If you insist on drawing a Venn diagram of Israeli’s(A) and Country music fans(B), I think you’ll find only one person exists in the intersection, me.  I was at an all time high this weekend at Chicago’s Country Music festival.  Two nights straight, I saw Gretchen Wilson and Taylor Swift.  Somehow, I now own a cowboy hat so all that remains to do is check out the high-tech industry in Nashville and buy a ticket.

“Do y’all mind if I have a drink?” The crowd cheers like crazy and Gretchen Wilson grabs a bottle of Jack Daniels and takes a long gulp.  I can’t imagine Madonna or Elton John or U2 or Robbie Williams doing anything remotely similar during a performance.  This is what I love.  Whoever can write an entire song about what not to do when you get drunk (All Jacked up) and how she keeps her Christmas lights on all year long (Redneck Woman) is entertaining enough for me.  Where else could I be shouting “Hey y’all and Yee Haw” without people wondering what planet I fell out of?

Taylor Swift was another story altogether.  If we ignore the shrieking of 16 year old girls, the advantage of seeing Taylor Swift is that you usually have a better view of the stage and you’re not pushing your way through big hairy men.  Her show was spectacular.  It’s hard to believe that she just finished high school.  My friend joined me for this concert.  If you look at the picture, you will understand why she felt a little bit out of place.  If you aren’t dirty blond with a cowboy hat, you stick out like a sour thumb.

The next day, I went to a cowboy store, which was advertised at the festival, and got myself a real cowboy hat.  Some things are just meant to be.
One day, I’ll rent a trailer with a few friends, and go through all those great states to experience the real America…  The trailer will have to have wi-fi though… and my bike … and a refrigerator for my ice cold Dr. Pepper… and a monkey who can bring me a can on queue… One Day…

Gretchen Wilson Concert

Taylor Swift Video

Stay tuned for the Chicago Marathon post… soon…

First things first. I’m officially the breadwinner of my household. Actually the modern term might be something like the finedinningwinner of my corporateapartmenthold. I’ve never really worked in Israel, so you could say that this is my first real job experience. Yesterday something strange happened at work and it made me think. After some kind of reorganization, my boss was laid off; my bosses’ boss was laid off and (get ready) my bosses bosses boss was laid off. Needless to say, it was a strange day at the office and it’s really too bad because I actually really liked my boss… and my bosses’ boss… My boss often used the word ‘groovy’ which was entertaining and he taught me… well… everything I know so far about the company. After all of this happened, there was a conference call meeting where everyone, out of awkwardness, talked about which type of bagel is their favorite and the main differences between sweet and salty, a topic which isn’t debated enough if you ask me. By the time we had all figured out who had what for breakfast, the conference call was underway and in many fancy long descriptions, we were told that life goes on. I know that ‘Life goes on’ is always true as long as you can say it, so this was no new concept for me.

What culinary discoveries you ask? Well, if you squint until you look Chinese and see beyond the frozen lean cuisine and edamame dinners, you will notice that I’m beginning to form an interest around my own culinary skills. Last night, I defrosted some chicken breast, cut up peppers and onions, made rice, flipped it all up in a pan with stir fry sauce and walla! I was Chinese! I’ll be Chinese tomorrow too I think because I made a very large portion. My next goal is to duplicate my moms special coleslaw which I love and after that … who knows…

What about other meals? Breakfast has taken two forms:

1. Low fat yoghurt and blueberries. Blueberries are such a startup. People in Israel don’t eat them enough. Anyway, I like fruit names that describe what your eating.
2. Egg white omelet and turkey bacon. Why did I not know about turkey bacon? I love bacon and to have a piece of bacon that’s 20 calories blows my mind. Another great concept is the egg whites. Why hover over a bowl and separate yolk from white when you could simply purchase the egg whites in a carton. Genius…

Lunch? Well, recently I have been bringing in wraps that I make at home. There were two days when I actually went home, ate, and came back. Luckily, there is a nice Mediterranean place downstairs called Mezza that has good salads and wraps. We buy or bring food and sit in the kitchen and eat…. It’s the employee way. One day, it will be late night pizza in a basement (when my startup is underway), but until then, I will have to deal with the paper bag and aluminum foil lunches. This part of my life is called ‘healthy eating’. (guess what movie I’m referencing?)

Alright so we are saving the best for last. I have discovered a triathlon training place called ‘well fit’. It’s owned by an Israeli guy (Sharone) who moved to the US fifteen years ago and started this company. I met him through someone and participated in one of his running classes. Yesterday though, I had one of the best workouts since arriving in the US.

Sharone sent me a message on facebook telling me to come to an indoor cycle class on trainers. I told him I would come and didn’t think much of it. After a frustrating experience in the spinning class in my building, I was willing to try anything. I rode my bike a few blocks, got lost, consulted my map, found my way, and arrived at this University gym. Down the steps and into the basement I went, to discover a mound of triathletes with their bikes, mounting them on trainers and getting ready. You always think that your brain can control your movements if you aren’t having a seizure but I couldn’t control a smile when I saw what I was in for.

I have never used my bike on a trainer and I was surprised at how easily it slipped right in. Cinelli’s first steps, Cinelli’s first fall / slip and Cinelli’s first trainer… awwww… I love my bike. The feeling on the trainer was much different than a spin bike but once you get control of your legs and add resistance, then it’s a great workout. We even concentrated on single legs by taking the other food out of the cleat and spinning with the other. The workout lasted about an hour and I got a free waterbottle. Woo hoo!

What’s next?

• Next week I’m going to a concert which only cost me 12 bucks because my Upenn student ID is valid until 2010. When I found this out, I began rubbing my hands together in a circular motion and saying ‘excellent’.
• Next month is the country music festival which I am excited for. Taylor Swift and Gretchen Williams here I come. Yee Haw.
• Guess who is getting her first paycheck tomorrow?
• I ate at one restaurant from my company (Star of Siam) and should get cash back for eating there. If you live in the US, go to Rewards Network and get money back for eating out!

Here are some photos:

Jazz Club (Tal and myself)

You can go too : Andy’s Jazz Club
11 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL

(312) 642-6805

Andy

Leane Cuisine w/ added fun