the television in its natural habitat

i left a little later than i'd intended to, but arrived on the kibbutz around lunchtime, which was a little earlier than i'd anticipated.

i have to admit that wearing this new rank is odd. i feel awkward, and i can't stop staring at my shoulders. it's a rank i've laughed at - i showed spot this morning and he got hysterical - and it's a rank that very few people actually want.

i had to work my ass off for it.

at the same time, most soldiers simply aren't familiar with it. my cousin here (he's a basic training commander) took one look at it and stared at me in horror, thinking i'd somehow become an actual officer. "no, no," i explained with a smile, "this is even worse."

so i switched clothing, and spent most of the day on the couch watching the telly. good stuff, i can tell you: from a life less ordinary to a really fun movie with john cusack and frasier's dad released in 1989 (both so young!), and i even let myself be entertained by some israeli tv...

so i've napped, been fed a good meal, eaten the most decadent cake i've ever come across that my cousin made (my god - a strawberry and cream cake that even the base was is amazing: *so* having it for breakfast), and now that i've completed my little updation i'm off to read and sleep.

speaking of reading (i'm still near the beginning of war made new):
1) great quote from hiram maxim (inventor of the maxim machine gun): "in 1882 i was in vienna, where i met an american jew whom i had known in the states. he said:'hang your chemistry and electricity! if you want to make a pile of money, invent something that will enable these europeans to cut each others' throats with greater facility.'"
2) the book briefly mentions "chinese" gordon, of whose clan i'm a descendant. what was that about being familiar with one's roots?