Israel Unveiled...

For the past week the world has been condemning Israel for committing international crimes and what not.
Well little does the world know Israel has been committing crimes against it's own people for years.

This is just a sneak peek at some of the horrendous, awful crimes that I have been collecting for the past two years and finally thought the time has come to share them with the world.

Believe me, it doesn't get worse than this.

* "My foot falls asleep very easily. This never happens in America though."

* On finding out she was given the wrong medicine (a drum roll is in order)
Girl: "I hate this country. Only in Israel would they give me the wrong medicine."
Doctor Lottie: "This could also happen in America. That's wrong to hate on an entire country. Hate is a strong word you know."
Girl: " Shut up Lottie. I want to go back to America. My dad is a doctor."

* "I think my circulation is limited. I think it is because of the water here"
(I have no idea what limited circulation is. I just write what I hear!)

* My conversation with someone about their now fixed blackberry... it wasn't working for about 17 hours. Catastrophe.
Friend: "Lottie! Did you hear my blackberry is working again!"
Me: "See, you can survive a day without your phone."
Friend: "You don't understand how dangerous it is not to have a phone in a foreign country, especially in Israel."
(I guess after the past week I can understand this but this happened last year. You know when there was this thing called q-u-i-e-t.)

* On eating a re-heated slice of pizza...
"I hate this country. I miss the good food in America"

* Someones first words to me almost every morning for about a month...
"this country blows."

* On waiting for a bus that came 26 minutes late...
"Uch only in Israel does everything come late."

* "My feet are so dry. They are never like this. Only when I land in Ben Gurion do they suddenly get gross."

 And there you have it. Awful, I know.

Update: Thank gd all has been relatively quiet on my end since Sunday. Long may it last!

Welcome To Israel...

My dad told me last night that maybe if I write a good blog, this whole Hamas sending rockets over thing will end.
Not likely but I'll try.

Things on my end of Israel, well at least for me have been very on edge. Suddenly every sound I hear I need to double think. I feel like a two year old telling myself, "now, that's a car alarm so sit back down and calm down."And that whistle of wind, ya that's wind.
A week ago I never thought it was possible for someone to jump from wind... and then came this week.

I made myself a little survival pack which I put by my main door. It was pretty hard to decide what I would want to eat if I was in a bomb shelter. It couldn't be anything that smelled bad or gave me bad breath because who knew how long I would be in there for. If I am meeting the neighbors for the first time down there I don't want to smell bad. Also, it would then mean I would need to bring my toothbrush and toothpaste. Once I'm bringing that I might as well bring a change of clothes and my laptop. I didn't really want to be that person with the bag and all. It also couldn't be anything that need re-fridgerating. When my life is on the line I am not going to say "oh wait I just need to get my Cesar salad and dressing from the fridge. Oh and does anyone know where the plastic forks went." This needed to be an on the go sort of thing.
Fletzels- flat pretzels. The only solution. So I have fletzels and water (which I keep drinking because I am too lazy to walk an extra 10 steps into the kitchen and get so technically a basically empty bottle of water) are ready and waiting.


Over Shabbat thank gd things were quiet here. I just kept wondering what have I ever done to Hamas to make them want to kill me? Pretty much all I do all day is sit on a couch. I am the most harmless of beings. I'm guilty of killing a bug once or twice, but I don't think that's a legitimate reason for all this.
Granted, I have an amazing blog, but that's really the one thing I have going for me. I come in peace. And so do the rest of Israel. So leave us alone.

I never thought the words bomb shelter, siren and rockets would come out of my mouth when talking about my life. I'm this little nothing from Teaneck. We don't do this. Unfortunately Israelis do though. I am honored to be apart of it however frightening it may be.

This morning I was up for a little but decided to turn my phone off and take a little cat nap before the day starts. You know, because it was 10:30 am. Everyone goes back to sleep at 10:30am.
All of a sudden I heard the siren. Me and Ronit flew down the steps. Just imagine two normal Americans. At the time it was far from funny but secretly maybe if someone recorded it we could have a little laugh now.
We are on floor 6 and a half (which is the most annoying-est floor on the face of the planet. You need to explain it to people. You can either take the elevator to floor six and walk up a flight or to floor 7 and walk down. If I was going apartment hunting now I would not even look at apartments on the half floor. The effort it takes to explain it to people is just not worth it.) and the miklat is on floor negative one. We got to floor four and a woman told us to stay in the stairwell with her on that floor since we may not make it to the miklat. There was another woman there too.


