What's Wrong With Me?

it is 12:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  I have been, finally, putting away my pesach  stuff.  I don't know what is the matter with me.  I have been vegetating for days.  pesach ended on Friday night and at the end of Saturday might, most people turned over their kitchens; not, I.  I lounged around in jammies for days.  I didn't leave my house.  I ate non stop and didn't have any contact with the human race.  I was really out of it.  I also binged on the remainder of the pesach chocolates and potato chips, which I religiously avoided all week.

we are having a heat wave, I believe.  I'm not really sure because I haven't been outside.   I just ran outside to throw out the garbage.  the house remains cold at night.  I have been holed up on the couch wrapped up in a shawl.  I put away all of my pots and pans and just cleaned the pesach stove.  I still have to dry the two pesach plastic sinks and put them back into the closet.  it really wasn't hard.  I just, simply, could not function for a few days.

I saw the kids on Shabbat.  they came in on Thursday.  it was still pesach so I could not eat with them due to my food stringencies.  i went on Friday night to the Sephardi family.  it was very hard for me to walk to their house.  what normally, used to be a half an hour walk, turned into a 50 minute struggle.  I am very out of shape. I did wake up with migraine like headaches on both Friday and Saturday mornings.  I skipped services and stayed in bed.  this was not my best pesach.  on late Saturday afternoon, I made the walk again.  the kids were not there.  they were in a park in town.  I didn't see them until later that night, when they all returned. i stayed and ate a third meal with the family.

on Saturday night, I watched the Sephardi grandma, who is ten years my junior; wash and put away all of her pots and then make dozens of the traditional Moroccan  pancakes from scratch.  the kids all showered and I was driven home.  it was close to midnight and I started food binging and didn't go to sleep until around 5:00 a.m.  I didn't move again until today. 

Saturday Night

it is 10:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  the kids just left.  Shabbat and pesach holiday went swimmingly well despite the weather.  it was storming for days.  we even had a real live hail storm this afternoon.  I kept on heaters in the dining area, t.v. room and bedrooms.  I and the grandkids slept in a bedroom without a heater and we survived.  we huddled together under two blankets and the dog slept on my feet so I was toasty.  I did wake up with a bit of a headache but it went away after a few cups of tea. 

the food was pretty tasty.  I had to toss the fried eggplant chips that I made because they dried out on the hot plate.  I thought that I didn't have enough food for lunch today and was kicking myself sideways for not making a meat stew.  however, when I served the chopped liver, apple charoset, avocado and egg salad, potato salad, lettuce and tomato salad, mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, salty herring and the orange and honey chicken, I relaxed.  I even took out all of the turkey meatballs from the soup and added it to the orange chicken sauce.  it was a big hit.  and of course, we had matzah up the wazoo.  no one missed the meat except for the grandson and I had just a few slices of the beef in wine left for him.

the kids were pretty well behaved and I even got a short nap.  there was no serious incident with tiny dog and puppy, toffee.  we all stayed on this floor.  it was very comfortable.  the grandkids ate a lot of cornflakes and milk. and didn't really wreck the house.  in the evening, I served my son the spicy tilapia fish for third meal with the leftover salads.  he also had matzah and butter.  the little kids ate most of the matzah cookies that I bought and they did get a bit hyper.  my son was a bit shocked that I let them have so much sugar. in truth I was stricter as a parent.  I was a bit out of it today.

my son brought three incredible wines from the winery where he once worked.  we have been using these wines for the seder for years. I had no problem drinking the four cups this year.  I don't by any means, drink eight ounce cups but anyway, I did the deed..

before they left I heated up the remainder of the turkey neck soup.  they all loved it.  unfortunately, there wasn't enough left for seconds  when I cooked it on Thursday, I added a few lemons for punch.  I am very grateful that my food turned out so tasty and I stayed true to my old chabad customs.  the kids are thinking about leaving the puppy with me for the second half of the holiday.  my friend will help me dog sit.  she is great with puppies.  the grandkids wanted me to come to Jerusalem for the rest of the holiday.  if I didn't have friends coming tomorrow, I would have gone.

