The best of it

What I mean by this is the US, and what I am referring to specifically is Austin, Texas. If I am going to be in the US, this is a damn good place to rest my feet. I spent the month of December living large in Austin thanks to the generosity of my parents: facials, pilates, vespas, fish tacos, live music, even some quality public television viewing. Was able to visit lots of friends, as well, although not all of you, sadly. Spent time with the Ma and Pa Bonds in Arkansas, my bro Zack, and the parentals Rosenbloom even dropped by for an extended stay upon their return from a cruise to the Antarctic. Wonderful month it was and here are some pretty pics of how we passed the time in this land of milk and honey (and ribs!). Enjoy....

Here is Adam and my parent's God son, Owen, connecting through legos. Adam is such a mad gamer, who knew? Seriously, I brought a 1000 piece puzzle to Israel and he completed the whole thing in three days! No wonder his brain does so well with micro-biology and such. Here they are making a super big scary spider. Weird.

Adam, myself, and our friend, Bethany, the night before she moved from Austin to Portland, Oregon. Yeah for another reason to go to Oregon! Happy trails, Bethany.

Me and Erin, one of my most special friends who I see all too rarely. She is living and working in Austin these days with developmentally challenged kids, and raising two of the most incredible young women I know.

My favorite kids EVER, Cassie Rae and Zoe, seen here with their Vespa driver. These are my friend Erin's girls that I've knows since they were tiny, tiny and I can't believe how grown up they are! Totally amazing kids, I should be so lucky.



Here is my mom in her cute coat from Adam's sister, Nancy's, place of employment in NYC: Rag and Bone. Her employers are so impressed with Nancy and her sense of style that a new coat aptly called, The Nancy, will hit stores soon. Thank goodness for sisters with style!

Adam had been in the country for less than 48 hours when I made him get in the car so I could drive the ten hours to Arkansas so we could spend Christmas with the Arkansas side of my family. We had some good books on tape, enjoyed some road-side bar-b-q and Starbucks. Upon arrival we were greeted by a real, authentic Christmas dinner complete with cranberry sauce, pecan pie, and dressing. We spent some quality time with my Dad and my Grandmother: she and I looked through old photos dating back to when she lived in Czechoslovakia and Adam watched Oprah with two ex-Marines and my Dad. Then 48 hours later, turned around and drove back the 10 hours to Austin. Adam, you are a good good sport!

This is the view from my Grandmother's front porch. This view brings me home, every time. Its wonderful that there are some things in life that remain constant. Thank goodness for them.

All I need to say here is, what the hell? Yes, I am from the South and this is what some people spend their time working towards. Imagine!

We were able to pass some time, albeit brief, with some of our buddies passing through town. Here are Phil and Alicia, Adam's debate partner from high school and his divine fiancee, who live in DC. They are getting hitched in Austin in March, hope to be there with you!

Mom and Sam did some very fancy holiday party rounds this season. Here they are all dolled up for a holiday fundraiser for a local children's hospital, "Austin's Dancing With the Stars". They are gorgeous, no?
On a sunny Saturday (is there anything other than that in Texas in December?) we headed out to hill country to this phenomenal weekend house and a holiday party. The event was attended by many of Austin's art-elite, as the home is owned by the Director of one of Austin's premier art museums, and two of his business partners. It has three bedrooms, spread out at the corners of the house to maximize privacy. The main room, seen here, is a huge screened in porch with an indoor fireplace, and an incredible pool with a rope swing separates the buildings. The space inspires open, rustic, and industrial vantages points from which to view the live oak trees surrounding the structure. Lovely, lovely, lovely.


Hurray for family size popcorn, its as big as my head!



Here is the happy family enjoying round 245 of breakfast tacos. Ah, Austin.

Here I can be seen playing the role of an internet kiosk. Can I help you? Please enter your password....
My folks dug out not only a Menorah for me to use for Hanukah, but a ceramic Christmas tree that my mother painted and fired in her previous incarnation as a domestic goddess. We put them side by side in Austin and every night lit the Menorah as the lights on the little Christmas tree came on. I would say the prayers in Hebrew, light the candles, and my mom would say, "hocus pocus" as her contribution for something to say for, I guess, the lighting of the tree?
Every trip back to the US is now full to the brim of glutenous culinary experiences. In Austin, a must-see is Artz Ribs. See me here stuffing my face with delicious ribs, dripping with sauce and lots of fatty goodness. I was mostly successful at eating a taco everyday and there is an entire blog dedicated to those tacos in the works, check your local listings.

