Water Water Everywhere

Sometimes I wonder...

It all started two days ago. The entrance way to our building was wet...the apartment next to ours apparently had a leak. Normally this wouldn't be my problem, but our neighbors had moved out, and the apartment was empty. I heard the landlord there a few days ago, but nothing since.

I didn't do anything about it the first day. I spoke to a few of the neighbors, asked them if they knew the landlord. They all gave the same response. No, but he is not a nice person. He owes 800 shekels ($175) for repairs when the waterline to our building broke.

So I waited another day...

Now the mail in the entrance way is getting soaked...it is just junk mail, and not my mailbox either, but this is really problematic. I need to walk down the stairs with my daughters, and they are very slippery.

I called the Municipality....their response "call the Water Department."

I called the Water Department...their response "turn off the water for that apartment"...but how do I know which one it is? They aren't labeled, and none of the meters appear to be running. No answer...

I tried calling the old number for the former tenants, hoping I would be given their new number. Nope, the line is disconnected and no new number listed.

Day three...I decide to turn off one of the valves. But which one? There are four apartments, one of top of each other (Ours is on the other side of the building). I figure...maybe they are in the order of the apartments...lowest is lowest etc? So I turn off the one I assume is theirs. I then knock on the door of the people below. The elderly woman living there didn't even know there was a leak!!! She says her water is still working...so good so far. I go to the other apartmen which has tenants. No answer when I knock, so I call, no answer.

An hour later, the mother comes home and says her son called to say there is no water. I tell her I must have turned off the wrong valve, and I try another one. Might I add that this "son" is at least 25 years old, lives at home, and probably couldn't figure out how to turn the valves on or off!

I checked again with the elderly woman--she still has water. So I think I have the right valve.

But wait there is more....

The former neighbor is a police officer, and there were a few police officers on the street this morning, so I decided to do the only thing I could think..I asked the policeman if he knew our former neighbor, and asked if he could contact him, so that he could contact his former landlord about the leak! The policeman was very nice and said he would contact him.

The real question here is why am I the only one who cares about this? There are four families whose mail is getting dripped on. There are six (additional) families who have to walk through the water to get in and out of the building. One person called his plumber (he by the way is not one of the families affected at all).

To be continued......

Ariella has found her toes!!! She has just started grabbing her legs and feet when she is lying on her back.

She also switches from sucking/biting her right hand to her left hand...I have no idea if she is a leftie or rightie.

Today is yellow day...yellow barettes, elastics and socks :) 

Big sis holding little sis. 

New Immigrant College Grads Earn 28% Less

Sigh...at least it evens out after SEVEN years!!!!

Friday afternoon at home...... 

Ariella Motzarella 

American Girl in Israel
My 3 year old was given an American Girl baby doll doll for her birthday. I don't know what I think of them...they are very well made, but the cost is a bit crazy. I'm glad she can't read about the restaurant.

I'm trying to decide if I'm ready to join the ranks of the Israel bloggers. But I'll give it a shot...

Today is the one month birthday of Ariella Devora, the newest member of the family. Born at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital on Friday April 16th. Shabbat there was a bizarre experience. I'm wearing my hospital gown, and about 98% of the women were dressed in beautiful robes and had their hair covered. No one spoke to me...no loss, I enjoed the quiet bonding time with our newest princess.

I guess I'm becoming a "scab" because of Strikes in Israel. Someone's father is asking me to be an aide at his daughter's kindergarten, because the aides are part of the strike, and the kindergarten will close otherwise. This is not my favorite way of making a living, but it will do for now

What day is it? Friday morning Israel switched to "Summer Clock" aka daylight savings time. Since I haven't listened to the news I missed it! I finally found out at 4 PM (dst)!! This is the most disconnected I've felt from the country--but it defintely made me laugh.

Here is a photo from February 4. We had been in our new apartment less than a week.

The job hunt begins in earnest....I know that Ex Libris wants to hire me,but I wish they knew!

I'm going to try being a regular blogger for a bit before I let anyone know. We only have two weeks left before Ron returns. He missed all the snow, but I'm glad it is gone. Hadassa keeps asking where the snowman is.