I have the best co-workers in the world

Wow. That's how this post needs to begin. Truly and utterly WOW.

So, the story begins as such...On Saturday night I came home, was in a relatively pissy mood for various reasons, said goodnight to my bike locked up downstairs outside my apartment (as usual) and went upstairs and to bed. Sunday morning, I get up, decide I should forget the moodiness and move on... and then I walk downstairs and see my bike chain cut and of course my bike GONE. It was one of the worst feelings I've had in a long time. This bike was not the most expensive or the most amazing one (and apparently even though the lock cost me a lot of money it was hardly anything to write home about as well), but I really really liked it. We had only been together for three weeks before someone decided that it should not belong to me anymore and stole it in the middle of the night.

I continued on to work (on foot) in a pretty terrible mood -- with a valid excuse at least -- and tried to keep it together as i told my co-workers the story of my stolen bike. The day went on, everything annoyed me, and even though everyone was trying their best to be really comforting, even the comfort seemed annoying. I just wanted the bike back, you know?? I had gotten very used to having it and the wonder of getting everywhere so quickly and easily had most definitely NOT worn off yet...

So, the rest of the day was pretty uneventful, I went home, tried not to think about it, and went about my business as usual. Monday morning, I wake up in a slightly better but still not totally over it mood and get to work (on foot yet again), along the way debating if I'll try to buy a new bike, if I think it's a good investment right now, if I should try to find the most ugly awful bike I can so that no one would care to steal it, and all that kind of thing. Because the thing is, the only bikes that are light enough for me to feel comfortable carrying them upstairs every night are quite expensive and perhaps more than i can afford at the moment.

I'm sitting at work, finishing telling the story of the stolen bike to yet another co-worker who doesn't work on Sundays because of her studies, and hardly finish doing another task on my to-do list when I hear two of my co-workers come in the door. All of a sudden i look over and there they are... and between them...

a new amazing beautiful bike.

UNBELIEVABLE. TRULY AMAZING.

I was completely in shock for a solid few minute and just kept saying...WHAT?? I don't believe it!!!! Yup...they bought me a new bike. and not just any bike. one of those incredible light bikes that are so comfortable and are (relatively) easy to bring up the stairs. Well theres' no way i'm leaving this one out overnight. crazy. i still can't really believe it. I thanked them of course as well as anyone can, but I plan to bring in some goodies on Sunday morning for our internal meeting -- it's the very least i can do considering how thoughtful and awesome they are for doing such a thing.

basically i've told this story to everyone i've talked to since then and they have all passed it on. it's in some version a "pay it forward" kind of thing where somehow good karma keeps on going and i believe that somehow this can only give people more faith in others and the goodness that exists out there despite all the daily facts proving otherwise...

anyway...that is my story.
life is good. I am happy.
period.

and we're back...

for those of you who use gmail (and gmail chat) - that subject line will be quite dear to your hearts. or maybe just those of you, who like me, have tempermental internet that decides not to work every once in a while without any particular reason.

enzywayz...since i last wrote a good amount has happened and not happened. had my first little house-warming gathering which was fun, we still lack a couch but other additions have been made -- including cable and stove-top burners so i can finally cook like a normal person with gas heat (booo to electric when it comes to cooking). que mas? not too much that is newsworthy, just enjoying getting around on my new bike, and getting more and more used to living like a tel-aviv'it.

oh yeah, the other night I was priviledged enough to see my first fireworks show from a boat! Idan's dad has an awesome boat which we took out from the marina in Herzliya and sailed to the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium area to watch what turned out to be quite the impressive fireworks show (courtesy of the French...don't ask).

tov...back to work. but more soon.

work is work, and i have to say that this week i'm SO happy that it's finally thursday. not sure what my problem is -- head in the clouds or something of the sort.

When the world just stops...

The thing is, in 99% of the world I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as millions of people just stopping and standing still. But that's exactly what happens when the siren goes off for Yom Hazikaron (Day of Rememberence)...

When the siren went off for Yom Hazikaron on Monday night, standing in the street, watching the world just STOP.... well, it was quite powerful to say the least. 120 seconds of Israel just coming to a halt and everyone opening their hearts to the same sound.

We continued on to the ceremony at Kikar Rabin (Rabin Square) where various artists including Nurit Galron, Achinoam Nini, Hemi Rodner, Idan Raichel, and Dana Berger all sang famous songs, each "related" somehow to Yom Hazikaron. They also had family members tell stories of their songs, brothers, etc. that died while serving in the army. It was hard to watch, but extremely moving. It was also unexpectedly cold and windy, but somehow it felt more appropriate considering the circumstancest that brought us all there.

The following night, we went to Kikar Rabin again, but this time for a much more joyful gathering and celebration of Yom Hatz'maut (Independence Day). Tipex performed which was entertaining and the whole balagan (mess) was quite awesome i have to say.

I spent most of Yom Hatzmaut itself in Petach Tikva hanging out with my new baby cousin (pics to be posted soon). Riki and Oren seem to be handling it all ok despite the crazy lack of sleep and the necessary energy to take care of a new little cutie along with the almost three year old bundle of joy we call Noa. The whole situation just reminds me how amazing pregnancy and children are and how SO NOT IN THAT POINT IN MY LIFE I am. :-P

Enzywayz...so in other good news: the good news is that my room is finally free of suitcases and bags full of clothes (I got my very large closet/dresser delivered -- I'll take pictures of that soon as well, it's my first official I-own-this-peice-of-furniture). It's been really nice getting used to being there and having the space to live/cook/clean, etc. We're on the lookout for couches and chairs now so that we can have a place for people to sit!

There's still a good amount of stuff on the to-do list, but slowly but sure I'll get it all done. Perhaps some errands tomorrow morning (hopefully -- finally -- buying a bike!)

ok, I have no internet in my apartment yet (hopefully by early next week this will be fixed) so soon I will be back in the online world.

may you all have a lovely rest of the week and weekend :-)

p.s. shout-out to Amitai for finishing off his fourth and final year of undergrad at Tufts... no more counting the days my friend :-P