i know jerermy

New Pic from 3D Me

2009-05-03T01:05:00.001+03:00

Check out this 3D pic I created on my iPhone!

Click the link below and choose 'Download' to save the 3D pic.

After downloading, open the pic in Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox to view it in 3D.

http://drop.io/hidden/bkjwx4ek1fagfn/asset/b3Blbi1tZS1pbi1icm93c2VyLWdpZi0z

If you open a downloaded pic with an application that does not support animated GIF files, the pic will simply appear in 2D.

--
Created with 3D Me on iPhone.

Jeremy Weintraub

Sent from my iPhone

917-207-3748

2008-11-19T04:11:00.002+02:00

Hidden surprises

2008-11-02T08:10:00.000+02:00

I love stumbling upon things that I'm not expecting like this little
gem of a street I saw today. Right next to Washington sq park, this
little street is a quiet haven in the village. Judging by the
cobblestone and the architecture it is well over 150 years old.

Amy's haloween wig

2008-10-30T04:13:00.000+02:00

Fall is here

2008-10-25T16:35:00.001+02:00

Wind, cold air, leaves on the ground... Fall is here. I like it. It
nurtures the melancoly loner in me.

At work again

2008-10-10T22:01:00.001+02:00

I started my new job and I'm already in the swing of things. Here is
me on the patio at my office.

Sheemy look alike

2008-10-03T19:10:00.001+03:00

Amy found this on cuteoverload.com. There was a dog that got attacked by a shark and the owner actually punched the shark to save the dog.
Amazingly his face is a lot like my sheemy's which makes sense why he did it.

Surf

2008-09-22T01:31:00.001+03:00

I went surfing the last few days. Yesterday I was in Far Rockaway and
today in Long Beach. It was awesome!

The woman I love

2008-09-18T07:37:00.001+03:00

Isn't she gorgeous?

Sheeny having fun with my cousin, James

2008-09-09T08:03:00.000+03:00

James having fun with sheemy

2008-09-07T17:23:00.000+03:00

In the big apple

2008-09-07T17:18:00.000+03:00

Well, many of you know that I've made it to NYC now. I've been here
almost three weeks and it's been an exciting, sometimes hard whirlwind
of emotions and experiences. I miss my friends and life in Israel and
it's hard and a bit intimidating to be starting out with nothing.
Still, my job search is going well and I may find out today if I get
an apartment I'm trying to rent.
This weekend I left the city to go to the hamptons with Jessica and
larry and their kids. They are some of the cousins I have in new
york. I was hoping to surf on my new board I just bought but it's bad
conditions this weekend.

its been a long time

2008-07-14T11:16:00.003+03:00

So, I haven't posted in a while. I haven't done a lot of things in a while. I haven't painted, I haven't been to the gym. I haven't kept kosher or shabat. I haven't seen Amy.
I have been doing other things though. I have been traveling for work. I've been surfing A LOT. I've been working on my resume, and I've been getting really excited to live with Amy in New York.
I can't believe I've been in Israel for three years already. A lot has happened here and I don't feel as though I'm the same man as the person that arrived. I certainly would never have predicted that things would turn out the way they have, and yet it all feels right. I'm sad to be leaving Israel and the life that I've been given here. 3 years is a long time, but now that I'm leaving I see how short it is. Its long enough to have some experiences and get to know a place, the streets, the weather the fluctuations of tourist season and to start to make people a part of your life, but good friends and making a place "home" takes years. More than 3 I've determined. I feel like these years will fade from me as much as the memory of me will fade from most of the people that know me here. Its the way things happen.
I sincerely do hope I come back to live at some point, if only for a period of time again.

dance white boy

2008-05-27T18:46:00.001+03:00

This is a security video from bestbuy. You have to wacth at least until 40 seconds into it.
Gotta love the white man.

http://view.break.com/506192 - Watch more free videos

I love this.

2008-05-27T18:44:00.000+03:00

Here is a video of Japanese impersonators doing "we are the world"

1950's sexism at its best

2008-04-16T16:13:00.001+03:00

Business in Amsterdam

2008-04-15T11:15:00.002+03:00

I just got back from a business trip in Amsterdam. Its still really exciting for me to jump on a plane and travel for business. On this particular trip I was anxious to get home because I missed Amy. She'd been gone for the week before my trip and we literally passed each other at the airport as she got back and I was leaving the country for another week.
The trip was fun though and the picture above is me and my coworkers at our booth in the conference.
In addition to the business stuff I got to enjoy some of the city and I went to the Van Gogh museum which is my favorite museum in Amsterdam. I had some great meals and I came back laden with licorice and gouda cheese.

more art

2008-03-25T09:22:00.004+02:00

Purim Spectacular

2008-03-22T22:49:00.003+02:00

It was a great Purim this year. I had a fun time getting dressed up with the crew, Amy Anya, Barry, Leora and Saul and we all went to a great party at Adam Rosners's house.
Here's all the pics of the night.

