And because it deserves its own post, belated birthday wishes for Windsparrow!

{{{{Andi}}}}

{{{{{Barb}}}}}

Scotch is a good choice.

{{Barb}} Your rabbi sounds like a wise person.

So, we had a "Managing Work Stress" seminar this morning.

Turns out I'm only middling stressed (according to the unscientific quiz).

Which actually makes sense. While I feel a sense of disengagement and, frankly, disdain for my job, I'm actually not stressed about it. I rock the job. Admittedly a *monkey* could rock the job, but I'm the one at the desk and I rock the job.

I just don't give too much of a shit, I guess. I give enough of a shit to do a good job and not get fired, but not enough that I get stressed out about it.

And, yes, this is an entirely different thing from the Fuckcake O' the Day phenomenon. That's not job stress, in my opinion. That's rage at stupid people. I get that everywhere.

It was a useful seminar. It put some things in perspective for me.

While searching for some songs by Mira Awad, I stumbled on Israel's 1979 Eurovision entry. [link] It has everything you could possibly want from a seventies song -- ridiculously sappy lyrics that say absolutely nothing, guys with perms, guys with Chachi hair, sparkly suspenders, bow ties, white pants, woman with feathered hair, and a dress with chiffon and flowers and other stuff that I really can't describe, but could not possibly exist in any decade other than the seventies. It is fabulous.

And it could not sound more like crappy Christian rock! Awwwwww

Mild giggle of the day yesterday, when one of the cousins was relating the instructions the rabbi had given regarding food and drink, she said, "Well, the rabbi told us that from the time of death until the burial, no meat and no wine... but Scotch is okay."

Do we think this was a scheduled exception? Or that the guys who wrote the rules didn't have hard liquor and its in on a technicality? I am now pondering this. And I feel I have fresh insight into the "burial in one day" custom.

Askye, I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. She's lucky to have you.

God, askye. All my {{}} belong to you. You and Anna are in my thoughts. I can't imagine how you feel.

Sean, how are you?

omnis, here's a virtual mug of my ginger-cinnamon-lemon-honey-sage tea.

In professor and funny information stories, I have to share one. My Introduction to Early Modern Era professor, who's probably maybe the most sarcastic teacher I have this year, answered the "how come Switzerland, a protestant country, sends the highest % of soldiers to the Pope's army?" question with this: "You have a cow and 2-3 chickens. 9 months of the year they are covered with snow". And I was with tears of laughter in my eyes from this. He continued with "It's not always about humping", to which everyone in my 170 people class went "huh?", while I continued laughing and nodding my head. So he said he can't say more, but "you can ask her after class". And then I felt a little bit like a pervert, in a good way.

Also, I'm kindda waiting to see what Obama will do in the Middle East. I have to say, the last few years the "American Way of Life" scared the shit out of me, because it seemed to translate directly to "consumption without thinking of the consequences".

Also, I think I failed to understand what's up with Jilli and Plei.

And thank you, Bitches. I think I can live with being beautiful and wise.

Askye, I am lucky that I never had to actually follow through on the same decision you've had to make, Bast took the decision from me and took my Koogie on her own time. You're a stronger person than I am.

I have to say, the last few years the "American Way of Life" scared the shit out of me, because it seemed to translate directly to "consumption without thinking of the consequences".

It's scared a lot of us too, for exactly the same reason.

askye, I am not a pet person, but I appreciate the enormity of this decision. Peace~ma to you. And hugs, lots of hugs.

((((askye)))) RIP, Anna.