The truth about cats and dogs

Sam the dog came with me all the way from the US to Israel. Yafa the cat came with Simon all the way from Kfar Saba. And they moved into our back yard to live happily ever-after.

Well, not quite. Yafa didn't really like dogs, and was used to be the only ruler of the kingdom. Sammy loves everyone, a little too much sometimes, and wanted to play with Yafa. She wasn't as enthusiastic of the concept, and left nail marks on Sammy's wet nose every time he entered her personal space - which, at the beginning, happened on a daily bases. And poor Sam would walk around bleeding, with no playmate.

On the other hand, Yafa started loosing weight rapidly. We thought she had worms, till one night I came home early and discovered the truth. Yafa did have worms. A big worm, to be exact, named "Sam". It turns out, Sam ate her food...

As time went by, they've developed an inspiring tolerance to each other. They've even learned to combine their strong suits in order to maximize power: In the mornings, Sam pounds the back door, as Yafa waits quietly next to him. As we open the door, Sam "takes the back seat", while Yafa runs forward, me-yawing loudly and consistently, until they are both fed.

The event that really made them united was the visit of the new cat. We found a cat, and thought it would be a good idea to take it home with us. Well...I never know a cat could complain until Yafa saw the new cat. She was so upset, and nothing could comfort her. She walked around hissing, until one morning she just wasn't there. I found her on the street, and as I brought her home cradling her in my arms she was almost lifeless, me-yawing quietly and sadly. Sam didn't take the visit of the new cat as bad a Yafa did, but he sure was jealous, and would come running any time he saw us playing with the new cat.

And so we decided that "this house aint big enough for the three of us", as Yafa would probably say if she could talk, and we gave the new cat away. I cannot even describe how they both calmed down. And they now, truly, live together happily ever after.

Simon and I travel often, and every time we leave them it breaks my heart over again. They bring so much joy and love into our lives, we are very fortunate to have them. They are both quite old, so we don't have too many more years to share, but for now, every moment with them is a joy. We have a million "Kodak moments" with them, but this is by far my favorite. I call it: "And no throwing crazy parties again while we're away!!! Is that clear???"

Ostankino Palace

Would you like to come see a palace? Asked my friend Leanne who is the community liaison officer of the British Embassy in Moscow. As part of her job duties, she has to organize excursions for the British employees and family. Excursions such as going on a private tour of a palace in Moscow which is closed to the public, but will open for Leanne's excursion. What can I say? It's a hard job, but someone has to go to the palace. So, I accepted the invitation gracefully.

I can't tell you much about the Ostankino Palace, since as soon as I saw it, I stopped hearing the vivid, detailed explanations of our wonderful guide. i was consumed by how the light was hitting this very old, charming, elegant palace, and all I wanted to do was capture it on my camera.

And that is what I did. That is, until Simon asked me to "come back from the dark side" and enjoy the lecture with the rest of the group.

Since I put my camera away, I can just tell you about - but not show you - my favorite part of this very noble castle - its theater. Yes, there is a theater inside this castle, and the story behind it is better than any picture I could ever take.

As told so beautifully by our guide, the theater was built by Count Nikolai Shermetev, the castle owner. He build the theater for his lover who then became his wife - a true life Cinderella, the brilliant actress Praskovya Zhemchugova. You can read more about the castle here:

http://www.russianmuseums.info/M334

and here

http://www.museum.ru/museum/Ostankino/2.htm

To wrap this great fairy tale up, here is story you will not find on any of the castle's official sites: Out guide brought along her granddaughter, a sweet, quite little girl, who walked the palace with us patiently. I even snapped a shot of her as she was standing on the old wooden castle floors playing with her gloves (it was VERY cold in there). As we were leaving, the guide stroke her granddaughter's hair and said to us: "You know, this girl is part of your tour as well, since she is the great great granddaughter of Count Nikolai Shermetev...

Once upon a time, in a far far away Moscow, lived a little girl...

My picture chosen for exhibit representing Israel

I'm happy to announce that a picture I shot was chosen to be one of 30 pictures representing Israel in a worldwide traveling exhibit...I'm very excited! And this is the chosen image, as well as the link to the traveling exhibit official site.

http://www.artphotoisrael.co.il/site_2009/exhibitions/exhibitions.htm

Images from "Dolores" magazine, Moscow

*Pictures of the show on stage taken by "DoloresMagazine" staff photographer. All other images (black & white, as well as studio)taken by me.


In this world of professional photography sometimes I shoot for a magazine, and by the time the magazine comes out a couple of months later I forget about it, and it becomes SUCH a pleasant surprise!!!


These are the images of the pages from the May issue of the "Delores" magazine, a professional hair stylists magazine published in Moscow, Russia.


The European hairstyling contest was hosted this year in the Kremlin, and I had the pleasure of photographing the "Dolores" salon hairstyle line designs created for this competition.

And look at these creations...this is all made of hair, believe it or not. And if this isn't art, I don't know what is! Beutiful, beutiful work. The hairdues and overall style was inspired by the musical "Nine", and as to be expected, the show included a song and dance number.

Shooting the "getting ready" preparations in the Kremlin dunging (see black and white pictures), and then setting up a full studio in the hallway, flashes going off as models running around in a hurry to get on stage - now that's fun photography!!!

What I didn't expect is that I would have - literally - 40 seconds with each model. Talk about pressure to "get the shot". The model walked onto the makeshift studio, posed, I took maybe three shutter clicks, and she was off to get on stage..."next!". But hey, what's important is - you wouldn't know it from the pictures...

"Viking" Riverboat Restaurant burning down – Moscow, 30 April 2010

Never thought I would say "Priv-Et" - that is "Hello" in Russian. But life takes you on unexpected turns, and you may as well buckle in and enjoy the ride.

So I spend much of my time in Moscow now days with my " muzh" (husband in Russian), and have some incredible photo ops.

This photo op came completely by chance. We live across from This favorite, all wooden, floating restaurant called "Viking". I was coming back from my morning jog and saw something was wrong with the boat...

I witnessed the fire from the first tiny smoke cloud appearing, and someone running with a fire extinguisher trying to put it out, to 5 hours later, when the fire was finally put out with collaborate efforts of 15 fire trucks, one boat "fire truck", and numerous fire fighters.

Hopefully it will be re-build soon.

I'm back!!!

Well, after a year and a half of "moving busyness", settling back in Israel, and getting engaged to the love of my life, I am writing again!

This has been a very interesting year, and I am thankful to where I am in my personal and professional life. I am happy for all the new friends I made, and all the new experiences I've had.

AND NOW - BACK TO BUSINESS!!!
:-)

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