Trip to Jordan

2008-03-22T22:38:00.002+02:00

Last weekend Amy and I made somewhat last minute plans to go to Jordan for the weekend. We originally planned on just going to Petra, home to incredibly beautiful and famous ancient stone carved ruins in the mountains in Jordan. we ended up adding on a scuba diving trip that made for an awesome weekend.
There were all kinds of little set backs along the way like the border being closed when we arrived to cross it so having to stay a night in a cheap hostel near the border, and when the hotel in Jordan canceled our reservation and was only willing to rebook the same room at 50% higher price, but in the end everything worked out.
There are lots of great pictures of Petra and none of Scuba although there are a few at the dead sea.
Here's the pictures.

She's back

2008-03-09T16:26:00.001+02:00

My favorite internet starlet of late is back capitalizing on Amy Winehouse's great song. What could be better?

guilty post

2008-03-08T22:43:00.002+02:00

it's been a while. since my birthday according to my last post. that already feels like a while ago. this is a guilty. i feel guilty i haven't written anything in a while. i've been bus with work. true. i've been busy painting. true. i even got to go surfing a few times. true. and yet i still have neglected this arena of my cyber existence.
alright. i feel better. i think i got it out of my system.

Sheemy's friend

2008-02-21T09:07:00.001+02:00

Sheemy is my dog and this is the cute friend he made on his walk last night. Talk about a a big cotton ball! His face is actually like that. A big cottony nondescript ball of whiteness. Oh yeah, today is my birthday too

Happy birthday nerd

2008-02-18T16:06:00.001+02:00

Yes, its my birthday this week, and what better way to celebrate another year than getting my first pair of glasses. Just in case thirty one didn't feel old enough mother nature jumped in to help out by giving of the classic gift of fading eyesight.

You can count on me

2008-02-11T19:07:00.000+02:00

Yes, I scour the web to find you odd, random and sometimes disturbing things, and this doozy is no exception. If you find yourself laughing like I did then you're sick. If you think I'm sick for posting it, well, you're probably now sicker for having watched it.

Too Real???

2008-02-10T18:46:00.000+02:00

I had two people comment on my blog today. That's approximately two more than the normal number of comments I get and whats strange is that they were both the same comment.

"I enjoy reading your blog. Even though it's public domain, I feel funny about reading it, until now, when I'm revealing to you that I read it."

I don't hide my blog, and most people that know me know that I'm an open person. I'm trying to remember now if there is very much incriminating evidence in previous posts? Hmmmm? maybe I should go back and read. I don't think so though. Its true I speak honestly and maybe more honestly than some people are willing to do. My goal in life, not just in a blog is transparency. I want to be clear and straight forward in every area of my life. For such a long time I was one guy with friends, another at work, another with family, and another with women. Its much simpler to be one person in every area. The only trick is knowing who that person is. That is after all part of the thrust of this blog, I know Jeremy.

So, dear readers, all three and a half of you, please don't feel worried that you're reading things that aren't appropriate for you. I may speak personally here, but none of it is a secret.

Funny ass list

2008-02-07T12:42:00.000+02:00

I found this list from a random site

HOW TO TICK PEOPLE OFF

1. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 99 copies.
2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sexual favors."
3. Specify that your drive-through order is "TO-GO."
4. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
5. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.
6. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."
7. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what you think."
8. Practice making fax and modem noises.
9. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc" them to your boss.
10. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
11. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
12. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing.
13. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.
14. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.
15. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."
16. Staple pages in the middle of the page.
17. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.
18. Honk and wave to strangers.
19. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints at the cash register.
20. TYPE IN UPPERCASE.
21. type only in lowercase.
22. dont use any punctuation either
23. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.
24. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times.
"DO YOU HEAR THAT?"
"What?"
"Never mind, it's gone now."
25. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
26. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "No, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
27. Ask people what gender they are.
28. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.
29. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
30. Sing along at the opera.
31. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.
32. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles."

What the Fuck?

