Oh, Shir. D was showing me some pictures of the violence yesterday and I just wanted to cry. I don't get it. I don't understand. It's awful and stupid and sad and so many people are caught up in it on all sides.

Glad it went well, Anne.

lots of appeal~ma, erika!!!

Can't wait to see cutie Ryan pics and new puppy pics when I get home.

Today's going pretty well for a Monday, here's hoping I didn't just jinx anything.

Ginger,

man I know what you mean. I actually think it is criminal that refinances cannot occur a bit more easily if all you want to do is refi the amount you owe. I tried to refi several times after the bottom dropped out of the housing market and I couldn't get a decent mortgage.

All I wanted was a 15- or 30-year fixed, decent rate. No dice unless I wanted to pay the difference in appraised rate and my mortgage.

Oh, Shir, you of all people don't need to apologize now. But thanks for your thoughts.

I almost forgot to look at the Ryan pictures, which would have been tragic! I saw the link this morning while I was browsing on my phone and decided I would wait until I was on my computer to look at them. Ryan continues to be a cutie pie!

Shir, you're in all our thoughts.

Anne, I'm so glad things went well. What a relief.

erika, all crossables crossed for your appeal.

Ginger, of course you have all the ~ma you can use. Stupid financial people making things complicated and hard.

Oh goodness, look at those! Ryan is such a joy, and so are you, bt, for sharing his joy with us.

Patch is a cutie, Pix. I hope he's quickly back on all four paws and ready for his new, permanent family. And may Kaylee get over her displaced elder sibling snit.

Wanna hear something funny?

I live by Haifa port. Which, as I learned 5 minutes ago, is using sirens to direct the ships.

These are not the sirens that are for warning, but still. God damn.

Oh Shir. It's all so pointless and upsetting.

Patch is a cutie, Pix. I hope he's quickly back on all four paws and ready for his new, permanent family. And may Kaylee get over her displaced elder sibling snit.

He is so happy being in a home with people who love and pay attention to him—he just wants to snuggle. And Kaylee actually quite likes him; they're getting along fine for the most part, playing and running around together. I'm just working on her MINE tendencies. We've started by taking away all toys and making her lie down and stay whenever I give Patch something to play with, but she's been an only dog for two years, so I imagine it will take a little time.

Vibing hard for Shir and Nilly (and everyone in the path of the war).

I know you said you don't need the hugs. But you get the brackets anyway! {{{{ Shir }}}}. Let's see what they can be used for:
- keeping you from shivering in the "cold" shelter
- restraining you from slugging your fellow student (because violence about violence is just wrong)
- because we all are worried about you, and want to keep you safe anyway that we can

And when peace breaks out, the brackets are still there for you, to help with any PTSD that may linger, from being in a constant state of fear/run for shelter/duck n cover/whatever you want to call it. Stay sane! And may this skirmish end soon. Like. NOW! please!