I am thinking about inviting my friends for the second holiday on Thursday night. we shall see what happens. in the meantime, I can call it a night.  tomorrow morning I will go downstairs and make the beds and set up the heaters.

It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Pesach

it is 8:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  we have to check for chometz now.  I didn't finish cleaning the downstairs apartment.  I spent the day cooking and preparing for the Seder.  I enlisted my good pal to come over and crack nuts.  she got here before 11:00 a.m. and was finished by nearly 3:00 p.m.  her thumbs were also finished.  while she cracked I cooked.  I made a pot of turkey neck soup with turkey meatballs.  I used fresh parsley for the first time, ever. I have the custom of not using spices on pesach.  it is hard to make tasty food.  I made a small amount of chopped liver, a pot of mashed potatoes, a pot of chicken thighs in white wine, orange juice and ginger and a small piece of beef in red wine and honey.  I added honey to the chicken , too.  I made a generous amount of charoset. that is the paste like mixture of nuts and apples. I used almonds and walnuts, ginger root, apples, dates and a couple of pears.

I hold a chabad custom of peeling everything.  I forgot how much work that is.  I peeled the dried dates. I made a few tilapia fillets in a tomato sauce and I peeled the tomatoes and a small hot pepper, to boot. I also peeled my celery.  most people use a celery root.  I chose the real deal but had to peel it.  I ran out of peppercorns and used processed black pepper.  I used way too much.  everything is way too peppery.  I should have grated the ginger into the chicken.  you can't really taste it unless you chew a slice of it.

I have never cooked the day before pesach.  I think I was off my game.  I just burnt a pot of diced beets.  I could have sworn that I had turned off the gas. oh well....  I have some over ripe avocados in the fridge.  perhaps,  I can make a guacamole type of salad.  I will stop right now before a bigger disaster occurs.  I will do my chometz check in a moment.  I wrapped 10 small pieces of bread and placed them into 10 sandwich baggies.  you strategically place them around the house and then scoop them up.  tomorrow, we burn them in a ritualistic fire.

I will wait until the dog is outside to make a move.  I will then call it a night.  I have been eating and tasting food all day long.  pesach food has a mystical taste.  it never tastes the same after pesach.  everything tasted bland today but tomorrow it will be brilliant.  the taste of pesach.  I will also go downstairs in the morning and finish washing the floors.  there really isn't any chometz downstairs. wishing you all a happy and kosher pesach!.

Countdown to pesach 2019

it is 7:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  I finished cleaning my apartment.  I went downstairs to start cleaning the bottom apartment.  it is dirty.  I am exhausted.  I washed the massive laundry room floor, a bedroom and the  kitchen floor.  it is turning dark and I can't do anything more. I have three more bedrooms, the hall  and the bathroom.  I also have to clean the kitchen.  if I wasn't having guests next week, I would have locked the downstairs apartment for pesach. I need to do the kitchen windows and the counter.  it is way too much work.  I worked so hard up here and it finally looks like pesach.

yesterday, I had a lovely young lady come to see the roof top apartment. I quickly washed the floor.  I would love to lock the apartment for pesach but I think my guests might need another bathroom.  I am feeling overwhelmed and it isn't quite fair because my house is already in order. I need to go to town tomorrow to boot.  I gave the veggie store a check and they want cash.  I need to bring the cash in the morning.  I also want to cook tomorrow.  I took out way too much food to defrost.  the worst scenario, I will have what to eat all week.

tomorrow evening, we do a check throughout the house to look for chometz. I already ripped up tiny pieces of bread and put them into ten baggies. last year I could only retrieve 9.  tiny dog had already eaten one.  tiny loves the new sofa.  I  had too cover the seat with a sheet as it has been raining and his paws are muddy.  I tried to tuck the sheet into the corner of the couch and he started growling and bared his teeth.  I sure hope he hasn't already buried a piece of bread in the new couch.