It was really the best of first impressions to meet people for the first time when you are in the middle of hyperventilating and are wearing polka pot pajama pants and some t-shirt with the "five guidelines to marry Prince Harry."
At least now they know I like polka dots and plan on marrying Prince Harry.
And I was shoeless. May that be the first and last time I am ever shoeless outside of my apartment.

Me and Ronit were shaking like leafs. Again, why anyone would want to attack a very harmless girl who has never held a gun in her life nor ever wants to is beyond me.
Luckily, our two neighbors were with us. They kept on saying "eiza chavayaaaaa la la la la."

So for me a chavaya involves getting off the couch and going to the supermarket, or finally getting my minahel hastudentim stuff sorted out (which the deadline may or may not be next week... shhh). During my year and a half in midrasha when someone asked me if I wanted to go have a chavaya Shabbat with them on some hilltop with hardly any electricity, I would always say absolutely not. Well little did I know this morning I wish I took them up on the hilltop thing then this siren situation.

One of the woman said that her brother is living in Boca and told her to go to Florida and stay by him until this all dies down. Her response was "Israel's where it's at. I got my family and my Tehillim and I'm not going anywhere!"
They then proceeded to chant about Israel is the place to be right now.

I'm telling you I highly advise this ice breaker for meeting the neighbors. They know I don't react well to firey rockets coming straight at me from Gaza and I know they are totally chill by it.

Thank gd I didn't hear a boom and the iron dome intercepted both rockets that were heading in the Tel Aviv direction. Unfortunately I did forget to bring down my snack pack with me. May there not be a next time, but just in case I put it a little closer to the door. Food is important in times of distress!

One of the best Facebook finds ever.

This whole situation is so surreal. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever guessed that I would get a glimpse at what Isralis in the south have been experiencing for years. This is real and scary stuff.
My little medicine for most hard times is a good sense of humor and lots of emunah so I got my "Rock It Out To The Iron Dome" playlist sorted out. We got "Don't Rain On My Parade" "I Dare You To Move" "I'm A Believer", the Jewish classics and some more.

In a nutshell, I would be lying if I said it's not scary and it's all great. Hearing hundreds of planes flying overhead during all hours of the night, saying bye to friends in the army, hearing sirens whether it's the real one or a noise that catches me off guard, it's petrifying, but I am honored that I can at least be a footnote in Israeli history.

P.S.- I also learned yesterday that there are three different types of bomb shelters. I always thought a miklat is a miklat, but apparently a miklat is for the bottom floor of an apartment building, a mamak is on every floor of an apartment building, and a mamad is in the actual house/apartment itself.

Lucky me I got the miklat. At least it will be good marathon training.

www.gofundme.com/lottieruns- I am still running in the Jerusalem Half Marathon on March 1.
All the money raised will be given to the Nefesh B'Nefesh Lone Soldier Program.
At this moment I have several friends who are lone soldiers anticipating what their next order will be. They are all the best of the best.
The program supplies them with care packages, social events, and constant support.
Please donate using the link above.

May we hear only happy news from the chayalim very soon... Hashem yitbarach.

Happy Three Months To Me!

It's official.
I have lived here for three months.
Well almost. I need to take into account when the best time to post so both Israelis and Americans can benefit from this blog. Apparently I have some Russians reading this (obviously I stalk my stats about this blog. Maybe I check every 3 seconds. Hypothetically of course.) so the Russian time zone has now become more essenetial then ever.

Throw me a party. Make me a cake. Cards are acceptable.

Over the past three months I have learned things I never knew existed or could have never imaged existed.
Laugh at me. Cry for me. But mainly laugh. Humor is key to survival.

* There is this thing in Israel that doesn't seem to exist in America. It's called a crosswalk (or zebra crossing... see I still have some British-ness in me). In America two white lines means drive over the person's foot who is trying to cross the road. In America it means honk louder than you ever have before. Shockingly, in Israel it means stop the car. For you Americans, stop means press down on the breaks and let the poor, innocent pedestrians cross the street.
The problem is though, that because Israelis drive so fast they take the word "press down on the break" very literally. I have learned that no matter how fast the Israelite is driving they will stop. Even if it means they fly out of the window, they will stop.
What selflessness. What unity. What law abiders.

