As we say in this neck of the desert, life is something something...
I once told an Israeli friend of mine who relocated to the US about some of the Jewish traditions that I grew up with, and he later admitted to me that there was one he hadn't quite believed, until he saw it for himself.
So, what will you be eating on Christmas Day?
Given that my best friend lives in Norway, I have, over the years, developed something of an affinity for various aspects of life in this bastion of blondness (labor unions that boycott Israel and Jostein Gaarder not withstanding, of course). I am rather fond of Norwegian brown cheese, otherwise known as Gjetost (which I can indeed pronounce, thank you very much), Norwegian salmon makes my mouth water, I enjoy lefse, and would love to try lutefisk, if for no other reason than to be able to tell people that I've eaten fish that's been treated with lye. The Husband and I both have beautiful Norwegian sweaters that keep us toasty warm in winter, and the coffee mug I keep at work has pictures of the Norwegian flag on it.
I've been to visit twice, and can even still remember a few words in Norwegian, which is nothing short of a miracle given that it is one of the more difficult languages that I've come across, sounding at times like a cross between words that almost sound like they're in English, and words that sound like the speaker is making them up. Three of the bloggers on my blogroll are Norwegian (blogging in English, obviously), and I had the pleasure of meeting one of them when he came to Israel during the summer.
And of course, because I am a news junkie, I also keep up with the goings on in Norway by periodically reading the English online version of the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten. Though many of the headlines do not catch my fancy (quite a few of the stories seem somewhat mundane and – for me at least – irrelevant when compared to current events in Israel), I occasionally come across stories that scream for attention, stories that make one realize what passes for headline news in "normal" countries. Like the story I came across today, for example. While skimming the headlines, I was immediately drawn to one in particular...
"Bestiality ban proposed
Minister of Agriculture and Food Terje Riis-Johansen wants Norway's Animal Protection Act updated to expressly forbid sex with animals. The existing act only specifies the kicking and beating of animals as abuse, and the agriculture minister now wants to close loopholes. "This is a punishable offense that shall not occur," Riis-Johansen told NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting). The ban will come into effect with the new Animal Protection Act, which will also prevent violence against animals and the use of live animals as feed or bait. "It will still be legal to use a riding crop on a horse that must be trained. But beating a dog will be illegal," the minister said. According to a 2006 survey of 650 veterinarians last year, bestiality - sex with animals - occurs far more often than people think. "Every fifth veterinarian has either established or strongly suspected the sexual abuse of one of its animal patients. The extent of sexual abuse of animals is far greater than we had reason to believe at the beginning," said Live Kleveland of the Norwegian Animal Welfare Alliance. She said that bestiality was first and foremost a problem with farming animals like cows, pigs, and sheep but also extended to domestic pets like cats and dogs, as well as sporting animals like horses."
Kind of makes you think, doesn't it? And I thought we had legal loopholes...
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to read. Growing up, it was not uncommon for me to be working on two books at once, and even today I often keep one book in my bag and another in the bathroom (yes, I admit it – I keep reading material in the bathroom. What can I say – I bore easily...). Even now, as I sit here on the train writing this, my mind keeps wandering to the Bill Bryson book tucked away in the bag at my feet. I first encountered the marvelous world of Mr Bryson during a visit to the Anglosaxies, and he's since become one of my favorite writers (thanks, AS!). I've read all of his travel books at least once, and have read most of them twice. The man is brilliant, what can I say (I am, of course, referring to Bill Bryson, so don't get cheeky on me Anglosaxy!).
But I digress. Reading. Given my great love of books, it was only natural that I would try to pass on my passion to the Little One, and so far, it seems to be working. His collection of books is growing, and one of our favorite activities is to curl up together with a good story. Most of his books are in English, purchased during trips to the US, or delivered as gifts from family and friends. Every year on his birthday, without fail, he receives at least one gift certificate from Amazon, and I have almost as much fun choosing books for him as I do for myself.
Some of the books, he knows by heart (as do I... sigh...), and not only will he recite them out loud as I read, but he also won't hesitate to let me know if I've skipped a page, always keeping me on my toes.
And then there are times when the books themselves keep me on my toes. We always leave the book selection up to the Little One (though not without a bit of nudging if he chooses a book that we simply can't bear to read yet again). Sometimes he opts for a book in English, and other times, he'll prefer a book in Hebrew. Several weeks ago, he chose the latter, and brought a book that we hadn't read before. It was one of the many we'd inherited from my sister-in-law, whose children had outgrown the books long ago. The book was about bringing babies into the world, and given that it was obviously a children's picture book, I had no concerns about the contents.
Apparently, I should have. What began as a lighthearted description of baby animals quickly gave way to talk of sperm and eggs. As I continue to read out loud, my mind is spinning. "Whoa! Did I read that correctly?" "Sperm?" "I'm reading about sperm and eggs to a three year-old?" "Well Jesus, Mary and Joseph! This has got to stop!" It would seem, however, that I stopped too late, as a little penny dropped somewhere in the Little One's head. While the sperm failed to register, the concept of eggs definitely left its mark. Despite the fact that the book has since been shoved to the back of a high shelf, the mythical eggs live on.