I am planning on making turkey neck soup with turkey meatballs, chopped chicken liver, beef in red wine, and chicken thighs in white wine and orange juice.  I think I better head downstairs to pick lemons and oranges off the trees.  it is already dark so maybe i'll do it in the morning.  I have so much to do tomorrow. I asked my friend to come over tomorrow to help me crack nuts.  my left hand is rather weak. I guess I should have bought shelled nuts.  I may have to buy more dates. I have been munching on them all week.  I usually make a meat and potato stew that stays on the hot plate all  night for Shabbat lunch but I think I will simply serve the leftover beef and make mashed potatoes.  that is my signature pesach dish.

Another Washout

it is 1:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  I am at home and have been waiting for my furniture delivery.  it just might come tomorrow.  I didn't give them my cell phone number.  I washed the floors in the two back bedrooms, main bathroom, and television room.  I swashed a lot of dirt around but I didn't find a trace of the dreaded chometz until tiny dog came in with a roll.  I snatched it right out of his dirty little mouth before he could chew any.  are we having fun, yet?

I'm pretty tired today and I didn't sleep all that well.  I was overtired.  there is so much dust and dirt in the house.  only bringing in a hose can properly do the job but my hose doesn't reach so far so I settle for buckets of soapy water.  my house doesn't shine.  my neighbors' houses shine but not mine.  I still have to tackle the four bedrooms and laundry room downstairs.  I can't think of it.  if I wasn't having company, I would close the other two floors for the week.

I figured out a way to pay my water bill without actually leaving the house.  that's right, I used my direct payment card instead of schlepping to the post office.  what a marvel!. I still want to go to town to buy seat cushions and veggies.  I am pretty wiped right now.  I will have a strong tea, get dressed and order a taxi.  I bought way too much food for pesach. oh well, it won't go bad in the freezer.  i'll have some for Shavuot, hopefully.  if I make it to town, i'll buy a falafel for dinner. wow!  I think i'll open up a can of tuna and have some chumus.  maybe that will help.

it is rather nasty outside and they predict a few days more of rain.  the house is freezing. I should go outside and wash my garbage pail before it starts raining..

Great Day

it is midnight in the holy city of safed.  I just wrestled with the mattress cover and I won.  the mattress is back inside the zippered cover.  for a while back there I didn't think I'd make it.  I have less function of my left hand these days.  my left shoulder and arm are aching. too.  it turned cold again and we are supposed to have showers, yet once, again.  this is the screwiest weather I can remember. I hope it doesn't rain on pesach.  I managed to get to services on Saturday morning.  I think it was the first time ever, that I went to synagogue the Shabbat day before pesach.  it was very upbeat and lovely.

I got up early today as the gardener was outside.  I always give him coffee and we schmooze a bit.  right after the coffee I went into pesach cleaning action.  I couldn't manage to get the windows in the third bedroom out of the frames.  I don't have the power anymore.  I washed the curtains and washed the dirt off of the window sill.  it isn't chometz but it is not dirty anymore. I tackled the stove and oven and kitchen tiles.  I scrubbed the gunk off of the counters. I used a lot of chemicals.  the oven cleaner spray got the congealed grease off of the kitchen floor. I did a huge floor washing afterwards. and then I washed all eight dining room chairs.

