Month: June 2005

So tonight leaves me with mixed feelings.
Today was a nice day, I got to the office really late, got some stuff done, and left early to go to a really cool wedding.
Everyone was there. A large amount of people who read this were there, and you’ll forgive me for not enumerating you, as I am typing this with one thumb on my handheld.
Tamar and Assaf were both lovely, and it was a wedding to remember.
The company was fantastic, and the music was great. Dancing up a storm, having a grand time with everyone.
Being as the wedding was way out in the middle of nowhere, I had arranged to stay at Joe’s & Josh’s parents place in Ra’anana, as they were both there as well.
The ride back was OK, but when I arrived to the city, the main street was covered with water. Now, to a car, this isn’t as problematic, but on my bike, I slowed down considerably.
At one of the last junctions before I arrived, the light was red, so I began to slow down.
Apparently not enough.
I wiped out, and slid a good 3-4 meters, with my left leg trapped under the handlebar. My only thought was: “Son of a bitch!” and think I might have actually yelled that out loud.
A guy who pulled up a the light helped me get free, and then helped me lift my bike up. By then, a bunch of kids hanging out had gathered around, and started making unhelpful suggestions, like “Do you want us to call an ambulance?” and “You should sue the city!” ad nauseum.
With my left leg hurting like hell, my left mirror now dismantled, and one of my brights dangling, I set back on track to my destination.
My leg hurts like hell, and that is the singular event that mars this entire evening.
My leg hurts like a bitch.

So I’m sitting here, now having previously dealt with the music meme thingie.
I also took the MIT questionnaire, so apparently….

Come to think of it, that’s not the first time I’ve broken a law…..

This past week has been fairly interesting, ending up as follows:
Wednesday, I had a personal victory at work, when my boss’s manager asked me to look into a Windows server solution for our web site, as they have strategic plans for the future. For the past two weeks, I’ve been investing time and effort in getting all the information down for a RH Linux server. Needless to say, I was a little pissed off.
So I spent the rest of the day investigating a Windows solution, including the time and effort it would take to migrate etc… and finally informed the manager with my findings, as well as my professional recommendation. He told me to forget the Windows solution for now, and proceed as planned. Yay!
Wednesday night, the opening of Hebrew Book Week, there was a mass happening in the German Colony – Emek Refa’im to be exact – where it was pretty much cordoned off, and many restaurant booths and other merchandise was available, as well as artistic stuff and more. I sat with a friend at a outside wine bar, and met a friend of his whom he had known forever, and struck up some conversation. My friend was nice enough to leave us alone for a bit, and I thought we hit it off quite well, (despite? thanks to?) the amount of wine she had drank was enough to intoxicate her a bit. As she left, she mentioned that my friend has her number, and I asked her if she’d mind me calling her. She was amiable to the offer, and I felt pretty elated.
Thursday was another exciting day at the grind, where I got to play with many more fun gadgets and boy, some of them are real zingers.
I left work early, and rushed back to Jerusalem for Bidyon, where I got to meet up with all the awesomely weird folks some call “fen”. I call them “those weird people who I happen to know”. 🙂
I sat out the first round, as I had finished my main part of getting things up and running smoothly and on time, and still had work to finish from earlier. So I wandered around while on my phone(s), and met people outside where we chatted and enjoyed the company. I also made a valuable business connection, so it really paid off.
While roving the area, I called the lady I’d met the previous night, and asked her out. She kind of snubbed me, although I don’t think she meant to. So she has my number now, and if she wants to call, then she’ll call. Oh well. NEXT!
During the break between rounds, everyone came outside to look for refreshments and discussion. Lucky for me, was there, and we got to have a good time talking and laughing while surrounded by Kenny’s and other people. On the way back, we stopped at an author‘s booth and had fun chatting there too.
For the record, I explained to that the theory of the universe having 9/10 missing mass is actually all made up by my ego. She disputed this and we have to have some sort of measurement made. We also have to measure who has a dirtier mind, because she says that she’s got one worse than my own. Huh. Good luck, missy. 🙂
Back into the second round, I sat with Didi, whom I had previously made fun of for having an Anglo-female name, and we had a great time listening and commenting amongst ourselves on the subject matter. The moderator was very passionate about the subject, and the speakers were great. Michal Regev, Dr. Raz Dekel, Guy Viner, and Joe Brown. All good speakers, and all deserve their own slots to speak at length on these subjects. Didi and I still had fun ridiculing some remarks, and appreciating others.
After it was over, we headed back to my place to relax.
Friday was a bit busy, as I went by the bike shop, and am putting the bike in for the day for maintenance tomorrow. Went shopping too, and made delicious burritos with refried beans, veggies and cheeses for dinner. Yummy.
Today was a nice relaxed morning. Early afternoon, I went to the Palmahim beach to catch some sun and waves. It was beautiful and I have a slight tan. Just a touch really.

