My flight was almost 4 hour late, the cats knocked litter everywhere, Loki puked today so I need to vacuum AND carpet clean AND figure out why he puked, I've barely unpacked , it is 2:15AM and I'm not likely to sleep soon, but I'm home.

Um, sara, welcome home?

I skimmed (that's the residue from my b.org Friday morning Hanukkah miracle - the "mm"s inside that word, instead of "pp"s), to post that, according to the Buffista Calendar, today is quester's birthday.

Happy birthday, quester! With lots of wishes for a great day and a wonderful year!

Happy Birthday quester!

Nilly, hope you are staying safe with the news that Shir has been reporting.

eta:

I was reading the backlog of Natter earlier, and I had to go out in the rain for applesauce and sour cream because I was determined to make latkes for dinner. They were delicious. Which is good, because I'll be eating the rest for breakfast and lunch.

That happened to me for a couple meals and I'm not sure I can look at a potato again for a very very long time.

Welcome home, sarameg. I hope it'll be much homey and welcoming soon.

Happy Birthday, quester!

Yeah, Nilly, what's up in your end? Any of your brothers were called? I hope not.

Happy Birthday quester!

Thanks, Austin.

More than half of my father's family lives in the town where the bombing yesterday killed a citizen (including his crippled aging older brother, who is not able to get to a shelter on time when there's an alarm), so I can't say things are calm and progressing as usual, I'm afraid.

None of my brothers were called to reserve duty yet, but nobody knows right now how these things will continue for the rest of the week, and for who-knows-how-long, so, again, it's not like things are going on as usual.

Today we light the last candle of Hanukkah, and we still wish a happy holiday, but it tastes strangely in my mouth to say the word "happy" now, because all I really wanna say is "peaceful" or "safe" or "could anybody find us a miracle?", but then, I don't wanna spoil the innocent holiday wish, so I just continue saying that.

Shir, how is your sister doing? She's serving near Gaza, right? And for that matter, how are your parents, regarding that?

I am so sorry you and your families and friends are going through this, Nilly and Shir.

Oh, Nilly. I'm sorry. Was it in Netivot?

My sister is fairly busy at the moment. She's telling us not to worry the whole time, but they're being bombed 24/7 (stuff that are not being reported in the news). My parents are somewhat concerned, mostly my mom. She's not feeling too great physically, too, but she's working herself too hard as is.

Both of them are worried about me: there were riots in the neighborhood next to me (Shuafat) last night.

Nilly and Shir, I'm so worried about both of you and your families.

Thanks, Perkins [Edit: and shrift].

Was it in Netivot?

Yup.

stuff that are not being reported in the news

Oy.

Both of them are worried about me

How ironic.

I can't imagine how difficult it may be for parents in these situations. Goodness.

It's just, you know, trying to continue with the daily routine and work, as if nothing happens, when actually so much happens all around. I mean, what else can you do?