Is this thing on?

Hello? Hello? Is anyone still out there?

Sorry I've been posting so infrequently, but frankly, with the Big Project hanging overhead, I didn't have much to talk about, anyway. But tonight I am delighted to report that my part of the BP is done! Now it's up to Liat (our fabulous typist) and Avi (champion proofreader in Hebrew) to tidy up all the details and "put this thing to bed" as I believe they used to say in the newspaper business.

I have eked out a little knitting time here and there, and I am currently working on the second of a pair of adult-sized wristwarmers for Mittnz 2008. I've managed to get a bit more done on my sister's second sock, too. And the surprise for a friend is coming along nicely as well. I hope to have photos to share with you soon.

In other news, I am saddened to have to tell you that our favorite basketball team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, did not win the championship game of the Euroleague on Sunday night. Still, after the year they've had (don't ask: it included such things as firing a coach and bringing in a new one, the season-ending injury of a key player, and a minor scandal involving my favorite player on the team...) I think it is fabulous that they managed to finish second in the Euroleague.

This week, we are coming up on a particularly schizophrenic period in the Israeli calendar. Tonight* will mark the beginning of the national Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror. I will tell you more about that tomorrow. The observance will last until tomorrow night, at which point we will immediately begin celebrating our Independence Day. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Jewish state.

* Many of you are probably familiar with the words of Genesis 1:5 "And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day." Here's how it looks in my Bible (remember, you read from right to left):

ויקרא אלוהים לאור יום ולחושך קרא לילה.ויהי ערב ויהי בוקר יום אחד

The verse sounds like this: "Ve'yeekrah elohim l'or yom, ve'l'hoshech karah lielah. Ve'yeeheeyeh erev ve'yeeheeyeh boker yom ehad."

This verse is why Jewish holidays, even secular ones like Memorial Day and Independence Day, begin at night, as soon as the sun has set.