James in Jerusalem

We’ve left dad behind and headed for the United States — and the beach!  Grandpa Ed came to visit…  he spent some time with Oliver and Tristan down on the beach.

I came down to hang out with them.  For some reason, Oliver has to be locked up in a tent.  Something about eating sand.  But I ate a lot of sand, and I’m fine, so I don’t see why all the stress.  When he’s not locked up in his tent, Oliver’s normally complaining about the cold.

The house Mom rented has a lot of hoses.  They’re fun.  Somehow, though, we seemed to forget to bring anything for me to wear.

Well, it’s pretty clear that dad’s not the best videographer.  Thankfully, my good friend Emma’s parents were on the job at the school’s year end party.  She’s the cute blonde one.  And because I am constantly by her side (some call it cute, others call it stalking), this substitutes as a pretty good video of me, too.    I’m embarrassed by my rather rash attempt (about a minute into this video) to plant a kiss on Emma.  Not the best form, but the moment (and the songs - why did nobody ever tell me about these songs?!) clearly got the best of me.

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As always, if you’d like to have a version of this on your own computer, please right click here for a very large file.  All credit for the video work - to Clara.

Well, we’re off on vacation.  Grandma Carpenter came to help us pack up and get back to the U.S.  It was fun to hang out with her for a week.  I think by the time the trip to New York is done, she’ll have had her fill of us for a while!

We’re also packing up the apartment, so excuse all the boxes.  And poor Tristan and Oliver spent a lot of time on the one lone mat left out of storage…  They seemed to find ways to enjoy themselves, though.

Reading the Times today, I have to admit that I’m glad I won’t have to worry about feeling guilty about taking one of the twins spots in some fancy college.  (Anyway, it’s not clear that Oliver’s the university type!)

Well, school’s almost out.   So we had a party today.  This woman came and brought a lot of toothbrushes without bristles.  Then she sang.  In response, I flapped my arms.  It just seemed like the thing to do at the time.

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If you’re so captivated that you must have this on your home computer, please right-click here: YMCA Movie

My uncle Jeffe came to town.  He’s not really an uncle, but my parents seem to like him, so I’ve given him that honorary title.  We had a nice time - we went back to my favorite Tel Aviv beachfront bar and lounge, Honey Beach.

Anyway, Jeffe hung out with my brothers a lot.

I was just hanging out, thinking deep thoughts, and looking at the ocean.

    

When all of a sudden, this woman came out of the water wearing all her clothes and chased me down the boardwalk, trying to make me wear a really ugly blue hat.  Luckily - I’m faster.

We all went to Amman a couple of weekends ago.  We stayed in a fabulous hotel.  The room had this great bathroom…  The sink was like a personal spa for my little brothers.  Oliver would just hang out there, apparently waiting for one of his treatments.  Otherwise, my brothers just lounged around on the nice pillows most of the time.

 

We visited some good friends of my dad’s in Amman.  They were throwing this big party, with a DJ and a basketball game, and lots of other big kids.  I was outside playing, but my brothers hung out in the kitchen. Here’s Oliver with Dina.

Then it was time to go.  Tristan wasn’t too thrilled.  But we stopped at Burger King on the way out, and I got these cool shades with my fries.  I was not giving these up to Oliver.

The following weekend, I got to go back to Jordan.  Click here for some more photos…  www.jadili.com/HomeandAway

 

I got a Happy Meal the other day.  It’s a kosher McDonalds - so no milkshakes or cheeseburgers.  But Chicken Nuggets can still bring a smile to my face.  Really an excuse to smear barbeque sauce everywhere.

Oliver stole the glasses that came in the box with my Nuggets.  That’s fine.  He looked a little freakish in them.

We had a long weekend here - I kept a journal so you could see what we all get up to.

Click here to view!

… and all I got was this lousy hat.

And here I am hanging out with my brothers.  You can tell that Oliver now wears size “Extra Medium”.  

I got a new pair of shoes.  I like wearing them (even with my pj’s).  They make me feel fast.

Here’s the whole family hanging out on the living room floor.  Well, not Mom, because she’s taking the photo, but this is sort of what our lives are like.  And my brothers just hanging out…  I think it’s sort of creepy when they wear the same outfit.