So remember how I don’t like God in my yoga class? Well tonight it was very strange and I can’t decide strange good or strange bad. (which is similar to a nice or naughty in a good way philosophical conversation I recently had about Santa’s list) Tonight God wasn’t at yoga, but Jack Johnson, Amos Lee, Josh Radin, Norah Jones and even Elton John showed up. There was a new teacher...the hippie lady apparently has been replaced by tiny progressive yoga girl who obviously has to work out so much to keep up the strength to carry around her rock of a wedding ring. She was really nice, great class...more workout-ish less “om” than the other lady and I think that’s ok. But I’m used to being to tune the music out as background noise because it’s usually in another language, so when I can understand the words and even have most of the songs on my iPod I’m a little perplexed. And it was hard to focus on not falling over when I’m like...is that Amos Lee? And those aren’t the most uplifting songs either...could be a little downer if you weren’t in the right mindset.

I’m lucky I even went to yoga tonight and didn’t just sit on the couch drinking (which I am now). I announced yesterday that creepy happy Staci was gone and reality Staci was back at the office. I made it 2 weeks...that’s shocking in itself. And then this afternoon I was randomly looking at the US bank website at my account and noticed some charges that I hadn’t made. I almost chalked it up to random left over vacation charges, but something didn’t sit well. Trisha recently used a fraudulent ATM in London and it scanned her numbers and someone started using her card. I called her and said the matching pajamas were enough must we always do everything in pairs? US bank was great about the whole thing once I got to the right person. I explained my frantic story 3 times and each time they’re like...oh you need the fraud dept...yes, they were transferring me to fraud...no this blah blahk, let me transfer you now. When I finally got to fraud I refused to answer his questions until he confirmed I was really speaking to the right department. They closed my account, they refunded the charges, they went through the charges on my account to confirm they were mine...office max – yes, victoria’s secret – yes....something jackup website – uh no. When I called the first website that had a charge they were like ok we’ll give your money back...absolutely no question about it like it happens all the time. The second site told me the person’s email address, their IP address (which is out of Hannibal Missouri) and that this person had my credit card number – front AND back, as well as my mailing address and full name. I was freaked.

I called the police department in Clayton and the officer told me the crime had been committed in Hannibal so I needed to file my report there. Really? I said, sir, it’s the internet....she could be anywhere. You live in Clayton? No I just think because of the rich people per capita you’d have better police service. He tried to look up my address and couldn’t find it at first....like I’m Elaine ordering Chinese food out of the delivery area. Thankfully we’re a low crime city. Finally agreeing with my logic he sent an officer over to my apartment to get a report. He beat me to my place and I come flying up the stairs (for those of you who know my stairs for some reason they continue to kick your ass when you run them...45 minutes on the elliptical – fine, walking up these stairs – winded, as Di would say) I’m sure I seemed like a totally lunatic...about to need oxygen. I explained my story and told me stories that just continued to freak me out more. Trisha was surprised they came to me. She had to hike it to the Chicago police station where she and the officer were sitting on one side of bullet proof class while some yokel on the other side was trying to determine if they gun now in police possession was loaded. The officer finally shot it into a trash can I think. And cab drivers were acting out their accident scenes with matchbox cars. Good Midwestern living.

I have to document everything and send it to him tomorrow. I ran a credit check just to make sure nothing new had been opened, there is one thing I can’t track down, but I’m still working on it. I checked all my other credit cards, everything else looked fine. A credit report is like This Is Your Life...ah, my old car...ah, my first house loan...one kept asking me to verify old addresses...who remembers all that stuff?

So I decide to go to yoga and the class really was great. But remember how the one chick would come around and put aromatherapy eye pillows on us when she turned on the God tunes? I loved those little eye pillows. Well this girl said she was coming around to do mini massages...yeah...massages...boo jack Johnson horning in on my vegging outness at the end of class. (tomorrow I’m doing reki – I’ll let you know how it goes – my old spinning teacher was just certified) She not only does a little massage, which I will be better prepared for next time and not put my jacket back on. She used this amazing, strongly scented oil on our temples. I smell like I’m somehow channeling a spa or an aveda counter. I’m afraid to wash my face before I go to bed for fear of making it go away. I thought I could only smell it but the cashier at Dierberg’s said...Are you wearing something herbal? She was loving it and said she wanted it for her room. I told her I’d asked next time I went because I want to know too. Whatever it is, it put me back in my happy place....literally....being back at work, credit card stolen...no worries...all I need is a little rubbing and some good semi-narcotic scented oils.