2008-02-07T12:31:00.000+02:00

I'm experiencing a weird convergence of the Universe right now. I'm busy enough trying to figure out the status of things with my current (and wonderful) girlfriend, Amy. I got a phone call 3 days ago from my ex fiancee's father telling me that he thinks now is a good time to try and get back in contact with her because maybe she wants to or is ready or something??? It wasn't very clear and not really enough to convince me to call a girl that fucked me over as much as she did. Finally, today I get a phone call from my sweet, albeit messed up, ex wife who I'm pretty sure was high. Although I was touched when we got back in touch, things have taken a turn I didn't expect.

This is more drama than I'm used to. I work hard to keep things pretty simple. I was so upset about all the drama of Miya (the fiancee) cheating on me and leaving me because it felt like I was thrust into a soap opera out of what had been a pretty stable and happy life. At least it was for a few years before that.

I don't really feel like things are dramatic. I mean it is and it makes for good conversation but I don't feel like this stuff has control over me. Of course it affects me and makes me think about the past but at least it doesn't throw me off track completely. Show up, pay attention and let go of the results. Thats what one of my teachers told me and it seems to work pretty well.

For that special someone

2008-02-06T15:02:00.001+02:00

I've been thinking about my ex a lot recently for various reasons, not the least of which is that its been two years this months since things ended.
I came across this site which totally cracked me up. They send a big box of animal crap to the person of your choice. If only I'd known about this two years ago.
www.shitsenders.com/

Great video

2008-01-31T13:51:00.000+02:00

If this doesn't make you laugh then there's something wrong with you.

last nights storm

2008-01-30T09:56:00.000+02:00

Yesterday and last night the rain was coming down so hard and there were periodic bouts of thunder and hail, but most impressive was the wind. Tree branches were strewn all over the city, even a lamp post near my house was haphazardly laying on the sidewalk after having been blown over. It was so eerie to see the lights still lit up as it lay up-rooted on the sidewalk and sectioned off with a police do not cross tape as if it were an urban homicide.
When I woke up this morning to walk the dog there I saw the wind had thrown debris from trees, pieces of buildings and other normally fixed objects all over the streets with as much care as one flicks away an unwanted scab off their finger tip. What stood out most to me were the dozens of umbrellas I saw that lay like carnage on a battlefield. They clearly were not meant to survive what they encountered and it looked like most would never have volunteered or allowed their spring releasing mechanism to open fully if they knew where they'd end up and how they'd look afterwards.

There boots were made for walking

2008-01-29T10:25:00.001+02:00

Today is rainy and really windy. When i took my dog for a walk this morning he ran back inside after a few minutes as if he was saying "fuck that."

I think he had the right idea.

I have to go to work though. In theory I could take the day off but it seems like a pretty silly feeling to succumb to, 'its cold and i'd like to cozy up and do nothing today.' i might trust the feeling more if i didn't have it almost everyday, even on nice days.
So I'm sitting on the bus going to work in the rain and writing this boring blog entry on my phone. The book I'm reading about building a popular site says that these personal entries are not a good theme for a successful site. After all, who would want to read entries like this all the time? Good thing this blog isn't popular;).

our little cabin

2008-01-28T16:42:00.000+02:00

I wanted to post a few pics of the place Amy and I stayed in over the weekend.

confessions of a BART fartist

2008-01-28T12:36:00.000+02:00

I just discovered the Best of Craigslist page which consists of reader voted posts from any category taken from anywhere in the country (world?).
Any way, there are many funny ones in there and I recommend it for some good ol voyeuristic fun.

You've never seen humus like this

2008-01-25T12:48:00.001+02:00

Amy and i are up north in the ancient city of aco. This photo is of one of the country's most notorious humus spots and it is always packed like nobody's business. The name of the place is Humus Said and requires waiting about 30 minutes in a line out the door of the restaurant that spills onto the street. The line is so packed and chaotic that it can be a tense 30 minutes. Plus, if you're not on your guard it could easily turn into 40 minutes by not noticing some opportunistic locals that shamelessly force their way in front of you. By the time you're seated however there is a general feeling of relief and camaraderie with all the other patrons who know that good things come to those who wait.
Not many places that are hyped up as much as this spot can live up to the expectation but in this case it is well worth it. I didn't know humus could taste like this. Wow. Not bad for 14 shekel (about $3.50). It was one of many great things Amy and I experienced on this trip.

Don't know who to vote for?

