I love Alan Dershowitz

http://www.together4israel.org/index.html

The whole thing is about an hour and 40 minutes, but Dershowitz is one of the first speakers.

FYI, in under three months, more than 1000 rockets have already been fired from Gaza. So much for "disengagement."

I had a crappy run this morning, but I should have known better than to think I could run the morning after a fast day.

But my "crappy" run was nothing... NOTHING, NOTHING like having to live every second of your life waiting for the next siren telling you that you have 15 seconds... 15 SECONDS! to run for your life.

Do you understand what I'm saying here?

Stop. Take a look at your watch. Count out 15 seconds.

In fact, go outside... THEN take a look at your watch. Run. Run like your butt is on fire. Run like if you don't, you're going to die. And see how far YOU can get in 15 seconds.

Now imagine doing that while you're on your way to work. Imagine children doing it on the way home from school. Imagine the elderly doing it on the way home from the supermarket.

And try to figure out why on earth the world, my own Israeli government included, is letting this happen.

It doesn't even matter if you're left wing or right wing. If you believe any civilian has the right to live in his or her sovereign country in relative peace, you have to have sympathy for the people who run from rockets almost every day.

So no matter how crappy my run was, I could keep going by thinking about the people in Sderot.


http://runforsderot.connectionsisrael.com/Maureen.htm

To the Editors of The New York Times

I wrote my first ever actual letter (okay, email) to the editors of The New York Times today:

To the Editors: Upon seeing the headline, "Israeli Raid in West Bank Imperils Talk of Truce" in my inbox this morning, I proceeded to read the article.

I am extraordinarily disappointed in the article and the journalists.

The lead, "Israeli undercover troops killed four Palestinian militants in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday, shattering a five-day lull in violence and threatening Egyptian efforts to mediate a cease-fire," is particularly incredible.

Only yesterday, the Times published another article by the same journalists: "Rocket Endangers Palestinian-Israeli Respite." The lead in that article stated, "Gazan militants fired a rocket at the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon on Tuesday, fracturing a tenuous lull in fighting between Israelis and Palestinians, which escalated sharply in late February and early this month."

So how is it that the Israeli action could possibly shatter a "five-day lull in violence," if only one day ago, Gazan militants fired a rocket at Ashkelon?

In addition, the article from March 12th does not even mention the blatant murder of eight innocent civilians while they were studying Jewish texts, yet it apparently tries to compare the death of one innocent Israeli civilian with the deaths of "120 Palestinians, including many civilians." The article also does not mention the fact that Palestinian terrorists insist on using their own people as human shields, thereby creating terror among their own people as well.

I hope that you will reconsider publishing such blatantly biased articles in the future.

***

It's also just plain, bad journalism. They took the same lead and used it two days in a row, swapping out a coupla words. I never would have noticed, except that I was so ticked off at today's article, that when I saw the link beneath it to yesterday's article, I figured I might as well see what these morons had to say.

***

I'm really struggling with my right-wing vs. my left-wing tendencies at the moment.

On one hand, I desperately *want* to believe in the idea that people are good. I want to believe that people want peace. I want to believe that if we could just come to some agreements, the fighting could stop.

But on the other hand, the more realistic hand as I see it, I don't see one tiny shred of evidence that it can happen.

I'm just tired of fighting myself, and I'm tired of feeling guilty for wanting to live in the land that G-d gave us without worrying about rockets and suicide bombers and traitors.

I was at a taping of a Jewish television show the other night, and the host said something like this:

It's like the Jews are saying, "If we talk and make some agreements, we'll have peace."

And the Palestinians/Hamas people are saying, "No, we don't believe you have the right to make agreements, because you don't belong here at all."

And the Jews: "Okay, so we'll talk, and we'll split the land, and we'll have peace."

The Palestinians: "No, we don't think you understand. We want you out of here completely."

Jews: All right, so we'll talk, and we'll split the land, and heck, you can even have half of Jerusalem."

Palestinians: "What part of 'we are going to push you into the sea' don't you understand?"

***

When I was in Haifa, and leaning right, I had a friend who was able to sort of keep me in balance. He was a great debator, and he made me really think. And he used to tease me that if I made aliyah, I was going to become a settler, become totally right wing, and become anti-America, because that's what happens to Americans who make aliyah.

He wasn't all wrong.

I haven't become a settler yet, but I could totally see myself doing it. I haven't become totally right wing, but I can see myself going that way, too. I'm not even close to being anti-America, though, and I hope I don't get that way.

***

I did 10.4 kilometers on Monday, and 10.5 yesterday. Tomorrow I am shooting for 21 kilometers including warm-up and cool-down.

My awesome mom is sending me a package of running stuff that I ordered, including new running pants and a new sports bra. Mine have served me well, but they're pretty darned tired at this point (they're seven years old!), and my one pair of running pants without holes in it is way too big and meant for cold weather. I hope the package gets here in time... but even if it doesn't, I'll be stoked to have the stuff so I can keep running for fun, even after the race.