Christmas Greeting from the house of dial up. Which means this will probably make no sense because i type faster than this computer thinks.

It's quiet. Peaceful. I'm wearing my smoking hot pink track suit santa brought me...separately it will be fine, but right now I kind of look like pink threw up on me. My nieces got these cool vests and scarfs....grown ups got work out wear....hmmmm...maybe Santa is trying to tell us something. I ran on the tread mill today...what more do you want Fat Man?

But let me back up to last night. Remember I said Trisha was going to call and we would open our gifts together? Sure enough she called and we all got on separate phones in the house. We both had our gifts in front of us...we called it on the matching pajamas, but this year they are a cute plaid...normal. So all of the sudden we both get to the bottom of the gifts and we yell...It's a Slanket!! And we are laughing so hard and my parents are cracking up too. Earlier in the night I was talking about my trip and instead of the tour highlights etc. random stories were sticking in my head. So i was talking about how for a week straight we were laughing about the slanket....Laurie and Trisha do a great reinactment of the infomercial...Trisha was doing it on the plane on the way home and Laurie was enlightening our new New Zealand friends...I'm trapped in my blanket! If only it had sleeves! So yes, the slanket is the blanket with sleeves. They were literally sold out when we went on their website when we were in Israel. But somehow my father thought this was the perfect gift for every woman in the family and ordered them off of TV or the internet. He was quite the actor, never letting on that i was sitting a mere few feet away from my own slanket as I went on an on. Which made me comment to him what a great actor he was and that in knowing this fact now was going to start doubting all my childhood memories. Only my family. I loved it. So last night i was wrapped in my slanket, wearing my new plaid pjs that are about 2 sizes too big and roasting because the fire place was kicking out a lot of heat, but I'll take a little heat to see the smiles on my parents' faces.

This morning we went to mass.
It was the first time in a long long time that i really felt connected to what was going on (or stepped foot in a church beyond my trip). A lot had to do with I was just where they were talking about. The life size manager in the front of church has a mural in the window of Jesus' view of Bethlehem and I said...that's really what it looks like. Sparse dome roofed buildings all made out of the same Jerusalem stone, fields where shepards kept their watch that night. Fear not. I remembered the feeling of being there - the place where He was born. Touching the stone of the ground where the manager had been sitting. It was like there was a current running through me all through the mass. It was there, in my mind's eye, in the cave/grotto where the shepards were, I was seeing the same sky, walking the same lands. And lo the Angel of the Lord came to them...today a baby was born in the City of David...we shall call Him Prince of Peace, Wonderer, Counselor. As we said the Our Father and I held my parents' hands I wondered if they felt the energy too...radiating through me. I wish they could. It was the type of experience that they say fills you up. Overwhelms you in the most wonderful of ways. I do believe. The baby, the Messiah, the life that He gave to save my own. It's been engrained in me since birth. It's a part of my family, my childhood, my education and my traditions.

I know that I'm a lot of times flippant on the subject of religion, but today I believed stronger than any other day. I was connected. I was a part of something much larger than myself and it felt amazing. I haven't gone off the deep end and become all born again, but today i remembered things about my religion that are pure and good and not political and messy and intolerable and featured on the 10 oclock news. And that gave me a certain peace. A baby is innocent and full of wonder and hope.

It's not about being Catholic, because politically and logistically I'm probably not even one any more. It's about believing in something. To me it's still the bigger spirtual picture and it's not just about the Baby J - it's all things in our world, in our life, in our belief system that help us to grow, to learn, to live and to love. To be not afraid, to have someone to talk to, to pray to, to ask for help and to give thanks to. As I've been learing in yoga (and you know i get freaked out when Jesus shows up there), it's about being in a moment. Experiencing and feeling. It's our individual spirtuality that guides us and gives us peace. Opening our hearts. Opening our minds. Thinking there is someone out there watching over you when you don't know what comes next and just letting go and letting be. It's hope. And it's beautiful.

