Crazy Cancer Patient

Yes, that would be me.

I could barely shuffle down the hall this morning; I was in that much pain.

I arrived at the hospital around 9:00 am.  The entire nursing staff took care of me so that I would have time to receive both the Herceptin and the Doxil.  They did an amazing job, but it was close to 4:30 pm, by the time I got out of there.

I did manage to schedule a massage, and that helped me immensely.  I felt much better afterwards, and I moved easier as well.

I drove straight home, packed up some good food, packed my daughters into the car, and drove to the train station. 

Then we took the train to Tel Aviv and saw Carmen in Park HaYarkon.

I got home around 1:30 in the morning!


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Opera in the Tel Aviv Mall (Flashmob)

For all you Opera lovers out there, check this out! 

Opera in the Dizengoff (Tel Aviv) Food Court.

This is so great!



If you like this, maybe you'll join us for Carmen in the Park (see post below).



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Opera in Israel -- How Cool Is This?

OK, I admit it, I like Opera!

Carmen is one of my favorites and it is being performed, for FREE, in Tel Aviv, this summer!!

I am going!!

It is going to be hot, humid, and crowded as hell, but I am going!

It is going to be after a LONG chemo day (I will be getting both Doxil and Herceptin that day), but I am going!

It is going to wipe me out, but I am going!

As soon as I am done with chemo, I will gather my kids and take the train to Park HaYarkon.  We will bring a picnic and and camp out until they let us in.

We will be hot.  We will be sweaty.  But we will be there!

You are welcome to join us!

Need I remind you?  Admission is FREE!

When is this happening?  Thursday, July 29th.

What time is the performance?  9:00 pm (that's 21:00, for you Israelis)

Officially, audience entrance begins at 7:00 pm, but maybe they'll let us in earlier....


How long is the performance?  Approximately one hour and 45 minutes.

Where exactly is the performance?  Ganei Yehoshua (Park Hayarkon) in Tel Aviv.
 
Park HaYarkon is MILES long.  I have no idea where Ganei Yehoshua is.  I imagine we will figure this out when we get off the train.  Apparently, the train does stop right next to Park HaYarkon.  I have no idea how close the train stop is to where we want to be.

Maybe you are wondering who is sponsoring this Opera in the Park?

The Municipality of Tel Aviv Yafo and the Israeli Opera continue the annual summer open air opera in the park tradition in Ganei Yehoshua.  This summer's presentation is one of the most popular operas in the repertoire: Carmen, by Bizet, in a colorful and extravagant production. 

Carmen, a free spirited gypsy, runs aways from prison, falls in love with the Toreador, and gets killed by her former lover. 

This larger than life, open air production is based on Franco Zaffirelli's production at the Metropolitan Opera, New - York.

Email me if:
1. you are interested in joining us
2. you have a chair I can sit on for the performance
3. you know if my disability card can get us in earlier
4. you know of a good place to hang out while we wait to get in
5. you can explain how to get to Ganei Yehoshua from the train stop at Park HaYarkon
6. you have any other great ideas

Do not email me to tell me that I am crazy.  I already know that.


(For more information about Carmen in the Park, see below)


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA


Conductor: David Stern
Revival Director: Gad Schechter
Set Adaptation & Design: Nitzan Refaeli
Lighting Designer: Eyal Tavori
Choreographer: Neta Shezaf


Soloists:
Carmen Rinat Shaham
Don Jose
Scott Piper
Escamillo Vladimir Braun
Micaela Noa Danon
Frasquita Hila Baggio
Mercedes Shira Raz
Zuniga Andrei Trifonov
Morales Yair Goren


The Israeli Opera Chorus:
Conductor: Yishai Steckler


The Young Bat-Kol Choir:
Conductor: Dalia Lazar-Shimon
Conductor & Music Director: Anat Morag


The Opera Orchestra - The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion


The Neta Shezaf Flamenco Dance Theatre


Sung in French
Subtitles in English and Hebrew: Israel Ouval

Die Fledermaus

Motza"sh is Opera Night. (and you thought it was just Star Trek night!)

My mother, who loves opera, watches the opera on TV every Motza"sh.

I will admit that I do enjoy certain operas. However, some of them just sound like a lot of noise.

I kept waiting for one of the operas I like to be on TV. It finally happened this motza"sh.

Some background: When I was growing up, every New Year's Eve, our family would watch Kiss Me Kate and Die Fledermaus on TV. Even when I got older, and would babysit on New Year's Eve, I always watched these two classics.

Until I moved to Israel, where January first is just another day on the calendar, I missed watching those shows on New Year's Eve.

So, I was very excited about the prospect of watching Die Fledermaus now. It brings back my childhood....

But this opera, on Israeli TV, was produced in France and performed in German... no English, not even subtitles. Bummer!

I am going to have to get a copy either with the dialogue/singing in English, or a version that at least has English subtitles. Anyone out there have this opera on DVD? (didn't think so)

Clearly, I am not serious enough to watch it in a foreing language.

It's such a fun opera -- I dont' want to work hard to understand it, I just want to sit back and enjoy.

If I ever do get a copy, you are all invited to come watch.

When? New Year's Eve, of course!


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA