How I Spent My American Summer

I was in the U.S. for a full month along with the fam. We split the time between Riverdale and Syracuse. Here's a brief overview of my trip 'by the numbers' without getting into too much detail on any single item as the kids are staying up/waking up at ungodly hours and are caught somewhere between Jerusalem and NY time:

I played poker once at Turning Stone Casino near Syracuse and won $102. I play online occasionally so it's nice to see how my skills stack up in the real world. Apparently, they stack up fairly well as I didn't get particularly good cards and my margin of earnings came mainly from pots I bluffed people out of without what i imagine was the winning hand.

I got two suits - first time I've gotten a new suit since my wedding five years ago (love ya babe)! I had to get them for three work-related events I had including a visit to the ETF Group at the NY Stock Exchange (thanks Phil!) where I got taken onto the floor during trading hours. There was also a really awesome Company event at NY Vintners that included all you could drink good Israeli wine and Deli from Noah's Ark.

Saw three movies: Toy Story 3 - seriously awesome, Grown Ups - I miss Adam Sandler from 15 years ago!, and The Kids Are Alright - entertaining but really pretty dumb in a Hollywood sort of way.

Ate in/ordered out from four great restaurants: Blossom, a vegan place on the Upper West Side, Le Mare with my great Aunt and Uncle - always great food and conversation, Sushi Metzuyan in Queens - serious Japanese food fest with Simone's bro and sis-in-law and my bro, and we got takeout from Carlos and Gaby's, an excellent Kosher Mexican NYC food chain.

I went to five concerts, four of which were excellent in their own right. We saw Willie nelson at Radio City - that was simply awesome - he's such a great performer, a total crack up on stage. And the fans are hilarious - total drunken rednecks - not mid-town Manhattan types at all. I also saw Umphrey's McGee in Utica while we were in Syracuse - that was the worst of the concerts by far. Then Lotus and Sound tribe Sector 9 at the Roseland Ballroom - people danced so hard it was like an Indian Sweat Lodge (special shout-out to Bron and Vinnick for throwing down old school style). And finally last week two Phish shows at Jones Beach on Tuesday and Wednesday night, which was the summer tour closer. As always, a great time was had by all - was great to have my boy Noam at both shows - he was the maniac filming in the lot with expensive film equipment and I'm happy to say he scored face tickets to both shows without having any in advance. Saw lots of other friends, the music was great, was there with three of my sibs which was tons of fun as well. And of course, I always love sharing in the groove with Simone most of all!

We also spent lots of time hanging with my parents and in-laws - they're all great people and very unique in their own right so that's always a good time. We spent lot of time debating the downtown mosque which led to some very funny conversation, especially at the Shabbat table in my house in Riverdale.

Special shout outs to Zaki, who got me embroiled in what should be an awesome fantasy football season and Eytan for making it back from China in time for at least one night of drinking ;-)

All in all, an excellent stay in the U.S. of A. but I'm also glad to be home.