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Hair Mystery

How long have I had this big cowlick on the back of my head? I don’t know what it thinks it’s trying to do, but it’s so wrong.

Handcrafted in Uganda

Our friend, Nasime, just went to Uganda for a couple of weeks. I was thrilled that she was able to meet my family during her visit.

What I didn’t expect was for her to come back with a massive amount of gifts from my aunt! Baskets, tablecloths, jewelry, and baby toys -- all handcrafted in Uganda from beautiful, natural materials.

One of my favorite items is a baby mobile. Since we don’t know exactly where the crib is going yet, we just hung it in our bedroom doorway, but I love this thing and am really looking forward to it being part of our baby’s life and perhaps his earliest memories.

Not a Vegetarian

For years and years friends have said to me, “Oh! For some reason I thought you were a vegetarian,” and I want to respond, “Maybe it’s because of the look of repulsion on my face every time I bite into a piece of meat.”

Honest to God, I don’t know why I’m not a vegetarian. It baffles me as much as the people who eat with me. Fried chicken fingers I can handle, but roasted chicken, for example, which basically looks like an animal was torn to pieces and then put on a plate, gives me Gross Out Face. Yet I STILL EAT IT. Why?

And then there’s hard-boiled eggs. I eat at least three eggs a week, but it needs to be fast and furious in order for me to not think about what it is I’m actually eating. You would think it’d be best to just stop eating eggs altogether, right? No, strangely, I always come back for more.

The thing is, even though eating meat gives me the willies, I enjoy the taste as well as the large dose of protein in my system, and somehow I justify this as reason enough to keep eating things that make me want to gag.

This may be the great, unanswerable mystery of my life. Not “What is my calling?” or “Am I serving my purpose?” but

“Why, OH WHY, am I not a vegetarian?”

Me, 35.5 Weeks

Horev Center Spice Market

I think every shopping mall here has a spice market.

Books at Horev Center

I love book covers anyway, but not being able to read the titles adds an element of intrigue.

Le Méridien Haifa at Night

Photographed from a lookout in Carmeliya.

Glucose Testing

Four hours at the medical center yesterday. FOUR HOURS. And getting poked with a needle at the top of each hour.

Until I realized I could go shopping in-between each poke, taking pictures helped pass the time.

S.A.

Last week I dreamed I was driving in Saudi Arabia. Last night I dreamed I was bicycling in South Africa.

Are the initials significant? I wonder.

Staring Problems

I come from the American school of “Whatchoo Lookin’ At?” so I just can’t grasp that it’s culturally acceptable to stare here (or anywhere).

And boy, do people stare. Quite unabashedly. Catching them in the act is no use, either. In the U.S., if I catch someone staring at me, nine times out of ten they’ll look away, but in Israel, they won’t stop staring until they want to stop.

Unfortunately I don’t know how to ignore it, so I end up in staring contests with total strangers. Basically I catch them staring, and they continue staring, so I stare back in hopes that it will stop them. It doesn’t. They always win.

Time Capsule

I just realized something crazy!

After posting my baby shower pictures, I got to thinking about my bridal shower in 2002. The ladies in attendance boxed a special gift for me: A TIME CAPSULE. They collectively threw in some items and then told me not to open it for a period of time -- someone even suggested that I open it at my baby shower someday.

So, five years and three months have passed. I’ve even had my baby shower. Yet, I HAVEN’T OPENED THE TIME CAPSULE, and since it’s stored in the U.S., I won’t be able to open it for some time.

I think I might go delirious with curiosity now.

Pictures from My First Baby Shower

Is It Fall? Part Two

Okay, so our apartment may be getting chilly, but outside, it’s still so very hot. This is the Middle East, after all.

Is It Fall?

The weather must be turning. Last night and the night before we didn’t need to operate the fan, and when I got out of bed this morning, I actually felt chilly. Chilly!

Sabra

Many foreigners’ first impression of Israelis is that they are aggressive, rough, and maybe even impolite, but I always marvel at their warmth and friendliness. They might get into loud arguments on the street or cut in front of me in line, but I’ve never met an Israeli who isn’t willing to help me or who isn’t delightful to talk to.

In a way, Israeli culture is the opposite of American culture. Here, they’re tough on the outside but soft on the inside, whereas in the U.S., someone might smile at me and call me darling when they secretly think I’m poo.

This makes it easier for me to have casual conversations with Israelis. There’s no second-guessing their motivation for speaking with me or wondering if they’ll insult me behind my back once I walk away; there are no expectations, either -- I can have a fantastic and lengthy conversation with a stranger without having to give away my phone number in the end.

Still, I do miss smiling at people on the street and getting a smile in return.

Eric’s Appetizers

Eric has started a fabulous appetizer ritual. When we get home from work, he prepares a plate of delicious snacks -- some of which are truly restaurant-quality, like Sundried Tomato and Basil Mini-Pizzas -- that hold us over until dinner.

Persimmons and Pomegranates

And I thought mango season was fun!

Persimmons were hit-or-miss in Chicago, but every time I bite into one here, it’s drippingly juicy and sweet and total autumnal fun.

