This week Earth Day was celebrated around the world. For some reason, it went by quite quietly in Israel. I guess that here people think they have more important things to worry about. On the other hand, I think celebrating such an event is a bit hypocritical. I know that I’ve been thinking about environmental issues for decades, so how come people only bother to embrace the Earth so closely in the past couple of years? I guess it is some kind of a fashionable trend, but a real change would be a lifestyle change and not everyone is willing to give up their SUV’s just yet.

What brings this post about, is my spending a late Saturday morning reading The Saturday Pleasure (Haoneg – Hebrew), which had a green twist and some interesting related links. First of all, I found out that the hosting on this very website is green. I did see the icons before, but now I actually know what it means and I feel I made the right choice. I also found out about 50 simple ways in which anyone can contribute to a greener planet:

I went through the list and found that there are some things that are more relevant to me than others. (I promise to plant a tree as soon as I have my own house with a little piece of land). I used this as a bit of a checklist and realized that there are some things I do well in order to reduce my carbon footprint, and there are probably a few things I can improve. Here goes:

• I’m a vegetarian, which is much greener than just skipping meat once a week.
• Most of my lightbulbs have already been changed to compact fluorescent bulbs.
• I turn off lights and appliances when I do not use them, and I turn off the tap when I’m soaping the dishes.
• I recycle whatever is recyclable. Unfortunately, recycling facilities are still lacking here.
• I carry fabric bags with me and use them when I shop. I do take plastic bags sometimes, but they are always re-used as bin liners or something similar.
• At work, I make sure to set up the printer to print on both sides.
• I carpool with E. when possible. When it is not, I’m using my small car, but it is an old one and not very green. I guess I should use public transport more often, but public transport around here sucks and only works during week days when it’s not actually needed.
• I do a lot of things online instead of using paper-based services.

The list can be longer with things that I do, and there’s also a list of things I can do better, and that I will try to do better. Maybe everyone should compose such a list, and see how they can be just a little bit better to the world by changing their lifestyle choices just a little.

Life’s full of ups & downs.

The up side is E’s tourisiness trip which is reported to be full of exciting adventures. A lot of meeting with new people, seeing new places and learning important facts that will affect the changes that are expected to take place in our lives very soon.

Those very facts seem to be contributing to the down side at the moment. As more information comes to light, we learn about our possibilities, and taking into account the options we have at the moment, it seems that my ability to convince the American Big Brother that he needs to give me a visa that will allow me to stay and study legally in the US are slim. This calls into questions everything we’ve been working towards, which obviously stresses me out considerably.

The worst part is the pressure it puts on me and E. So much so, that earlier we even had a fight about it over the phone. With him being away, I can’t even say I’m sorry properly, and it makes me miserable. There are a lot of serious things we’ll need to talk about when E. comes back. Meanwhile, I miss him so much that it feels as if I have a big gaping hole in the middle of my chest. It physically hurts!

I need comfort food. Would anyone like to join me for ice cream at Vanilia?

So, E. is flying from New York to Cincinnati, OH on his tourisiness trip at this very moment. He has a very busy schedule planned for the next few days, securing our upcoming academic efforts by meeting important people in and around the university and by dealing with quite a lot of bureaucracy.

What started as a vague idea a year ago, is now becoming a real relocation endeavour. A very scary one, I must admit. Years after returning from the UK, I have finally started feeling comfortable with E. in Israel, and I wasn’t planning on leaving just yet. After years of wandering, I have been finding a cosy place in which to nest, with my cats and my belongings. I have been enjoying the company of my family, the people for which I came back from the UK in the first place. I am torn between the excitement of a possible adventure with E. and my need to stay in my snug home.

The hardest part is the thought about the cats’ future. They definitely never signed up for something like this. I wish I could just take them both with me, but it’s not that easy. Whenever I think about it I feel tears coming to my eyes. It would have been easier if I knew there was someone here who could take good care of them and love them as much as I do, especially in Willy’s case, but so far I haven’t found anyone who could take in a cat that requires a regular veterinary care. I want to take Sebastian with me, and I know that it is more for my benefit than it is for his.

I still don’t know how things will turn out. There are too many unanswered questions that still need to be figured out.

Just as I was thinking that everything was finally going well, the phone rang. It was the guy who took Sutin yesterday. He said that the little one gave up. He seemed to be sleeping and all was fine, but then he didn’t react, just stopped breathing. I need a big hug now.

There are good news, and bad news.

The good news is that little Sutin found a home. However, I feel a bit guilty. I gave it to a friend of a friend of a friend of someone at work, which basically means someone I know nothing about. What if he’s a mad cat killer? I’ll just have to call tomorrow and check up on the little one.

The bad news is that E. is away. He flew out to the US this morning, and should land in about an hour. Although he hasn’t been away for long, I miss him already. He is expected to have a very busy visit, and I’m sure he’ll have a lot to write about.

Sutin’s First Day At Work, originally uploaded by Deviant Brainwave.

Little Sutin (temporarily named after the street in which it was found) came to work with me today. He was the star of the office, and got all the warmth and attention a little lost kitten could ever dream of.

He is still looking for a home, so let me know if you can help.

Little Kitty Has An Opinion, originally uploaded by Deviant Brainwave.

The little fella in the picture was found yesterday in Tel Aviv. He is healthy and feisty and needs a nice home in which to grow up.

If you can take him in or know someone else who can, please let me know.

If you want to see more pictures, they are up on Flckr.

I’m taking advantage of a meeting to check if Opera Mini enables me to blog from my phone.

Update: seems that it does, but typing on the phone isn’t very comfortable.

It has been a long time since I last wrote about a gig I went to. That’s because it has been ages since I last went to a gig, and this is a direct result of rare appearances of worthy artists in Israel. However, the comeback was worth it!

Last night E. and I braved the tiredness of the late hour and went to see The Streets at Zappa Club. I chose to go to Zappa rather than the big gig tonight at Hanger 11 preferring the intimate environment of a smaller venue, and I was right.

Mike Skinner made the audience work, and the audience loved him for it. It was a direct and physical dialogue that including hugging audience members, chatting up the local girls and crowd surfing. Needless to say, the music was great. It included three new songs from the upcoming album which gave a very good feeling about what’s coming up. Taking this into account, it takes a true professional to overcome technical malfunctions while keeping the show going in full swing, and Mike Skinner proved that he is. While his monitor wasn’t working the show went on, and he took advantage of the situation to take off his shirt and jump into the excited crowd.

We had a great time, and it seems that The Streets did too.