I am hoping to finish my apartment tomorrow.  I basically, need to wash all of the floors in the three bedrooms, the television room, two bathrooms and the living room.  I threw out the reclining chair from the television room.  in its prime, twenty years ago, it was an extremely expensive piece of furniture.  we got it for my dad when he was having back pains. it had several positions.  when tiny was a puppy he chewed all of the wires.  for the last three years it was set in just one position.  the leather was all ripped and it wasn't really comfortable.  I used it as my t.v. Lounge chair. 

last year at pesach time I threw out the small leather two seater.  I never got to replace it. I couldn't bear looking at the recliner anymore and I sure enough wasn't going to wash it today.  I kept on thinking about running to town to buy a new one.  at around 5:00 p.m. I was starving and very tired.  I thought I should call it quits for today.  I was definitely too tired to go to town.  after I finished the dining room chairs I got a second wind.  not really exactly.  I took a cab to town.  I bought a small two seater couch and a matching chair. it was very affordable and I paid with checks. I thought about buying two recliners but they were very pricey. I live alone but sometimes I have overnight guests and now I can't wait for my furniture to arrive.

I also threw out two dining room chairs that were antique.  they were leather and very comfortable and very large.  the springs were sticking out for years.  I couldn't bear looking at them another moment and I didn't have the money to refurbish them.  someone took them right away.  I wish them luck.  I will buy a few kitchen chairs after the holiday.  furniture is very expensive here.  this was the first time that I actually purchased new furniture. I bought a used dining room set thirty years ago.  I was given beds and then I bought a cheap pull out sofa.  but I never had new furniture.  I have been using what was left of my mom's furnishings.  little but surely things are breaking.

I had to sit on a foot stool to watch t.v. tonight.  I was too tired to carry a chair form the next room.  I think I ate three cans of tuna today. those were my three meals.  I did buy a package of fresh strawberries in town and had a yogurt. I was planning on going to the outdoor market on Wednesday to buy cushions for the dining room chairs but now it is supposed to pour.  I might try another shop in town.  I want to go to a fruit and vegetable shop in the morning.  I don't want to hit the supermarket again.  and I have to pay my water bill which is very confusing.

Moving Foward

it is 5:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  candle lighting is in an hour.  I have been on the move since 10:00 a.m.  I can't count the amount of loads of laundry I did today.  there still isn't one room done in the entire house.  I cleaned out the porch room off of the master bedroom.  it was a disaster.  I had two or three laundry baskets filled with dozens of slats from the shutters.  I put them in bags and will store them in the storage unit downstairs until I decide how to prepare the shutters.  there was all sorts of laundry strewn all over the porch. what a mess!.  I threw many buckets of bleach water all over the porch. I washed the two bedroom windows and doors. I washed the entire floor and bathroom and it is more or less ready for pesach.  I just need to dust the dressers.  I thought it would be a good place for the new puppy to get fresh air and isolate her from my dog and the neighbor's two dogs, who visit everyday.  I hope my son will agree.

I chucked out the 3 broken laundry baskets as well as my mom's antique one from the 50's.  it was a bit rusty and I had used it for the last 20 years.  I also threw out the antique step ladder.  it is too heavy for me and also totally rusted.  I will buy myself a small stepladder after pesach.  I also threw out the broken clothes rack.  I was still using it even though I bought a new one.  what is the saying about teaching old dogs new tricks???

I quickly threw 3 chicken quarters into a pot with mid eastern spices for Shabbat dinner.  I am broiling some salmon fillets, too.  I have whole wheat pitas.  I bought a chumus for pesach for the kids but I might just eat it tonight.  I found a mini halvah on my counter and scoffed it down.  I have been staying away from sugar but I have been eating dates everyday.  my house has literally been turned upside done.  I thought I could get it all back in place before Shabbat, but no such luck.  I don't think anyone will be coming over on Shabbat but anyway, I should have made it nice for Shabbat.  I will try and sweep the dining room area.  it's a miracle that I managed to cook something.  I don't think that I will work on Saturday night.  the lighting in my house is not good.  I hope that I will get some sleep and be in good shape on sunday to get to work.

I also have the two apartments that I must clean, too, but there are no chatchkas to wash or furniture to polish.  there are 6 windows downstairs and although I keep saying that I won't do windows, I will   probably do them.  i might do some plastering too.  who knows?

