Renovation!

We're undergoing construction in our apartment. It means we're not living in it for a while.

We (or more correctly, my girlfriend) covered most of the furnitures and doors with plastic covers so as to minimize the amount of dust and debris we'll have to clean later.

Even so, I'm pretty sure it's going to look like a bosnian bomb site after we come back.

But.. we'll have a beautiful renovated bathroom and toilet to cheer us up while cleaning and eating dust :D

On another note, today is holocaust remembrance day here in Israel, and soon Fallen Soldiers remembrance day and Independance day will all follow. I bow my head and think of all the dead that had fallen back then and since that made all independance days possible and all other days here in Israel as well.

Birth Day

Today I'm 34 years old. It seems old to me, but than again, it seemed old to me when I hit 30..

Some friends ask if I started counting backwards (towards dying). I think everyone begin to do that at one point or another and not necessarily when they actually get old.

I just thought about something - maybe the new layout I chose is due to the feeling of getting old? :D

Naa.. I just like this look. Though, I'll continue to improve on the components.

I still celebrate my birthdays. Some say that after a certain age, when you're a "grown-up" there's no need for celebrations nor gifts. I do not subscribe to this point of view.

Maybe I'm an attention seeker at heart :P

Ceremonies of Death & Life

Here in Israel, Mourning death and Rejoicing in Life are closer subjects to each other than in any other place I've been.

The most visible evidence to this is seen in the fact that our day of independence follows at the heels of our day of memorial for fallen soldiers.

Thus, in a matter of hours the country must switch from sad and mournfull demeanor to that of happyness and joy at the birthday of Israel.

This dichotomy is difficult enough to grasp for any outsider, but even for us who lives it, it's not simple to make the switch from sorrow to joy.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Israel as a free country. In 60 Years Israel seen its share of wars, trouble, peace (to a small degree), technological advancement, rise in population, many different leaders, and many different decisions.

Hope is what drives Israel forward all the time, and it is also the name and theme of our national anthem. Hope for something better, hope for peace, hope for something more.

And in unrelated news: We got the bed! and it's comfortable and good for the back too :)

Have a great Day of independence!

April, The month of fools

There you go!

Told you the couches will come! (this is only the biggest one)

Anyways, April, the month of fools is upon us. To me it signifies many things, which most have gone sour after the death of my brother at the end of this month, 3 years ago.

Deaths seem to mark this month even now, as two known actors (a stage actor died at the age of 77, and an actress and known radio caster died at the age of 58) died yesterday.

I only found out this morning about both of them, and thought it's a shame. They were both vibrant people with plans stretching long ahead and brought much joy to people.
Life seems to be much more fragile than we let ourselves think.. Probably because otherwise we would sink into self-pity and misery.

If you believe in afterlife, you can take comfort at the thought that people like that get a lot of love, and even more so after their death. Many will visit their graves, bring flowers, and pay their respects. They touched many lives and as a result, these souls would want to show their gratitude.

Back to the subject of this post. I wrote "month of fools", even though it's only the first of April that's marked as "Fool's Day".

The origins of the practical jokes and pranks is kind of vague as there is evidence of it existing in several different cultures in several different ways for several different reasons.
For myself I figure that any reason for making people smile and laugh in a harmless way - is a good one. Even if it's silly. (or maybe because..)

So, have a good April, I'll do the best I can with mine.

Cheers!