The Little One, bless him, is convinced that I now have a tummy full of eggs, and has proudly shared this news with nearly everyone who crosses his path – the neighbors, his teachers, my husband's business colleagues (who, I'm told, were visibly uncomfortable by the disclosure)... He keeps tugging at my shirt and pressing my stomach in order to try to find them, and has suggested that I go to the doctor, so that he can take pictures of my eggs.
As this saga was unfolding, we received word that our son had drawn the most marvelous pictures, demonstrating a level of skill usually shown by children who are at least five years old, not three. It was, apparently, a picture of me. "And what is that little line in my tummy," I asked him, pleased that he may have inherited his grandmother's art skills (which have obviously skipped a generation...). "Your eggs, Mommy!"
Welcome to my world, folks. Put on your seatbelts - I think we're in for a bumpy ride!
A constant source of interest among bloggers is visitor statistics. We like to know who are readers are, where they're from, and how they found us. In my case, many of my visitors find me while performing a Google search for one term or another. Sometimes the search terms are unusual (I had a hit for "underwear parade" earlier today), and many border on lewd or even outright perverse in nature. Many people want to know more about potty training, especially as it pertains to little boys. It would also seem that many people are making travel plans to Amsterdam, as I frequently receive visitors searching for touring suggestions in this fabulous city. I get a lot of hits from people looking for information on pregnancy and fertility-related subjects (and interestingly enough, the overwhelming majority of these hits originate in India, which leads me to wonder about the availability of pregnancy-related literature in this vast, fascinating country), to the point where I've considered creating a page or blog entry that consists almost solely of helpful pregnancy and fertility links. I hope to get to this little project as soon as I have some free time on my hands (one of these years...).
If I had to pick the single topic that draws the greatest number of visitors, it would probably be music, and 80s music in particular. People are always searching for their favorite songs and artists, not to mention quirky bits of song and artist-related trivia (the terms "Nena hairy armpits" pop up more frequently than I'd have imagined...). I get a tremendous number of hits from people looking for songs using random song lyrics. Sometimes, the lyrics are spot on, and other times, I'm rather surprised that the correct song was actually found, given how far off the mark the person's guess was, in comparison to the actual lyrics. Occasionally, I just stare at the line of text, wondering how someone decided to search using those specific terms (such as the recent searches for the term "Diggy dang diggy diggy".
Of course, we all know how hard it can be to understand the lyrics of some songs, and can't help but smile once we discover what the actual lyrics are. I've gotten some doozies since I started, but none of them even come close to the one I discovered in my stats this morning. Back in May, I wrote an 80s Music Video Sunday entry featuring the song "I Melt with You", by Modern English, a rather catchy tune, and to be honest, I've never considered the lyrics to be all that unintelligible. Maybe I couldn't pick up every word, but I wouldn't have had any outrageous misunderstandings (and certainly none with any potentially anti-Semitic undertones...), which is why the water I was drinking almost shot out my nose when I noticed that someone had come across my blog by searching for "I'll stop the world and melt the jews".
Ummmm... Yeah... Exactly...
Somewhere in The Bronx right now, sits an individual who (I hope) is utterly astonished at having gotten this one so, so wrong.
As you've probably guessed by now, my sense of humor is often rather quirky and off-beat. I appreciate intelligent, wry commentary, and would be lying if I didn't say that one of my favorite pastimes is exchanging clever, witty banter with friends online, either via email or using any one of my growing collection of chat applications. The writer in me enjoys using words this way, and I find myself drawn to people who can keep up the pace. Words are both magical and powerful, and there are few things that attract my attention more than people who know how to use them well, especially if the words make me laugh and think, and allow for an ongoing exchange in the same vein.
I've had (and continue to have) friendships and relationships that began as a result of my admiration for an individual's writing skills, though obviously, the relationships, as they grew, were not solely based on this one trait. When it comes to entertainment, I tend to prefer high-brow stand-up comedy. Low-brow, lewd, sex jokes do not impress me, nor does the gratuitous use of swearing, for despite the fact that I can and do curse like a truck driver under certain circumstances, if you look carefully through this blog, you will find very few such words among my entries. It's not my style, and it's not the way that I choose to communicate while writing. As in my friendships, I gravitate towards performers who make me think as well as laugh, and if they can intelligently incorporate current events into the act, then so much the better. And because I'm sure that you're dying to know, yes, I do have a favorite. While not a stand-up comedian in the traditional sense, this individual's talent for side-splittingly humorous commentary is unparalleled.
Given my addiction to passion for current events and politics, it should come as no surprise to anyone that I would gravitate towards the material of the incredibly talented Tom Lehrer. His songs are timeless, and I sometimes find it rather shocking that lyrics he wrote in the early 1960s are just as relevant today as when they were originally written. I can't decide if that says more about his uncanny understanding of popular culture or the sadly predictable state of the world. I think I wore out my copy of "That Was the Year That Was", a live album released in 1965, and favorite tunes include "National Brotherhood Week" (a toe-tapping ditty about race relations), "MLF Lullaby" (a charming little tune about the Multilateral Forces), "Smut" ("I do have a cause, though. It is 'obscenity'. I'm for it...") and "Vatican Rag" (everything you wanted to know about Catholicism but were afraid to ask...). While I'm not going to link to all the songs on the album, if you're up for a laugh, I'd strongly recommend taking a glance at all of his lyrics, which can be found on this website. There are also clips for many of the songs on YouTube, which are definitely worth checking out.