Interesting quandry

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204546441616&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Apparently it's a custom of the Muslims to have a mourning tent when someone in their family dies. They put up pictures of the deceased and friends and family come by to comfort them. I guess it's similar to Shiva, the initial seven-day mourning period observed by the immediate family of Jews.

We both have food ready to give guests, including sweets.

It's hard to imagine a Jewish family flying a Kach flag above their home during this time, but I guess it could happen. (Kach is the political movement inspired by Meir Kahane, a right-wing extremist... who, I must say, had some pretty good ideas along with all the ones most people tend to despise.) Though there's even a difference there, as this *IS* Israel, and therefore Kach is not calling for the destruction of the Jewish State.

So after the murderer who killed eight innocent civilians on Thursday night, including some teenage boys, and wounded others, was shot and killed, members of his family set up a mourning tent in East Jerusalem. According to the father of the murderer, he himself did not put up the Hamas flags, but on the other hand, he had to be asked by police to take them down.

One of his uncles tried to set up a mourning tent in Jordan... but Jordanian authorities made him take it down.

Now it's a quandry for many Israelis. Many see it as disgusting that here in Israel we're allowing the family to have their mourning tent, while "even" Jordan won't allow it.

From my point of view, I look at it in the same way I see flag burning in America. I would never burn a flag, and I don't approve of others doing it either, but I defend the right itself to do it. It's part of living in something resembling a democracy.

It's still hard to swallow. This disgusting person has now cast suspician on all East Jerusalemites. It will be a long time before we feel we can trust them again in any way, shape or form. It will add to the discrimination against Arabs, and not without good reason. How can we trust someone walking into work carrying a box or a bag and not suspect he or she's got a gun inside? Particularly when it doesn't seem as if the family or friends or neighbors of the murderer condemn the act publicly... and instead set up a public tent for visitors... it seems as if they're granting permission for it to happen again.

***

I did 18 kilometers on Friday, or a tad more than 11 miles, including warm-up and cool-down. I followed that up by two trips to the shuk - another mile in total. Later Friday afternoon, I walked to the Old City for Shabbat prayers and dinner, then walked home, adding another 4 miles-ish to the total for the day. All-in-all, around 16 miles for the day.

I was surprisingly un-sore on Saturday and Sunday. There was definitely some muscle tightness and a bit of soreness, but nothing compared to last week. Nice.

Yesterday, however, I was in a meeting with my boss, in his tiny little office, and sitting with one of my legs up on the chair.

After the meeting, I maneuvered my way out of the office and went to take a step -- and stumbled and almost fell, 'cause my foot was asleep. I twisted my foot and ankle a bit.

I stayed off of it for most of the day. I still walked home, but carefully. I gave up my idea of getting some extra exercise in last night, in favor of icing my foot/ankle.

It seems 95% fine today, thank G-d. I'll see how it goes later, 'cause I'm supposed to do about 10k on the dreadmill after work.

We can never forget where we are living

This morning, on my way to work, my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder reared its ugly head.

As I was nearing work, I heard a siren. A moment later, a Hatzala motorcycle (an EMT on a motorcycle, basically) passed me. A few seconds later, an ambulance passed me, and my neck straightened a little. A few seconds later, another ambulance passed, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up, and I got that rushy feeling in my ears as I waited anxiously to hear another siren.

I did not, but that didn't keep me from shaking and taking deep breaths to try and stay calm while I hurried into work to check the news online. Nothing there.

I changed my clothes and checked again -- nothing.

I did a couple other things and checked again -- still nothing.

I finally breathed a sigh of relief and could go on about my day.

Except that I'd been getting pretty complacent about living here, and it hit me in just a few seconds that the PTSD has not gone away completely, and probably it never will.

***

Tonight, I went to the hotel where a friend of my mom's, from her college days, was staying with her husband. They're on a tour around Israel, and they invited me for dinner at the hotel, so we could spend some time chatting, and exchange stuff -- they brought me stuff, and I'm sending stuff home for my mom.

We had a lovely dinner and great discussions.

A little while before 10, I finally decided it was time to go. As they were walking me to the main entrance, a woman from their tour group came up to us and said something like, "So I'm sure you heard what happened."

As it turns out, there was a terrorist attack tonight. The details still aren't clear, though it appears it was a terrorist who entered a yeshiva (place where men learn Jewish stuff) and started shooting. It looks like at least eight men were killed and many more wounded.

The tourists were concerned that I wouldn't be able to get home... that the busses might not be running... that I wouldn't be safe... so I tried to reassure them, and I reminded them that as cruddy as it is when these things happen, life goes on. We'll be getting up and going about our business tomorrow (though it's true that probably several times throughout the day, and throughout the Sabbath, our thoughts will turn to the wounded... the dead... their families and friends), and they shouldn't freak out about being in Jerusalem because of this.