We came home from church and my mom made breakfast.
My dad commented how good it was. She said, it was your Christmas gift. And he replied, consider my compliment yours. We laughed. And i couldn't imagine growing up in a home where your parents weren't silly and good hearted and in love even 50 years later. Then I fell asleep on the couch...sitting up....for 2 hours...I woke up when my mom was marveling at how i could sleep anywhere. Then I went for a run and the family showed up later this afternoon. It was great to see everyone - they all were talkative and got along well...which sometimes is a toss up on holidays. It's a bit easier when Trisha is not home because then I'm the only city dwelling freak. When it's both of us they feel it's all "us" against "them" I believe, which is all in their head...and sometimes she and I basically share a brain which I think also baffels them since the rest of us are so different. Jess did go on and on about shoes today so there is some common ground...haha. So great day with the family. Nathan arrived wearing a BatMan Dark Knight costume which apparently came with his new tennis shoes. I got to feed Baby Joey and was given the advice to sit somewhere I could prop my arm up because gets heavy. Heavy is an understatment....he's 6 mos and in 12 mos clothes. He's adorable as all get out with his dancing eyes and can't help but love him grin. It's fun to have kids in the house again. Jess, formerly the youngest will be 17 next month. Wow. The food was amazing...making a note to go running again tomorrow ;)

PS my dad just called me in the other room to watch the slanket commercial....this is a good Christmas. I hope yours was happy too.

I got an email this morning from Brad wishing me a merry christmas and wondering since we had the day off if I was going to follow through with my holiday tradition of not showering. (he always remembers my traditions better than I do, like how ever year – literally – except this year, I’d gotten a flat tire on Halloween) Historically, today has been one of the few “ballcap” days at the office where I would sleep in and then shower before the holiday festivities began in the evening. But today, no work, so I replied....I’m sitting in a café in yesterday’s clothes....yeah dirty. And I was. My head was killing and all I wanted was Gus’s freaking pretzels, which was in very close proximity to where I was. Closed. Di and I tried to go their Sunday afternoon after our decedent Four Seasons Spa morning. Closed. Boo. So today, not only was I unshowered I was wearing someone else’s sweater because I think my wool blazer absorbed all the smoke from being out last night and made me want to hurl when I tried to put it on. I was sitting in Benton Park Café, the woman asked if I wanted coffee I replied....do you have soy milk? Yes, and then she brought me a glass of soy milk. Ick. We finally got it straight....coffee...with soy milk. I really like that place, food is great, good soundtrack and nice people. I was trying to focus on the RFTs article on the best music of 2008 – head killing, fuck it, I brought it home with me to read later. I loved the cover headline....We made you a mixedtape. That rocks.

I was burning CDs this week and made the 2008 equivalent of a mixed tape – and iPod playlist. But something is wiggy with my iTunes and it won’t pull in the track names on the CD. Every time a new version comes out I swear it jacks something else up from the older version I liked.

My head is still killing and I would take my migraine medicine but I took it the other day at work and was seriously high....and I have to pack, get a haircut and take him to the airport this afternoon before heading to the parents, so I think I need to be in a little of my right mind. (stop laughing, yes I do have a right mind, it just doesn’t always win out over the random thoughts) I was thinking on my home this morning that cellphones have made it much easier for people who talk to themselves in the car, like me. Whose to stay I’m not on speaker phone? My car has the phone built right in through the speakers. I could be solving the world’s problems on my phone instead of really just making bizarre comments to myself, usually about the music I’m listening too or singing at the top of my lungs. I could be doing a phone audition with Capital Records for my next album....how are you to know?

I had one migraine pill in my bag last night when we were at El Monstero and I told Rachel I would share it with her. Seriously, next time I see that show there has to be drugs involved. I did enjoy the pageantry of it all, and the burlesque pole dancers were hot. Interesting experience and SOO FUN to see everyone I’d missed while I was away and catch up!