Another Wasted Day

it is 4:00.m. in the holy city of safed.  I didn't do very much today.  I got out around 10:00 a.m.  I waited for the bus and it was colder than I thought.  I was hell bent on buying seat cushions at a store on the way to town.  I had little patience and grabbed a cab.  there weren't any suitable cushions at this store.  there was a small couch that I would have loved to buy but they offered no delivery service or help as to how to get it home.  I bought a small doggie bed.  my son has very recently acquired a Yorkshire terrier puppy.  in fact, in our last conversation about a week ago, I tried to persuade him not to get the dog.  he had just sold his recently acquired ragdoll cat.

when I got to the first store I realized that I had left my reading glasses home.  they are my sight glasses.  I need them to cook and do most everything else.  I stopped off at the pharmacy, which is right next store to the large supermarket; and bought another pair.  they were pretty expensive.  I usually pay 10 or 20 shekels for a pair.  these were 80.  I didn't want to spend the money but I was helpless without them.  this day was really a waste of time and bucks.

anyway, everyone is very excited about this latest acquisition.  they are coming for pesach night next Shabbat. he is a tad nervous about having new puppy exposed to tiny, my dog.  I did have tiny inoculated when he was a puppy.  I didn't mange to get him one against rabies.  I couldn't get a doctor to come to my house and the local clinic was trying to force me to neuter him.  it is forbidden by jewish law and I see no reason to do it, anyway.  they are asking an astronomical price to give him a shot.  the regular price is 60 shekels.  they wanted 600 +shekels. (the cost of surgery).  I am stuck.

tiny is healthy and I do not believe the new puppy will be endangered by staying here. if they want to stay downstairs for Shabbat, so be it.  I have my friend ad her family coming on sunday.  I would rather not have to change the sheets again.  we can all stay up on my floor and keep a watch on the two dogs.  I am trying to play it easy.  in the end, the kids will do as they want, like always.  my word means very little. 

I decided to go to the supermarket and get the veggies for next week.  I suddenly was too hot and I felt feverish and really out of it.  I took a cab up the hill to the supermarket.  it is a 10 minute walk.  I was totally disoriented in the supermarket.  I looked for liver that was parbroiled and couldn't find any. I couldn't find any nuts, either. I bought a new barbecue grill and some chocolate.  I ate the first bunch of chocolate bars two weeks ago.  I looked once more and found the nuts.  I decided not to buy the veggies today.  I bought some very expensive salmon fillets and a few bottles of ice tea on sale.  I was very hungry.  I bought some whole wheat pitas and cabbed it home.  I was too tired to do anything else.  I just went outside and windexed the four porch windows.  I usually use buckets of water.  I was in no mood to be wet . it is chilly outside. the windows are quite large but very light.  I had a bit of a problem getting the last one in.  my upper torso strength simply gave out.

the birds have been crashing into the windows lately as dirty as they are.  now with them quite clear, I expect more dead birds in front of my door. I don't really care that they are a bit streaked.  I am too tired and dispassionate to care anymore.  I did them to excuse myself for not doing anything else today.  I was chilled to the bone yesterday after washing something.  I stepped in a puddle of water and couldn't find my socks.  I am thinking about going to the small supermarket to buy something for Shabbat dinner.  I will have a warm cup of tea and see if I really have any energy to go out again.  I can shop in the morning.

Raining In The north

it is 11:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed.  it is raining and cold once again.  there go the windows!  I don't really care.  I have come to the conclusion that the Lord up above is keeping it foggy and unclear so that the enemies' missiles will have a harder time to connect.  that's my way of staying calm.  I got up late and feel unwell.  my back is aching and I am unfocussed.  my eyes burn.  I managed to wash the main bathroom's window, sink and bathtub.  my  eyes are burning because I keep spraying harsh chemicals around to clean all the surfaces.  bleach and windex are my downfall.

