fuck the pain away

today was ulpan. i think i'm getting the hang of it even more, although it keeps getting harder. got home with enough time to read a very disturbing email from a very good friend of mine. one that got me upset. one that i was upset enough to write a very upsetting email in reply. some shit is going on with said friend, and i don't know what to do about it. but i digress.

went to work and called applicants to remind them to pay their deposit for birthright. my brother just finished his application so al and i called him for his interview. al put on this devastatingly hilarious lisp and asked eddie all the pertinent questions, which he answered in earnest, until he heard me dying laughing in the background. my favorite was when al asked him, deadly serious, if he had any siblings with any beautiful qualities. he said, "only my sister and she has a beautiful smile". i melted! what a doll. i miss that buddy. but i'm so fucking excited that he's coming here. and i'm glad everyone is OK in texas that i know, although IKE is causing some damage. i'm keeping them in my thoughts.

i was super gassy at work tonight, and couldn't stop laughing about it to save my life. i'm 8 years old, BTW. so on the way home in the cab, we asked yaacov how to say 'fart' in hebrew. it's NOD (that's the dirty version). i can't pronounce the clean one anymore. then i tried to explain 'furries' to al and i almost peed my pants laughing. i swear, i laugh so much every day that it must be good for my body. i'm convinced. and all the walking i do. it's perfect ('mushlam')!

however, once we got home eric and rayna met us outside to tell us that one of our other roomates, bob*, was drunk and throwing up in his bed. we've suspected since the program started that this kid has a drinking problem and it has been causing issues since the very beginning. tonight, though, was the straw that broke the camel's back. al brought him a bowl and tried to get him to drink water, but he was spouting nonsense and had a huge cut on his head. so we called naama, to take him to the hospital. as soon as she got there, he knew he was being taken to the hospital, but would have none of it. he got up and dressed, but refused to go, getting very angry and sarcastic. he was really being a shithead to naama, and the rest of us for trying to make him go to the hospital. he insisted that he was fine. he was saying some very toxic things to everyone, but acting as he was being persecuted for simply being drunk, not realizing the severity of his words and actions, which fluctuated between levels of offensiveness, rarely bordering on abusive. but that was serious enough. he didn't end up going to the hospital, but there are several people in this house to whom alcoholism is a familiar and very sensitive and personal topic. so tonight was very emotional for many people. i tried to calm the vibes, but something is going to change after tonight. i don't know how or what, but something. mike needs help. and this is not the time, place, nor program for him. that's my opinion anyway. he's not ready.

after things had died down a bit, i called my dad and talked to him. i felt bad because i was distracted but i needed to check about my aunt who lives in houston. everything seems to be fine and i was really nice to hear his voice. also, my best friend marissa video chatted with me for the first time since i got here. so i was able to show her the house and try to convince her to come on birthright while i'm here. i really hope she does it. shiiiiit. also, al and my birthright friend andy is coming from columbus to visit egypt and petra with us this november. its gonna be sooooo tight.

going to kadima tomorrow. need to figure out how to work the cameras so i can teach the kids. and i need to email joan about doing the art-think program here that she runs in public schools in dallas. it's so cool. got my absentee ballot application so i can vote in november. also found out we are eating dinner at momo's house this thursday night, then going to jerusalem from 12AM-4AM. son't know why, but i'm excited to find out! more later.

love,

sally