Fat Tuesday

Cold wet day

It actually rained and drizzled alternately all day ... actually it already started last night. The temperature has dropped again. From 20 degrees yesterday, it's now 9 degrees. The wind is gusty and cold, carrying rains at an angle so using umbrellas is useless. You get soaked from the sideways rains. It was so strong the rains came through the exhaust fan in my toilet, rain falling down the wall and the flooding the floor. It's the second time it's happened this year. But just as suddenly as the gusty shower came, it suddenly stops and a gentle drizzle takes over. Then when you least expect it, the shower comes back on.

Today is Fat Tuesday or in french Mardi Gras. We're trying to consume all the week's leftover meat today so they are not left over during Lent when we abstain from meat. It would be a waste to throw it away. I've been bringing soup and rice and other foods that were left over, to the poor all week. In this cold weather, some soup and rice would keep the poor warm.

Umbrellas everywhere

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and I'm presiding at Mass. Hope I won't make any mistakes with the ashes.

The local newspaper has made an important observation which escaped me ... that for the first time Iran and Israel are facing off each other directly in the tensions in the Golan this week. Another article says there's escalation of tensions and Israel must prepare for war. Let's hope and prayer nothing results ... that summer will be peaceful and no one has to suffer.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/after-years-of-covert-proxy-wars-iran-shifts-to-direct-contact-1.5810960   and   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Escalation-on-the-northern-front-Israel-must-prepare-for-war-542388

In the palestinian territories, though there has been a series of vandalism  against arab properties this whole week. More such acts are reported today. No one was been caught yet.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/cars-vandalized-daubed-with-hebrew-graffiti-in-east-jerusalem-neighborhood/