 I also wiped down and reorganized a closet in the blog room which was filled with army uniforms and soccer clothes.  my son was a quarter master in the army and I had a closet full of uniforms.  I gave a bunch to my neighbor last year to bring back to the army base. I was afraid that if I  went I'd be arrested or shot for treason.  anyway, I saved a few for purim.  my daughter-in-law's brother will be entering the army soon and I will offer him the uniforms.  I hear that they do not give out a lot of uniform's to the soldiers.  there was an american lone soldier at the yeshiva one day and I promised to bring him uniforms.  I didn't see him again before the break.

I haven't eaten yet.  I will finish my last spelt pita and can of tuna and take a shower. I then will go to the large supermarket and buy veggies and nuts for the seder.  it is sunny for the moment.  I haven't finished any one room yet.  forget about my game plan of last year.  I keep skipping from one place to the next.  I still have to do the actual kitchen and stove.  I think I will save it for Friday.  next wee I must do the guest apartments.  I will need to do a lot of floor washing.  I don't have the strength today to do hard work.

my dog keeps bringing in huge pieces of bread that people have tossed.  it is always a problem before pesach.  I just closed up the blog room's closets.  hopefully, he won't be able to enter them with bread.  when I enter the bed at night he growls.  there is always bread in the bed. not a great situation.

nighttime:   it's 8:30 p.m.  I went to town about 2:00 p.m.  I went to a new house décor store in town and saw my daughter-in-law's sister working there.  I bought more disposable plates and coffee cups. I then went to the rabbinate and sold my chometz. Yeh!  I went back to town to buy cushions for the dining room chairs because two of them didn't survive the second wash cycle.  I had a credit at a certain house goods store from when I bought shirts for the play that weren't used.  I found the exact stainless steel dish racks that I was looking for.  I couldn't find the right color of cushions but I did buy a new laundry rack that was half price.

 I saw a dress that was discounted for only 100 shekels but I didn't buy it in the end. I don't think maroon is my color. I might just go to town again tomorrow and buy it.  I don't have anything new for pesach.  I wanted to go food shopping after town but I didn't get home until 5:00 p.m. and I was thoroughly wiped out.  I bought a falafel and took a taxi home.  I waited about an hour to find one.  I took the cover off the mattress of the blog room and threw it into the washing machine.  it never went to rinse cycle.  it weighed a ton.  I hung it over the fence. it will be very hard at get the mattress inside again.  oh well....

Washout Day

it is 7:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  I returned home last night at 7:30 p.m.; exactly 12 hours after I ventured out.  I caught the express bus to tel aviv at 7:30 a.m.  I reached tel aviv at 10:00 a.m. and took a local bus to the hospital.  it took another hour.  I was thinking about taking a taxi but the bus was right there.  I got to the hospital an hour early for my pet scan.  I was sent immediately to the nurse to put in a line.  he was the same nurse that butchered my arm a few years ago.  I told him so and warned him to be careful.  usually, they put the line in my left arm but not yesterday. after he got the line in, my right arm and fingers burned and I was in quite a bit of pain.  it was difficult to open the bottle of the dreaded white substance and pour out cupfuls. 

it is artificially sweetened and tastes disgusting.  I suffer tremendously getting it down.  yesterday I could only manage to swallow three cups.  I poured the last two out.  I felt nauseous and of course, had diarrhea.  it was pretty cold when I left safed but by the time I reached tel aviv, it was a heat wave.  I was supposed to be on a 6 hour fast but by the time I got taken into the scanner, it was more like 14 hours.  I felt ill.  my stomach hurt.  I was sitting on a very comfortable pull boy chair with my feet up for over an hour.  the heating unit was blowing hot air on my body.  the room must have been freezing because I didn't feel hot.  the scan was about a half an hour long.  as usual, I kept my eyes tightly shut. I didn't wait to get the CD. I couldn't get out of the hospital any faster.  they had an outdoor fair but I had little patience nor strength to buy anything.