* Speaking of the use of the brakes. Buses. Buses in this country love the brakes. And the exhilarator. Dear Bus Drivers, Fun fact- the exhilarator and brakes are meant to balance each other out, not be used to such an extent my head is constantly hitting the window or the seat in front of me. Sincerely, I Have No Licence But Drive Better Then You

* To all the future olim who like Parmesan cheese- the date on the container of the cheese at the cheese counter is the date it was packaged. Not the date it expires.
Obviously I went back to the cheese counter after buying the cheese to tell them it was expired, only to be answered with "no this was the day it was packaged" just to make the cheese guy laugh.
Nothing I wanted to do more in life at that moment then to make Mr. Cheese laugh.

Video taken Thursday night in the rova

* I get a delivery guy to deliver my groceries. Call me lazy. Call me smart. I call myself genius.
Well I call myself genius only after the food is delivered. Before that point I feel like an idiot. Why you may ask- first time- I didn't tell them I wanted a delivery guy until it was too late. Too late meaning she was in the process of taking my credit card from me. I told her I want a mishloach and her face looked like I was holding a gun about to shoot. I thought she would be happy I was willing to pay an extra 15 shek. But no no from that experience after making everyone behind me wait an extra 5 minutes (I have such nerve for holding these people up. Give me the worst person award. Gosh five minutes... chill.)  I learned that there is a time and place to ask your questions and asking for a delivery in the process of paying is a big fat NO.
Ok take two- go back on to the battle field (aka the supermarket). Before I even put my groceries on the thing (because obviously when I say thing you know exactly what I'm talking about) I said loudly and proudly "I want a mishloach please." Obviously with my shopping experiences I knew you had to say it before you put the groceries out. Ha what armatures that think you say it later on in the paying process.
Once I said that she called her friend over who came yelling at me and throwing the form I needed to sign at me. WHAT DID I DO?!
Dilemma- I need to go food shopping again. I would rather starve

Life lesson- you are never right. Especially in a supermarket.

* To put it in one word- strikes. Didn't think shveeta would be Hebrew Word Of The Day on my first day of school.

* I am able to eat my favorite snack in the world without worrying if the person miles away from me has a peanut allergy. Hello Bamba all day everyday.

* I learned this the hard way during my shana alef and unfortunately I'm learning it again (sadly it's not getting any easier)- people don't know what Teaneck is. Gasp with me. It's like "oh you know Manhattan?" "No." Even more so with Teaneck.

A Teaneck mom mobile in Givat Shmuel... see Teaneck is a global town

* That people that work on the egg farm go on strike often. While everyone in America was worrying about power and water I was severely worrying about the lack of eggs as rumor has it an egg strike (and the Hebrew word for that is...? Yes, this is a test) is in the making. Good bye sunny side ups.

* Israeli kid shows, cartoons, basically anything that involves childrens entertainment is creepy. It scares me, I don't know how it doesn't scare a five year old.

One of the thousands of examples. I was scared. Frightened. Petrified. All synonyms apply. 

* The hardest words to read in Hebrew are the English ones. You spend hours reading and sounding out the word "modernity" you look it up, you say it in an Israeli accent hoping some magic will occur and abra cadabra the word will make sense. Well it only makes sense at 1am when you realize the mystery word you had the hardest time with is an English word. Go you.

* In 65 degree weather Israelis wear their winter coats, hats and gloves. Brrrr. 65 and snowing tomorrow? Well according to Israeli fashion I think so.

Same Thursday night kumsitz in the rova.

* Make aliyah because here banks give out a free bike if you open a savings account, 50 shekels if you tell a friend to open an account in your bank, and discounts on everything. Who needs money with all these freebies?! Yes, I did get an unnecessary cardigan only because it was 50% off with my discount.

* I no longer say my name instead I spell it. "ma ha'shem shelach?" "lamed- vav- tet- yud" It's just not worth that hassle anymore.

