Modern Vespa

Some of you may recall that I hurt my knee last week when my scooter slid out from under me at an intersection due to some deisel fuel in the street.

Like Bambi On Ice

I've been out of work ever since due to arcane insurance rules that require me to see an industrial doctor before I can return to work. The problem is that getting an appointmnet with such a doctor takes time. My appointment was this morning (it would have been in three weeks, but I yelled at the secretary and told her I would come camp out in her office if she didn't get me in to see the doctor!).

The doctor gave me a prescription for physical therapy but otherwise gave me the all clear to go back to work.

On the way into the office the 'Code Red' sirens went off (signaling that missiles were incoming) and I had to pull over, park and run for the nearest building's bomb shelter.

I realized I was too far from the building so I simply dove behind a stone wall.

Within seconds there was a huge explosion overhead and bits of metal started raiing down around me. Apparently the Iron Dome anti-missile system had shot down the incoming missile.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4303889,00.html

When I got up, my knee was throbbing and I'm pretty sure I may have banged it up some. I have no intention of mentioning it to our head of Human Resources as there's no telling how long this could put me out for.

Just call me hop along.

[As of this moment, there have been over 75 missiles fired at southern Israel in the last 24 hours]

Sorry to hear that Trep..er..I mean hop a long. I'll keep you and Israel in my prayers.

Heel quickly and completely (You & Israel )

I want you to know that I support you in every way. May God bless you and keep you safe.

yo George....I believe Trepp is from the states

Post deleted by Salima

Hope you recover quickly..

I would comment on the missiles but this would not be the time and place to do so... having said that i'm glad the missile defence worked..

H.

Fixed it, thanks!

I know... hard to keep track without a score card.

I hold dual citizenship (and two passports); US and Israel. My country of residence is Israel (although I pay taxes to both). I have served in both country's militaries.

November is turning out to be a good month for you Stay safe my friend.

I tell ya, Cassidy-witz*, when I read your thrilling yarns, North Carolina sounds better and better.









*A portmanteau word made from (Hopalong) Cassidy and (Treppen) witz.

Might have to start calling him Trip-a-long....

Hoppy,

I hope the world gives you a break real soon, Goodness knows that you deserve it.

"One world, One people. One day."

Mr. F

Holy crap, Trepp! Man, you sure are having a bummer of a time lately. I'll send some more good vibes in your direction.

I hope things calm down over there. You stay safe, ya hear?? You're probably the best storyteller here on MV.

TREP You, your family and friends are in my thoughts. Stay safe. I know those sirens and to this day the hair on my arms stands straight up when we have our monthly system checks. Oh and be careful with that knee!

Do you ever have a normal day ?

Bill XX

Sure, but I thought you'd be pleased to know that when I saw the outgoing iron dome missile streak up and hit the incoming grad missile, I pointed up at the sky and thought to myself... Bill Dog would so be pointing at this too.

Damn, dodging missile fragments! I can't even imaging having to live with that. Is Israel firing back at the culprits? Stay safe bud.

As one of my old riding buddies used to say, If nothing else kills you, a jet plane will fall on you.

Glad the iron dome missile did its job. I just read this too my wife and she said "You mean the guy that sent all the yummy chocolate? Why would anyone shoot missiles at him?" Sorry about your knee...again. You live in a vastly different world than most of us can imagine. Stay safe...you and your family.

Yes, but our response is expected to be 'measured'.

The crazy thing is that most of the time this is a wonderful, quiet, culturally rich, diverse, cosmopolitan place to live.

For you Americans, try to think back to how two men with a hunting rifle and a van (the beltway snipers) we're able to briefly disrupt life for most of the eastern seaboard. It's called asymmetrical warfare and it is, sadly, quite effective.

stay safe david

Always.

David,

Though I've become a fan of your writings and general observations, seems you've been skating on some thin ice lately. Please be safe and finish healing....we can wait for more stories

I have kept up with Iron Dome in the mags, and its impressive. Actually seeing an intercept to kill must have been awesome. Not being a test situation, not so awesome.

Keep your head down.

And it is your friends and neighbors who say you are taking too much of a risk riding a scooter.

Stay safe.

Gives a whole new meaning of All The Gear, All The Time.
Stay safe my friend.

Good point.

Thinking the same thing.

Keep you head down and heal, Shipmate.

Trepp, your 'normal days' add up to a lifetime for the rest of us. I hope you're penning a biography. Something like missiles and the art of Vespa maintenance. Between shirt-losing women, goats (or was it a sheep) in the ditches, and various other 'adventures' you've had just commuting about, you have enough stories for a lifetime of dinner parties and book tours. I am sure that Ira Glass and This American Life would love to talk to you.

Trepp, the stage is now set to change up the account of your leg injury!

This is sure to deflect any criticism related to the dangers of riding.

All ya gotta say is that you "re-injured an 'old' (hey, a relative term... go with it) injury while taking cover during a rocket attack".

No mention of that terrifying pastime of scooter riding!

Problem solved!!

I gotta say that's the best solution yet!

I mean, you're standin' there with missile debris falling around your ears telling me scooters are dangerous???

Move to Bermuda, scooters are the most dangerous thing there.

May the Baal HaKerem watch out for you.

David, not being very religious, I take more comfort in the law of averages than invoking the protection of the Almighty. I think you should buy a lottery ticket.

Tex's comment made me think that you should be looking for a Kevlar and Nomex riding jacket. You could have one made by combining a fireman's jacket with a flak vest in something resembling a Corazzo 5.0

Now rest, ice, compress, and elevate that knee.