As I mentioned above, many of his tunes are still relevant today, whether it be "So Long, Mom" (about a young soldier going off to fight in World War 3) or "Who's Next" (a song about the nuclear arms race). Check out the clip below for a spot-on assessment of American foreign policy.
(Lyrics for all Tom Lehrer songs can be found here.)
If you'd like to listen to "This Was the Year that Was" in full, some kind soul has been thoughtful enough to upload it to YouTube in sections:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five (contains only "Vatican Rag")
Disclaimer: Drinking liquids is not recommended while listening to Tom Lehrer. If you choose to do so, it is at your own risk. Your snarfing is not my responsibility.
*The title of this post is the last line of the Tom Lehrer song "Folk Song Army".
The Little One turned three a few months ago, and our lives have turned into a live version of Toy Story. While taking the dog for a walk, he spends enormous amounts of time switching his "laser" from "stun" to "kill" (while perfecting his Buzz Lightyear stare - see the picture below - and yes, he really does try to make that face!), and he can often be found running around, pushing the "button" on his chest (while doing his own interpretation of what a button sounds like) in order to "expand his wings", and then calling out "To infinity and beyond!" before leaping at a surprised adult who, fortunately, has lightning quick reflexes (we haven't dropped him yet – does that make us good parents?).
Of course, it's not ALL about Toy Story. Have you ever heard the "Bob the Builder" theme song sung at the top of a three year-old's lungs – as he switches back and forth between English and Hebrew? How about when your only party trick is having your son show people how he says "Dora" or "Dohhra", depending on which language you ask him to say the name in? And speaking of Dora, I'm in the process of trying to coordinate with Allison for us to take the kids to go see the hottest show of the summer among the under-five set – "Dora and the Pirate Adventure" (or something like that...). In Hebrew. Because apparently, we really love our kids, and we just can't seem to get enough of that charming monkey sidekick of hers.
But, tot pop culture aside, one of the more fascinating things to happen lately is that he's recently entered a new phase, one that I like to refer to as "the wonderfully wacky world of why". Why? Yes. Precisely. Why. The Little One has suddenly become very curious about everything, and always wants to know why. "Why did he do that, Mommy?" "Because he was upset, sweetie." "Why was he upset, Mommy?" "Because of what his friend said." "But why, Mommy?" And on and on it goes. It can happen anytime, anywhere. It frequently happens while watching television, though it's also been known to happen when we're out and about, shopping, eating out, or hiking. Sometimes, for a bit of variety, the "whys" are interspersed with "whats" or "hows", but essentially, it all comes down to the same thing – "how can I wear Mommy and Aba down," or "how long can I get them to answer these totally inane questions," and no, it absolutely wouldn't surprise me if he secretly knew the word "inane", but was keeping it to spring on us when we least expected it. He's special that way...
Things I've learned from the Little One...
Dear Mr Eini,
First of all, I would like to say that I can, perhaps, understand why you feel the need to launch a public sector strike. It is indeed unfortunate that workers in the public sector are once again getting screwed by the government, and while these strikes drastically affect the daily lives of all citizens, I understand your frustration, not to mention your desire to show the powers-that-be and those who fall under your responsibility that you mean business, and that you must take serious action. I don't have a problem with working from home should the Israel Railways Authority join the strike, and on occasion, even enjoy pecking away at my computer while sitting on my porch.
I would, however, be terribly grateful if you could postpone the strike for about a week or so, in order to ensure that the arrival of my new Harry Potter book, which should be shipped on Saturday from the UK, is not delayed due to workers striking at the airport and the post office.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Best regards,
Liza
I've decided to do something a little different with this week's 80s Music Video Sunday, which is certainly my prerogative, given that I'm the owner of the joint. I've been tagged by Life Out East (who is now back in the UK) to do a meme about music, and thinking about it, I realized that I could use the meme as a tie-in to 80s Music Video Sunday. As usual, scintillating commentary will be added as I see fit.
5 - You're going on a long journey, what five albums MUST you take with you? Albums that you need to listen to regularly.
Maroon 5's "Songs About Jane". This is one of only two CDs that I've purchased during the past few years. I love their sound, and I love all the songs on the album. I'd love to get my hands on their new album, "It Won't Be Soon Before Long", and I haven't even heard any of the songs yet. That's how much confidence I have in these guys. They're brilliant.
Santana's "Supernatural". I bought this album shortly after it was released, and it's one of the few albums I've ever listened to that actually sent chills up and down my spine. Absolutely amazing.
Vanessa-Mae's "The Violin Player". While not generally passionate about classical music (though it's definitely part of my collection), this album simply blew me away. It inspires me, and I've even discovered that when it's playing in the background, I can actually write faster. What can I say – the woman is incredible.
David Broza's "First Collection". David Broza has long been one of my favorite Israeli performers, singing in Hebrew, Spanish and English. I've attended a number of his concerts, and even had the (mostly) amazing experience of organizing one while attending university. Give the man a guitar and a stool to sit on, and he turns into a god. Back in the day, one of my friends put it best when she said during a performance, "my god! It's like he's making love to the guitar!" This album is a great collection of a lot of his earlier stuff.