* I have learned that the cats in Givat Shmuel are far more vicious than the cats in Jerusalem.
This is a venting session right? Here goes.
There is this black cat by my apartment building. No, not by my apartment, basically in my apartment building. Now I'm not superstitious or anything, but this situation is getting a little ridiculous.
Some mornings when I land on the ground floor in the elevator and I open the door (yup, we have those olden day elevators which at first creeped me out, but there is a certain charm to the old fashionedness. Takes me back to the 1970's or as my brother puts it- communism) and the cat is just staring at me. Or  I take out the garbage, and obviously first I do the cat search and nothing in sight, so I throw the garbage away and there is that freaky faced cat.
There are also two doors to my apartment building. The cat switches off which door to press it's face against depending on the day. I have not yet figured out it's schedule but hopefully soon I will. Anyways, I saw the cat was hanging out by one door so I ran across the hall to open the other main door and from the corner of my eye I see the cat running around so when I open the door it will run in. I was the mouse in this cat and mouse game, and believe me the mouse is not the person you want to be. By some miracle I did not get jumped on by this animal.
In case you don't know when I see a dog I see my head in it's mouth and when I see a cat I see myself being pounced on.  I think a goldfish is the only animal I see a potential friendship with.

Moral of the story- the cats are viscous. Count your lucky stars you only have squirrels. Squirrels go for nuts. Cats go for the Lottie.

* I discovered this little, really not important thing called the JERUSALEM MARATHON and will be running in it on March 1. I am actually about to go out now to train, see this is really happening (still don't know how I feel about it!)
I plan on raising at least $500 for the Nefesh B'Nefesh Lone Soldier Program. To learn more about the program as well as to donate click here- gofundme.com/lottieruns

Proof. And it was cold. Forgive me.

Oh wait. That had nothing to do with my three months in Israel. Silly me.

I Love Sneakers. Not.

On Thursday night I bought sneakers.
There's a sentance I never thought I would say.

I think I have come to terms with the fact that I can't do a half marathon in sandals or booties. Oh, the sad sad sad truth. When I go on tiyulim I wear tevas. I don't do sneakers. Not me. Not I. Not ever.

That was until I thought I could run 13 miles and have given myself less then 16 weeks to train. Good times. Sadly, reality.

I went to Mamila (because that's where I shop and have no idea where to find things if it's not from there) in search of the most subtle looking sneakers. No intense colors. No high tops. Just plain sneakers. Something that would match with my running outfits and nothing that would declare to the world "look at what I'm wearing. Look at my shoes." so not the message I'm trying to send.

I went into Adidas but their sneakers were ugly. Then I went into Nike but their sneakers were uglier. Then I realized they aren't ugly, this is what they look like. So I went back into Adidas. I have to admit I took my hair out of my bun, because obviously then I will look like a totally different person and there would be no way they would know that I was the girl that walked in twice. I didn't want them to think that I went in, saw sneakers that I really liked, thought I didn't need them so I left, and then only after I realized I needed them so I ran back to save those poor sneakers that just needed me.
Ya, so not the message I was sending to those Adidas workers.

I was looking for something cheap and cheerful. Thanks world for informing me that I could have bought two pairs of booties with the money I spent on these poor excuse for a shoe.
So cheap doesn't seem to exist in Adidas so I went with the cheapest, which could have fed a village in Africa.

There were a bunch of subtle colors, you know white and black and totally matchable to all the trendy running outfits I was planning on putting together (ha, like that's possible). I asked the guy if he had anything in a 7 1/2 or 8 (fun fact: my shoe size. Remember this important peice of trivia. You will never know when it will come up again) in any of the whites or blacks. Obviously he didn't.

But never fear he had the bright blue with yellow stripes in my size. Oh thank gd, I got to fufill my kindgergraten dream of blue and yellow shoes (used to be my favorite colors. Another fun fact you should write down and save for a lifetime). Lucky me.

I tried them on praying they wouldn't fit and then I would just need to look at the more expensive sneakers, which obviously wouldn't be my fault. But of course they fit, and the guy was watching me walk around in them so it wasn't like I could lie (thinking about it now I so could have).

As I was paying and as the guy was probably partying that this girl that walked in with two shopping bags and a very nice Thursday night outfit (if I may say so myself) was finally leaving. It was obvious to me I was making the Adidas in Mamila look really bad and very un- sportsy.

Of course though it's impossible for me to do anything without embarrassing myself. Gotta love not having a filter.

As I'm giving him my credit card I had the nerve to say "ha, guess I can only wear white or blue with these sneakers". I said that because those are the only colors that match.Duh. Isn't it obvious. Or so I thought. Clearly me and Mr. Macho Adidas Guy grew up on two separate planets because his answer was so mind boggling, so non seneschal, so what are you on- "what?"

That was his answer.
Anyone who is on the same wave length as me would say "oh I totally feel your pain. It really does suck."
And I thought that the customer is always right and the employee must sympothize with the customer. Well not at Adidas!