Behind the cut are some thumbnails of pictures from .

The first thing you see when arriving is Rami and more manning the tables, selling tickets, memberships and merchandise.

Here we can see Doron, Hagit, Joe and Vered. Joe is apperently hiding behind his book so we don’t see his real face. Boojie is lovely as ever, all decked out in her signature purple colors, with the trademarked blue highlight.

Here we have Keren, the Con Manager, behind the podium for her opening speech. Didi, of Internet fame. Next is Shlamko taking a picture of me taking a picture of him. How original. Last, is Rivka and myself schmoozing outside, taking my details, probably for some strange future usage.

So in the early stages of crowding, it wasn’t so crowded, but as time passed, more and more people showed up, and then starting playing around, as crowds are so prone to do. Apparently, some members were not concentrating on the event itself, preferring to kick back and chat, catch some Z’s etc.

From the second round, the panelists. Next is Gali Golan and Michal Regev, followed by Joe brown and Guy Viner. Apparently, Keren was happy (or scary?) as she gave me one seriously frightening smile. She kept on going on about how she wished she had her sword with her….

And you can see Didi’s pictures of Bidyon 2005 here.

For those interested in the music thingie –

1. You burden me with your questions
You’d have me tell no lies
2. Tommy gun/ You ain’t happy less you got one –
3. I been through so many changes in my life
It’s a wonder I ain’t lost my mind
4. This hurt this pain
slats of light on the window frame
5. First thing I remember was asking papa why –
6. Let’s all get up and dance to a song – ,
7. You’re so hot, teasing me
So you’re blue but I can’t take a chance on a chick like you
8. Push the tempo
Push the tempo
9. I wanna know/ Who ever told you I was letting go
Of the only joy that I have ever known
10. If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me –
11. God rest ye merry gentlemen – I have a specific artist in mind. If nobody guesses…. then takes it.
12. For your pleasure
In our present state
13. Dreaming comes so easily
Cause it’s all that I’ve known
14. An earthly nourris sits and sings
And aye she sings `Ba lily wain
15. When the clock strikes two
There’s so much to do
16. Well tonight if you turn your radio on
You might hear a sad, sad song
17. When light goes down, I see no reason –
18. Join me for a ride/ Speed up the music
Join me for a ride, maximum overdrive
19. My god sits in the back of the limousine
my god comes in a wrapper of cellophane
20. Thinkin’ ’bout the night life
In the ladies powder room
21. Yeah, yeah, yeah
There’s a hole in my life
22. It’s getting to the point
Where I’m no fun anymore
23. Is night shift okay with you? Yes. Hey, well you got yourself a job, homey.
Graveyard shift ain’t never dead. We got to work when people go to bed.
24. Once we were lovers, can they understand?
Closer than others I was your, I was your man
25. Take the national express when your life’s in a mess
It’ll make you smile

Only 7 out of 25…. that’s not good numbers people. Broaden your scope of music!

Courtesy of –

1. You burden me with your questions
2. Tommy gun/ You ain’t happy less you got one
3. I been through so many changes in my life
4. This hurt this pain
5. First thing I remember was asking papa why
6. Let’s all get up and dance to a song
7. You’re so hot, teasing me
8. Push the tempo
9. I wanna know/ Who ever told you I was letting go
10. If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me
11. God rest ye merry gentlemen
12. For your pleasure
13. Dreaming comes so easily
14. An earthly nourris sits and sings
15. When the clock strikes two
16. Well tonight if you turn your radio on
17. When light goes down, I see no reason
18. Join me for a ride/ Speed up the music
19. My god sits in the back of the limousine
20. Thinkin’ ’bout the night life
21. Yeah, yeah, yeah
22. It’s getting to the point
23. Is night shift okay with you? Yes. Hey, well you got yourself a job, homey.
24. Once we were lovers, can they understand?
25. Take the national express when your life’s in a mess

Seriously, good luck. I’ll be surprised if half of the list gets answered correctly.

Today was a good day at work.
I made some serious progress on about 4 different projects that have slowly been building up, and I was getting aggravated that thy didn’t seem to get completed at any point.
So instead of having everything progress sequentially, it all happened simultaneously, and all this happened today when my boss was out. When speaking to him, and recognizing the fact that I seem to get more done when he’s not around, I actually told him to stay home more often, and we’ll see how fast everything shapes up.

