Monday, February 28, 2011

ICKY day today.  Lots of rain, does anyone feel sorry for us?  LOL  On the other hand, I'm VERY excited today.  Things are starting to move along with our apartment.  Forms are getting filled out and things are progressing!!  YEAH!! 

Grandpa is doing much better.  Still no idea what he really had (it was not a stroke or seizure) but they are doing test and going to find out!

Roly and I went for a walk last night.  Back to Ace, it is becoming my favorite place.  LOL  It is totally different from the Ace at home.  The sign and building look the same but it is what is inside that counts.........right?  LOL  Then we tried a burger place.  Never again!!  It looked like a Hardees but didn't taste like one.  Their "potatoes" were good but that is about it.  Service is about what it is in the states........AWFUL when it comes to fast food.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Got exciting news tonight.  My BFF in St. Louis (Cheri) bought my car (my baby Eclipse) when we moved to Israel.  They really bought it for her husband Bob to drive.  I teased them that when my son Dustin was little he could not say El Camino and we had a friend named Bob who drove and El Camino so Dustin always called it a Bob Car.  Look what my BFF did.......

Thursday, February 24, 2011

This week was another pretty relaxing week.  We don't have final approval on our apartment but are fairly confident that we will get it.  We are going tomorrow to take measurements.  I don't really want to buy or order anything just yet, afraid that will jinx it.  However, it appears it will take about 3 weeks to get a mattress.  Appliances only a couple of days.............I want to order the mattress but what difference will a few more days make.  So we will wait.  I think we will end up getting something cheap that we don't have to order and use that till the "real" thing comes in.  I've not been doing anymore exercise classes.  I found out that unless you are a certain "member" at the Hilton, you have to PAY for these classes!!  $15 each!!  Who would exercise and pay that much for it?  LOL  So until we have enough points I will not be exercising here.  When Lisa and I went to the pool this week (twice now and I do have some sun) I actually got in the pool and swam ONE LAP!!  WHEW, I was outta breath........figure that is good exercise for me.  The pool is fantastic.  Wish we had better weather all along so I could have spent more time there.  It is water from the sea, very salty but feels great.  The water is so cold, but not too bad once you get used to it.  Just laying there, reading a book is so relaxing. 

Roly has now got the cold bug.  Hope he gets over it before work on Sunday.  I've got him on some medication and bed rest so hopefully he will be feeling better soon.

Poolside at the Hilton

This was taken poolside at the Hilton too!  Beautiful, like crystals on the water!

I have no idea what was going on here.  I was walking and saw this and thought "what the heck".  It looks like a bunch of big trash cans chained together to form a funnel for trash!!

I shared some of my lunch with the birds!

These ladies shared some of their lunch with a cat.

The cat wants more!

I just talked to McKenna on the phone; Dustin has her for a few days.  Man I miss that kid........and all of you as well.  Shalom for now!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Yesterday and today have been VERY windy!  So windy, I didn't even get out; and that is really windy as I LOVE to get out.  We think we have our apartment, just waiting for the final OK.  Going tonight to look for a mattress; it could take up to 21 BUSINESS days for delivery and we may not have that much time.  We might be sleeping on patio furniture!! 

Still truly loving Tel Aviv; would consider another assignment here after this one is up.  Then again, ask me in 2 to 4 years.  Miss all my STL family and friends!!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Another great day in Tel Aviv.  Had brunch with Chuck and Lisa then Lisa cut our hair and I helped Chuck with his expense report.  Then did Roly's expense report and then Skyped with my BFFs Cheri and Sharon.  It is always so nice to hear and see my friends and family back in STL!!  Went to Mexicana for dinner with Chuck and Lisa then to Design Center.  It is a mall with lots of high dollar stores.  A little rich for my blood but it was some pretty cool stuff.  We actually did find a mattress we want and will probably get.  It was not any more expensive than in the states and it is a very nice one.  Unfortunately delivery takes about 21 BUSINESS days.  We might be sleeping on an air mattress until it gets here...........LOL.  I will probably look at some other Serta/Seely stores before making the purchase, if I can find them.  They are hard to come by.  And they don't really have any king size mattresses here; the biggest is a queen and it is not as big as a queen in the states.  Ahhh, the life in Tel Aviv.  Miss you all!!