Every winter my Mother's older brother, my Uncle Jay and his wife, Mary, drive their RV down from the arctic in North Dakota to "winter" in south Texas. I was lucky enough this year to be around as they passed through and was able to spend some time with them. My Aunt Mary made, by hand, my baby blankets when I was little. Isn't that amazing?



Here are Adam and one of his best buddies, Alex, who came all the way from Winnipeg to spend New Year's with us. Yes, we are getting some nice US-sized bellies on us. Time to head back to the middle east to enjoy our fresh produce, humus, and diet totally void of things processed. But it tastes so good....
How sweet is this: my Mom teaching Adam to texas two-step. I love this one. Thanks, Mom, for loving my husband so much. It makes me so happy.

So that about wraps it up. We are back in Israel, where life is a little less pretty all around, but its home. Adam is back at school working hard, and I've already been to Cairo and back for a conference. We are looking forward to some upcoming visits, and to welcoming spring when she arrives none too soon for this southern belle.

We hope that you all had a bliss-full holiday, with lots of laughter, good eats, and whatever moves you. May 2008 be all you wish for it to be, and more!

Us: Adam and Sera

Big apples, thankful giving, and mustaches

Some pics of some of who and what we've been up to since early November. Sera covered over 1500 miles of the east coast speaking on behalf of COHI, shared precious time with some of her fave folks, and ate a taco or burrito almost everyday. Adam attended a mustache party while remaining committed to his daily mediation on medical education and holding down the fort in Be'er Sheba. The happy couple will be reunited stateside in Austin in just 19 short days. We aren't counting or anything. Stay tuned for more news from the front.....

Halloween passed in full force in Be'er Sheba with a Mustache Contest and Party. The men in Adam's program all shaved their faces clean and then refrained from shaving for three weeks. The contest was held on Halloween when the contestants groomed their facial hair and donned a costume maximizing the affect. Here are some of them looking, well, sketchy.


From DC Sera went to NYC where she stayed with Helen, Sean, and little happy Ezra. Here are mom and baby: bliss seems to be their regular state of existence when both are fed, dry, and snuggled up to one another. We should all be so lucky!

Brad, Brad, The Chocolate Man, was in NYC while Sera was there. They are seen here after being briefed by a local pan-handler about the importance of a certain electronic sign in Union Square. Yes, we then paid the obligatory dollar for this little piece of wisdom.

North about an hour of NYC Sera visited Sarah, Mike, and Reily enjoying an inner sense of calm these days. There seems to be a power in motherhood that inspires a greater sense of purpose, contentedness, and grace in my friends these days. What a gift, and I feel so blessed to have glimpsed this in you sharing in the glow of it for a short while.

Sera spent a bit of time in this Tibetan Buddhist Monetary outside if Ithaca, NY. While she was in attendance hunting season began. While sitting, the sound of gunshots peppered the air. A surreal experience, really, providing a profound glimpse into sound, seasons, and perception.

Sera passed day full of thanks and giving with Joel's family in West Hartford. In attendance: Nancy Rosenbloom, Sera and Jordyn Bonds, Eric and Joel Roston, Karen and Madeline (Eric's family), Karen's parents, and another couple. The weekend was hosted by Bonnie and Jay Roston and it was wonderful!

Here is the dining room, isn't that tree in full force outside the window incredible?

No holiday is complete without boardgames. Here are Joel, Jordyn, Jay, and Nancy playing Monopoly. The game went long into the night, and I don't remember who won. I do know that Nancy surprised everyone with her cut-throat ways and her ability to broker deals. I always say that this little lady is more than she appears!


Adam passed Thanksgiving in Be'er Sheba with a deep-fried Turkey, 75 medical students and their families, and a lot of good cheer. This dinner was hosted by our neighbors, and you can see here many of the exhausted medical students gorging themselves and having a good, good time.


On Sera's way back down south to DC she was in Boston where she spent some time with some incredibly committed COHI supporters who also happen to be some of her fave people. Here she is eating her vegetables like the good girl that she is.