Then there’s the pomegranates. While I haven’t taken full advantage of them yet, I like to eat the seeds the way my grandmother did, salted and with a spoon.

Yum.

Hello, Broadband

I’m blogging FROM HOME. Yay.

Belly Thumping

Our obstetrician said that if the baby continues to grow at this rate and is delievered at full-term, we’re looking at a 9-pound baby. Hahaha. Ha. Um. So, to be on the safe side, I have to get tested for gestational diabetes tomorrow, in case that’s what’s causing his giant size.

In the meantime, ever wonder what it feels like to have a baby bouncing in your belly? These short videos might give you an idea. (No sound needed.)

Coffee at Nabila’s

I don’t drink coffee, but Bob, Lucas, Allan, and Eric certainly enjoyed theirs today.

Breaking Tradition, 33 Weeks

One of the interesting things about being part of a community of 700 people is that we tend to, unknowingly, create certain social norms and traditions among us.

In this case, it seems that after a new baby is born, friends of the couple immediately make plans to visit them in the hospital, just one or two days after the birth. In fact, our friends are already letting us know that they can’t wait to visit us in the hospital and meet the baby in the first days of his life.

And although I haven’t had the courage to say it yet, I just keep thinking, “But what if I don’t want visitors?”

I’ve voiced this concern to a couple of friends. Not surprisingly, they were shocked, and maybe even a bit put off. “What do you mean you might not want visitors?” They explain that they’ve visited other new parents in the hospital and no one else seemed to have a problem with it.

Once I explain my uncertainty, they understand. But do I want to give this explanation fifty times? And even then, does it really matter “why?”

Anyway, I hope that, when the time comes, my friends respect whatever decision I make.

A Shower of Their Own

While I was showered on Saturday, Eric was too. A sweat shower.

He and four of his friends (John, Tchassanty, Michael, and Anis) hiked in Carmel Forest. Photos courtesy of Anis.

An Incomplete Baby Shower Recap

I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that I had the best baby shower anyone could ever have. It was so perfect that I don’t know what words to use to describe it. So I’ll just write something simple.

There were 22 of us altogether, and I think we laughed for about two hours straight (except for the brief moment that I cried). The ladies gave me great advice (“Your life will never be the same. You’ll worry about this child until the day you die”), great gifts (I actually got a stroller AND a car seat, not to mention cute, itty-bitty items of clothing), and they somehow managed to rally together many of my overseas family and friends and get them to send gifts and greetings to arrive just in time.

I was so touched by all the outpourings of love that night. When I got home and set everything down, I just sat among the gifts, closed my eyes for a moment, and smiled.

Once I’ve rounded up some pictures of the event, I’ll post them.

Thank you to everyone who planned, hosted, attended, cooked, baked, bought, knitted, wrapped, sent -- whatever you did, I’m grateful. I love you!

Sunset from Leon Blum

I actually like how this photo has no clear focal point, that it’s like a pattern of five distinct stripes -- sky, sunlit buildings, brown earth, white buildings, then foliage.

I’m Going to Be Showered

My baby shower is this Saturday! So many people I love have been involved in making this happen, from the organizers (Kadria, Nancy, Sholeh) to the hosts (Michael and Taban) to the invitation designer (Lucas).

Even my sisters were involved -- they gave Lucas these baby pictures of me to use for the invitation (see below). Wasn’t I totally adorable?

Laptop Woes

Our laptop computer hasn’t been the same since we replaced the hard drive about two years ago. Sometimes it “blue-screens,” has display problems, or tells us the hard disk can’t be found.

We’re not sure what to do, especially since 1) we’re on a very tight budget, and 2) it’s more expensive to buy a computer here. Do we:

a. Buy a new computer, with none of the bells and whistles nor extended warranties?

b. Buy a used computer?

c. Replace the hard drive again?

Since many of you are quite savvy with computers, we’d love to hear your opinions. (Note: Main uses for said computer are surfing the Web, watching movies, and storing photographs.)

Kadria’s 28th Birthday at Her Place

Sholeh to the Rescue

3:30 pm. Zero chocolate cravings in months and months, so I am surprised when the craving hits suddenly.

3:37 pm. E-mail Sholeh to ask if she has a secret stash.

3:38 pm. No word from Sholeh.

3:41 pm. Sholeh finally writes back. She says yes, come now.

3:42 pm. Start the two-minute walk to Sholeh’s office.

3:43 pm. Boy, this is the longest two minutes of my life.

3:44 pm. Sholeh and her co-worker present a variety of chocolate bars to choose from.

3:45 pm. Naturally, I choose dark. Two different flavors of dark. Reckless indulging begins.

3:50 pm. I feel strangely giddy. Leisurely stroll back to my office.

Me, 31.5 Weeks

In the past week, I’ve really started to feel pregnant. My body has started to feel slow and unwieldy, there’s occasional pain in strange places, I can’t get a good night’s sleep (and even if I do, I’m tired anyway), and if I push myself too far -- like staying up too late or walking too much -- I feel sick. Generally I’d say I feel pretty good... but I finally feel pregnant.