In holiday news the Wise Guys are now on the other side of the TV stand! The star is still in sight. Actually when I was in Bethlehem they said the star was a comet. And I also learned that the Church of the Nativity is still here today because of the Wise Guys. There was a large mosaic of the 3 of them on the outside of the church (since stolen) but when the Persian came and destroyed all the churches in Bethlehem, they recognized the Wise Guys as their countrymen and left the church alone. Great story.

Trisha emailed and said she’d call when she got home tonight and we could open our presents together over the phone. My mom – the June Cleaver of Washington – still spoils me in her eyes by letting me open some gifts tonight and Trisha’s were shipped to her because she was in Cancun today for work....rough. Trisha said it will probably be matching pajamas, which made me smile because she’ll be right. And they’re not just the same pajamas, they’ll be polka dot or say Joy to the World on them...essentially pjs that say...Hey let’s not have sex. It’s actually hard to find just normal pajamas that are solids or with a simple cute print, it’s as if the whole clothing world has reverted to their childhood selves when it comes to sleeping. There has to be a happy medium between Fred Flinstone and Fredericks of Hollywood.

The post vacation, new outlook on life random happy me is still in full force. Smiling is my favorite. Work is your favorite...make work your favorite. Ok, I only have a few more days for legitimate Elf quotes. I think I just feel settled, like my body and my mind are finally in the same city. I LOVED essentially commuting to Chicago this spring and summer, but it’s good for me to realize all the things and people I love here in St. Louis too. Life is long and there is plenty of time for future changes. For now I’m enjoying my present...very much.

Merry Christmas eve.

People keep asking me...how was the trip? Amazing! And it was on so many levels....spending time with Noa, meeting her true love, meeting her true friends and seeing her family was worth the trip. Getting to know the Tel Aviv neighborhood where we were staying....floating in the Dead Sea, going to the excavation site on Masada, walking in the River Jordan. I am very blessed...I walked in the River Jordan, prayed at the Wailing Wall, lit a candle in the Church of the Holy Sepulture and the Church of the Nativity, ate blessed candy that we threw at Noa during her Mikva like she was a virginal float and drank blessed wine during Noa’s wedding.

The trip had many highlights before we even arrived in Tel Aviv –
Spending the best $200 ever to sleep in the Sofitel in the Heathrow airport for 6 hours and take a shower.
Getting locked in the glass elevator of said hotel on the first floor while Trisha was about to have an exhaustion meltdown and we had to pry our way out because you could only hear the alarm sounding IN the elevator...good plan.
Never figuring the lights out in our hotel room so anytime one of us went into the bathroom you had to turn all the lights on in the entire room or go in the dark. Outsmarted by fancy technology.
There were fancy Herme’ soaps and shampoo etc. I washed my hands then commented that is smelled like an old man from a yacht club just crawled into bed with us. Awful smelling like old rich people. Ick. That was an interesting start to the trip....all before we even boarded our connecting flight. At least here no one knew us, unlike in the Chicago airport where everyone was like...are you twins? Trisha, I didn’t know you had a twin. Oh you must at least be sisters! No really? You think she went from looking like my twin to someone I just bribed at the gate to take me to mini-ops? (the employee area at the airport) At least when we were around strangers we could just smile politely when they were mentally trying to figure it out.