"James Taylor Live". I have always loved the music of James Taylor, and especially connected with his references to New England and the Berkshires, an area where I spent a great deal of my childhood. His music just washes over me and relaxes me, no matter what my mood. Definitely one of the most talented singer-songwriters ever.
4 - What four albums/songs do you most associate with a journey or travel experience? You know, the ones you listen to that instantly transport you back to a place and time.
REM's "Green". During my sophomore year in university, I went away to Jamaica with friends for Spring Break. While there, we hooked up with a group of young cadets from West Point, and this was the album that we took to the beach with us every day. There may have been other albums, but this is the only one I can remember. We just kept flipping that cassette over and over, and never seemed to get tired of it.
A-ha's "Hunting High and Low". As I wrote back in this post, I broke my ankle shortly after arriving to spend a year in Israel after graduating from high school. While in the hospital, I listened to this album constantly, in order to block out the hospital sounds. It's probably what saved my sanity during my stay there.
Chava Alberstein. We have one of her collections at home, as the Husband is a big fan, and I got it for him as a birthday gift many years ago. I can't remember the name, but I will forever associate it with a road trip we once took in the US for a few days. We listened to that set over, and over, and over, and over again. To this day, whenever I hear any of the songs from that collection, I'm instantly taken back to that trip.
Depeche Mode's "The Singles 81 > 85". My serious Depeche Mode awakening came about during the aforementioned year in Israel. Their songs were playing in all the clubs, and I had a friend who was particularly keen on their music (to put it mildly). I bought this album (the version with the original cover) in Israel that year, and given how frequently I listened to it, I'm amazed that the cassette still plays. Whenever I hear any of the songs on the album, I'm immediately transported back to that year, to the dance clubs of Jerusalem, many of which, are undoubtedly long gone.
3 - Your three favourite songs of all time?
This one is definitely a tough one. Let's see if I can limit it to three...
"Mr. Jones and Me" by the Counting Crows. I love this song. It was this song that led me to all their other songs, and I could listen to it over and over again. It could definitely be an answer to the next question as well, but I don't want to double up, so I'm only listing it here.
"Unforgettable", the duet version from Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. After we decided to get married, we were going nuts trying to come up with a song that we could use for the first dance. We didn't have an "our song" as such, and were trying to come up with something that worked. I went to visit a friend in New Orleans for a weekend, and while wandering around a shopping mall in the city, this song came on. I knew immediately that this would be "the song". And the rest, as they say, is history.
Shlomo Artzi's "Melech Haolam" ("King of the World"). It's a beautiful song about a mother and her young son, how she talks to him while she dresses him, telling him that he can be anything he wants to be because for her, he is king of the world.
2 - Two feel good songs, the ones that are guaranteed to lift the blues and put a smile on your face.
"September", by Earth, Wind and Fire.
"Cliffs of Dover", by Eric Johnson. This obscure instrumental is one of those songs that seems like it was created for playing at high volume in the car during the summer with the windows rolled down. Check it out here. One of my apartment-mates was a music student, and she's the one who introduced me to the song.
1 - Absolute, overall, undoubtedly the best album of all time, in your opinion.
The Beatles – 1962-1966 (The Red Album). Need I say more?
Hmmmm. That was definitely harder than I thought it would be, having to narrow down, leave things out, etc. Before moving on to today's featured video (drawn from the lists above), I think I'll tag the following folks: Beth, Raanana Ramblings, Lisa, and Anglosaxy. Oooh! I'll also tag (if one can tag after the fact...) TAFKA PP, as not only has she expressed interest over doing this meme, but we are also supposed to meet for coffee in the near future, and don't want the fact that I didn't tag her initially to cast a pall over the proceedings...
And now, back to our regularly scheduled blog feature...
After much deliberation, I've decided to go with REM's "Stand", taken from the aforementioned album Green. This song takes me straight back to that Spring Break in Jamaica, which was, without a doubt, one of the more interesting social experiences of my life. While I definitely had fun that week, I also realized just how much I wasn't cut out for the whole shallow party scene, something I'd pretty much figured out at that point anyway, but kept trying to deny. I've never been good at shallow small talk, never been a big drinker, and couldn't flirt to save my life. While I absolutely loved Jamaica (we even went there on our honeymoon) and for the most part had fun with the friends with whom I'd traveled, that trip was definitely one of the defining experiences of my youth, in that it helped me to realize who I'm not.
Stand
REM
Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before
If you are confused check with the sun
Carry a compass to help you along
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around
Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around
If wishes were trees the trees would be falling
Listen to reason, season is calling
Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before
Over the years, there's one thing Israelis have done that always makes me laugh. They aren't bashful about singing out loud, singing along with the radio, or basically about doing (or wearing!) anything in public that would make the average American cringe. The funniest, though, is definitely the singing, especially when the songs are in a language other than Hebrew. I've lost track of the number of times I've had to exert tremendous self-control in order not to laugh over badly mangled lyrics belted out in horribly accented English, often in a way that suggests the person is rehearsing for their "A Star is Born" (Israel's answer to "American Idol") audition. And of course, you know that if this were indeed the case, your acquaintance would wind up being one of those poor souls whose audition was shown on television purely for public enjoyment.