2008-01-24T15:41:00.000+02:00

This is a great site that can help you by telling you what candidates are most like the political views you hold.
You just take a short quiz and then Presto! It tells you by % which candidates are perfect for you and why!
check out http://glassbooth.org/

happiness- a study

2008-01-24T11:28:00.000+02:00

For the last few years I've been particularly interested and concerned with what I have at best been able to call, "the problem of abundance" or "plagued by choice." I came to the conclusion that in spite of all the freedoms, luxuries and options most Americans have today they are by and large not as happy as people from other places.
Not only that, but I also noticed that there is almost a conversely true principle that people from much poorer places I'd been were much happier. I also noticed the affect that America had on the children of immigrants that I noticed to be very happy and after growing up in all the freedoms, luxuries and options that the US offered these children were often filled with the same angst and emptiness that I could easily recognize in myself and everyone else. So what is it about? I can't necessarily say what its about for everyone but for me its in part about feeling like I'm supposed to be great and well off and happy all the time and if I'm not it means I'm a failure. Its like somehow I couldn't take advantage of this world of opportunity at my feet.
I've really had to do a lot of growth and therapy to get over issues like this. I think that there is a lot of merit in just living and trying to be good. Be good to the people around you. Be good at what you do. Its all the new agey stuff of living with intent and purpose that you can hear all over the place now, but I believe part of the reason we're hearing more of it is because we've drifted so far from that in our pursuit of happiness and success.
I just read an interesting article from the economist about this topic that I recommend.
Here's how the article starts off, "THE World Database of Happiness, in Rotterdam, collects all the available information about what makes people happy and why. According to the research, married, extroverted optimists are happier than single, pessimistic introverts, and Republicans are happier than Democrats. Nurses enjoy life more than bankers, and it helps to be religious, sexually active and a college graduate with a short commute to work. The wealthy experience more mirth than the poor, but not much. Most people say they are happy, but perhaps that is because they are expected to be." click here for the article.

amazing article

2008-01-23T17:48:00.000+02:00

Ok, you guys might not think its amazing but I read this article about why popular things become popular such as Brittany Spears, Harry Potter, or the Blair Witch Project and the way that social communities (ie the world we live in) influences this. Who would have thought the article touches on crazy parallel universes and other mind boggling ideas to rattle around in your noggin. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did. Read it all the way through, its worth it.
Here's an excerpt "Conventional marketing wisdom holds that predicting success in cultural markets is mostly a matter of anticipating the preferences of the millions of individual people who participate in them. From this common-sense observation, it follows that if the experts could only figure out what it was about, say, the music, songwriting and packaging of Norah Jones that appealed to so many fans, they ought to be able to replicate it at will. And indeed that’s pretty much what they try to do. That they fail so frequently implies either that they aren’t studying their own successes carefully enough or that they are not paying sufficiently close attention to the changing preferences of their audience."

What's really important

2008-01-23T13:29:00.000+02:00

I am reading a book on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) right now. Basically that is what people trying to make money online are concerned about because it can help increase your site's rankings on search engines like google and that, plain and simply, is worth $ these days. The author, Aaron Wall, is from Oakland, CA (yeah Oakland!) and included this quote at the end of his opening "tips" section. I found it very topical though and I appreciated that he took the time to share this:

"I also want to share a quote with you from Weaving the Web by one my favorite web
personalities, and the man who created the Web, Tim Berners-Lee:

People have sometimes asked me whether I am upset that I have not
made a lot of money from the Web. In fact, I made some quite
conscious decisions about which way to take my life. These I would
not change - though I am making no comment on what I might do in
the future. What does distress me, though, is how important a
question it seems to be to some. This happens mostly in America,
not Europe. What is maddening is the terrible notion that a person’s
value depends on how important and financially successful they are,
and that that is measured in terms of money. That suggests
disrespect for the researchers across the globe developing ideas for
the next leaps in science and technology. Core in my upbringing was
a value system that put monetary gain well in its place, behind things
like doing what I really want to do. To use net worth as a criterion by
which to judge people is to set our children’s’ sights on cash rather
than on things that will actually make them happy."

My little camper

2008-01-22T22:17:00.001+02:00

This is shimshon sleeping last night. I shoved the camera in his face to get a live action shot of doggie bliss.

Amy's great dinner

2008-01-21T21:53:00.001+02:00

Amy made the best stuffed egg plant ever. :)

catching up

2008-01-21T11:33:00.001+02:00

So much to blog about. Where do I start? I've painted again. I was on a bit of a break and then I painted 4 more. Some I like, some not so much. Its really fun to paint though and I love it when I make something beautiful. I was painting in the park near my house over the weekend. I took my dog shimshon and set up my paints and brushes in the sun and sent to work. I was a bit self conscious because I wasn't so impressed with the painting I was doing. Nonetheless, I finished it and came home. Once home I did 3 more and I was happier with those.

