Chronologically answering:

{{smonster}} I got nothing to offer you but hugs. Sorry. But I'm glad for the chance to hug you, even if only virtually.

Thanks, everyone, and especially Typo Boy for extremely good advices which I'll think of how to carry out. Just after shutting down my computer last night and heading to bed it hit me - I am doing the best thing possible to handle this situation and trying to state my arguments rationally. I do it by doing most of the battle virtually - where I know I can write and write well, where I can edit me posts and comments and emails and think of them before I hit "send", where I'm in best terms of control. And it's working. So I'm already doing all that I can do - wording myself carefully, sensitively and rationally while building a base of evidences from other women and LGBTQ. And when it'll be up and running, I'll be able to say "you know, it's a complicated issue. I have a strong stand in it, but it's better if I'll send you something first in email before we'll talk about it". If I could only figure out what to say by then, well...

On empaths and shielding: Like others, I want to thank you for sharing your feelings on the subject (I didn't know you write somewhere online, Andi). Because it makes sense in some cases for me. At first I thought of it wrt the empathic listening I'm practicing daily thanks to Hollaback Israel and the 1325 projects (and I think that sort of listening makes me a better researcher). I do have a problem there, which I acknowledge, for I am taking upon myself too much (getting better at it slowly but surely. For 3 months I run Hollaback Israel almost on my own, and did it daily. After almost caving in under the stress and pressure, I'm now working on it 2-4 days of the week, and only few hours per day).
But then I understood something else. With the closest to me and my friends, I always pick up their mood. If they're cranky, I get cranky. If they're thrilled, so am I. I know a way of shielding myself from that, but then people think I'm not sociable and all that jazz, and I do enjoy some of that kind of connection. But I never thought of it as something that takes a toll. Not saying that "wow, I'm an empath and all of that!" just from reading about few things online, but it makes sense, in a way, to me. And like other recent posts, I know I can get very hurt from romantic relationship (which is maybe why I'm avoiding from it like The Plague). I remember myself in the past, thinking that I feel too much. I think I avoided full connection with a lot of people for a long time because of that, as a sort of a shield. It's VERY hard for me to trust anyone completely, too, because I'm just not sure if I'll be able to bounce back from a complete and utter feeling of betrayal after trusting someone completely (not just in romantic/sexual relationships). On a daily basis, I have my ways of shielding myself and venting. They might not be perfect, but it's something I can live with.

Stay safe during the snowpocalypse, people. Stay home, drink a lot, and write funny drunk posts over here (why yes, it's All About Me And My Will To Read Your Drunk Posts).

Timelies!

It's a snow day! Except for Greg, whose boss got into trouble for calling a snow day when it wasn't a complete blizzard, and now won't call one at all. At least he has a ride to work with a coworker instead of having to take the bus.

But it doesn't stop in wars. Juarez, Mexico with its drug wars (second most dangerous place to women in the world, after Darfur): the murders of the women and girls there have nothing to do with the drug wars in themselves. But a lot of social tensions are usually directed towards who the society considers as its weak. At most cases and most places, these are women.

Shir, I don't *need* statistics, but I would love the source for this. Mostly because I represent people from both Darfur and Juarez seeking asylum in this country and this sort of information could be useful in convincing a judge to let them stay.

I'm not sure I can help you with data on Darfur, but I know an activist in Mexico. I'll contact her for something official, as the information came from her.

Oh, no problem. I just thought it might be easily citable, if that's a word.

ION, school is closed again today due to cold. I went out and started the cars to be sure they would start. The Honda has a tire that is too flat to just leave, or put air in, but I think I can drive it to the tire store and buy new tires. Yay, me! I was hoping to spend $250 unexpectedly this morning.

All the public schools around here are closed today, but the university is open. I'm unsure of the condition of the roads, though, so I might call in and say that I can't come in today.

Wow, I am feeling incredibly defended right now.Which is weird, because throughout my childhood and youth, I was regarded as exceedingly sensitive and my emotional life was like riding a mechanical bull, well, not quite at all times, but a lot of the time.It's not now, and although I have worked on it, I feel that I can't claim some sort of brilliant emotional mastery...I guess when I put up boundaries, I don't fuck around. occasionally, I miss the highs. And it's hard to let go now...but I guess it's worth it for some equinamity

TCG's office wasn't opening until 10 today, but he has had a 2 hour commute in this weather so he left at 8. They just called now, at 9ish, to say that he didn't have to come in until at least 11 and they may have to close for the day. Of course he's already halfway there. They are on the list.

I am so glad they called everything closed here for us yesterday. I went to bed at midnight, turned off my alarm and awoke nicely refreshed at 7:30. I got up, did the dishes, made myself an omelet with spinach, roasted red pepper, pine nuts and goat cheese. Now, I'm nicely full and drinking my first cup of coffee. I am looking forward to just slounging around the condo. I may complete a few onerous tasks today! Usually I save them for Sunday, but it would be nice to actually do my onerous tasks on our onerous task day. But I stopped for groceries last night on the way home, so today may be a crock pot day to get 4-5 meals out of the way (usually done on Sunday). I am all gleeful at having an actual SNOW DAY! I never have snow days!

I'm technically WFH but I still plan on catching up on movies and stuff today. There's a good 18 inches on my porch, which is sheltered and has a roof, so I suspect there'll prove to be a lot more outside once I make it that far.

My sister just texted that at her house the snow is up to her hips.

Is today onerous task day? Awesome.