Friday, February 18, 2011

I've not done much posting this week, it was a fairly slow (and a little depressing) week for me.  Chuck and Lisa went to Rome so while Roly was at work, I was alone.............ALL ALONE!!  On Sunday we told the landlord of the apartment we REALLY wanted to "get lost".  He was being totally unreasonable and would have made it a very difficult stay for us and possibly Boeing.  I was very sad to lose the apartment and start all over. 

On Monday evening (Valentine's Day) Roly and I took a nice walk to Mexicana and had a great dinner.  I'd been wanting to take him but could never find the place again.  Well, I finally saw it again when I was out shopping and made note of the cross sections and we walked right to it.  We both really enjoyed it.

On Wednesday evening, our friends from St. Louis, Jerry and Cele Stolin (they went to Cabo with us) came to Tel Aviv on a group tour with their church and we had dinner with them.  Took them to our favorite steakhouse, White Hall.  They brought me some hairspray from the USA!!  YEAH!!!  It was so good to see them, a bit of home here in Tel Aviv.

Today Roly and I went and saw 5 more apartments; THE LAST ONE WAS THE ONE!!  It is almost exactly like the first one we wanted but BETTER.  This one has full closets in every bedroom, all the lighting fixtures are in and most of the appliances.  Also, we are right below Chuck and Lisa.  We are told this landlord is much easier to work with and we "could" be able to move in March 1.  We love the Hilton but are ready to get out!! 

Stolins at White Hall in Tel Aviv

All in all this turned out to be a wonderful week.  We are planning to get some pool time tomorrow!  Miss you all!!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Nothing exciting today; I hit Dizengoff ALONE!!  Went down Arlozorof, then to Ben Yehuda, then Dizengoff and back up Dizengoff to Arlozorof!!  YEAH Sherri.  Started reading a new book, then had dinner with Roly, his boss and 3 other Boeing guys.  We went to Goocha.  The guys all got a liter of muscles and fries; I got seafood pasta.  Didn't realize mine would have TONS of red pepper flakes.  I about died!!  The waiter felt so bad that he had them make me another one with no red pepper flakes.  What a difference!!  I had already decided to go back as they have a great menu with lots to offer; after the waiter did that I'm sure we will go back.  Beautiful weather again!!  Missing friends and family in St. Louis!!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

I just got an email from my mom, my grandfather has had a stroke.  Please pray for our family.

Center of Dizengoff Road

Sitting outside at Cup O Joe

Ain't he cute?  Outside of Cup O Joe

Recycle Center, they have these all over town.  This one was just decorated so nice!!

Roly and I slept in a bit this morning then took a nice long walk down Dizengoff, almost to Dizengoff Center.  On our way back we stopped at Cup O Joe (quickly becoming one of my favorite spots).  Now we are "resting" and will go out again tonight.  The day is totally beautiful, listening to the waves crashing right now.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Today Roly went with his brother Mark to finally get the socks he needs to help the circulation in his legs.  They also played nine holes of golf.  Can you believe that in all of Israel there are only TWO golf courses!  Roly had a nice time.  I went running around with Chuck and Lisa; we didn't have much time as everything started to close around 2 (Shabat).  We met Roly back at the hotel, we all chilled for a bit and then took a nice cool walk down the boardwalk for dinner.  I had a wonderful shrimp dish with sliced almonds and a slightly sweet sauce, green beans and baked potato.  Roly had lamb spaghetti that was also wonderful.  We also had a humous with chopped lamb in it.  It was wonderful.  Then a nice chilly walk back to the hotel and Skype with my girls back in St. Louis.  Thanks Cheri and Sharon for being there and sending me a piece of home.  Tomorrow Roly and I hope to go to Caesarea!!  Finally, just the two of us.  Chuck and Lisa are leaving for Rome.  This week will be kinda boring but I think I'll venture out on my own and see what kind of damage I can do :).  The jazz festival starts in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.  Can't wait to attend some of that. 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

