Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Action Shot


Here's an action shot from my safari park adventure.  Didn't realize what I had captured until we looked at it on the big computer screen.  Obviously animals don't have the same need for privacy that we humans do.

Can I get some sleep?
Life in Israel continues to frustrate.  On Friday, we were awoken at 0430(!) by road crews getting an apparently very early start on their never-ending "tear up the road, over and over again, for 7 months" project.  For some reason, the road workers and the garbage man cannot enter our neighborhood in any gear but REVERSE.  So, for several minutes, we hear, "beep beep beep beep BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!  BEEP!" as they come all the way down the street and past our house.  It baffles me.  

Also, the dog across the street (or rather his irresponsible owners) has tested our last nerves.  We've asked the neighbors 
kindly TWICE now to manage his barking during the nighttime hours.  His bark is so loud that it pierces right through our shutters and double-glazed windows, jolting us both awake.  We end up sleeping on twin bedrooms in Sweetie's daughter's bedroom on the opposite side of the house about 2-3 nights a week....Any tips or hints on how to get better results from the neighbors are welcome!  It's clear that they do not walk or interact with the dog at all.  He's a huge bull mastiff-type, who doesn't get any exercise, and can't see through the fence and hedges surrounding his yard, so he's barking at EVERYTHING.  And NOTHING.

 

Friday, April 18, 2008

Dragonfly


The red dragonfly that spends summers by our pool is back. I stalked him yesterday with my camera and telephoto.

おかしい話

最近とてもおかしいことが起こりました。私は茶道について記事を書いて、それをイギリスの外交官の家族向けの雑誌に載せられることになったのです。その雑誌をずっと期待して待っていたのです。先日、ともだちに、「あなたの記事を読んだよ!」私が「そう?もう出たの?」友達:「うん。だけど、ひとつ質問がある。なんで名字が「チャン」なの?」

私がビックリ。ショック。

編集者が間違って、私のメールアドレスが私の名前と名字だと思い込んでそのまま出したみたいです。信じられない。だけど、わらっちゃうよね。

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Safari Preparation

Yesterday, my photography instructor and I went to a local safari park so that I could practice taking pics before I actually go on safari. It was an excellent learning experience. Needless to say, I learned a lot about what NOT to do. Like, don't cut off the animal's legs if you're going for a full-body shot. Or, actually focus on the animal and not some random point in the background. Anyway, I did get some decent shots and will post some of the better ones, and some of the more interesting ones, here.

For example, the photo above. I had this great shot of zebras set up and then this waterbuck strolled into my shot. Just like people would do. As my instructor said, "You've got to be a little quicker off the mark." Indeed.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Tips

For all you construction workers who may (or may not) be reading this blog, cat-calling a woman of my age is completely inappropriate.  You would know this if you were to see my knees up close, which leads me to my second tip:

For all you women under the age of 30, you must leave your computer NOW, go out to the nearest store, and buy a large bottle of something called SERUM, and apply it liberally to your knees each night.  Now, usually this is something recommended for women over the age of 30 to put on their FACE, but I am telling you, if you are going to be needing it on your face, it is already too late.  You might as well start saving for Botox.  Save your knees instead.  

I swear, my knees are seriously showing my age, while my face has none of the expected laugh lines around the eyes or furrows around my
mouth.  On the other hand, NOBODY ever warned me to put creams and serums and daily sunscreen on my knees, for goodness sake.  

No photo is being supplied here for obvious reasons.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Peace and Quiet


Sweetie is upstairs napping before our Friday pilgrimage to the gym, so I'm using this time to write a post.  I wanted desperately to nap, but the two thousand-billion decibel level of the children's party (probably about a mile away, but it might as well be in the living room) was disrupting my efforts to join Sweetie in blissful sleep.  

Yes, it's Friday late afternoon/early evening, it's April, it's children's birthday party season again.  No children's birthday party in Israel is complete without
professional entertainment, usually a man, equipped with a really loud sound system that will blare not only his voice, but also every irritating techno beat known to mankind.  They tend to last from 1600-1900.

I have determined that whenever we buy a permanent dwelling for us to live in, it should be surrounded by many acres of land.  Either that, or be thoroughly soundproofed.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Trip to a Ship


Here's a photo of my new camera lens!



Ship Trip
This past week, Sweetie and I had the opportunity to participate in a reception onboard a Turkish vessel that is part of a NATO group of ships currently docked in Haifa. I had never been on a warship before.

We arrived early, and representatives from the boats of all nations in the flotilla were there and held up flags for us. Then, there were representatives from the various boats also at the reception on the Turkish ship. Sweetie and I managed to scope out some Americans and I talked to the top enlisted sailor on the US ship, who answered some of my questions about uniforms (it was really hard to tell who was from what country). Then, I ended up talking to a group of officers, while Sweetie sought out the Brits. It was great, until another officer swooped in and would not stop talking. I did not catch on when all the other officers discreetly walked away. This guy was a serious motormouth. I think part of the problem was that he was on this Turkish ship for a few months, without any other native English speakers. He was making up for lost time and I was his victim.

I kept waiting for Sweetie to rescue me, from apparently, to the outside observer, it looked like I was having a nice conversation -- but in fact, I was playing therapist (and not getting paid $110/hour).


Anyway, I FINALLY escaped and got some food.

Slow Blogging Season
I really must apologize for the lack of blogs recently.  I am job-hunting and that has been consuming lots of my time (read: if you want to hire me, let me know!).  I want to write more often, but it just hasn't been possible.  I will try to post at least once a week.