced a wee bit since then as has personal hygiene. Indoor plumbing means we can keep our hands clean. Stuff they didn't have way back when, or even dream of then. Come on, folks, get a grip. File this bird flu thing under earthquakes, volcanoes hurricanes, tornados, and other things you can't do anything about and get on with your lives.
I'm going to bed. Friday tomorrow.

TROUBLE IN BLOGVILLE

I just spent an hour trying to edit yesterday's post, but had no luck with it. Somehow the first few sentences repeated themselves in the addest places. I just deleted it and am now going to try and see if this obeys.
Child Genius came and gave the computer a crash course in Hebrew, so that's ok. We also ordered a DVD of the original Bye Bye Birdie. Channel 16 seems to have lost their copy, so, I'll just get one of my own.
It was bucketing rain until a few minutes ago, so I opened the door to enjoy it. it's not cold enough to even think of heating, but lond sleeves are nice. I'm not going out until tomorrow in any case, so it can just rain all day!
I'm still in a very weird mood. I can't quite figure out what I'm doing here. I'm just drifting through the days, and pleasant as that is, it doesn't feel right. Not that I'm in any rush to check out, I just feel a bit useless. Things might get better if Bat Chen and I get moving with Ygal. We made a pretty good start and there's a site and message up and running, Hebrew only at this stage. I must get a move on the English translation.
I think maybe it's time to get started on that. I also want to see if this posts properly.

Purplegimp wrote:

  Not much has happened since I posted last, but I'm in one of my moods. I am
also completely frustrated about the %$&*$*! H.P. printer. It doesn't. Print, or scan, or any of the other things it's supposed to
do. I almost took a hammer to it yesterday, but decided to replace it soon. I
just can't take it anymore. No more H.P. I'll look for another brand that has
the features I want. Might even get one with a fax. I'm also frustrated that the
computer refuses to type in Hebrew no matter what I try. Child Genius will be
over later to try and make this thing bilingual again.
The 'Project of the Day' is to find out what(if anything) is on all the unmarked
CDs in the rack. Most of them are labeled, but some aren't so it might be a good
idea to find out if they are blank, and if not, to label them. I labeled all the
Office disks while installing them, so might as well check the rest.
On a note of weirdness...........It is my firm unshakable belief that we are all
here for a purpose. We don't always know what it is. I've done no small amount
of pondering on the subject since my stroke, and still can't figure why I'm
still here against all logic. I'm sort of just drifting along day by day and not
doing much of anything. Not complaining, mind you, it's quite pleasant, I'm just
wondering.
I *do* have to start pushing Bat Chen to get moving on Ygal, our non profit help
the crips organization. We made a good start, but it's stalled now. Part of the
reason it stalled was my trip to Holland, then she had to get Reef settled in
kindergarten, remodel her kitchen, and get her new Indian(from India) home
helper settled in. He's all set, Reef is settled and the kitchen is in the
breakdown lane, so we might as well get a move on. The government is less than a
month away from implementing the Laron Report, and Tzudkevitch has to be removed
fro the NIS board of directors and his plan for his organization to be named the
representative organization for all crips with an accomanying monthly deduction
from our benefits to his outfit. That can not happen, but it will if we don't
get off our butts and do something. There are so many othe crip issues that
urgently need attention as well. It's time get a move on. I'll have a car in a
month or so and it will be easier to get around then. As it is, not a day goes
by that someone doesn't stop me and ask about their favorite crip issue. Among
recent questions were three about benefit adjustments for inflation and rising
fuel prices. The benfit for travel hasn't been raised in over 3 years and fuel
prices have sky rocketed here in the last 6 months alone. Never mind that no one
can even begin to live on the basic benefit only. I'm "lucky" to be cripped
enough to get all three benefits, which means I can get along quite well.But so
few of us get all three, it's just not right to expect anyone to live on NIS
2300 a month. It simply can not be done. This must be changed, and soon.
As today is a holiday, there's nothing to go out for, so, I think I'll just get
on with the CD project and wait for Child Genius to come and teach the computer
Hebrew!


--
Posted by Purplegimp to Gimp House
 at 10/18/2005
10:42:00 AM

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.12.2/139 - Release Date: 17/10/2005