“…anything!” coaxed my sister.
It’s not for want of material that I took such a long, unplanned break. I traveled - to London, Stockholm and Istanbul. I met lots of people, had many fascinating encounters and collected blog-worthy stories (that I am thinking would also work very well in a film script ).
I also moved apartments - three times in as many months - and became yet another victim of Tel Aviv’s ultra-sleazy, uber-Darwinian real estate market. I am thinking of designing and marketing a T-shirt that has a red slash line through the word “landlord.”
I finally finished writing the second edition of City Guide Tel Aviv, to be published next month.
Oh yes, and I also gave up my pack-a-day cigarette habit. Cold turkey! Biggest accomplishment of my life. I swear.
Most of all - and here we have a little bit of uncharacteristic true confessions (well, there is that claim that one’s blog is like one’s home; so do come in and gather ’round, dear readers) - I have been a woman on the verge for several months. You know how life sometimes gets to you, and you feel as though you are always about to have an anxiety attack, you can’t sleep properly and you can’t see the difference between a major crisis and a small problem? When you forget to return phone calls, send emails and pick up packages at the post office? When you miss deadlines and can’t work up the self-discipline to organize your monthly bills for the accountant? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please hug yourself, whisper a prayer to your deity or spiritual entity of choice, and skip to the next paragraph.
Anyways, I am feeling better now. It helps to have really, really good friends.
Last week I met one of those friends for the first time. We’d been sharing our personal lives online for about two years, but we’d never had an opportunity to meet face-to-face. We both work hard, we live in different countries, and - oh yes, one more factor: the nationalities…
So we decided to meet here:
And we had a fabulous, adventure-filled long weekend holiday together. Details of said adventures will be in my next post.
25 responses so far ↓
Hanan Cohen // April 11, 2008 at 10:48 am
Yeah, it’s really time that you do that already.
Liza R // April 11, 2008 at 11:48 am
Hey, this blog looks familiar! But wait! There’s something different about it! Hmmm… Now I see it! There’s a new blog entry! That’s what’s different!
Greetings from the Sunshine State, m’dear!
Fay // April 11, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Yay! You’re writing again. The pics are great. Intriguing. Can’t wait to hear all about it. And three apartments in three months plus quitting smoking is more than enough for anyone to handle. Glad you’re feeling better.
Aaron // April 11, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Moved three times during nervous breakdown season and quit cold turkey? I’m impressed. I knew I had successfully quit when five years later I took a drag on a friend’s cigarette and didn’t pick up the habit again. Glad you’re back. Can’t wait til the movie hits the states.
AM // April 11, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Attach photos for this post instead of linking them, please please
xoxo
Kamangir // April 11, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Good to hear about you.
Yohay // April 11, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Good to read a post from you. Whereabouts in Tel Aviv are you now?
Hi Yohay: I’m back on Sheinkin. Seems I just can’t stay away, even though the neighborhood has changed a lot (for better and for worse) and the rents are totally outrageous.
Lisa
IMB // April 11, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Yalla, let us have more “trucculent” news,,,
jfrancishill // April 11, 2008 at 9:40 pm
The body often speaks to the mind and heart.
We most often do not hear or do not listen.
Evidently you have done both and will never
have regrets.
Good to have you back.
forecasthighs // April 12, 2008 at 1:19 am
Good to have you back
Brian Ulrich // April 12, 2008 at 11:26 am
Thursday night I met someone who said he didn’t like Istanbul. It was the craziest thing I ever heard.
Wahine Toa // April 13, 2008 at 7:05 am
Yay!
perpetual refugee // April 13, 2008 at 7:39 am
I like the photo of the passports. I always wanted to do it with the money. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do away with the symbolism and just do it with the faces of the people instead….ah yes, the Middle East and its intricacies. Coming from a guy called perpetual refugee.
miriam // April 13, 2008 at 10:15 am
glad to hear you’re feeling better, & glad to see you posting again!
really, as someone said above, moving house three times in three months, & quitting smoking cold turkey would cause *anyone* crushing anxiety. i think you’re tougher than you give yourself credit for.
Bad Vilbel // April 14, 2008 at 7:28 pm
’bout damn time! I’ve been wondering where you’ve been Lisa! You know we all want to hear more about your travels, adventures, and the meeting in Istanbul!
David Rabkin // April 15, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Shalom,
The http://cityguidetelaviv.com/ doesn’t work under Firefox 2. By the way I used your photography of Lily Galili in my weblog on Russian http://rdavid.livejournal.com/99017.html. I noticed the credit. Is it OK?
Pesach Sameah,
David
Hi David:
I love it when people use my photos. Since I don’t read Russian, could you fill me in on the context?
Re. the link to the City Guide site: I’m using Firefox 2 and it works fine; maybe it was down temporarily, since it’s being rebuilt for the new book.
חג פסח שמח,
Lisa
Laura // April 16, 2008 at 6:58 am
and I was beginning to worry! As far as “being on the verge” - been there. I like to think that, now, I embrace my neurosis! (he he) Good to hear things are going better now.
David Rabkin // April 16, 2008 at 11:02 am
Lisa,
In the post I wrote about interview with Lily http://shrinkify.com/41i. I called her leftist
I cannot see the City Guild in my Firefox (with all 20 add-ons). I see it in IE, so the site is up.
Hag Sameah,
David
Crazy LA girl // April 18, 2008 at 4:03 am
Hello. This is the Mossad. How dare you break biscuits with the enemy. Is there Trinitrotoluene in those pastries??
Much love,
C.
Nicola // April 18, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Nice to see you posting again. I’ve been visiting your blog every now and then since seeing you at Jewish Book Week in London (I was there to support my friend Judah) and found your views very interesting.
It was a bit disappointed when there were no new posts, but now I know why I can only sympathise, I’ve moved house once in the same time frame (all be it to a new city) and I’m still all over the place. Congratulations on giving up smoking too! A major achievement at the best of times.
Best,
Nicola
P.S. If it’s any help, I CAN see the city guide using Firefox v2…and it looks great too!
adina // April 18, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Happy Birthday, Lisa!
Halla // April 23, 2008 at 7:25 pm
good for you!!
Bill // April 24, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Great to hear from you. I guess I need to subcribe so I can get your infrequent post. I guess I got out of the habit when this got quit. No worries. Cigs? Ha now try hand give up coffee! (More money for landlords?)
TTFN,
niqnaq // May 5, 2008 at 1:24 pm
It works fine for me, and I am on Firefox 2.
I would add a “sound:off” button though.
btw, this thing should be able to see ‘Niqnaq’ as a link.
Esther // May 6, 2008 at 8:28 am
Lisa, I’m looking forward to celebrating the book publication with you soon! And kol hakavod on quitting the ciggies.
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