I always say that in my life I’ve learned not to have one conversation in my head and another one coming out of my mouth. I learned this is not necessarily best on a long journey with a family member. For instance while going to our hotel in Jerusalem after a long day of touring that included the Holocaust Museum which was mentally exhausting she says... Do you think that’s a school or a library or a hotel...or a ......? I was sooo tired and what I was really thinking was...how the FUCK am I supposed to know? I DON”T READ HEBREW. I just say....Hmmmm good question. And those slippers....chhhh...chhhhh....chhhhh... that annoying sound as she scooted around. I confided in Laurie I was going to hide them or throw them away, she confirmed they were waking her up in the morning. Mom I’m sorry for all those times I did not pick up my feet when asked me to. I held my tongue on that until the last night having dinner at Noa’s parents when I knew she couldn’t wig out...much. The slippers stayed in Tel Aviv...in the trash can. But if that’s the worst thing, we’re all good. Honestly the worse thing was realizing that while we love and respect each other dearly I can’t have an actual discussion on most topics with my sister. She has very strong opinions, she understands everyone is entitled to their opinion, but she doesn’t actually see most other sides to things. It’s interesting because I swear you can see it on her face when she’s being like that....she turns into this other person that you can’t reason with. When discussing going to Bethlehem she commented that she didn’t believe in the violence and the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians...so I say....Well yes, Ms. Living in A Bubble, but just because you don’t “see” it doesn’t mean it isn’t real. She said I live in a bubble blah blah blah. I’m not sure when she became so inflexible and opinionated, but I blame it on all the practice she got during the election. And the best is her intentions are mostly good, it’s the delivery that needs some work. But we both survived, I held my tongue, mostly because Laurie was there and I could roll my eyes at her or make the imaginary shoot myself in the head motion which was very helpful.

I was shocked that even during our zillion hour trip home neither one of us killed each other. I think it’s because we were so sleepy and I was consciously on my best behavior to not aggravate her. Plus we flew first class from London to Chicago – you’re too busy either drinking champagne or eating one of the 10 courses they serve you to get into trouble. I love the seats that lay back into a bed, I get spoiled. We really had fun on the trip home. We read a lot and laughed a lot. When I got to Chicago she went home and I was so exhausted I sat at the wrong gate for a long time, then finally realized it. I made a few phone calls that I loved not paying $2 a minute for. Then when I was finally boarding my flight this crazy guy comes flying up behind me in line, cursing American Airlines – there was a gate change, down about 3 gates no big deal, but apparently it was this guy’s last straw....he claimed he was having an asthma attack, it was illegal to make those connections so close together blather blather blather. I checked my mental state....hmmm....calm. There was a time when I would have been holding my tongue, I thought in my head, Sir...I left Tel Aviv almost 24 hours ago with an 8 hour time difference where I woke up at 3:38 a.m., I am a 45 minutes flight away from my house, I have kept it together all day on little to no sleep. Sir...keep it the fuck together. He was the type of guy that he’s co-workers were totally making fun of him and he had no idea. (hey wait – am I that type of person!? Nah) I was very calm, eerily so. I think I used to OD on Dramamine....taking only the recommended dosage does wonders on your physic state.

Speaking of physic state, today I started my day with an email from McJen saying the roads were bad from snow and she would be late. Snow? Hmm. I looked out the window and there it was. So beautiful. I made my coffee, finished getting ready for work wearing my new favorite matchstick cords from JCrew purchased this weekend, which already made me happy, and when I walked out to my car it was the fluffy powder that easily whisks away with the windshield wipers (unlike yesterday’s ice). It put me in the best mood, something about a snowy day. Then I got that song from Elf in my head....I’m singing, I’m in a store and I’m singing....I’m in a store and I’m s i n g i n g, which was making me laugh. I don’t know if it’s the yoga classes I’ve been going to (went last night to a new teacher who decided if I couldn’t actually get into the pose then he would essentially hold me there, which was an interesting concept, but it helped me learn more and figure out what it was supposed to feel like), or if was the coffee I was back on after drinking only tea for several days but I was giddy today. I even was serenading the plastic cutlery I found in the office kitchen....spoons glorious spoons I think is how it went. The office went “green” which meant they were not reordering any plastic utensils, which is a great idea, except when you have your oatmeal and no spoon, so it was quite the pleasant surprise to find a draw full of spoons. Ah the little things.

So tonight even after a meeting where I would normally want to poke my eye out and having to sit in my car and sing Christmas songs until the ice melted off my windows, I’m enjoying a glass of wine and I still have a clear perspective, I’m calm, and dare I say happy. Someone I was speaking to on the phone today said I sounded...radiant....I wonder how long vacation buzz lasts? I guess since it rolled straight into the holidays maybe I’m getting some kind of radiant halo effect of happiness. And I do know since I did say Happy twice I’m sure my car won’t start in the morning or if I had a cat it would be throwing up all night...I’m on a vacation buzz, I’m not completely hallucinating or out of touch with reality....for long.