Sometimes, though, word-mangling is simply inevitable, even for those of us who actually know the language of the song being sung. Often, the lyrics are utterly unintelligible, and as hard as you try, you simply cannot understand the words that the singer is singing. This seems especially true of songs from the 80s, where discovery of the actual lyrics shows you just how far off the mark you are. We all know this was the case for this song, as well as several other songs that have been featured for 80s Music Video Sunday. The scary part is, even though you've finally found out what the real lyrics are, you've got the incorrect words so deeply ingrained in your brain that you know chances are slim that you'll ever learn the song properly, and will continue to sing along using the wrong words, remembering that they are wrong only after you've actually sung them.
There is, however, one song from the 80s that stands out in my mind as a gem in the indecipherable lyrics genre. "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners was a huge hit. We all loved it and we all sang along, but in truth, I don't think anyone actually knew the words. If we had each been asked to sing the song alone, I can only imagine how different each person's take on the words would have been, and if we take that thought even further, I'm guessing that each person's distinct version of the song would be far, far away from the original. I've just looked up the lyrics now, and quite frankly, they don't even resemble any words that I'd have come up with on my own.
Everyone "knows" this song, but with regard to the actual lyrics, how close were you really? Hmmm?
Come on Eileen
Dexys Midnight Runners
(Come on Eileen!)
(Come on Eileen!)
Poor old Johnny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
He moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried and sang along and who'd blame them?
Now you're grown, so grown, now I must say more than ever
Go toora loora toora loo rye aye
And we can sing just like our fathers ....
Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
With you in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty ......
Ah, come on Eileen!
(Come on Eileen!)
(Come on Eileen!)
These people round here wear beaten down eyes
Sunk in smoke dried faces
They're so resigned to what their fate is
But not us, no not us
We are far too young and clever
Go toora loora toora loo rye aye
Eileen, I'll sing this tune forever
Come on, Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
Ah come on, let's take off everything
That pretty red dress .... Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah, come on! Come on Eileen!!!
Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Go toora loora toora loo rye aye
Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
With you in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty ......
Ah, come on Eileen!
Come on, Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
Ah come on, let's take off everything
That pretty red dress .... Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah, come on! Come on Eileen!!!
Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
Well gag me with a spoon! It's 80s Music Video Sunday, and if that's not, like, totally gnarly, well frankly, I don't know what is! Who can forget the invasion of the Valley Girls, introducing a variety of totally rad new words into the American lexicon. Like, for sure, we all got into it. I mean, back in those days, didn't we all want to be, like, totally bitchin'? Didn't we all just totally want to, like, hang out at the Galleria? Like, I'm so sure!
The whole valley girl era was, like, oh my god, totally tripendicular, and based on the lifestyle of rich girls living in California's San Fernando Valley. We like, totally used Moon Unit Zappa's hit single "Valley Girl" as our guide to all things valley. And for sure, Hollywood also, like, totally cashed in, releasing one of the most rad flicks ever, the totally awesome "Valley Girl", starring the way bitchin' Nicholas Cage. Like, oh my god! What a dude he was in that movie! He was like, totally gnarly, not like that Tommy dude, who was just grody to the max! I mean, like, barf me out the door! And duh, how could you make such a totally tubular movie like that without a bitchin' soundtrack, you know? I like, totally loved the music, like for sure! Totally rad. Totally.
So, duh, today's featured tune is like, totally from that movie. It's totally bitchin' and way awesome, I'm sure!
Melt with You
Modern English
Moving forward using all my breath
Making love to you was never second best
I saw the world thrashing all around your face
Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace
I'll stop the world and melt with you
You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time
There's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(You should know better?)
Dream of better lives the kind which never hate
(You should see why)
Dropped in the state of imaginary grace
(You should know better?)
I made a pilgrimage to save this human race
(You should see why)
Never comprehending the race was long, long lost
(I'll stop the world)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(I'll stop the world)
You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time
(Let's stop the world)
There's nothing you and I won't do
(Let's stop the world)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
The future's open wide
(Let's stop the world)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world)
I've seen some changes but it's getting better all the time
(Let's stop the world)
There's nothing you and I won't do
(Let's stop the world)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
The future's open wide
hmmm hmmm hmmm
hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm
hmmm hmmm hmmm
hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world)
You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time
(Let's stop the world)
There's nothing you and I won't do
(Let's stop the world)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world)
TAFKA PP sent me this meme, which is much lighter than the previous one. It may, however, prove to be equally challenging, given that she's tagged me to name restaurants in the north of Israel, and frankly, most of the restaurants that we go to are more centrally located. So, I may have to cheat a bit (as did she, might I point out!). Here we go!
The rules:
1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the city/state and country you’re in.
Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Todd (Louisville, Kentucky, United States)
miss kendra (los angeles, california, u.s.a)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, CA, USA! USA! USA!)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Kat (Ontario, Canada)
Cheezy (London, England)
tafka PP (Jerusalem, Israel)
Liza ("Northern" Israel)
2. List out your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location.
Let's see, who to tag... Beth in Ireland, Jessica in Switzerland (whose food descriptions are so incredible that I sometimes feel I've gained weight just by reading her blog), NRG in Norway (do it in the comments section, please), and Dame, somewhere in the US, Lisa in Tel Aviv, and Stefanella, also in Tel Aviv.
