There are some real differences between Shir's situation and catcalling. This is organized. The authorities in Israel officially take a hands off approach to this. On occasion they arrest people they feel are taking actions (such as same sex wedding ceremonies) that feel will are too provocative to the ultra-orthodox. In U.S. law we have a concept call "hecklers veto". In general in the U.S. "hecklers veto" is considered a violation of free speech. That someone will be offended and angry is not enough reason to stop your free speech or other harmless behavior such as bike riding. In Israel hecklers veto is part of recognized law in certain cases. If someone dislikes your otherwise legal speech or behavior enough to become violent towards you, that speech or behavior may be officially forbidden by law enforcement in the name of protecting public order in certain circumstances. I am not a lawyer and definitely not an expert on Israeli law, but it is part of legal precedent in Israel.I don't know what the formal and practical limits if its application are. But that makes counter-action against this sort of thing a bit harder.

Stress is weird. Right now, it's making me think, "I want that" whenever anybody mentions any food. (I just ate dinner, so I'm not hungry.) My senior year of college, similar stress made me feel sick when I even thought about eating anything other than Taco Bell burritos or Cheerios.

I just had KFC, and now I feel slightly ill. Ugh.

So, I have this really shitty situation going on at work. (I talked about it in DW/LJ but it's flocked for obvious reasons, so if you want in, let me know.) Anyway, it's all stupid drama that centers around our receptionist feeling overwhelmed, deciding my work schedule is the problem and emailing the entire company (only 4 people) with her thoughts. And then my boss backs her up in another email to everyone. And then later the 3rd person in the office does the same.

I honestly just don't know how I can keep working there. I mean, I absolutely love the work, and I still do, but how do I go back and say, ask one of our admin people for something sometime in the future.

And then just now I got a call from a client whose asylum case we (I) won, and now her daughter's paperwork is approved and headed to her country. She just called me, at home, to tell me how this was the happiest day of her life and how I am totally responsible for that. It felt pretty fucking awesome, you know?

But no matter how awesome that is, it's not the daily office, you know? Ugh, I just don't see how I can sit in that office on a daily basis.

Looks like I'm going to Annapolis for July 4 weekend. There are beaches there. Also probably tons of people, but beaches.

Jesus, Stephanie. I think I'd be throwing up at the thought of going back to work there.

Stephanie, I think there would have to be some major changes in how things are handled in the office for you to be comfortable staying. A lot depends on how dedicated you are, and how tough you're willing to be about some things.

I wish you all luck, however you choose to move ahead.

{{{Stephanie}}} that is a shitty situation. I would have a hard time staying if I was in your place. I'm so glad you're at least getting the recognition you deserve from the clients.

I got a lot of great suggestions on DW/LJ today and they were all very helpful at how to frame this conversation that I know we will be having tomorrow.

But at the same time, I feel like I'm speaking another language. I got an email back form my boss saying that he was glad that the receptionist had written this email, that it was my schedule that was causing problems in the office, that we all decide things together, that of course everyone knows how much I make because they were consulted when I was hired, and that he think discussing this sort of thing in group wide emails is actually helpful. It's like bizarro-world.

But at the same time, I feel like I'm speaking another language. I got an email back form my boss saying that he was glad that the receptionist had written this email, that it was my schedule that was causing problems in the office, that we all decide things together, that of course everyone knows how much I make because they were consulted when I was hired, and that he think discussing this sort of thing in group wide emails is actually helpful. It's like bizarro-world.

That's just ... huh? Group-wide emails seem like possibly the least helpful way to discuss things like that.