I must say this was one of my favorite Tuesday nights. You know how when you go to the winery and you find yourself dancing on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I always find that amusing. Well tonight is Tuesday in Tel Aviv and Noa’s wedding basically turned into a techno dance party. It was a blast....smoke machine, freaky lights...the whole 9 yards...all that was missing was the drugs (I think)...everyone was just so caught up in the celebration, the passion, the life. Awesome.

It was so Noa. I love that all my friends who have gotten married have really captured the essence of their own personality and relationship in their weddings. Because we had only met Noa’s now husband, just earlier this week, I can’t vouch for what was him....but this celebration was definitely her.

We have been traveling with Julian, an x of Noa’s and his lovely girlfriend Hannah. It’s been interesting getting to know them and also pealing back the layers of their relationship...they are a cute quirky couple who had been traveling together alone for many days before we arrived – I think it was great for everyone’s sanity that we formed this little troupe of travelers. So anyway Noa says she broke up with Julian because he couldn’t dance and at the time this was a very important element in a man for her (I don’t think so much any more). So he showed her....he is one of the top 3 dancers in New Zealand for this particular type of dance that you would see on Dancing with the Stars. Julian and Hannah did a performance at the wedding that was mind blowing! I thought for sure she was going to crack Hannah’s head open on the concrete floor any minute. It was fun to see this side of them, Trisha had gotten a preview the night before and was telling us the names of the moves. We decided Julian was like Superman, the geeky Clark Kent wearing his glasses and then taking them off and turning into this intense dancer, even the look in his eye changed. It was funny to look at Noa’s husband Golan watching this display, he obviously hadn’t realized - like the rest of us - how amazing they were going to be!

Earlier in the week at Noa’s bachelorette party Hannah was completely red faced blushing and wanted to basically crawl under the couch at all the sex related discussion....she said in New Zealand, obviously the had sex, but they just didn’t talk about it. And here they are this completely hot couple....one of Noa’s friends says to Hannah...no wonder you don’t have to talk about it, you have THE guy. It really interesting to watch the melding of the cultures and what the dancing and celebration brought out in everyone.

So much more to tell....but the short of it is SHE’S MARRIED. WOO HOO. Going to the Jaffa Port and the Beach....then to Natanya for drinks at Noa’s parents. We leave in the morning. boo.

Shalom Mikva

I am sitting in an apartment I’m sharing with 2 other Americans and 2 kiwis, which I found out means people from New Zealand. It seemed like a LOT of people on paper, but it’s been so much fun and really a great experience. I’m learning all types of helpful Hebrew and Kiwi phrases. Hebrew....toda – thank you, can – yes, sabbab – cool, tov – good/ok. Kiwi...muppet – dumb ass, spit the dummy – to fly off the handle, clucky – maternal. Very enlightening and helpful travel phrases.

It has been none stop since we arrived. Many many stories to tell. I’ve been terrible about writing things down since about day 2....between the exhaustion and having zero time of my own.

Tonight Laurie and I joined Rooti (no idea how to spell it, but it’s really Ruthy...and if you pronounce it Rudy Noa will act like she has no idea who you are talking about...Rooti is from St. Louis too, but we only met once on the day Noa left and strangely enough was on Laurie’s flight), and Iliat (Noa’s friend since she was 12 who is truly beautiful on the in outside as well as the inside) for her Mikva – a traditional jewish cleansing of the bride. More on that later.

Just an aside on Israeli driving. For any of you who had the life threatening pleasure of having Noa drive you around while she was in the states....multiply that by over 3 million cars...all driving like that. Surprisingly not a lot of honking...everyone just sort of waves and then does something ridiculously dangerous themselves. I liken it to nascar racing, literally, just choose the lane that’s going to get you somewhere quicker...going around a turn? Hug the bottom lane. Rounding one the other way? Shoot to the top. Seriously frightening. I’ve taken a lot of Dramamine since I’ve been here and have never gotten on another plane.

