She's real! I saw her with my own eyes!

I made it to California.

After a 34 hour journey, I have finally made it.

I got my bags, stepped outside of the gate and Katrina was on the other end waving me down. I was excited to see her since its been a while since we last met. But I pushed her away as soon as I could in order to get a glance at my fresh Baby Niece - Anashe.


I sat in the back seat with the little one as Katrina drove off towards Palo Alto. During the drive I couldn't take my eyes off Anashe. She was crying, smiling and showing off so much personality at such a young age... At one point, she stopped crying on her own... gave out a squint and smile.. And then I heard her farting with tranquility. "I think she's pooping," I say to Katrina with slight panic. "No, she shouldn't be pooping now..." Katrina replies. And then I notice a flow of poop reach past her diaper and all over her car seat. It was like a small sewage pipe exploding in your home and you're afraid it may not stop... "I totally think she's pooping..."

We stop on the side of the road to change little Anashe and then it hits me. It must have been the football game right across the street, or the bikers with helmets riding by, or the newly painted roads, but I just realized that I was in America!

It was in Whole Foods where I felt as if the Berlin Wall had just collapsed. In my head I was frolicking between the aisles singing to the music of the Sound of music "Shrimp, Tuna, Cod, Pork sausages, Popcorn chicken... these are a few of my favorite things." Thank God Katrina knows the feeling. It must be very strange going to the supermarket with a guy who doesn't stop taking pictures of everything.

We got what we needed for dinner and headed to their home in Palo Alto.

Yaniv was running late so Katrina and I shared an amazing Fish Taco Dinner, a meal she described as "un-special" and that she should have "invested more in the meal if she knew I was hungry." What Kat doesn't realize that where I come from a proper Fish Taco meal, with lime, corn tortillas, and margaritas, isn't something you just have... It takes time, investment, planning! Its not so easy to always find what you need in Israel, sometimes...

As the late hours of the night got closer (jet-lagged 09:30 PM), Yaniv and I stepped outside to share my first legal joint in America. A mild taste with a fruity scent giving off a mellow high allowing you to continue to function. Outside we talked about my plans and future. Yaniv has an epic way of speaking - a Carpe Diem way of looking at life. "This is your rare chance to boost your career!" Everything he said was dramatic, but true... I think the best piece of advice I got from him and would pass on to others is that the MINIMUM you can do is EVERYTHING you can. Basically, dream big or dream slow. It reminds me of Krembo's advice on "Mivtzah Savta" "When in a race, you must start with everything you got, and slowly increase your speed."

Left with my thoughts and a roach, I looked inside the house to find Yaniv and Katrina cuddled with Anashe, frozen in time. Watching her feed and getting excited at every gulp she takes. Really a picture perfect moment...     A baby really puts life in perspective.

Tomorrow is my first day  - WISH ME LUCK !!!

Good night, California.

The End is Near

So here we go!

These moments right before a big change are always the most exciting. Its as if the whole world is turning for you! And you feel that way until the moment you arrive to your destination. Then you realize that this world would turn with... or without you.

I've got my room slowly emptying in front of me. The books from the shelves disappearing, the array of clothing all over the place clearing, the piles of bills and documents shrinking... Soon there will be nothing left but a skeleton of my room. Undressed from all of the little details that define it and left for practical hospitality. I hope my Subletter takes good care of this place while I'm away.

So Why am I going on this trip?

What I have

Its time for me to arrive to my next professional milestone. I have been limited to Israeli productions for far too long now. I don't know how it is in the rest of the world, but in Israel my job sometimes feels like I'm a part of a rusty machine that delivers a warm pile of shit that others are forced to swallow by the spoon full. Only rarely do I find a production that I care about. A production that knows the difference between hiring workers and hiring people. Wow, what a classic story of the naive country girl who goes to Hollywood to get discovered.

What I need

I'm going to gather all the 2nd or 3rd degree connections I can find and compile a list of possible INs to the business. Its important for me to create some sort of awareness of who I am in the industry. I want people to be aware of what I am capable of, so that I can have the opportunity to be a part of projects that I truly believe in. I am tired of not knowing how to say no. Now that I have spent 3 years concentrating on the happiness of others and fulfilling favors, its soon time to start concentrating on the happiness of my own soul and mind. 

I want to leave California not with "network connections", rather with new friends. I want to find those in my field that I can trust. I want them to feel comfortable to ask me anything and for me to feel the same way. A project is only as good as the public opinion. A life is only as good as the people who are a part of it.    If I meet one person that rates happiness above money in my field, then this journey will be a success. 

Hello World

Another trip, another unnecessary blog. For those of you returning from my previous blogs, hi mom.

Anyway, I like to write these blogs so that my friends and family can stay in touch with me. But that's bull shit. Truth is, I write these blogs for my self. Its the best way to remember my experiences. And If you find yourself reading this, then you either really love me or you have too much time on your hands. Either way, I hope you enjoy what you read :-)

For this blog I decided to share the most defining part of my life - My work.

It's hard for me to keep a good secret, and that's why I had to tell Zoe and Udi that I was planning to surprise them in San Francisco in two weeks. And just like me when I discovered my plans, they were in shock. Their excitement quickly faded, though, once I told them that I'll also be staying there for an extra two months to do some self exploring along with making concrete connections in the television industry.

I assured them I'll be at their wedding on Aug. 18th and we started talking about San Francisco!

I have a week till my 34 hour journey to the West coast of America. That may seem a like a long time, but before I leave I have to close some loose ends... I'm leaving Israel in quite a sudden manner - or so it feels.   I have bills to pay and people to see! But the one thing I'm sure about is that once I'm on the plane a new chapter in my life will start. And like every good book, I have no idea how this one is going to end...

Lets hope well...

So Join me on this trip to... (click on clip)

:-)