Not that I am very tizzy-prone, but I'd have to say that today, I'm definitely leaning in that direction. The Little One and I are off to the US tonight for a three-week visit with Grandma and Grandpa, and I have stocked up on a variety of coloring and sticker books, play-doh (Delta Airlines, please forgive me in advance for the mess...), crayons, puzzles and books for our journey, which will take a hair-raising twenty hours or so door-to-door. We will have personal seat-back monitors, and with any luck, he'll sleep for at least half of the first 13-hour leg of the trip. If there's any additional luck to be had (not to mention complimentary alcoholic beverages, though I will pay if necessary), perhaps I'll even manage to get a decent amount of sleep as well. I'm still debating whether or not to take our stroller, mostly for use in the airports when the Little One will either be sleeping or will want to be picked up (which happens with increasing frequency these days), as well as for some of our longer days out during the visit. The disadvantage will raise its ugly head during those moments when he'll want to walk and then tries to run off while I'm saddled with the stroller and a knapsack. Your thoughts and advice are definitely welcome...
I'll try to blog during the trip, but I'm not sure how much time I'll have. 80s Music Video Sunday entries will be posted later in the day due to the time difference, but they will be posted.
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As I don't really have either the time or the energy for a "real" post, I'm going to hit you all with a meme. I've been tagged by The Armenian Odar, a Dutch expat living in – where else – Armenia. Check out her blog, folks, and get a chance to learn about life in a country that isn't on the radar for most.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Meme
Name five things you love in your new country:
Name four things that you miss from your native country.
Name three things that annoy you a bit (or much) in your new country:
Name two things that surprise you (or surprised you in the beginning) in your new country:
Name one thing that you would miss terribly in your new country, if you had to leave it:
Tagging:
Stefanella, who's always up for a good meme.
Beth, whose answers will inevitably entertaining.
Anglosaxy, since (a) these kinds of questions are right up his alley, and (b) I just like tagging him.
NRG, whose life has always run on a course parallel to mine (answer in the Comments Section, please).
Life Out East, who should have some interesting responses, given that he's moving back home shortly.
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Wish me luck on the journey tonight. God knows I'm gonna need it...
Wow. Not only have I been tagged again, but I've been double-tagged for the same meme – once by Tololy and once by Stefanella (and I hope she's enjoyed doing this meme more than the last one that I tagged her with). Before I get to the meme, though, I just want to toot my own horn a bit and point you towards an interview that I was asked to do for the website ExpatInterviews, which also includes among its many pages interviews with Rami, Beth and Lisa. My interview can be found here, and for any of you expats out there who might be reading this and feel that you have something to offer to other expats or prospective expats, you can either download the interview questionnaire here, or drop an email to Lizza, one of the site owners, and she'll get you started.
And now for the meme. Since one of the tags asked for five things that you probably don't know about me (Tololy's) and the other asked for ten (Stefanella's), I've decided to go with seven, if I can come up with that many. Not that my life is an open book, but there are some things that you will never know about me, if I can help it...
It seems like most people have already been tagged for this one. Hmmm... I'll tag Anglosaxy, Jessica, Life Out East, and Benji.
In nations where democracy reigns and leaders are elected by the people, it has been said that the country is given the leadership it deserves. I'd always thought that this was an interesting concept, though was somewhat dubious about whether or not it always held true.
Then I saw the video below, and suffice it to say, I no longer question how George Bush could have been reelected president of the United States. Thanks to friend and commenter Nicole for sending me the clip.
For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of The Beatles. I had albums, singles, and photographs, as well as a funky, velvety poster on the back of my bedroom door, which remained there (along with the a-ha poster over the bed) until my parents moved house last year. Even when I was in elementary school, my account name for our school district's computer network was "Ringo", after Ringo Starr. I watched the movies, read books about The Beatles – anything I could get my hands on, really. I even knew the names of earlier band members like Stuart Sutcliffe (who left the band to pursue an art career, and then tragically passed away from a cerebral hemmorhage in 1962) and Pete Best (who was later replaced by Ringo Starr). And of course, like most other Beatles fans, I was stunned when I heard about John Lennon's murder, even though I was only 12 years old at the time. I don't remember whether or not I cried, though I remember being very sad.
Shortly after the murder, which occurred 26 years ago this past Friday, a new John Lennon song began to receive very heavy airplay. "(Just Like) Starting Over" was released on October 9th – John's birthday, just two months prior to the shooting. I believe I've still got the single somewhere, even though I don't own a record player anymore. Whenever I hear the song, it reminds me of that sad period following his death.
I've decided to start a new, weekly feature here at Something Something. Every Sunday (starting today!) will be 80s Music Video Sunday, and each week I'll be sharing one of my favorite oldies, along with my usual chatty commentary, blasting us all back to the past, when music was fab and hair and clothing much less so. This week's selected music video has been chosen to honor the memory of the incredibly talented John Lennon, whose senseless murder shook up our world and chipped away at my 12 year-old innocence. This song isn't necessarily one that reminds you of the 80s genre, but it seemed rather appropriate as we mark the anniversary of Lennon's death.
The lyrics (courtesy of Lyrics Domain)...