No pilates this morning; I got up and got ready to go but was not in the mood.  Had breakfast in the lounge with Lisa then we hit Dizengoff Center again.  I'm truly amazed by that mall; it is endless.  Found some really good bargains.  I got three long sleeve t-shirts for $7 each and they are really cute.  Found a kitchen store with a "dish wish" (it is a VERY thick and absorbent towel for your dishes so you don't need a rack), a set of nice knives and a mixing bowl just like I had a home.  Then found a really cute salt/pepper/oil/vinegar set that looks "old time".  Not knowing the apartment style has not stopped me from getting things to furnish it!  More apartments here we come tonight!!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Another pilates class this morning, I'm really beginning to enjoy pilates.  Hung out in the room, worked on the computer, read a book and that was about it for the afternoon.  Went to get pizza and ice cream with Chuck and Lisa for dinner.  Nice walk, very refreshing, especially after finding out we are in the apartment hunting business again.  The landlord of the apartment we want is not being very flexible.  We will look at more apartments tomorrow for a back up plan.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Cat sitting on the table as we were shopping......they are all over the place!

Biggest purse I've ever seen!!

This one is for my BFF Cheri - it is on sale 50% off and is still $550 USD!!

Today started with a stretching class at 8:30 am.  I didn't realize I had so much that needed to be stretched!  Lisa and I then took a nice long walk to Carmel Market and did some shopping...........finally!  Real shopping, not just looking.  We both bought several things for our new apartments we don't have yet.  Carmel Market is like a flea market, very similar to Soulard in St. Louis.  But they also have local artists on Tuesdays and Fridays.  One of the artists does ceramic stuff for the kitchen and bathroom that I loved; saw here stuff the first time I was there and could not stop thinking about it.  So today I bought stuff for my new bathroom (again, the one I don't have yet)!!  Then I just bought some every day stuff for the kitchen, nothing fancy but hopefully it will last 2 to 4 years..........garlic press, lemon juicer, cutting boards, salad bowl set with matching pitcher, pizza cutter, potato peeler, can opener, etc.  I've got to do this a little at a time as it gets very overwhelming!!

Lisa and I finally found a place for a nice pedicure.  It took almost 2 hours but it was worth it.  We didn't get back to the hotel till after 6 (we left at 11.....did lots of walking!).  Roly and I just had dinner in the lounge then dessert with Lisa and Chuck in the lobby.  Then went to Chuck and Lisa's room to watch the Superbowl.  They guys could not make it past half time so hopefully we will finish it tomorrow.  It is taking all I have not to see who won yet and I warn everyone from the states not to tell me.  GO PACKERS!!!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Another lazy day for Sherri.  I slept in, paid some bills, went through our mail (we got our first shipment of mail....YEAH!!) and just read.  Didn't even go to lunch, ate leftover seafood pasta.....YUM!  Tonight we will go to dinner at White Hall for a birthday for one of the guys.

Dinner at White Hall was a laugh a minute!  Fun for everyone.  Randy (birthday boy) really enjoyed himself.  We had 12 of us and 4 bottles of wine.  More food than we should have, six desserts, 3 of which had sparklers in them!  Unfortunately the night ended with RAIN.........we were going to walk back but had to hail taxis!  Hoping for some nice weather tomorrow!

Mitch's Polar Plunge

For those of you following the blog that have also been following Mitch's journey, here is the latest.  He did the polar plunge!  What a great guy!!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Today started early for Sherri (LOL).  9:30 yoga and pilates class.  I think I'm kinda enjoying this working out thing!!

This afternoon Lisa and I decided to take a trip to Dizengoff Center to look for ONE LAST appliance store.  Good thing too because I found what I wanted and saved over $500!  Lisa and I also found a pretty good place to get our nails done!  And............would you believe DOGS WALKING IN THE MALL.  With their owners of course, but............dogs walking in the mall??  I would have never guessed!  I did take a picture but it was pretty far away so I'm not posting it.

Also, you girls would not believe all the HUGE malls here...........way more malls than in St. Louis.  It is amazing and so much fun!!

Finished off the evening at Lucca's in Hertzilya.  Very good, enjoyed one of my first glasses of wine.  Most of the wine here seems to be very dry......but I won't give up!!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Front of Design Museum on Holon

Store with lots of unique items

"Ceiling" of building, sun shines through and creates a design on the patio.

Atelier van Lieshout "absence of design"

Yael Mer & Shay Alkalay "bin bag bear"....an endearing system to contain our waste.

