in my life

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Except that step 3 would actually be taking a bite instead of, you know, posing for the camera.

So yesterday I had lunch with hihoplastic and marina (our hand model) at the Lebanese Restaurant in Abu Ghosh, aka the Best Hummus In Israel (Though Some Disagree). I'm not a big fan of hummus, unless it's in restaurants that make daily batches from scratch, like this one.

Israelis tend to be very protective about the Right Way to eat hummus. I remember the exact day I was taught how to, but my uncle and cousins, right after my family returned from the US in '93. My cousins saw us dipping a knife in a hummus container and stared as if we'd just confessed our undying love and loyalty to Jesus Christ at the very least. "That's not how you do it!" my 6-year-old cousin wailed, horrified, and then the entire family sat down to give us a tutorial on how hummus should be correctly served and eaten: shaped in a bowl, hollowed out in the middle with the back of a spoon, liberally decorated with olive oil and chickpeas and paprika, and when you eat it, you don't desecrate the dish with a knife, but wipe your torn piece of pita in a circular motion in the communal bowl. It's practically religious.

Like I said, I'm not a huge hummus enthusiast, but places like Abu Ghosh are absolutely the exception. And considering that the parking lot was full when we arrived and cars were still waiting in line to enter when we left three hours later, it looks like the place isn't in danger of going out of business any time soon.

A few more food photos under the cut, but really I'm saving all my food photo mojo for Passover. (Because nothing is more appetizing than seeing sharp close ups of cow tongue in gravy.)

( ...6 food pics )

Also I've been trying to think of the appropriate translation to the slang phrase "I came out a hummus", which vaguely means "I made an ass of myself in a social situation and came out really really embarrassed." Why does hummus get such a bad rep in slang, I do not know. *pats*

Afterwards we went to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant -- local church on the hill -- where there were also many photos which I am sure Marina will at some point post, so I will link when she does.

Meanwhile, I've been trying to think about what fic I can write for Passover this year. There's the House Passover fic I started in 2007 which I've been trying and failing to complete for four years now. Other than that, though, I'm kind of blanking on ideas and fandoms, and the only thing I can think of is incorporating some kind of joke about nuts because I really do have a 12-year-old sense of humor.

(The more interesting fic news is that tieleen has been sending me little snippets from the imaginary American Idol/Bandom/Merlin ski AU and I love her for it. One day, probably three years after anyone ceases to care, something of it will be posted. Hopefully sooner.)

(I also have all my charity fics to finish. I have not forgotten! They're just. They will be posted.)