Re: marks on babies. They're called Stork Bites. [link]

Shir, stay safe.

Bonnie, you're in my thoughts through this anniversary. He was your heart dog, as they say in the adoption circles in which I run.

thanks Suzi! I'm hoping it works and doesn't make me gain weight. Or at the very least the weight gain is slow enough I don't get too fat for my pants.

I've already gained a few prednisone pounds. I don't recall gaining on Abilify.

Well I gained 8 lbs this past month. My biggest fear is that I'll have a reaction like I did to Zyprexa. Although the doctor said that doesn't happen (I worry about that with any medication). I can't remember how much weight I gained on Zyprexa but I know it was more than 10 lbs in one month. I was hungry 24/7. I would eat until I was stuffed and still be starving.

He was your heart dog

Thank you so much, Plei. He really was. I miss him every day, despite Cagney's best efforts to worm his way into my heart. He's a dear, but just. not. the same.

It's odd how my life seems to revolve on specific dates.

I was married on my 21st birthday, divorced on my 28th. Bartleby came to me on my 42nd.

My great aunt, who was my closest relative, died on the 17th of July...as did my father, 11 years later.

The March ended Nov 15...Bartleby's surgery was on that date.

My best friend was killed by terrorists on Dec 21st. Bartleby died on that date, 23 years later.

I seem to pack everything onto the same days. Perhaps it's the Universe compensating for my terrible memory for dates. Not so many to remember.

I had a quiet and blissful and eventless night. Others, NSM. Some friends and spouses of friends were called back to IDF. The reaction of one of them, who already lost her ex on Lebanon II, just slayed me. "We will not be another generation of war widows. The hell with that."

Had a pretty decent morning until I got updated about her (and another friend). I can be there for all, just... don't get to my sister, as well. She's been through enough. She really had.

Anyhow, got things to do before Shabbat enters. And if anyone knows people in Israel who are looking for a mostly safe place to stay, we still have two places in Jerusalem for the weekend and we'd love to host.

Stay safe and be well, Shir. I think of you every time I look at my Israeli candy tins.

Thank you. Thank you all, actually - your support does help me to feel better in all of this mess.

Meanwhile, we're optimistic about a rumor that while my sis might not be protected by her pass, she's protected from being called in by the fact that she is a pre-med student. Word has it that they doesn't call for med and pre-med students, because doctors here are on reserve duty as is.

I'm really hoping it's true. Most of the people she knows were already called in.

Not really here, but wanted to send my love and concern to Shir and Nilly and Israel.

Tonight, after watching some Life of Mammals, Ryan informed me that he was a marmoset, and he liked to eat insects and gum. (I was apparently a spider monkey. Biyi got to be a clam-eating capuchin monkey.

Apparently Ryan gets his gum from a tree with bumps on it, and it's very good for marmosets. I asked him what he would do if other little monkeys tried to take his tree. He thought for a bit and decided that they wouldn't try to take his tree, because it was his home and they would have their own homes.