Conversation with my husband

Three weeks ago I was sent off to a jobsite which is further away from where I live. This means, my commute is now between an hour and an hour and a half. This leaves me with hardly any free time during the week. During recent weekends I've been trying to study for a professional exam. Last weekend I fried my brain by finishing to read the book in preparation for the exam. I wanted to do something different last weekend, but was too annoyed about my husband turning down my suggestions. So I got online and reserved tickets to watch the baby Panda at the National Zoo this weekend.

We spent a wonderful day at the zoo today and I have awesome photos of the Pandas and baby sloth bear who has just been introduced to the public this week. He was cute as hell!

But this post isn't about the zoo or my weekend. It's about something much deeper than that. A discussion I had with my husband in the car on the way back from the zoo. It started about ten minutes into the drive.

YBrid: "Your book is on the floor behind me and it's all bent."
Mybrid [looking back and picking it back up]: "You heard it slide off the chair?"
YBrid: "No, I saw it earlier."
Mybrid [puzzled]: "You saw the book earlier and now you remembered?"
YBrid: "Yes. I just ran the images through my head and came across one of them."
Mybrid: "So every time you're sitting there, with no music on, you don't process thoughts/feelings/emotions?"
YBrid: "No. Nothing like it. I just process images."
Mybrid [quite shocked at this discovery after 13 years of marriage]: "So THAT's what you do when driving? I've always wondered what you think about when you're quiet, while I'm thinking about so many things that people said and how I feel about it."
YBrid: "I just see images and link them."


One would think that after 13 years of marriage I'd have my husband all figured out. I spend hours upon hours processing feelings and emotions in my head, while he links cartoons and images in his mind. There were a few times in the past when I decided to ask him what he's thinking about as we were driving, and he's always said "nothing." I always thought he was lying to me, because if you catch me at ANY given moment in the day, I can tell you exactly what I'm thinking about (well, ok, so what if it's mostly about sex?!). Now I find out that he is indeed thinking about nothing. It's all images.

Every so often he launches into a chronological outline of his calendar for the following day and it makes me laugh because he does it out loud as if I really need to hear it. But what he says makes no sense to me nor is it relevant information for my daily life. He'd say something like "9am I have an SAR meeting with Dave...then I have a conference call with the IT team in Seattle...at 11am I have a meeting with Dan to discuss the SPI report...." and he just goes on and on. It's almost like his brain has to release some audio announcements in order to make room for more visual information to access it.

Our brains are definitely different. I process feelings, thoughts, events, meanings, intentions, reactions, plans, situations, dreams, schedule, to do lists, emails, conversations. My brain skips around so much that with the radio on I often catch myself wondering "what on earth were they just talking about? My mind was somewhere else." Whereas my husband listens to the radio with 100% attention and when he reacts to something out loud I always feel bad because I wasn't paying attention and my mind was somewhere else. I read a book and within one page my mind has already drifted to something else entirely when I realise by the second page that I have no idea what my eyes just read. Ironically, everyone who knows my husband suspect that he has ADD, while I'm seen as the normal one...

I suppose no one needs to know what goes on in my brain, as long as everyone thinks I'm normal.

I know the feeling

Berlin, Germany (AHN) – A love struck swan has spent past three weeks flirting with a swan shaped paddle boat on a pond in the German town of Muenster, a sailing instructor said on Friday.

According to Reuters report, Peter Overschmidt, who operates a sailing school and rents the two-seat paddle boat on the Aasee pond, said the black swan with a bright red beak seems to protect the vessel as it “sits next to it all the time and chases away any sail boats that get anywhere nearby.”

He said that the swan assumes the boat as “a strong and attractive swan."

I feel for the dude. I think I know what it feels like to have a crush on a paddle boat and not have your feelings returned.

Evolution of Dance

I love dancing and that was actually one of three reasons that had me debating whether I really want to get married to my husband who hates dancing. I ended up marrying him figuring I wouldn't be dancing all my life. But I sure do miss it.

For six minutes of your time, I bring you the evolution of dance. Turn on the volume to get the full effect.

For my female readers

Find out your name in Russian [turn the volume on]:

http://www.callme.nm.ru/


Thank you, Peter from Scotland for sending me this wonderful link. ;-)

*#$&#ing spammers

I've been seriously spammed early this morning. I strongly recommend against clicking on any links posted by "anonymous" comments. Meanwhile, comments will appear on a separate pop-up window until I can delete all 70 spams posted on my blog.

And unfortunately, this means word verification is back. Sorry about that, folks.

Brief break

Am I the only one who was bawling my eyes out at the season finale of The O.C.?

P.S. For health reasons I haven't been posting much this week. Services will resume soon, I hope.

Toda la'el hayom yom shishi!!!

Seen at the British Museum in London

Hieroglyphs and the written record

SEX and HUMOUR

Many aspects of Egyptian culture are not often described in surviving writings. Much remained unwritten and the differences between modern and ancient ideas of what could be written or represented are clear.

Explicitly sexual motifs had a limited role in formal art and literature, apart from coded images or metaphors. But direct representations and refrences to the gods' sexual acts and virility did occur in sacred contexts. Sex between humans, however, was only represented on less formal objects, such as skethces on flakes of limestone. Funerary and religious offerings to do with sexuality are often uninscribed and so can be difficult to interpet; for example, fertility figurines in tombs have often been wrongly assumed to be children's toys.

Similarly, humour was not prominent in official records.

I apologise for the fuzzy quality of these photos from the Museum (you can click on them to enlarge). But anyway, if humour was not prominent, and the Egyptian who drew the picture on the right was not a comedian, I would have loved to have met the very talented young man depicted here.











If you can't quite make out the fuzzy image, the guy is giving himself a blow job! So serious question to my male readers, is this for real???

After seeing this erotic display and a few others, I decided to purchase a small book at the museum. Keep in mind, my trip to London was alone (no husband). I kinda forgot about the book stashed in my suitcase, and when we returned back from the trip to Australia my husband noticed it among all the other junk I had bought on this long vacation. He picked it up and opened it on one of the well-endowed erotic depictions. His reaction was, "Holy crap! The guy's got some serious talent." I grabbed the book from his hands, and said, "Oh, I just got this for the articles."

So here are some articles from the very informative book (click on the images to enlarge, not that I think that's necessary with the first one on the left...):

So I have a couple of questions about the second article (the one on the right):

1. The conical hat - is it really necessary???

2. "Contemporary written sources include erotic poems indicating a specific connection between the consumption of alcohol and sexual activity" - Would anyone happen to know how to say in ancient Egyptian - "DUH!" ?

They sure get around

Marvin the Martian is my husband's favourite cartoon character. The Highland Coo is something I've fallen in love while traveling in Scotland. Isn't this the most adorable cow ever?

So since then the duo has travelled the world, and I bring to you - photos from around the world. Starting with Chicago, Illinois, USA on the left and the London Bridge, London, UK on the right.

The Coat Hanger, Sydney, Australia on the left and Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia on the right.

Parliament House, Canberra, Australia












On the way to Canberra, Australia and Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia

You can click on the photos to see them enlarged.

Don't forget

This message is to all my male friends, married with kids:
Mother's Day is on Sunday. Don't forget the woman who takes care of your kids! Get something for your wife. She deserves something in appreciation for her hard work.



Personal message to a friend: "You can get your own damn drink!" ;-)

An Optical Inch

You've all seen commercials for shaving machines, but this one is particularly amusing.

Make sure you click on every option possible in the menu to learn about the Philips shaver.

Turn the volume up and enjoy the video.

http://www.shaveeverywhere.com/

Seen at the Sydney Maritime Museum

FITNESS TO SUPERFISH

Today body image seems more important than ever, certainly fitness is sought after and worked at by many. We no longer simply visit the local pool but are patrons of the aquatic fitness centre for auqa-aerobic classes, turbo spas and lapping workouts. We respect lane etiquette and are wary of pool rage.

Elite swimmers are promoted in and out of the pool as superstars, models of behaviour and the body beautiful. The competitive edge is stronger because millions of sponsorship dollars are riding on the performance and personalities of these superfish. With the help of computer enhanced images, the media projects their bodies as strange, hybrid forms...the swimmer becomes an amphibious creature 'from the deep'.

This is a photo of Australian swimmer Scott Miller with fish. Editors of Black + White magazine call it wearing the Olympic uniform of the ancient Greeks. Photographer John Davis.



This photo reminded me of a photo sent to me by my coworker, WL. For three months while working with WL I'd listen and participate in his phone conversations with his best friend "John" (who later became his Best Man at WL's wedding). Until one day I've had it and asked WL what his friend looks like.
WL then said, "I don't have a photo of my friend, but I have a photo of his iguana." And this is what he sent me... [face painted to maintain privacy]

And another photo from the same exhibit about the History of Swimming in Australia.

Craig Holmes celebrates the male body and its narcissistic reflection, 1999.

Photographer: Craig Holmes.

Have another drink

So last night I went out with friends and in the spirit of my new year resolution decided to try a new alcoholic drink. I ended up taking 8 sips from Bass Ale, five sips from Sex On the Beach (it sounded appropriate after a Blow Job) and a cup and a half of Coke to smoothen the taste of alcohol. Other than the taste impact I didn't feel any buzz or drunkeness (eventhough I haven't eaten in 24 hours by then).

I actually liked the Sex on the Beach.

My new project and new workplace are beginning to look like more fun for me. I still have some complaints left about. But I'm beginning to see the positive of working away from the office and all on my own.


Toda la'el hayom yom shishi!

Major accident

So yestrday I had been through a Major accident. These accidents are quite common around this area and particularly around the Washington D.C. beltway. Mybrid is scratched and out of shape a bit, and I'm just shaken. But I'm feeling good.

Why do I call it a Major accident? Because I was hit by a Major in the USAF (US Air Force). And this just begs to be categorized under Major accident.

I realised fairly quickly whom I was dealing with once I saw the sticker on his windshield, and when I saw his email address my suspicions grew larger. When I saw his signature in his email it confirmed it.

Now, since I have a huge amount of respect for people who dedicate their careers to military service, and I have a very special place in my heart for servicemen (volunteering at the USO in Israel for seven years does that to a person) - I decided he deserves a break. Not only was he particularly nice after the accident and apologised profusely and bent on his knees to check the underside of my car for damage as well as the inside of Mybrid's trunk, but he had even called his insurance company before I even had a chance to decide what to do about it.

By the time I got home, and checked the car with my husband, I've come to the conclusion that this Major accident was no accident and Mybrid can handle the few scratches on it. Not to mention it wasn't worth the hassle, time and effort to get it replaced and painted. I called him up and told him to have a wonderful evening and he can call his insurance company and instruct them to close the file. It was nice to hear the appreciation in his voice.

I honestly believe that what goes around comes around.

Several years ago my car was rear ended early morning on my way to work by a woman with kids in her car. When I got out of my car and noticed she had kids in her car and was most likely already frazzled by them, I told her to just continue driving and not to worry about it. About a month later I "touched" a car in front of me on the way to work. The lady had the same reaction and allowed me to continue driving.

I just need to drive particularly careful for the next month or so. I honestly don't want to test my luck and I'll be fine if I don't have any more Major accidents.

Mybrid had an accident

One month after our office moved to D.C., the powers that be decided to send me out to another jobsite. If you recall, last time I was sent out to a jobsite, Mybrid suffered a minor collision with a coffee drinker. It only makes sense that if I get sent out to another jobsite, Mybrid will undergo yet another collision. So today was the day.

Nothing major. Just some scratches on the back bumper, which will have to be replaced and painted yet again! As for me, besides some minor back pain I feel fine.

So I called my mom back home, who was in the midst of celebrating Israel's Independence Day and requested that she find me a bumper sticker in Hebrew that says: "Tafsikoo lidfok oti!" which in a literal translation to English means - "stop hitting me," but the actual meaning in Israeli colloquialism is - "Quit fucking me!" or in nicer word "quit messing with me." At first my mom thought I was making a statement to my boss at work who keeps sending me to these jobsites, but then she realised the double entendere.

On the brighter side of life - I have moved from the cubicle farm to my own personal office with two large windows and more room than I could wish for.
On the not-so-bright side - I'm back to the same place where I worked for a year and a half with the commute from hell of an hour and a half to work, and two hours back. So our house move is now becoming more of an emergency.
On the other-not-so-bright side, I'm finding it very difficult to work at a place that brings back memories that I've been trying to forget.
To end on a positive note - I'm back with old friends and my lunch schedule is filled all the way to next week in an attempt to catch up with everyone. So that's pretty cool!

And now I need to go stretch my back because it's bothering me.

One Sad Day After Another

I'm trying to find time and strength to write the posts I want to write, but it's not happening.

Holocaust Memorial Day was last week. Today is Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers in Israel and tonight the Independence Day celebrations begin. It's a tough transition from national saddness to national celebration, but the purpose behind it is to claim - in their deaths they commanded us our life and independence.

22,000 Israeli soldiers died defending our country.

Today I'll be thinking of my best friends who lost their brothers in wars when we were only 12 years old. My thoughts will be with friends from my class who died during their military service. My thoughts will be with my brother who's lost his best friend in war at the age of 19.


Tonight my thoughts will be with my friends and family celebrating in the streets and enjoying the celebrations of Independence Day.

To learn more about it click here.

Happy 58th Birthday, ISRAEL!