{{{{Shir}}}} Give yourself a break. 1) Even if you are being snappish, you have a zillion good reasons for it right now; 2) Maybe the lesson is, that you do better spending time with this friend, without the other one - when those two cannot be so wrapped up in each other and their fabulous adventures. And yes, you do need to see your grandfather, and your sister.

Brenda, I'm eagerly awaiting a status report on Lucy.

{{{{Emily}}}}

Barb, how's the ankle feeling today?

can I Shir?

Sure. Seriously, behalf of the shy worldwide, do it.

You are in mourning, there is some culture where that is the practice, no?

Yes, in some of the paths of the Jewish belief it's a custom, but I'm not one of the deceaseds' closest relatives. In that case, I'm not under any of the regulations of the Shiv'ah. Also, due to some weight loss I had because of new braces I got recently, I'm hanging to every piece of fat I have on me at the moment - I'm only 6 pounds from looking anorectic (temples are sunk now as is, but when the bones around the eyes are really sticking out, it's scaring the shit out of me), although I'm really 20 pounds from underweight (which doesn't look like it). So, you know.

Maybe the lesson is, that you do better spending time with this friend, without the other one

I had no idea she'll be there until it was too late. But I wanted to hear about the fabulous adventures! But you know, talk too.

Shir - have you tried milkshakes? soups with veggies, pasta, rice, etc., pureed into the liquid? (I'm trying to think of things I ate when I had braces that my mother told me were fattening.)

:: pushes lasagna and cheesecake through intertubes to Shir ::

But I wanted to hear about the fabulous adventures!

I understand this! Most of my travel is through other folks adventures. I'm leaning towards you have a lot on your plate right now. Stress is higher than you might think, and it's effecting you in different ways. When is the bus ride? Find a good, happy book. Make a comforting playlist for the mp3 player. Use the bus ride to chill and get back on track. It amazes me sometimes how an "unpleasant" experience like a long bus ride can actually serve as a decompression chamber and help you get your mental self back in order. Hopefully it will work for you. {{{ Shir }}}

(still thinking about that m-16... wonders if the indoor shooting range are any good here in Texas)

eta: oops, forgot about the braces part. Maybe the internet will scramble yummy food enough so you can eat it. Stupid braces. Sorry to tease ya like that.

I'm kindda good on the food now. When university will start in two weeks, and I'll be a freshwoman, I might have to start with fattening milkshakes. Until then, I'm just trying to eat as healthy and fattening and as usual as possible without it.

Also - I'm really fond of bus rides. Had to learn to like it, since I spend at least 10 hours per week on buses and I'm working from home. It's my time to relax from the world around me. Today I enjoyed reading Daniel Kahneman's articles from a collection of translated articles of his in Hebrew called "Rationalism, Fairness, Happiness", while skipping between classical music and this podcast. I was on my way doing shopping, you know. It explains a lot, in my world.

Barb, how's the ankle feeling today?

It's okay--the combination of heat and keeping it elevated is really wlrking to make it feel overall better. To the point where I fooled myself into thinking I could sit at my desk for a while, but that didn't work so well, since the throbbing started right back.

But walking for short stretches is definitely more comfortable than it was yesterday, so I'm going to hang onto that. The worst thing so far, is driving, since I have a manual and my clutch is a bit stiff. Luckily, didn't have to drive any further than the bus stop this morning for Abby. Tomorrow will be the real test, since I have to drive to pick up Abby's birthday cake (which is actually a chocolate pizza [link] for her class party on Friday.

:: pushes lasagna and cheesecake through intertubes to Shir ::

Oh no! They arrived here and I seriously don't need the calories.

Good to hear the ankle is better today. Can you switch vehicles with someone with an automatic?

the woot-off is not helping me get off the computer and eat something and face the world.

Can you switch vehicles with someone with an automatic?

Only Lewis and I don't like his driving my car to where he works, which is in a kind of ick part of town. I think if I wrap the ankle, I should be okay. And once I get to the bakery, I can pick up something... restorative, right?