Trudes, can you hop on IM?

First? You people are fucking hysterical. Thank you so much for that conversation. I practically hurt myself laughing.

Second? Sometimes kids are DUMB. I just discovered that one of my students--one of my SENIORS--plagiarized at least one piece of her major research paper word-for-word from SparkNotes. It's just a couple of sentences (though I suspect there's more I couldn't track down), but she's going to get a zero now, which will lower her grade in the class by a full letter grade, and she will most likely have to inform the colleges she's applied to about it, as per school policy. One of her friends just went through this after blatantly plagiarizing a paper in another class, so it's not like she didn't know the consequences. I'm so disappointed and so mad at her for doing this for herself. And I know it's going to poison our relationship for the rest of the year, which just blows. ARGH.

Not to mention that I had to spend an hour trying to figure out if there were other parts stolen, which was a total waste of my time. Grr.

Sigh. Hivemind help requested.

In a genius move, I just sliced the hell out of my right index finger on the edge of a food processor blade stuck in the corner of a drawer. It bled a lot but stopped after about 15 minutes of elevation and pressure. I flushed it out with cold water, put antibiotic ointment on it, and bandaged it up. It's ugly, but I think it will be fine.

However, I can't for the life of me remember when the last time I had a tetanus shot is. I don't think it's been more than ten years--I suspect it's been about 9--but I should probably get a booster just in case. Can I wait until tomorrow to go into Urgent Care and get one, or do I have to go in tonight? I'd really rather avoid yet another late night UC visit if at all possible.

Oh, Kristin! I'll ask my mom about it, but I think you can wait.

You people are so funny, even without knowing half of the terms you use or what kind of accents you're talking about. Too bad I surrendered to sleep last night, but not before watching the very slashy-OMG this. I mean, fuck Everett playing a gay character. Anyone Tristin Oliver made eye contact with... just... well, maybe I'm here too much. Humm.

In the meantime, I'm organizing music for my 2 hours ride in rocketland, and found out a place I could run to in case Hamas will decide to launch at Be'er Sheva while I'm there. It's underground and I think I can make it in just 15 seconds. But in case of direct hit, I'll have to stay there for a while until they'll clear out the ruins of the offices and stores from above.

And I hate this, so much.

It can wait until regular hours. Tetanus is usually only a concern in penetrating wounds deep enough that they can't be cleaned by thorough flushing. YTMV. A booster is always a good idea.

Kristin, what Shir and dcp said about the tetanus shot.

That sucks about the senior, too. Do you think the plagiarism was intentional, or a case of transcribing notes that she forgot weren't in her own words?

{{{Shir}}} Be safe.

Punctuation for Shir and Kristin.

I woke up a half hour before I really needed to, yet the gronk is mighty.

Skipping and skimming...

Nora, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope everything is going as well as such things can conceivably go.

Shir, stay safe and well. I can't imagine going through what you're going through, and I'm amazed you can deal with it as bravely as you are.

I hope your hand is okay, Kristin. I also hope your plagiarism issue works out.

In other news, I'm having an absolutely amazing time in Ohio, with the new girl who has no Buffista name as of yet. It's amazingly thrilling. All the details that you don't think about at the very beginning of a relationship - how they communicate with their family, where they prefer to live, their sense of future, ambitions, children, etc - are working out astonishingly well. I keep finding reasons to just dive right in, even beyond the fact that I like her a hell of a lot. Rather comforting, after dating several people whose family wouldn't really even acknowledge me based solely on my race and background.

Kristin, I asked my (nurse) mom - she said you can wait between 24-48 hours, and how you took care of it is enough for now.

Gris, I'm so happy for you and the girl. Really really do.

And I really don't feel brave. The number of times I wanted to collapse and cry... But all of my responsibilities prevent me from doing so at most times. And I feel privileged to be panicked, since 1/3 of my country are having much worse time than me. But I do what I can do and needs to be done. And that's all - the rest can wait, in the meantime.

{{Shir}} Peace and calm wishes for you.

Kristin, what they all said about the shot. My doctor rarely gives them to adults. He thinks they are way overused. Also, ouch! I hope it heals quickly. Sorry about the student. Yes, teens are really dumb. I hope it was inadvertent. t optimist

Yay, Gris! Ain't love grand.