If you break it you buy it

I had a really nice weekend. The folks were away so we had a few friends over for shabbat. Nice seeing everyone and catching up.

The only bad thing was my clumsiness. I broke a china serving bowl. I don't understand how this bowl made it through my entire childhood unharmed but now that I am a "responsible adult" I manage to break it.

How did I manage to break it, you may ask? Well I was washing dishes and put the huge serving platter up top to dry (Israeli kitchens have drying racks above the sink). The serving bowl to the set was in the sink. All of the sudden the platter fell down right into the bowl and shattered it. At least all the pieces were in the sink and the platter was fine.

Needless to say, I have spent some of my morning tracking down a replacement on the internet (once again, yay ebay). I also am considering calling up a few places like Macy's and Penny's to see if I can order it through them and then maybe use one of their holiday coupons to get a discount (we have an American phone line so I can call for free). How anyone ever affords to buy a 12 piece set of china and all the serving pieces is beyond me!

On a happier note, Chamshushalayim is back! For those who don't know, the Jerusalem Municipality sponsors free cultural events for the three weekends before Chanukah in an effort to boost local tourism. Free museums, concerts, tours, and discounts at restaurants are all part of the long weekend (named for the army term of "chamishi shishi shabbat" or chamshush when soldiers get off for a long weekend). It is a lot of fun and most places have extended operating hours until 1 or 2 am!

The only problem is navigating the municipality website. It can take a few hours (which I have) to read through all the happenings and decide what you want to do. So far I have worked on the first weekend but seeing as it is also Thanksgiving and we are going to a yummy turkey dinner, I am not sure what time I will actually be able to join the chamshush festivities.

I also had to work some today (I know- how awful to work at work) because 2 people are out sick and the bigwhigs are in the office. I think about 70% of Israel is sick right now (yes, I made up that stat but it sounds pretty good). Everyone you speak to is sick or recovering or talking about how their school/workplace/kid's school is like a ghost town. Refuah Shlayma to all and to all a goodnight.