Boaz Cohen & Sayaka Yamamoto - Fred & Wilma Flintstone of contemporary design

Julia Lohmann - the internal cavity of a slaughtered calf

Laura Lynn Jansen - a second skin container to conceal waste in an aestetic way

Dick van Hoff - collaboration with glassblowers at Royal Leerdam, the Netherlands

Pieke Bergmans - liquid glass sear wooden surfaces, taking their possession and design

Nikola Nikolov - rabbit composed of recycled pieces of wooden furniture like infants' beds and chairs

Nacho Carbonell - made from recycled paper, collected by color and blended to pulp

Today we went to The Design Museum in Holon with Mark and Sylvia.  The architect of the building is Ron Arad, a very famous designer.  The building is fantastic, like nothing I've ever seen.  The exhibition is from 63 designers and artists from 12 countries thought of as "post fossil" creators.  We had a great time at the museum then a wonderful lunch at Idi in Ashdod (a port city).  The seafood pasta had more seafood than I've ever seen!!

Sherri and Ariel

Sherri and Snow White

Sherri with Mickey and Minnie

Roly & The King

After returning from the museum, we went to Cinema City with Chuck and Lisa.  Did some window shopping and got my picture taken with several "princesses" just for my granddaughter McKenna!!  Roly had a coke with Elvis!!  Instead of popcorn for the movie (Little Faulkers) Roly and I got some "bread" stuff.  They were rolling out the dough, wrapping it around a tube (after putting either chocolate or cinnamon on it!) then baking it.  It was this big, empty tube of baked bread and so very good!  Movie was good too!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Today was very gloomy.......rained all day and a bit on the chill side (for Tel Aviv).  Roly and I met with the owner of our new apartment and took our measurements.  Everything I want will fit!!  Yeah!!  Now we just need the approval from his manager so we can order the appliances.  The apartment is even better than I remembered.  We can't wait to get moved in and settle down!  Eating out all the time and living in a hotel is nice, but it does take it's toll.  We then met up with Chuck and Lisa (they were looking at some more apartments) and we did some "window shopping"..........just took the guys to show them the appliances and furniture we had picked out.  We had lunch in the food court at the mall..........Sbarro!!  Just like home.  Came back to the room and just "chilled".  Think we will go to the lounge for dinner tonight and make it quick and easy.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Today I went with Lisa, Sue, Sheri and Emily to shop for appliances.  If I never have to price another appliance I'll be happy!!  What a trip......we went to Big Box, Ace and Ayalon Mall.  Had lunch at Cup O Joe.  I didn't buy anything but my lunch.......Lisa was surprised!  LOL  We then went to Jaffa with a few of the guys; they stopped to by jewelry for their wife's before returning to the states (good idea guys!) and Lisa and I got to model the jewelry for them before they bought it!  We all went to dinner at Aladin in Jaffa.  Very nice, waiter with a sense of humor.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Today Lisa and I did a pilates class.  What fun - worked muscles I forgot I had (Mitch would be proud!).  Then just spent some time in the rook checking prices for appliances........UGH, kinda getting tired of that.  With everything being in Hebrew, it takes a long time to translate it for me!  Had lunch in the lobby with Lisa and talked with her about doing her own blog and appliances (again.......UGH!).  This afternoon I finished getting my prices together for the appliances (YEAH!) and got confirmation that I can view and measure the apartment on Friday morning (another YEAH!!).  Tonight Roly and I will work on his expense report and then get sushi.  Then I will get to see our new car!!  Roly just got it this morning before work.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Today was very windy and a little chilly.  I know those of you in St. Louis think I have no idea what I'm saying but for here it was cold.  Lisa and I took a walk $27 USD!!  I bought two pair (one brown and one black) and Lisa got a cute pair with heals.  We had lunch at Fresh Kitchen; very good, the menu gave you the calorie count, carb count, protein count, etc.  The service was some of the best we have had for a cafe.  We did some more walking and had to stop at Cup O Joe for coffee and pastry.  Then headed back to the hotel as it looked like it would pour rain anytime.

After Roly and Chuck got home we talked them into taking is to the other IKEA.  This one had a much nicer store with a better set up.  We didn't buy anything but got some good ideas.  We did have falafal; Lisa and Chuck got hotdogs.......LOL  We then headed towards our new apartments and checked out the little shopping mall next door to our apartments.  Seems to be a bit pricey but they do have a nail salon in there!!  Lisa and I will use that first for pedicures!  Roly and Chuck think they will need to take weekend jobs to pay for our pedicures....LOL

All in all, another wonderful day in Tel Aviv............Shalom for now!