What else? it's been fucking cold here. good lord! I guess it is the time of year for that after all but damn. There isn't a lot to do when its so cold. You don't really go on walks or hang outside. Almost everyday I retreat home to cook dinner, maybe watch a movie and that's it. I feel a bit like a hibernating bear waiting for spring. Its been so cold I haven't surfed since in about a month. There haven't been waves which is the only thing that consoles me. Its just to cold. I'm fine in the wetsuit, but my head and feet and hands would be so cold.

Work is going great. I finally feel both like I'm getting to the point I'd wanted to within the career and the company. I really like my job and the industry and I haven't been this happy professionally in a long time. I've been there 6 months and I only now feel like I'm starting to become a professional in the field and that excites me because I know I still have so much more to learn. I'm grateful to be excited about work.

le artist

2007-12-19T23:40:00.001+02:00

I painted tonight. It was the first time I've painted in about 6 years. I'm not a painter or anything, but it was so great to move the acrylic around the canvas with my brush. I felt like I could have kept painting all night.

me and my coworkers

2007-12-19T15:52:00.001+02:00

THE POWER HOUSE TEAM!!!

time to grow

2007-12-16T18:45:00.000+02:00

I recently got some constructive criticism from a guy at work. As a preface, its really nice when someone takes sincere time to give this type of guidance because I know the easier thing is to not take the time to really say what you think.
I wrote a business plan to propose a change in the structure of our dept. He said that he thought it could have been a lot better given what he knows about what I really think and how intelligent and articulate I really am. He gave me really good suggestions on how I can make it better mostly having to do with structuring and format. Its good for me to know because i really have never learned that kind of stuff, so it would make sense that I have a lot to learn, and that should be exciting that i simply don't know and not that I suck but it still tapped into my insecurities of feeling like I'm not good enough and I don't have what "it" takes to make it. I want to think of myself as teachable and eager to learn, but as he was telling me i had to focus extra hard, telling myself, "be open. be receptive. don't let your ego get in the way." I guess I' happy to learn and be open about the things I want to, but lord help me if someone shines a lite on weaknesses of mine for me.

Well, its already several days later and I'm happy with how I've handled it. I am really putting my best foot forward and trying to learn more about this. I'm also feeling grateful to this guy for his gentle butt-kicking. It worked. Sometimes its the gentle push we didn't even know we needed.

Worthwhile interntet leisure time

2007-12-13T16:52:00.001+02:00

My friend Meighan, who I feel like I've known since 7th grade, is why the Internet is great. She is unabashedly an evangelist of all things creative, fun, and beautiful. She scours the city and web for these beautiful things and collects them and adds commentary on all these treasures. You can check out her blog by clicking here. Its worth going back to on the regular.

Here she is

2007-12-12T19:07:00.001+02:00

Look how happy i look.
She did it. That's amy.

The Resurrection of Pepe and how we rode into the sunset...

2007-12-12T12:55:00.001+02:00

Three days, one tiring walk to the mechanic where I had to walk Pepe about two miles to the garage and 40 shekels ($10) later, Pepe has been resurrected to his normal smoke-sputtering self. The problem was one starter plug which the mechanic found, fixed and replaced in about seven minutes. It was such a relief to have it be something so simple and I felt so liberated once again having transportation.

The intervening days I'd been forced to take public transportation. The truth is I don't mind public transit at all, and I'm very glad its there. Its just that there are certain times I really need a vehicle, such as for surfing.

So, I celebrated this miraculous resurrection and return to freedom of mobility by getting into my wetsuit as if I were Clark Kent getting into a phone booth and heading to the ocean to surf into the sunset. Literally. I actually surfed well past the sunset and into the dark. It was really exciting. On a side note, I'm loving surfing these days and totally hooked. I recently progressed to a whole new level and its making every session so enjoyable.

the death of Pepe

2007-12-10T14:57:00.000+02:00

This Jeremy blog entry is one that must begin on a sad note. Pepe la Moto is my beautiful blue scooter that I bought from my good friend Dena Scher. I've had Pepe nearly the entire time I've been in Israel I've made multiple voyages on him nearly every day I've been here over these last two and one half years. Effectively, next to Shimshon, he is perhaps my most enduring friend here in the holy land. Sadly this last shabat, pepe sputtered out a frightful fit of words that went from the familiar machine gun like, "wan-wan-wan-weeee-wan-wan-weee-weeewan-wan-wan-" and grumbled down to a, "waah-waah-whaah-whhhoo-whhaah" before sputtering to a complete stop.

Unfortunately the estimated value of my bike is about one fifth of the last set of repairs I did on it and it doesn't seem worth it to keep fixing Pepe. So, sadly, the time has come to part ways with this true and trusted companion.

Be well my friend. Thank you for a great few years.