This Thursday is the “Fiction” convention, and I’ll probably leave work a little early to get there. Next Thursday is Tamar’s wedding, and I don’t have a date. Ideas anyone?

So this Friday I had spent a good hour and a half cleaning my bike, which is a very relaxing activity, as it is fairly mindless and also allows for instant gratification of a job well done.
Saturday morning, I was up early and wrote my previous post, and then I decided that I wanted to eat pancakes for breakfast. But since I am one lazy person, I wasn’t about to start making pancakes, but I knew that there was a place somewhere in the central/northern region where good pancakes can be had at all hours, as I had been there once with a group of friends after a late night party. Remembering where is was wasn’t easy, as I was probably drunk or stoned or both at the time, and the memory only consisted of how damn good the pancakes were.
So, armed with the Internet, I found it here. Calculating the distance, it’s about a 100km drive each direction.
So I set out and it took me about an hour or so to make it there, and I sat and had my breakfast of wonderful pancakes. Mmmmm. I’m going back sometime soon.
After breakfast, I deliberated whether or not to continue north to Haifa, or head back down south towards home. I decided to head down Road 57, which passes thru quite a few moshav areas, especially Tnuvot, where some friends of mine live.
I was very proud of myself, having found their place on my own, having been there only once before, and that was guided by someone driving and knowing the way. Unfortunately, they were out, probably on their own bike trip on his BMW beast.
So I continued on to Highway 6 (electronic toll!), where I actually managed to get up to never before speeds of 150-160km/h. At 160, which is the listed top speed for my bike, I decided to ease off a little, as it was making me a little uneasy. The road is great, and the scenery is beautiful.
I got off the highway and headed towards Latrun, where a friend of mine work at a museum of sorts there, and spent some time with him, while waiting for a friend to join me there for lunch.
After lunch, we headed back to Jerusalem on the 443 to stroll around Gan Sacher to enjoy the sunshine.
All in all, I did about 300km in one day. A first for me.
Having a vehicle makes all the difference.

Okay.
Let me start off that this is about the third time I’ve sat down and tried to write this post. “Forgive me LJ, for I have sinned. It has been almost a month since my last posting.”
So many self-imposed distractions have just been a lot easier than actually dealing with it.
To state it clearly, Shannon and I are no longer together.
About three weeks ago, there was the Lag Ba’Omer SCA event in Ashkelon. Earlier that day, I had gone to Shannon’s graduation event at Hebrew U, where I sat with her folks, and we had a nice time and were all happy for her to graduate and after that we all went out to dinner. Needless to say, I felt way underdressed, as I was wearing a nice polo shirt, and they were all decked out in evening dress, despite the heat.
After dinner, she and I drove down to Ashkelon, and had a nice time schmoozing around the late night fire, and as we left I was supposed to stay awake as it was late so she could drive with another set of eyes to watch the road etc. etc. Due to the late hour and my physical state, I did doze off once or twice, but then at some point I woke up and stayed awake. She was quite upset with me, and I could feel it becoming an obstruction between us, even though she didn’t say anything.
The next afternoon I called and left a message on her machine apologizing and telling her that I wanted to talk, see her, etc. etc. No response.
On Saturday afternoon she came over to my place, as I was sitting down with some food with a friend, and wanted to go for a walk or something, and I told her that I was far from presentable, but that she was welcome to come in, and we went into my room for some privacy and talk.
She dropped the bombshell. “We have too many differences, and that will probably hurt us more much later on in a relationship than if we end it now” she said. I sat there, speechless, and I figured that if she had already made up her mind, then that was it.
We had been together for five and a half months, and now it’s over. The most serious relationship I had ever been in, with someone I think I really loved, and still do, even though it is apparently not meant to be. It’s been a rough few weeks, and I think I’m on the bounce back. I’ve been keeping myself busy as to think about it less, but inevitable avoidance can not persist indefinitely. So here I am, confronting myself at this godawful hour. It’s over, and that’s it

On a lighter note, the last time I posted was after I had purchased my Kawasaki EN500 1997 custom bike, and I had yet to ride. Well, since then I have clocked up a decent amount of mileage, and have some pictures to add here, behind this

Larger images are available upon click.

This is me, after the maiden voyage to work, after I got lost on the highway, and tangled with airport security.

Here I am, all armored up, and ready to take on the world.

This was taken at Shilat Junction on th 443, here I frequently stop for coffee and gas on the way to work.

Last weekend, Dan and I went riding, he’s got the same model bike (with slight differences) that I have, and here we are side by side.

And here’s Dan on his lonesome.

So ladies, I’m back on the auction block, place your bids. 🙂 They tell me I’m a good catch.