(Just Like) Starting Over
by John Lennon
Our life together is so precious together,
We have grown - we have grown,
Although our love is still special,
Let's take our chance and fly away somewhere alone.
It's been so long since we took the time,
No-one's to blame,
I know time flies so quickly,
But when I see you darling,
It's like we both are falling in love again,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over.
Everyday we used to make it love,
Why can't we be making love nice and easy,
It's time to spread our wing's and fly,
Don't let another day go by my love,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over.
Why don't we take off alone,
Take a trip far, far away,
We'll be together on our own again,
Like we used to in the early days.
Well, well, well darling,
It's been so long since we took the time,
No-one's to blame,
I know time flies so quickly,
But when I see you darling,
It's like we both are falling in love again,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over.
Everyday we used to make it love,
Why can't we be making love nice and easy,
It's time to spread our wing's and fly,
Don't let another day go by my love,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over.
Our life together is so precious together,
We have grown - we have grown,
Although our love is still special,
Let's take our chance and fly away somewhere alone.
Do you remember, as kids, there would always be that one kid who was forever walking around with a sign stuck to his back that read "Kick me"? I think I must have one on my back that says "Meme me", as I'm forever getting meme'd. This time, the culprit is Lisa, whose blog, by the way, has just been announced as the winning blog in the "Best Non-Muslim Blog" category (which seeks to honor the "blog written by a non-Muslim that is the most respectful of Islam and seeks genuine dialogue with Muslims") of the Brass Crescent Awards, which, according to their website, "honors the best writers and thinkers of the emerging Muslim blogosphere". Woohoo! Obviously, I'm biased, but I can't think of anyone more deserving of such an award than our Lisa.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. The meme.
"Suicide's out of the question... it just doesn't figure. I know everything"Murder on a Kibbutz"
there is to know about her. She'd never kill herself."
No time for a "real" post, though I do have one brewing. Perhaps I'll manage to write it up during the next few days. In the meantime, some test results I'm rather proud of...
Wow! You really are becoming a real Bittch! Has anyone ever told you that? I think you need to calm it down! Before you can't turn back from being a big Bittch! Being Cruel isn't that fun!
How much of a B*tch Are you?
Create MySpace Quizzes
I've been tagged for the blogging meme not once, but twice! Thanks to everyone's favorite local Brits Anglosaxy and TAFKA PP, I'm blogging about blogging.
Do you like the look and the contents of your blog?
I like the contents, but if I was satisfied with the look, would I have written this post? BTW, for those of you who haven't taken a moment to share your opinions on that post, it's not too late! Let me know what you think!
Does your family know about your blog?
Yes.
Can you tell your friends about your blog? Do you consider it a private thing?
Quite a few of them know about and are even regular readers. It's not a secret, though admittedly, I don't run around the office telling everyone about it, but that says more about my feelings vis a vis my company than it does about the privacy thing. With few exceptions, I don't tend to write about the private personal stuff, as I'm actually a pretty private person, and can probably count on one hand the number of people who know about the nitty gritty aspects of my life.
Do you just read the blogs of those who comment on your blog? Or do you try to discover new blogs?
I try for the latter, but time constraints mean that it's not always possible. I do, however, have a number of regular reads written by bloggers who have probably never even visited my blog, let alone commented.
Did your blog positively affect your mind? Give an example.
That would depend on the day. Overall, I'd probably have to say yes, but there are definitely days when I ask myself why I'm writing and whether I derive more joy or frustration from it. I can't give (won't give, would be more accurate) a concrete example, but one thing I will say is that at times, the blog as positively affected my self-confidence, as I slowly come to realize (still working on it!) that maybe my writing is as good as my parents always said it was...
What does the number of visitors to your blog mean? Do you use a traffic counter?
I do use a traffic counter, and most of the time, I don't like what I see! Hence the thoughts about updating the look and feel as I try to come up with ideas to increase readership. I do enjoy seeing where my visitors come from though, and judging from the stats I seem to have regular readers in from many far-flung corners of the earth, and people just stopping by from all over the place as well.
Did you imagine how other bloggers look like?
I think I always sort of sub-consciously create an image in my head of how people I communicate with regularly but don't actually meet look like. I have a friend in Europe who I "met" in an online forum, and when we actually met in real life, she looked nothing like what I had pictured!
Do you think blogging has any real benefit?
Sure! People blog for many reasons and people read these blogs for other, different reasons. I blog because I need the creative outlet, and ideally, I'd like to make a career from the kind of writing that I do. Also, I think blogging under circumstances fills a void, putting a human face on issues reported in the MSM, with the recent war being a classic example.
Do you think that the blogsphere is a stand alone community separated from the real world?
Nope, I believe that the two "worlds" complement each other, allowing us to perhaps get a bit more out of life than we would have without the blogosphere. I also believe that the blogosphere is a microcosm of the "real" world, with the Israeli blogosphere being a perfect example, given the diversity of opinions and the propensity to "share" them with others. Sometimes, when people outside of Israel ask me what Israelis are saying about this or that, I suggest that they check out our blogosphere, as it accurately reflects what people are thinking and saying here.
Do some political blogs scare you? Do you avoid them?
To be honest, I don't really read blogs that are strictly political. Lots of daily life blogs from the Middle East delve into politics as well, and while I do read some of them, there are others that I just can't stomach, even if I might enjoy the non-political stuff.