I bought a huge sandwich and waited for the bus back to tel aviv.  I should have taken a taxi.  I got the bus and got to tel aviv at 3:30 p.m.  I was at the train station and thought about taking the train back to the north.  I couldn't really understand the lieder board and went back outside to catch the bus.  the train only takes me to a town that is about an hour from safed unless I transfer to another train and that requires another bus ride that could be 40 minutes long.  I got lost and couldn't find the bus stands.  they were repaving the parking lot and it was cordoned off.  it took me about a half an hour to get it sorted out.  the bus came and I was in rosh pina at 7:00 p.m.  I took a taxi home.  I had no more strength to catch another bus to my neighborhood. I needed to get home.  my dog was home alone for 12 hours.

I couldn't do much of anything today besides eat.  I was too exhausted to clean anything.  I did manage to wash all of my towels and hang them outside in the sun. I put them all away a little while ago. I am very tempted to go to the large supermarket tomorrow and buy the veggies and fruits that I need for pesach.  I want to avoid the crowds next week.  I have to go to town to sell my chometz.  I hate to take the time out of cleaning but I will have too.  I hope that I will be back on my feet tomorrow.  today was a total washout, literally.

Everything Gets Washed

it is 12:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  I got up at 10:00 a.m. this morning.  I did let the dog out earlier but then I went back into a deep sleep.  I went to bed last night at 5:00 a.m.  I did sleep most of the afternoon but I didn't feel rested.  the weather was rather strange. today it is warm and sunny.  yesterday it was cold and drizzly with the pretense of sun.  I went to services at the Sephardi synagogue and had lunch with my friends.  it was a long service.

I have to travel tomorrow to tel aviv to do a pet scan.  I know it is going to be a long day.  it will take nearly 3 hours to get to the hospital and possibly four to get home.  I am dreading this test.  you have to drink a huge bottle of sugary chalky substance which takes an hour to consume.  you then wait for about an hour until they shoot you with live radioactive material.  you then lie down for an hour and then you get scanned for about 35 minutes.  I usually have a bad reaction to the dietetic sugar in the chalky substance.  you also need to fast for about 6 hours.  by the time I finish it will be more likely a 10 hour fast.

I usually take a bus back to tel aviv from the hospital, but I think I will splurge on a taxi tomorrow. the bus takes about an hour or more and the taxi is about 20 minutes.  I usually get a taxi on the health insurance's bill but they are refusing to send me in a taxi now.  I can make my noon appointment, easily, but I do have a 9:00 a.m. appointment at the end of the month.  it will require me catching a 5:30 a.m. bus in a different town.  I will need to order a taxi ride and then take a cab once I get to tel aviv.  hopefully, it will only be once a year.

I washed two small dining room windows and two small windows in my blog room this morning.  I washed the dining room curtains and the seat covers.  I windexed allof the pictures in the house.  my eyes are on fire.  I want to run out and shop a bit but I am trying to stay focused.  tomorrow is going to throw me way off track on my cleaning schedule.  I probably lost a lot of sleep worrying about it last night.  I also washed the two Barbie and ken lookalike wedding couple dolls that I made for the kids' wedding ten years ago. I probably dusted them a bit throughout the years but this is the first time they hit the water. they are those truly flimsy plastic dolls that you stick on cakes.  they aren't strong enough to be played with.  the granddaughter tried.  my new montra is "everything gets washed" now.

postscript:  it is now 6:00 p.m. and I have officially stopped washing things.  I finished washing the four kitchen counter windows and the two screens and washed the bathroom window in the master bedroom.  it was moldy and dank.  all the screens are torn but that will have to be addressed in the future. I am tired.  i polished  two sets of brass candlesticks and washed several chactchkas and vases.  I have had enough of pesach cleaning today.

