Spring in Spring Hill (aka Tel Aviv)

Its been a hectic month so forgive the lack of blogging...what shall I report on then?

The rise of the Canadian dollar? The rise of the cost of crude oil? The rise of Barack Obama? How about the fall(ing) of snow in T.O.? The fall of the U.S. Greenback? The fall of Hillary Clinton (it'll happen eventually, maybe)?

Whatever your choice, you probably won't get it at the moment...I'm simply far too busy.

Its hard to believe that Spring is around the corner, and in just a few weeks time, I'll be spending it in Israel. My journey to Europe is coming to an end and though a large part of me is rather glad to be winding down and heading home - there's still a large (possibly larger) part of me that's wishing I could check more of the continent out.

Influenced by Bill Bryson's writings on Europe and travel in general, fuelled by the fact that I'm merely a 2-3 hour flight away from most any major destination I fancy, done in by the fact that my wallet is stretched like no hide before it...I've just been made to come to grips with the reality that the wandering Jew must wander a little less this year, and so, with nary a sound, I have chosen to mark one my last major journeys (thus far) with a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

I've got loads of family, and certainly they're a top, top reason why I want to go visit - combined with the fact that from London its a mere 4:45 hour journey, you'd be mad not to go...but the true reason, the honest to goodness push behind the decision to over-extend myself financially, was that I could be able to have at least one (and in my case, my first) Passover experience, in Israel.

Those of you who know me, know I'm not a religious man by any means. I believe in God...
I Don't believe the devil
I don't believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up.
Don't believe in excess
Success is to give
Don't believe in riches
But you should see where I live.
I, I believe in love.

Don't believe in forced entry
Don't believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape.
Don't believe in Death Row
Skid row or the gangs.
Don't believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hands.
I, I believe in love.

Don't believe in cocaine
Got a speedball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Did you hear what I said?
Don't believe them when they tell me
There ain't no cure.
The rich stay healthy
The sick stay poor.
I, I believe in love.

Don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's gonna get him
If I don't get him first.
Don't believe that Rock 'n' Roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
Yeah, it spirals and turns.
I, I believe in love.

Don't believe in the sixties
The golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up.
Heard a singer on the radio
Late last night
Says he's gonna kick the darkness
Till it bleeds daylight.
I, I believe in love.

Feel like I'm fallin'
I'm spinnin' on a wheel
It always stops beside a name
A presence I can feel.
I believe in love.
Stop!

Sorry, a little U2-based rant in there (that's God Part II for those who were wondering)

Anyhow, the thought that I can be in the Holy Land, in the place our ancestors were trying to get to, so hard, so desperately, the place that we today are fighting so hard to hold onto, it just somehow seems fitting to me - it'll be strange not to be at home with my immediate family and friends, lest we forget the Chez Litowitz ritual (which I'm happy to say I've made it out to for the past 14 years, so sad the streak is broken, seriously)...but I think it'll be ok - I'll still have family, and I think a little bit of some extra spiritualism that week (or the three that I'll be there for anyways...)

As for the other bits n' bobs...work's going well, the dating - may have just picked up a notch - going out on Saturday with my Prague Pick-Up....ahhh Prague...a city built by visionaries of architecture, wonderment and a lil' sheer luck that it didn't get destroyed to shit in WWII.

That'll be a story for another time - soon, I promise indeed...for now I must lay my head down to sleep...

Just want you to know I haven't forgotten you, my reader(s)!


Done.
Peace.

EM

PS - as a pure asides, it looks (sadly, very, very sadly) that I'll be unsuccessful in planning a visit to Ireland - so, I propose a future trip - an homage of sorts to Potatoes, Blarney, Guinness and Celtic Music (oh, and um..a lil' U2-age on the sides) - who's in/out/up for a laugh???