Self portrait

2007-12-08T12:07:00.001+02:00

This is a digital representation of my real self. Or, is it a real representation of my digital self? Recently, i think the line has become blurred and looking into the future it will only become more blurred. There are already many people that only know of me in my digital life. Web 2.0, messenger, blogs, email. I now work and socialize with so many people only as my digital representation. How much of me actually comes across? Do i like myself more in this environment that i have so much control over? Is this now the real me?

Leora's Dinner Party

2007-12-08T01:41:00.000+02:00

Wow. I am so excited to be writing this blog and I never thought this would have happened to me. I mean, of course I'd hoped, but I didn't think I'd actually be up here. So, first of all, I really need to thank everyone that made this possible. The great guests whose interesting lives, witty conversation and healthy appetites helped to make the evening so pleasurable. Obviously I need to thank everyone who contributed all the tasty food. Amy, I'm loving you and your friends. Thank you for introducing me to such a great group of people. But most of all, thank you Leora for pulling this all together. It was a wonderful shabbat. So thank you everyone, I couldn't have done it without you.

Funny theatre

2007-11-09T21:34:00.001+02:00

Amy and i went to see ratatouille ( i'll tell you later if i liked it because it hasn't started yet) and the theatre was really small and creepy. It has like ten rows with only five seats across and its like watching a big screen tv. The two and a half foot tall emergency exit was the funniest part of the whole thing. Amy says the room is like being in a weird spaceship.

Inspired by others

2007-11-07T12:48:00.000+02:00

I just read an amazing interview with the guy that invented the Grameen bank. It is a micro-lending institution that has one goal. Help poor people get ahead by lending them small amounts of money for omey making endeavors. It was started by an economics professor in Bangladesh and today they currently lend to more than 7 million people, 97% of whom are women.
This is a truly inspirational story about how as individuals we can really make the world a better place.
You can read the whole interview here.

"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."
Sir Winston Churchill

Ugly Mickey

2007-11-06T13:12:00.000+02:00

This is a Jeremy blog entry that just points to the great contributions on the www. Its nice to see that people can use their talents for something positive. Like on this funny website I found that lets people contribute their ugly renditions of Mickey Mouse. http://mickeyfeio.wordpress.com/

So angry

2007-11-01T09:34:00.000+02:00

I just watched the new Micahel Moore movie, "sicko," and it evoked such a strong reaction in me. I guess he's good at what he does. I knew as i was watching it that he was spinning things to make his point, but in this case he was preaching to the choir. For those that don't know, this film is about the state of the health care system in the US and he makes his best case for a nationalized health care system by comparing the US to the UK, France, Canada and even 3rd world Cuba.
It just made me so angry to know that so many suffer such hardships mostly around lacking access to care just because of money. Its one thing if poor people in a poor country that lacks supplies and medicine all together are suffering, that is something tragic in its own right, but to see working class families that have an income but can't get the very care that is in their neighborhood because of insurance problems seems inhumane. Every doctor makes an oath to help all patients yet in the US they are prevented from fulfilling that oath because of questions of money. It really seems like the worst kind of perversion of a profession that is supposed to be so noble.

I live in a country with nationalized health care. It has its ups and downs, but it works and everyone has it. I am currently saving over $3600 per year in health care costs. Even more important than the money, my conscience feels good knowing that everyone can get care when they need it and that some insurance company can't kick someone off their policy because they couldn't make payments or they didn't list a pre-existing condition.

I wrote to my congressmen, and the presidential candidates telling them that I want this issue addressed. i consider it to be a moral issue, not a political one.

New student

2007-10-28T11:20:00.001+02:00

Yesterday Amy (the girl) and I went surfing. She has been wanting to learn how to surf so I started to teach her. It is amazing to teach people things. I love to learn new things, especially things that are very different from something I've ever done before. I really enjoyed being part of that process with someone else. Learning to surf is not easy and can be very frustrating. It is physically exhausting and a beginner often feels so weak and inefficient before something so massive and unforgiving. Still, Amy did great. Yes, she go tossed around like a small mouse under the paw of large cat, but she came up out of the water, hair in her face, mouth and nose full of salt water, and still managed a smile (most of the time). We were sharing my board and when she got tired I would paddle out and ride a few waves in and then give the board back over. She would want to know how I made it look so easy and I just promised her that by sticking with it what seems so foreign and uncomfortable now, will gradually become part of her catalog of abilities like typing, yoga, or playing the flute.

quote of the day

2007-10-16T16:09:00.000+02:00

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.

