| After Masada, we hiked up David Falls, and then on to the Ein Gedi Spring |
| Friday morning hop in a rental car and off to the Dead Sea. Only an hour and a half from Tel Aviv. Easy peasy. The Dead Sea & Ein Gedi Kibbutz 21-23 February 2020 |
| From the top the sky and light and clouds looked heavenly. And after shots at the bottom looking up, in full daylight. Adorable Ibex spotted too. |
| And then up at 4.30 to climb Masada at sunrise. We made it to the top in 30 minutes and in time to watch the sunrise. Enjoyed the views and I always feel close to Omar. He died at the same time I climbed Masada at sunrise for the first time, and I also came back and left his ashes there. Hi Omar |
| Shalom from Israel Joe's first trip, I was worried that I had built it up too much and his expectations would be crazy high. But it was really a lovely - we did A LOT - trip...until the last day when he woke up sick. Tel Aviv, Israel 19-24 February 2020 Our early morning coffee at the Yam, my home away from home in Tel Aviv, I love the Yam staff, they are like family. Coffee, views, power walk along the seaside. Life is on hold :March:: 2-5 BBN - cancelled 18-20 Barcelona - cancelled 23-25 Bucharest- cancelled 30 Barcelona- cancelled :: April :: 1-2 Barcelona - cancelled 13-16 Grenoble - cancelled 21-23 Tel Aviv - cancelled ::May:: 13-15 San Diego - cancelled ::June:: Pride Month Milan Pride 27 San Diego - cancelled 16-17 | Sofia - cancelled :: July :: Zaven's graduation! 1-4 Valencia, Spain with Stephanie, Christian and boys | TBD 7-9 BBN - cancelled :: Aug:: 5-7 | Tahoe 19-21 Singapore :: September :: 16-18 | London HP2 22-24 | London | HP2 E ::Oct:: 5-8 O&E LV 12-13 Tel Aviv 14-15 Tel Aviv 20-21 BCN ::Nov:: 3-5 London Singapore |
| Bike ride to Jaffa, went to Carmel Market and had amazing food from Pita Panda. Salatim for dinner and enjoyed the vibe, sun and the beach. Tel Aviv & Jaffa 20 February 2020 |
| :: Israel, Quarantine Life & Baci 2020 :: March - May 2020 |
| Our amazing snacks, local Israeli wine, goat cheese, bread, tomatoes, fruit and of course dates. Oh and the view. Heaven. |
And quarantine continues. Illegal runs in the fields. Family yoga after meetings and before dinner. Bouldering on the wall. Teaching yoga virtually to colleagues. Target practice with air pistols. Still enjoying quarantine. 2 April 2020 Zeccone, Italia Day 39 of Quarantine Covid-19 Pandemic. A quarantine state of mind Quarantined. Like almost everyone, but a bit longer. Except for China. Self quarantined for two weeks from when we arrived home from Israel. Zeccone is near to the original cluster outbreak villages. We were sick and had covid-19 symptoms. Joe was very sick, high fever for five days, but unless we had come from China, or knew we had come into contact with an infected person. OR we were half dead they wouldn't test us. So we will never know for sure. In total, quarantine from the 24th of February until TBC - they said 3 April, but I also heard 15 April. Boh. Residents in Lombardia are not following the rules. So people continue to get sick and continue to die. The Italian government isn't testing enough. Some WHO or CDC person said, "You can't fight an enemy blindfolded." To be honest, I am liking quarantine as long as we can get food. The lines are rough. Waiting outside grocery stores until enough people come out so you can go in bugs but thankfully mostly our shelves are full. Enough TP but again we do mostly have bidets. As of today, they said we aren't allowed to go outside, unless to walk the dog or get groceries. Baci is still half dead sadly so can't walk far. This is especially rough because being outside is necessary. Not just for me, but for humans. We have been and will continue to run and go for long walks in the fields. They would need a tractor or four wheel drive to catch us. I have been doing a lot of quarantine yoga. I have also been asked to lead classes online with colleagues, which is really fun. I had been intending to create a bio yoga page and finally had time to do it - link also at foot of page. Joe is teaching from home. I am working from home. Zaven is taking university classes from home and working on his thesis and portfolio. During the day we are in our own spaces teaching, working, meeting, studying - our wifi is strained, but I can hot spot if necessary. After work, we come together, make dinner and watch movies. It's pretty nice. And, I love all the time to do what I haven't had time to do. Read. I have been reading so much, so many books, and audio books, it feels decadent. The house is very clean - and extra organized. The garden has a lot of pots full of seeds, ready for warmer weather. I am grateful to have work, a lot of people are losing jobs and income, and to be able to do my work from home. I am grateful that I am quarantined with my family at home and not in a tent in a hospital parking lot. Our oasis - and another bonus is that it has been sunny. Can you see Babaloo in the tree? He is so crazy. I am grateful that Av' is safe at home with his Fawn - I wish we were together though. I am grateful to be able to have time to make challah, light candles and hold shabbat. I love that Giulia and I can walk her dogs daily and she can listen, patiently, to my crappy Italian. I love facetiming with friends from afar, having time to connect. I kind of love quarantine. 22 March 2020 Zeccone, Italia Day 28 of Quarantine Covid-19 Pandemic |
| Quarantine yoga, bouldering and cats. Still running illegally in the fields, walking with Giulia and her dogs. We can work from home, have food, electricity and wifi. All is good. Q extended through 3 May. 10 April 2020 Chag Pesach Sameach & Happy Easter Zeccone, Italia |
| Teaching Quarantine Virtual Yoga for colleagues and Babaloo decided to join. He stole the show. Goat yoga. Cat yoga. This is seconds before he pounced on my toes. He's a rascal. 22 April 2020 Illegal field runs, yoga - handstands - still can't really hold them - more practice - and lots of baking 18 April 2020 Zeccone, Italia |
| Baci Leonetti November 2006 - April 30, 2020 This evening we put our beloved Baci to rest, the quality of his life for the past year had deteriorated, and even though he was still eating, a lot, and would bark at Amazon deliveries, he was suffering and no amount of antibiotics, cortisone or pain medicine could make him fully comfortable. We were not the best dog parents, inconsistent and indulgent, so he wasn’t trained well, but he was the sweetest dog, he loved everyone, and everyone loved him. Babaloo, Figilily & Fribble adored him and no matter how much they tried to make him like them, he stayed strong and continued to be surly and annoyed with their affections until the end. A Neapolitan street puppy, adopted soon after moving to Italy, Baci has been a family member during our entire time in Italy and I can’t really imagine our home, or life here, without him. He kept us company, he protected us, he ran with us, he walked with us, he laid beside us, he ate with us, he loved us…and we loved him. Our hearts are heavy, and a bit broken, but we are comforted by knowing that he is no longer suffering 30 April 2020 Zeccone, Italia |
| Cats. Yoga. Cat Yoga. |