Almost Shabbat

it is 5:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  I have been cleaning out the kitchen closets all day long and tossing lots of stuff.  I managed to polish my silver candlesticks and my mom's antique dragon like candlesticks, too.  I used anti caulk spray on those.  I believe they are brass.  you can't find brass polish here lately.  I have been using lemons from the trees for years.  I used to use toothpaste on the silver candlesticks but today I used a bought polish. I didn't spend a lot of time on these projects today.  I truly have little patience to shine up the place.  I am tired and my body hurts.

I ran down to the supermarket but had no patience to shop.  I bought polyester cleaning rags and a 3 kilo bag of chometz free dog food.  I got to the bakery just before they closed and bought 4 spelt rolls.  they didn't have any fresh chicken at the supermarket so I will make salmon fillets for my meal.  perhaps I will go to my friends tomorrow for lunch.  it is a special Shabbat.  we bless the new moon and it is half way there to pesach.

I did more laundry this morning but it started to sprinkle so I took it all back inside and put it on a rack on my porch.  I can't play around with cleaning supplies anymore.  I need to make a bit of food and straighten out the kitchen so I will have a place to eat it in.  Shabbat shalom!

Back On Track

it is 11:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed.  it is sunny and warm and perfect weather for doing laundry and windows.  my arm and shoulder still hurt.  I did a bit of plastering this morning. the side wall of the window ledge outside my blog room/costume room screamed out to me for help.  the windows are  also saying :"clean me, clean me". yesterday I did almost all of my sheets and pillow cases.  many are stained with red mud, thanks to tiny, the dog.  I did toss a few.  I will use the stained ones for under sheets to protect the mattresses from further abuse.

the house has been thoroughly turned upside down.  hopefully tomorrow, I will put the kitchen and dining room back in shape.  I am tossing out a lot of things.  I just threw out a few containers of screws, dibbles and more screws.  a lot of these bottles and containers are from my son's store in safed and my mother's house in Brooklyn.  my son lives in Jerusalem now and I do believe that they sell dibbles and screws there. if I need the occasional dibble I will buy some.

my biggest concern right now is do I buy pesach dog food or not.  tiny has stopped eating dry food.  he consists on  rice and canned tuna and other foods that I share with him. for instance, salmon, chicken schnitzels or hamburgers.  he forages the streets for bread.  I will check the supermarket  downstairs, tomorrow, for the pesach dog food.  I will need some bread for Shabbat.  last night I fried schnitzels in coocnut oil.  I ran out of canola. I did buy a walnut oil for pesach so I guess I can use that.  I bought two bottles of palm oil for frying.  I didn't really think about what I was buying for pesach.  I was on auto pilot.

I didn't take into consideration that the kids were only coming for the seder,which is Shabbat. I doubt that I will be making French fries on Saturday night.  last year I had the kids with me every day and I made tons of French fries.  I don't plan on having guests.  my good friend is coming up with her daughter and grandkids for 3 days during pesach.  I won't be making meals for them.  they will be sleeping downstairs.  I usually rent the place for part of pesach but the neighbor hasn't asked me this year.

today is the last day of work until May 2.  I have been scavenging the pantry to come up with meals for the guys.  I've been using a lot of canned corn and tuna.  I've also been frying schnitzels, tuna patties, corn fritters and hamburger patties.  I've been making a ton of pasta, too.  I've run out of ideas and produce.  the mushroom barley soup wasn't a huge hit.  oh well.....

 I've got to get focused and make a game plan for cleaning.  I keep on skipping around the house and doing spot cleaning or repairs.  last year I tackled every room and didn't leave until I finished the job. I'm a lot more sporadic this year.  I am pretty sure I will finish on time.  I just need to stay focused. in the meanwhile, I have started binging again.  last night I hit the pesach potato chips and a potato starch chocolate chip cake.  the night before I scoffed down 3 bars of schmerling pesach chocolate bars.  I am out of control!