Thank G-d, it's been a long time since we've had an attack in Jerusalem. And in just a few seconds, I realized we can never forget where we are living.

***

Now it's time to try and get some rest, as I am supposed to run 10+ miles tomorrow morning. I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of thinking during that run.

Running for Sderot

So I decided to add a component to my Half Marathon, to have an impact on someone other than myself.

I am now running for Sderot.

For those who don't know, Sderot is a town not far from Gaza, *inside the Green Line.* I repeat - the town is in non-usually-disputed (other than by staunch Arabs who don't believe Israel should exist at all) territory.

Over the course of the last week alone, hundreds of rockets have been launched at Sderot. Hundreds.

The only defense the town has is its "Color Red" signal that goes off approximately 15 seconds before the rocket is due to land.

Fifteen seconds. If you're holding your breath for 15 seconds, it seems like maybe a decent amount of time. When you're running for your life to find the closest shelter, it's the blink of an eye.

Many people have left Sderot, because they couldn't take the pressure anymore. When one of the rockets goes off, it is a painfully loud sound. Think about it happen more than 50 times in one day.

The ones who stay are absolute heroes. Some of them don't have anywhere else to go. Others have made the decision to stay, so as not to let the terrorists win. Whatever their reasons for staying - they should not have to live the way they're living.

Here are a couple of videos on youtube:

The first is what it sounds like when the siren goes off, and how people have to run:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRz3nHwgjHY&NR=1

The second is about what it's like to live in that war zone day after day, year after year. There are English subtitles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCHbihJImGo&feature=related

My primary goal is to raise awareness of the situation these people are living in... but my secondary goal is to actually help them by raising money.

If you want to donate, you can go to:

http://runforsderot.connectionsisrael.com/Maureen.htm


Btw, I did 10k today on the dreadmill, but I made a longer part of the distance my cool down. No puking -- that is a Good Thing :)

Back on the Streets Again

And on the trails, and on the dreadmill, yada yada yada.

That is, I've been running again since July of last year, and I had planned to do the Jerusalem Half Marathon on K's birthday, 27 March.

Then I got out of training properly and gave up on the idea.

Then I finished my class and made it back to the gym and onto the dreadmill again.

Then there was this woman from work two dreadmills away from me last Wednesday, and we we running up a storm. In the locker room later, she said she wanted to do the half marathon.

I told her to be really careful, because she didn't have her mileage up to a point where training would necessarily be safe -- because this would be her first half marathon, and she has no idea how to train for it properly.

But she got me thinking... and jealous. 'Cause I never stopped wanting to run half marys, but when I let my weight balloom up exponentially, I knew I couldn't do one at that point.

So on the way home that night, I figured out a pretty safe training plan to get me through the four weeks between then and the event itself. I decided I'd hit the outdoor trail at the park on Friday morning and see how it went. I needed to see if my bones, ligaments and tendons were up to the task.

As it turns out, they are. My quads aren't so hip on the Jerusalem hills, but that's workable.

So today, before I could chicken out, I registered and paid my 110 shekels. Yep, it's official -- I'm planning on doing it.

Then this evening was gym day, so I hit the dreadmill after work. And since last week I did 9.5 kilometers in 75 minutes, somehow in my twisted, tiny little brain, I decided that this week I could do 10 kilometers in that much time.

Not my brightest moment.

I did it, and I did well.

But my second not brightest moment came after I ate all the wrong things as my "recovery" food (the best is to eat a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of simple carbs to protein)... carrots, cucumbers, red peppers, crackers, low-fat cheese, and dried apricots.

And a few minutes later, the nausea hit.

I've run myself nauseous before... that is, I've left the gym feeling a bit queasy, but by the time I got home, I was fine.

This time, I ended up curled over my desk at work for 20 minutes, followed by laying on the floor for 20 minutes, before finally feeling good enough to go to the bathroom -- and ended up puking anyway. Go figure. Next time, I'll try to remember to save myself the 40 minutes and just try to get it over with.

I hung out another 15 minutes or so, waiting to see if I'd need to do it again... and I decided I felt well enough to get out of that place.

But the problem was this -- how to get home?

I knew there was no way I could take a bus -- blah.

I was afraid to take a cab, 'cause cab drivers are crazy drivers.

So I decided to just go ahead and walk, like I usually do.

Except that instead of it taking me 35 minutes to get home, it took me almost 60. I had to walk SOOOOOO slowly. I had to stop to sit on a bench. I had to stop to let my tummy settle about 15 times, especially on the 170 stairs I had to climb.

But I made it home.

And thankfully, I had yummy turkey soup leftover from Shabbat, so that's what I had for dinner, after my tummy settled down enough to eat.

Now I have to do some research and see if I can figure out exactly what caused the problem. I know many runners end up puking, but since it's never happened to me before, I'd like to see if I can avoid it happening again.

Especially since I've already paid my money for this half marathon... so it means I have to be back on the dreadmill on Wednesday.

Maybe I'll cut back to 9.5K again :)