More Updates!

Big News!!

Another gap in posting–I was slowly starting to run again, and then…

…Lior proposed! I was definitely surprised–not that he was proposing, but that he managed to get a ring during lockdown! First I ugly cried, and then I said yes. Lior proposed on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. It was perfect–this was my first Yom Ha’atzmaut in Israel, an Israeli citizen (I was here in 2012, and last year I was back in the US for work).

And suddenly I was distracted and didn’t feel like running.

Wedding Planning

We’re holding off on setting dates for now. I did manage to buy a dress (for less than the cost of a NYC Marathon entry, I might add), but am waiting to do alterations until there are actual events to plan.

We are having the chuppah/religious wedding ceremony in FL (where my parents live), and then a separate ceremony and party in Israel. We cannot legally marry/have a religious ceremony in Israel because although I am registered as Jewish with the Ministry of the Interior, the Israeli Rabbinate doesn’t consider me Jewish. Interfaith weddings are not legal in Israel, so we need to go abroad to legally marry and when we return, the Ministry of the Interior will recognize our marriage. In a word, it’s dumb.

Depending on when we’re actually able to set wedding dates (possibly not until there is a coronavirus vaccine and travel from the US to Israel sans quarantine is possible), we may first elope in Europe, to have a semblance of control over the situation. Planning for just the two of us is FAR easier than dealing with guests and so many variables. Plus, vacation!

There are days when I’m a bit relieved to not have to start planning, and days where I’m sad that we don’t get to celebrate. I didn’t think I wanted to make a big deal out of getting engaged/married…but maybe I do? I cycle between feeling disappointed and feeling guilty for caring, since we’re in the midst of a global pandemic and this is very much a #firstworldproblem.

Work

Work is still going well! I currently go into the office once a week, and the rest of the time I work from home. I’m getting a nice office chair from work as a gift, and last week Lior and I went to IKEA to pick up a small work desk. Once the chair arrives, I look forward to a slight change in scenery, as these days I spend most of my time on the couch.

Health and Stuff

In June I had a cold for several days. Due to coronavirus hysteria, I ended up seeing a variety of doctors and specialists, only to be told that I am healthy. I made Lior come with to my last doctor appointment, so the doctor could confirm this. The one good thing that came from this is that I finally saw an allergist and took an allergy test. I now use 1 pill, 2 different nasal sprays, and eye drops every day, but my allergies are finally in check. Navigating the Israeli healthcare system has been a mostly positive experience, and with the exception of one doctor, I’m very happy with my experience so far.

cool, on to running, etc.!

Eventually I did decide that I missed running/exercise. I’ve since found an outdoor workout group that I really like! So now, twice a week after work, I go to a park and do a variety of HIIT (high intensity interval training) and circuit exercises that make me feel wildly out of shape, but also make me temporarily forget that I’m living in a global pandemic and suffering from general existential gloom. What’s more, sometimes after the workouts, I feel an ab complain, or I struggle to sit up/down, meaning that the workouts are working! I haven’t done regular strength training in about seven years, and I’m looking forward to having more structure to my exercise regimen. This will also hopefully prevent future running injuries, including my recurring IT band issues.

I started running occasionally again, and signed up for a virtual running challenge for next month, and I hope this will jumpstart my return to running…more on that next week!