I told him he won't get it, took the bag and left.

First run tonight. 1 mile of jogging.
Excited isn't even the word for it. That would be if today was opposite day.

P.S.- I am still running! And I am still running for the Nefesh B'Nefesh Lone Soldier Program. Please click on this link to learn more about the organization and to donate! www.gofundme.com/lottieruns

Announcement Announcement Announcement

In 12th grade we could only graduate if we passed all our tests (understandable), got CPR certified (really annoying, but I guess it makes sense), did our "chessed" hours (now I know this blog isn't about me venting on my high school experience, but this "chessed" situation had so many ramifications that unless you weren't helping some dying man on the street and bringing him to live with you it didn't count as chessed), and lastly to run a mile. (oh and hold on to some bar or something. Horrible experience.)

Back to running the mile. Fun fact about me- I don't run. And when I do run it tends to look something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1k658QIFBE (yes, I am recruiting people to watch Friends as well as showing off my Phoebe-esque running style. Kill two birds with one stone eh)
I guess I was able to run the mile in high school because by some miracle I graduated. I wish I could tell you exactly how long it took for me to run it. Think 45 minutes or higher. Oh, and that's without my water and mental hygiene breaks.

Fine. So understood I can't run. Then I propose to you all the question of the day- why did sneaker-less, exercise-less, depends way too much on her fast metabolism you (that's me. Lottie. This is getting complicated) decide to register to run in the Jerusalem Half Marathon on March 1.

Ready for the answer? It's because I want to become more exercise conscious and health aware.

HA. NOT.

Honest answer is I truly have no idea!
This is another example to add to my "impulsive carpe diem list".
- WITHDRAWS from Stern after three days
- makes aliyah
- runs the half marathon
And unfortunately plenty more, but for that we may need a 24 hour lunch date.

However, since the deed is done and I'm all signed up and running (sneaker shopping later today. First time in way too many years!) I chose to donate the money raised to an organization that means so much to me and if you haven't come in contact with them yet I really hope you do soon. http://gofundme.com/lottieruns- pretty please click on my "fund me" page to donate to the Nefesh B'Nefesh Lone Soldier Program.

People who donate will get a surprise. Which is such a secret I don't even know what it is yet... dum de dum dum.

P.S.- I've noticed I have been way too active in the FB and blogging world lately. If it helps it's starting to annoy me too.

P.P.S.- Instead of making your status about the weather in NY (I'm sure it's so hot and sunny) and the election (oh who won by the way?) make it about donating to the Nefesh B'Nefesh Lone Soldier Program. Far more interesting then whatever your status is now. No offense.
Because you love Israel.
Because you love lone soldiers.
Because you love Nefesh B'Nefesh.
Because you love me.

Switching It Up (For Now)...

I love writing. It's the best form of therapy.
I wrote this after looking at a few photo albums on the NY Times website and even though this does not relate and is different genre (if you will) or what I normally write on this blog, I want my family and my friends to know I am thinking of them...

Warning: It may come as a shock (I don't know why actually), but I am proud of where I came from :-) Sue me.


Hundreds of displaced sleeping in shelters.
A day planned around waiting on line for gas.
Families in line for food.
Rummaging through piles of donated clothes.
Sitting outside in fear of looters.
Preserving the last bottle of water for when it's an "emergency".
Waking up, standing, sitting, speaking, sleeping. In darkness.
Huddled around an open gas flame for heat.
Burning furniture to stay warm.

This could never happen.

To the recently built five story home.
To the women that shop at Bergdorf's.
To the soccer moms who drive their Honda to and from the field all day.
To the commuter dads.
To the patient about to go under the knife.
To those working in skyscrapers about to sign a deal.
To the kid that just won the Spelling Bee.
To the families that eat a gourmet meal together every night.
To the girl who just got her license.
To the boy that can eat a pie of pizza in 8 minutes.
To the baby that needs formula prepared.

This could never happen in the Tri State area.
Things like those don't happen in civilized, metropolitan, "on the go" places.

We have homes, food, shelter, money.
It's not possible that one storm can desecrate it all.
A storm will spare Manhattan, after all it is the capital of the world.
A storm will understand that my house was only just built and will pass over it.
A storm will avoid destroying the train tracks, because it knows I have to go to work tomorrow.