Oscar Wilde

When the heavens open up

2007-10-14T20:04:00.001+02:00

I saw traces of what was probably an amazing sunset today. I only say probably because I didn't actually see the sun. I left my office to go get a snack and it looked like the sky had opened up a window to the heavens. I felt like it was the kind of place i wished i could go closer to or maybe even live in. I thought of my friend maddy in italy and wondered if she saw the same sunset. Then i had the thought that this magical gateway could be viewed as a reflection of this world and that all of the beauty and magic i was thinking was in another world was actually in this world and the sunset was just here to remind of of that.

Back to work

2007-10-09T19:10:00.001+02:00

After two and a half grueling days of being sick, i made it back to work. Yipee! It was actually really nice to join the ranks of the living:-) I'm slowly getting an appetite back and the color is coming back to my face too. Thanks to everyone that wished me healthy thoughts.

on the road again

2007-09-30T15:55:00.000+02:00

I'm not even sure what to say. Yesterday, September 29th I got 8 years sober. I remember whhen I had about 6 months sober I was feeling pretty disheartened and I wasn't sure this sobriety thing would be worthwhile. Mainly I wasn't sure I'd make it. I was afraid of putting myself at risk of losing a whole lot if I managed to stay sober for say, ten years. Ten years seemed a lifetime away back then and now it doesn't seem so far away at all. I was right about one thing though. It would suck to lose what I've got now.
But really, that's not why I started this blog post. I wanted to write because I started dating someone and I'm scared. It's really hard to take it slow and just enjoy the moment. I want so badly, just as I've always wanted, someone to love me, to be my salvation. There is a part of me that yearns to be loved by someone unconditionally and forever. I don't know why I crave it so much. I have it with my friends. I have it with my family. It's just nice to be chosen and to feel special. Now that I write that its nice to see it for what it is. I really do believe I have all I need and more in my life to be fully happy and whole today.
I'm going to try to let my friends and family know that I think they're special. I think it will help.

It is a happy new year

2007-09-18T08:37:00.000+02:00

i feel great. I've been playing around with henna tattoos. I could never do it for real, but arent they cool?
I reallly like my new job. I love the city I live in. I love the apt I live in. I'm having a lot of fun in life. I bought a new surfboard after moving here to Tel Aviv and I've been surfing whenever there are decent waves. Somedays I get to go before work which is awesome. I wake up early, walk sheemy (the dog), and I jump on my scooter, Pepe La Moto, with my board on my side and drive the two minutes down to the beach. Not a bad life at all.
I wish I could say my love life has been going as well. I'm a lot more cynical and afraid of being hurt nowadays. I feel like when I was younger I was so eager to throw myself into something if it felt right. Now I don't know what to do. In someways I feel like people have gotten more complicated and women less predictable. Sadly enough, it's actually that they have become predictably unpredictable. Anyway, I just got dissapointed again. I was seeing a girl I really liked and I felt that she really liked me, and it ended so she could be confused with her ex boyfriend.
I'm going to work on a new art piece for my house and I was thinking of using the words "loving is courageous but there's no other choice"or "love like you've never been hurt."
A few exciting things worth mentioning: At the end of this month I have eight years sober (thank you god). I just bought a plane ticket to chicago for thanksgiving for our family reunion there.
I'd have to say I'm happy with this jeremy blog entry.

SURPRISE!!!

2007-07-18T16:38:00.000+03:00

today is the 2nd to last day of work for me. I've been so anxious to go and start my new life in Tel Aviv and I don't like or deal with goodbyes that well, so I've really just been wanting it to be over here.
I've also had a nagging guilty feeling that I'm leaving my job after six months and I think I've been preogecting my shitty feelings on everyone else and then thinking that they must be mad at me.

That's why I was so surprisd when they gave me a going away party today.

They called me into the main office at about 4:30 and everyone was in there with cake and drinks. It made me uncomfortably emotional even just standing there, so when people started speaking I sort of momentarily panicked.
I said a few words though and it was actually really nice in the end and felt like a good way to have closure. It was a good reminder of how sometimes by doing things i don't want to I'll actually be happy with how I feel afterwards.

2 more days

2007-07-17T23:52:00.000+03:00

two more days and i am done at my current job. the next morning i'm going to sign the lease for my great apt in Tel Aviv.
Once again, things are falling into place for me. It's an amazing reminder of what can happen when you go for what you want and let go of the results.
So, no more Crytec and hello The Nation Traffic Ltd.
I really have a good feeling about this new job and I'm hoping I can grow there and stay for a few years.