Do you think that criticizing your blog is useful?
That would depend on the criticism and how it's given. If someone criticizes my blog simply because I'm Jewish and live in Israel, while it's certainly within their rights, it's not useful at all - just a waste of time and space. Constructive criticism can be a good thing. In general though, if you don't like my blog, for whatever reason, well no one is pointing a gun to your head, forcing you to keep reading.
Have you ever thought about what would happen to your blog if you died?
I like the idea of a good friend writing a nice, final entry/tribute. And, following the post that I wrote about in my last post, I've decided that I want the epitaph on my headstone to read, "She was feisty in a positive way...", so if any of you happen to be around when it happens, please convey that message to the necessary individuals.
Which blogger had the greatest impression on you?
I'd have to say Anglosaxy, given that he's the one who got me started in blogging not once, but twice! He convinced me to start my previous blog, and then convinced me to do this blog with him (though we all know how that ended up). He's helped me with nearly every aspect of this blog, and there are rarely days that go by when I'm not bugging him about something blog-related.
If I can choose a second blogger, I'd have to say Lisa, given her unwavering support and confidence in me as a writer, as well as the amazing friendship we've built, which came about as a direct result of our blogging. The fact that she knows the best place in Tel Aviv for smoked salmon is simply an added bonus...
Which blogger do you think is the most similar to you?
Probably Lisa, at least in some ways. We share a lot of the same frustrations and ideals. And we'll always have smoked salmon...
Name a song you want to listen to?
I never tire of hearing Mr Jones and Me by the Counting Crows or The Light is Always Green by The Housemartins. Besides those two, I could probably come up with a very long list of songs that I love.
Hmmm... Who to tag, who to tag?
Beth, Rami, Emah S (seeing as she always tags me!), Ra'anana Ramblings
I've been tagged by the charming Emah S to do the Book Meme, so here it goes...
1. Name one book that changed your life:
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. It spurs me to try to follow my dreams. Actually, all of his books (I’ve read and own most of them) force me to think about things differently, more spiritually, I suppose. They offer me a semblance of inner peace that I don’t usually have.
2. One book you've read more than once:
Hmmm… There are so many! Let’s be a bit more high-brow, and go with Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel (though not in the original Spanish…).
3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
Any of Bill Bryson’s travel books would be excellent, thanks.
4. One book that made you laugh:
As with number 3, I’d have to go with any of Bill Bryson’s books. Don’t read them in public if you don’t want people to look at you strangely as you burst out in hysterical laughter (and I speak from experience, here).
5. One book that made you cry:
Marley and Me, by John Grogan. I absolutely bawled my way through the last few chapters.
6. One book you wish you'd written:
It would be incredibly cathartic to write a book about the long painful journey of having our son (and I think about writing it a lot), but I don’t have the strength to deal with those individuals and groups who will disagree with some of the very personal, painful decisions we had to make.
7. One book you wish had never been written:
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Need I say more?
8. One book you're currently reading:
I’m sort of in between books as I keep going through the Irreverent Guide to Amsterdam. I don’t want to start a new book so close to my trip, as I don’t want to find myself in a situation where I’ll be so close to the end when I leave that I’ll have to take two books to get me through. I’ve got two new books waiting on the shelf (She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb, and A Tale of Two Sisters, by Anna Maxted) and will have to decide pretty soon which one to take with me (any suggestions?).
9. One book you've been meaning to read:
Bill Bryson’s African Diary (I'm a big Bryson fan, in case you hadn't picked up on that - BTW, each link to Bill Bryson will take you to a different site).
10. Tag five people:
Ok. I’m going to do this a bit differently. I’m going to tag some of my regular commenters, who may not necessarily have blogs. If you don’t have a blog, write your meme in the comments section for this entry. Here we go! I’m tagging: NRG (of course!), Lisoosh, Anglosaxy (ok, technically not a regular commenter, but he is my former blogging partner, so… let’s hear what you have to say, m’dear!), Rami (because you totally intrigue me, and I always enjoy learning more about you!), and… I can’t think of a fifth person (because you’ve all done it already!). Anyone who wants to step up, feel free to do this meme in the comments section or on your own blog.
Friday’s weather report as described by the English-language edition of Haaretz:
“Today and tomorrow will see temperatures dip, but don’t be alarmed, it’s only a blip. When the weekend ends and Sunday rears its head, the mercury will rise and you’ll be sweating instead. No change is seen for Monday, the last day of July, and August 1, they promise, will still be hot and dry.”
You’ve got wonder what’s going on their offices. Clearly a case of “frustrated writeritis”. I’ve got to admit, though, I like a newspaper that takes the time to invest in its weather reports that way. I first noticed it during the World Cup, when they included a pithy little soccer (or football, for all of you non-Americans out there)-related forecast. As I only buy the newspaper on Fridays, I don’t actually know if they take the time to be so meteorologically witty during the rest of the week. All I can say is I’ve never looked forward to a weather forecast as much as I do now...
Oh, and here’s an unrelated little tidbit of information… I discovered yesterday that the little one thinks that “Mommy works on the train”. I can see his reasoning, after all, he and his father drop me off at the train station in the morning, and then they pick me up there in the afternoon. Needless to say, we were highly amused.
