Confessions of a Ferris Wheel Junkie

Dear New York, This is a Love Letter

to you and how you brought us together

This weekend was exceptional from start to finish - and for that I am thankful.

And a Happy Belated Birthday to my Pops!

Darn you holiday Season

And all your Entertainment. I've seen two new movies in the theater in the last week. That means I've been to the theater more in the last week than I have in the last three months. However, the sad part is, that only crosses off two movies from the expansive list of new releases I'm dying to see. I'm probably forgetting a few but here goes da list:
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
The Incredibles
Ray
Alfie
The Polar Express
Finding Neverland
National Treasure
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie
Closer
The Life Aquatic
Oceans 12
The Aviator
Spanglish
...and those are only the ones due out between now and the week before Christmas. I wont even think about the few that come out that week following that will be appealing. Ahh jeez.

Anyhow - Finally got around to putting all the Pilgrimage trip pictures the public will see in one place. See them HERE. There are five pages for that album - and I kid you not it's only just about half of what I have on my hard drive. However, do enjoy.

dreaming as clear as mud

Wow. So this week has been rough. Even my dreams were odd.
The other day I dreamed I was in jail and all my jail mates were animals (kind of like a zoo, but it was definetly a jail) and I was given the priviledge to feed my fellow jail mates that day, but only had half a potato. I was breaking off small pieces and throwing them into the cells of these animals. The potato was growing very small in my hand and I was fearful that I wouldnt eat at all that day, and fearful that I wouldnt be able to cut it small enough to give everyone a little piece. Next thing I look back and there are wardens coming around with meals for everyone else but sneering about what I was doing. I opened my mouth to yell to them not to forget my cell even though I was out of it to feed my friends, but no words came out.
What the heck? I've consulted a few dream dictionary sites and not come up with an entire comprehension of that one yet. The funny part is that this dream came early this week, whereas last night I dreamed I was moving suitcases around in tight spaces.
I'm not sure if thats a better or worse sign from the sub-consious.

The smell of the Mediterranean Sea

Pictures taken in/around Akka (Akko).

"For Americans, Hatred is a Political Turn-Off"

I sure picked an important two weeks to be out of the country, first the World Series then the Presidential Election.
Good and unexpected news on all fronts. Americans were faced with un-popular ideas - first the underdog won the World Series. The Curse of the Bambino is broken, and the Evil Empire got knocked over in their path. I couldnt have scripted a better ending to the baseball year.

Secondly and obviously more importantly - the most unpopular idea of all - George W. Bush for another 4 years. And that's where I end my sarcastic tone in this post - I truly think we're watching the plan of God for our great country unfold. It only makes sense in my mind. America learned nothing from the last four years except how to show hatred and disrespect to the one elected official we should all support. Support doesn't mean complete agreement, no one is ever going to completely agree with anything, period. Support doesn't mean fear and submission, it means communication. Support also sure as heck doesnt mean veiled negative remarks and a closed mind. Support means looking at the facts and seeing a bigger picture - whether or not it's all roses.
Another take on this picture comes from the fact that I was indeed out of the country when it all went down. Watched election coverage on the Sky news network, listened to conversations around me in foreign languages, and spoke with Israeli's, Arab's, Canadians, Austrailians, and Brittish folks either in brief elevator conversation or as a tourist taking in their culture, or as a fellow world citizen concerned about the way America shapes the world at large. And I have to tell you, one thing is always clear in foreign cultures - Americans are a bunch of cry babies. Our President is widely respected. On a personal note - recently my grandparents travelled to Greece and didn't feel comfortable with their last name. We travel to Israel and Switzerland and get glowing remarks about how we were "elected" (lil airport security humor) and I saw nothing but the utmost respect and service. One or two remarks about how it must be hard to have my last name, and how that is all just silliness too.

Either way - a few articles that nicely sum up how I see this picture can be read here:
Boston Globe: Big Loss for Bush Haters
UK Times Online: Life Did Not End on Tuesday
and a quite well-written Open Letter to My Fellow Americans from Perplexio.

For me, and as the election results show - for Americans as a whole, hatred is a turn-off. The reactions exhibited throughout the last four years did nothing but divide us further and give the so-called majority what they thought they wanted least. I've read so so many negative reactions along the lines of 'must move to canada', 'america, why do you hate me' etc. Makes me sad.
The most heartening piece of news I've seen in a long time were the words spoken by John Kerry in his concession speech. He was the picture of gracious and forward looking. If Americans can take confidence in anything it is that moment. I sure do.
I realize I've also continued to just make myself even more un-popular by putting out a voice that may sound in favor of one side or the other, but dearest friends - realize that isn't the case. Just as I would never tell you how to vote or cast a negative shadow on your opinion - don't read my blog through that same shadowing. please.

in a travel continuum

12 days later, I'm home. I think. The return trip was three days and three seperate flights long. The flights found me in a first class, and two window seats so all was not lost. Mostly, time was lost, lots of it. Were I still in Israel it'd be 9:45 pm, and were I in Zurich still it'd be 8:45 pm, however it is only mid-day here in New York. I go back to working and routine life tomorrow. Blech.
I have many posts all mentally queued up - much happened here at home while I was away, and much happened whererever I was. For the record, at this very hour I'm not quite sure where I am besides a bit too tired to continue un-packing or anything of the sort. So for now, enjoy the pretty pictures that were still on my camera. About 300 more sit on the hard drive of my Dad's laptop awaiting transfer to my computer.
The third picture is of our pilgrim group on our last day. We are sitting on the steps of the house of Abdu'l-Baha at 7 Haparsim St in Haifa.