Also, I am watching TBS, and first watched "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married" which...may have had a happy ending, but was just depressing, and now am watching "Head of State". And I want dessert, but have none in the house. Hrmph.

but I'm overwhelmed with shame and bits of shock after this: [link]

Yeah, well I'm not exactly proud of how my nation has acted recently. I know its hard but one has to separate the nation from the government. The thing is most of the places you would want to move to have their record of horror, much of it recent. I admit I would selfishly want to you to move, just because I worry about the dangers and tensions of your living in Israel, but that is a different matter. I also have to admit that I selfishly hope that none of the people I know on that flotilla were among the 14+ killed.

I also have to admit that I selfishly hope that none of the people I know on that flotilla were among the 14+ killed.

Oh God, Typo. This is not selfish (I know this feeling very well, when they announce on dead soldiers where friends of mine are serving, and I hope it's not them). I hope your friends are alive. What a horrible thing is to say that sentence, but it is, in many ways, the binary reality my country is dragging people into.

The thing is most of the places you would want to move to have their record of horror, much of it recent

I'm well aware of it. Hell, we all wear clothes and use products which were made in sweat factories. But at least most of it is not in their back yard, and frankly?

I know its hard but one has to separate the nation from the government

I fear that lately there isn't so much difference between the two. We had a gov after another which just made things worse. Someone had to elect them. I really don't think that my vote to radical left means anything anymore (IRL I'm less radical than it seems, I'm just aiming to shift the so called consensus - mostly wrt feminist politics), even though the party I voted for got another seat in the Knesset.

I admit I would selfishly want to you to move, just because I worry about the dangers and tensions of your living in Israel, but that is a different matter.

Thank you, but we face different dangers and tensions. For one, I don't know what it feels like to face antisemitism or to be scared of crime and walking at 2am on the street on my own. There are shortage to every place, and there are things which I can't imagine as possible dangers in other countries.

I'll do my MA abroad anyhow. I just thought I'll do it abroad and then get back. But if Israel will keep acting all my way or highway, I don't want to live in a bloodshed. I'm just wondering if I'll ever stop feeling responsible for it.

ION: ND, I sent an email (blame omnis), and I'm not sure it got to your end properly. Let me know.

Shir, you're courageous and tenacious in wanting to change your country, and that's much to your credit. However, if you ever do feel you need to leave, try not to feel guilty. Everyone has their enough-already point.

Having cats has been a great help to me, besides companionship and affection, in just making me HAVE to do two things every day: fill the food bowls and clean the boxes. I free-feed, which works well for all of us, though it doesn't stop the Walking Mouths from mewing the hell out of me when they want gooshy food. I try to clean the boxes twice a day, but I rarely manage more than once, because it's such an unpleasant chore. (Which is why I have two boxes. I plan ahead for my shortcomings.)

Sifting litter box liners make my life so much easier. No scooping, no touching anything that might be nasty, just lift the top liner (stack of about 10) and the "good" litter sifts through back into the box, then you just throw the nasty stuff away. When you get to the bottom, non-perforated one, just throw it all away and start over. I still wear rubber gloves when I clean the boxes, though. Can't help myself.

I don't even know what to say, Shir. I'm saddened, and feel like I'm watching my own country go to hell in a handbasket, and you must be feeling the same way.

ION, I dreamed of Koogie last night (the cat I had for nearly 20 years, who died what passes for peacefully in his sleep curled up next to me). I'm sitting on the couch, and all of a sudden, my skinny grey lich-cat was curled up in my arms purring. What's odd is that I knew it was a visit and not a re-creation of a time when he was alive. Then he crawled up onto his favorite perch, draped over my shoulder, and gave the long, contented sigh that said he was settling in for a while.

It was very nice.

We scoop and flush the natural litters- we used to use Swheat Scoop (wheat) but we haven't found it here yet. We are currently using a pine litter. I don't mind scooping.

What's odd is that I knew it was a visit and not a re-creation of a time when he was alive.

I like that dream.

Connie, that's a wonderful dream.

Paging Jilli, I found a bag of the body-art quality henna and indigo from hennaforhair.com that I bought last year (I think), and then chickened out of using. If you want it, it's yours.