She also glimpsed the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. She also enjoyed a night with Jojo (recently transplanted from Venezuela), Nancy, and Sweet Honey in the Rock at Carnegie Hall. Soul food, for sure!

The capital steps

Sera arrived in DC for her first step of the east coast speaking tour for COHI. Our families, parts of them anyway, joined her for the awards ceremony and a few days of Pate-Rosenbloom-Bonds fun in this lovely capitol city. Here are some pics for your review. Next stop: NYC!

Sam and Stephen, two of three of our dads.

Sam, Sera, and Connie (Sera's Mom)

Sera's gorgeous siblings, Jordyn and Zack

The family minus Connie and plus Sherwood and Andrew

Connie, Stephen, Miriam (Adam's Mom) and pretty Zack

Sera and her her broken clock award. Don't worry, BUSPH is sending her a new one!


Again, the family minus Connie plus our Arkansas friends Andrew and Sherwood.

NPR, ah, Sera and Adam's holy shrine.

The Pates surprised the family with tickets to The Police that were playing just across the street from BUSPH awards dinner. We totally rocked out, it was soooooooooo cool!

Birthday Boy turns 27!

Its true, Adam is 27 years young! We had a fabulous dress up party last Friday night where everyone came all dolled up. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment. We also put out photos from the wedding for folks who wanted to attend, but couldn't be there. You will also see here the Tibetan Prayer scarves from the wedding made another appearance~ always a hit!

I encourage you to pay special attention to the disproportionate number of mustaches here. The medical students are having a mustache party, and the judging will take place next week. Cast your vote!

Here are some of the evening's lovely ladies. The one on the far left, our neighbor Alice, is 4 months pregnant!



Some of the men and their facial hair....


Adam's brother, Jonas, and his wife Nava came down from Jerusalem for the party. Thanks for coming, you two!
Adam and his trick candles.....

Happy birthday, Adam. May all of your wishes come true!

Tired dogs

I am referring here to our feet, of course. We covered miles and miles of sand in the last few days: up to Bet Shemesh for Shabbat, all around Jerusalem, over to Ramallah, and back to Be'er Sheba. We love Adam's weekends when he isn't drowning in something mundane like Cardiology and we took full advantage of that this weekend. These days won't last forever, or so the third year medical students keep telling us, so we are living them up.

Adam and I's friend, Laura, is in the country visiting from DC. A good friend of hers, Tamar, lives up north near Jerusalem and they kindly offered to host us on their quiet mokshav (a variation of a kibbutz) where we were wined and dined.

There is a real advantage to hanging out with women about to give birth: they are nesting and HAVE to cook until they just cook anymore! Tamar is 71/2 months pregnant, is simply radiant, and channels Martha Stewart. I am talking about homemade pumpkin lasagna and chocolate cupcakes with marshmallow fluff inside. Oh, did I mention the espresso machine with fancy foamed milk? Those of you living in corners of the world where you can pop over to a cafe on any given day and find such luxuries won't understand what it does for a spirit to have such warm, comfortable, fall foods arrive seemingly out of nowhere. We also did some wandering on the Israel National Trail that runs head to toe of Israel, enjoying a pleasant fall day here. Sans any changing leaves or maple syrup but enjoyable just the same.



We also did some wandering around Jerusalem, lots and lots of wandering. Here are some cool pics of what happens to an ancient city when Tommy Hillfiger comes to town. Could be worse, for sure! Its the price we pay to have some fashion available to us that didn't just wander in from some recently dissolved eastern block state.
We went from Jerusalem to Ramallah for a meeting with COHI's Palestinian Coordinator for the coexistence project I am working on here. Its a super modern city full of helpful people, wireless internet, and dudes on the corner selling tea. Here is a shot of the downtown artery leading to-away from the city center. The photo was taken from a comfortable watering hole for resident ex-pats, of which there are many: Stars & Bucks. Nope not kidding. God Bless America and our addictions.




So after an uneventfully pleasant day in the West Bank we motored back to Be'er Sheba, and boy were our feet tired! On a totally different note, I've decided that I need a hobby so I am taking up photography. From now on I will be posting some artful pics on the blog every once in a while. Your constructive critiques are welcome.

Until next time.....may the road rise to meet you!

Wedding pictures are up!

You can now see all the beautiful pictures of the Vermont extravaganza on Flickr...

Follow this link to see them for yourself!

Enjoy!