I was not first handily affected by Sandy. To be honest, this time last week I didn't understand the severity of Sandy, but after reading and seeing pictures of destruction, of helplessness, of disparity, I now realize that our definition of "everything" in essence is nothing.
We rule over nothing. We own nothing. Here today, gone tomorrow.

All you need is love (The Beatles clearly knew what they were talking about). I believe that is the silver lining in this storm.
Unity, love and support. The three words that guide NY/NJ through every tragic moment it has been hit with.
Sandy is no exception.
Pictures of teenagers helping the trapped elderly. Of schools becoming soup kitchens and shelters for those who a week ago had it all. Families opening their doors to strangers. Marathon runners running to help clean up debris. Extension cords miles long for people to charge their phones.

It's a shame that it takes a tragedy to bring out the best in people, but it's a blessing to know that amidst the "Me Generation" the word "we" still exists.

Humbling is the word.

Even though I am no longer living in America, I am so proud to be from the Tri State area.

And You Thought You Had The Comfiest Bed...

Disclaimer: this is my first time blogging from my best friend, my iPhone. Sincerest apologies if the font and color is different. Don't fret. I have self diagnosed OCD so the potential font mishap situation will be fixed. Breathe!

So at about 5:30 pm after arriving in Jerusalem, which is where I am for Shab, I went on a mission.

What kind of mission you may ask (and if you didn't think to ask then dont read this blog. Clearly you are not interested in the highly important events taking place in my life. Highly important= making sure there is the perfect coffee to milk ratio in my coffee.)

Well let me tell you.

There is this thing most people have. No no, actually all people have. It's not food, shelter or love. It's better and you don't realize how good it is until you go two weeks lacking it.

A PILLOW! Big pillows. Small pillows. Thin pillows. Fluffy pillows.

Ya so I had nothing.

I was that poor kid you just wanted to give your leftover sandwich to since you saw the sign "I sleep pillow-less" on my face.

Well I guess it's a family thing because my brother also didn't have a pillow. Thanks mommy.

So after two weeks of suffering the worst of the first world problems I declared enough is enough.
Well there is one thing declaring, another thing doing. (Yes that was philosopher Lottie coming out to play)

Right, so back to getting into Jerusalem. At 5:30 on the dot my Home Center in Talpiyot excursion began. After looking in Givat Shmuel for a pillow for weeks, I was not taking no for an answer.

Home center will have the pillow.
It practically says it in their name- home= pillow. Right? Because who's home doesn't have a pillow?


Ok so I am on my way to get a better nights sleep.
Walk into Home Center and saw they had a deal- two pillows for 50 shek.
Perfect one pillow for me and one for Zushye. And maybe if I want to be super scandalous I will buy four pillows. Three for me and one for Zushye. I am a good sister. After all I went to get him from the airport.

And I am such a good sister that when I saw this massive pillow with fluff on one side and silk on the other I needed it. I endured a full week of school including a schedule mess up. I will own this pillow.
Plus coming from a temperpedic pillow to an average pillow to no pillow I deserve the best of the best.
Kill a sheep for all I care and throw it on my bed (ew that sounds repulsive).

So my mom has always told me I am a consumers dream. I don't know why. It's not like when there is a good sale I buy everything in sight (lies). Or when there is a good deal I suddenly must have every assorted color of a shirt (false.) So when I saw a sign that says if you buy the animal slaughtered (sorry PETA) matching blanket, you get the pillow for free.

Whats a few shekels here and there, right?
The word "a lot" usually tends to be an overstatement.

There was the singles size blanket and then the couples size blanket.
Suddenly in my head I am really fat and need that extra large couples blanket to keep me warm.

Heaven on a bed (in the Katamon apartment. I will be transferring this masterpiece to Givat Shmuel motzai Shabbat)

So there it goes this insanely overpriced Ugg-esque blanket and free pillow. Oh and we can't forget Zushye's pathetic normal people looking pillow...

Can't forget the fluffy side of the pillow. Perfect for those snowy Tel Aviv nights. 

But you should all be proud I did not get the matching robe. Tempting, but I do have self control. HA.

Dear Parents,
As I was walking back to my apartment with my new pet (yes, my blanket and pillow) in tow, I passed the Israel Loan Association. I will go there tomorrow. No worries :-)

(By the way, I shall not tell a lie. I realized over Shab that it's not silk, it's velvet. My bad. If this will stop you from being jealous of my new purchase well I am very sorry.)