I miss my family and friends at home and i can't wait until the next time I visit. It will have been so long.

lost my wallet

2007-06-25T00:58:00.001+03:00

I lost my wallet tonight. It had my Israeli identity card and a bank card and about $50 in it. I used it to buy a skateboard right before I went to the gym. I'd been thinking about this skateboard for a week now since I tried it out the first time in the store. It's a weird hybrid skateboard with only two wheels, one on each end. It's supposed to simulate a surfboard. I went and worked out after I bought it and after my workout, at dinner, I noticed it wasn't there. I didn't stress, I knew it was probably at the store or the gym. Later that night I got a call that it somone found it and my credit card, no $50 though. That's the end of my boring story.

MORE exciting is that I got two job interviews lined up for later this week!!

Times they are a changin

2007-06-17T16:50:00.000+03:00

Well, it's another case of the I wish it were a real sunday blues, but I'm here working because thats the way we do it here in the land.
I'm a little bit in many places at once. Here in Be'er Sheva, in Jerusalem a year ago, back home after deciding to come back to the states, and in Tel Aviv settled in my new home and Job. I don't know how exactly this is all turnin out but I'm hangin on the seat of my pants to see. that is what i'm reminding myself of anyway. this is all just one big adventure.

Thrilled by Thriller

2007-06-12T12:26:00.000+03:00

Just when you think the world can't get any better, along comes the remake to Michael Jackson's Thriller.
It's rare that a remake out does the original, but I think we have a contender here.

Last adventure and final thoughts

2007-05-24T15:04:00.000+03:00

Well, I'm sitting in my hotel room with my bags packed. I'm only wearing a sweater, my jacket is packed away. Normally I'd never go out so lighlty dressed, but I'm off to the airport and its part of my eagerness to get back to the heat that is prompting me into temporary denial about the outside temperature.
The photos here are of downtown Reyjkavik, Iceland's largest city, home to about 120,000 people. It, like every other place in Iceland, is situated amongst amazing physical beauty. It is on the water with views of a foreboding deep blue ocean. At its back are climbing mountains and even a few glaciers. You can see these views thru cross streets even as you stroll the downtown.
The other photos here are from a drive I did from Akuryeri, in the northern and eastern side of the country back to Reykavik.
More stunning fields, mountains, ocean and glaciers. thank you iceland.
I am grateful for the beauty here, the same way I am grateful for beauty everywhere. Here there is just so much of it. I am grateful for the friends I made here, Glen, Harry, Erla, Lynn, Erik and Gustav, I hope to see you as we trudge the road to happy destiny.

oh yeah...i'm a swinger

2007-05-23T03:17:00.000+03:00

it's amazing what you can do when you have a few minutes free time in iceland between business meetings

the blue lagoon and a year in a day

2007-05-23T01:58:00.000+03:00

I got to go to some geothermal hot springs called the Blue lagoon. It is a HOT slufur pool that shines blue and white in the middle of a lava rock valley. when i arrived it was a sunny spring day and within minutes the weather changed dramatically. it started raining, then hailing, then snowing and then REALLY snowing. I sat in the hot waters while getting snowed on. I felt like one of those magestic monkeys you see on the nature channel covered in snow with icicles on his fur and eyebrows. They call iceland the land of fire and ice because of all the geothermal and volcanic activity. I really felt it at that moment. The experienceIt was like being on the moon because you'd look out over this surface that was sharp, jagged volcanic black rocks while you were floating in a hot milky pool. The weather is crazy here, one moment nice (15 degrees) the next it can be 2 degrees and snowing. If it weren't so beautiful, I'd be really upset. everyone here tells me i'm lucky that I get to experience all of icelandic weather in one day.

now i know iceland

2007-05-23T01:38:00.000+03:00

What the hell? I'm in iceland. I'm in one of those places I pretty much assumed i'd never go, like mauritius. its not that I have anything against iceland or icelandic folks, and i guess i always assumed there are probably nice things there, but really! who actually goes to iceland?
apparently I do. as an ice salesmen from israel. guy from the desert selling ice-machines in iceland. it sounds like a bad script, the kind of thing you wouldn't believe unless it were true.
so, i'm staying in iceland touring the country's fishing towns. going on board fishing vessels, holding my breath thru stinky fish processing plants and sitting in lots of meetings with people that have names i can't pronounce like harladur, and thordvalsson. at least i got to meet a guy named thor.
I also have time for touristy stuff and iceland abounds with physical beauty. they call iceland a land of fire and ice. the ice part is obvious, and the fire part comes from the fact that iceland is basically an island of volcanos. the entire island is covered with volcanos, some recently active, and lots of lava flow. that means that some places are virtually un crossable mile after square mile of really jagged rock that no tank or 4wd could come close to traversing.