This morning we woke up and headed to Bethlehem. Three bus changes later we were finally on our way...it was almost as if we were trying to lose someone, but really there are just limited groups that go into Bethlehem and they are very disorganized. As we near the checkpoint we hand our passports to the driver...he has been speaking on 2 cell phones the entire time....one in Arabic and the other in Hebrew. Very interesting. He also talks with his hands and at one point is holding nine passports from all over the world OUTside the van window, you should have seen a van load of strangers’ jaws drop until he pulled them back in. You think oh he talks with his hands...or you’re waiting for him to drop them accidentally as another car veers by....or someone on a motorcycle is going to come by grab our passports, sell them and we can’t get out of the country...apparently stolen passports are going for about $50,000 a pop.

At the checkpoint a few bus loads of people arrive and we go to meet our Palestinian guide. Israelis are not allowed to go into Bethlehem, nor are their cars. It was debated and surveyed many times whether or not our whole group would be going to the West Bank on this excursion. There was fighting in Hebron just a few days ago. Trisha and I as the only Catholics felt better about it than the other Jewish members of our little group....Bethlehem in December....couldn’t pass it up. Laurie said she would not speak Hebrew while we were there, which seemed very wise.

We showed our passports again as we entered. We did take some pictures, but then they said it was an Israeli military zone so we were not allowed to. You go past the guard and you walk down this long gated in area, it has bars and barbed wire...and the cement wall we are walking past is filled with graffiti....Trisha has some great pictures from when we left. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Everyone was very quiet...solemn...no matter who side, if any you are on, you cannot ignore the feeling that at any moment something could happen out of nowhere and honestly I couldn’t tell one side from the other at this point. There are 2 vehicles waiting...our guide says...we can take 5 over here. We were a group of 5 so we went. We get into a van that says “johnny’s souvenirs” on the side. The driver offers us a piece of innocent enough looking candy, which I proceed to drop in my bag with a mental note to throw away later. We get separated from the other van load of people and Laurie says...does anyone else think it was a bad idea to go in his van? (with strangers with candy)

Well at this point, what are you going to do? We realize we are not with the other group of people any more. We are now at Johnny’s souvenir store where he just pulls up and drops off a cell phone to another guy (there are 7 million people in Israel and over 8 million cell phone – they talk on them constantly). So this small act of a detour on any other tour would not have been so nerve racking but we had no idea where we were going or who we were with. I’d gotten used to the Israeli accents and really had no problem when they were speaking English....the Arabic accent on the other hand was very very thick and hard to understand, it was like I was trapped in a bad version of some smarmy sultan movie, which did not add to my comfort level. Where are we going? The field of the shepards is where were headed, but we only realized that when we saw the sign and the other part of our group.

You really hate to feel like you can’t trust people, but it’s the reality over there....over here. And everyone has guns (Vadon – you would be right at home)...I was used to it in Israel....the Israeli army member who look like they are twelve years old with their backpack on one shoulder and their semiautomatic weapon on the other. We were on a tour in Jerusalem the other day and they just had them piled up like a big old campfire of weapons. But here in Bethlehem, the men standing around at 10 a.m. on a Monday had guns...big guns...almost every CHILD you saw had a gun....hopefully a toy. But this wasn’t the cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers we played as we were growing up...this was just grooming them for a way of life. A very disturbing picture.

The field of the shepard is where the angel came to them to tell of a baby...Jesus...who was going to be born. They should watch for him...and watch over him.

It was the start of an amazing day. Everyone is going to bed now and the typing seems very loud in this place. It’s a HUGE apartment on what would be considered the Park Avenue of Tel Aviv....we can walk to amazing restaurants (I had falafel today....YUM!!) and shops and tomorrow we are going to see the beach. I had my doubts of staying all together since I didn’t know two of the people, but Julian an old friend of Noa and his girlfriend Hannah – both competitive dancers in New Zealand have been great addition to our troupe of Americans.

More later. Hope all is well in your time zone...I’m 8 hours ahead of St. Louis, so please be kind when I return and have no idea what time it is J

....when I went to post this, all of google was in Hebrew, so hopefully it worked!