Tea:

TCG and I were patting ourselves on the back for our successfully being able to go away for the weekend with ltc, and then Mom texted me this morning that we left behind all the clothes we packed for her.

Me, me! Look, I have a post!

(Hello, y'all!)

I promised an update in the great tradition of Goodbye and Good Riddance (for it is just after the new year's holidays in this part of the world), and it's only natural to post it here.

I skipped and skimmed a lot - a really, really lot - but did paused to read about ltc's arrival to this world. That was wonderful and heartwarming read, sj, and I couldn't be happier for you and your family.

My ~mas are with you all, as always. I carry this place and its people with me wherever I go.

So, this year. Pretty much in order.

I was moved to a mostly support/part analysis position rather than a full analysis position in my work and it's not really working for me (as in, it's working great for the company and I get bonuses and raises and praises, but it's not what I signed up for and it bores me).

I dropped out of the library science diploma studies program (NOT MLIS) I started in 2013 and I wish I'd done so last year, since the program doesn't work for me either and doesn't give me the option write a thesis (which I really really really want to write. It's also not technical, and I'm working as a technical librarian for all ends and purposes).

I became a foster mama for two great cats.

I hosted a friend from Seattle for five days in Jerusalem and it was wonderful (her travel tumblr starts here: [link] So wonderful that I'd like to replicate this experience as often as possible. Consider this as an invitation. But, you know, not just now with all of the horror that is around.

I decided to chase a proper MLIS abroad. Preferably next year, as living in Israel began to be too much for me (violence wise).

My therapist made me realize that my first instinct with everyone who approaches me with a questions/request/crisis is to help them and totally forget about myself (she referred to it as "deleting/sacrificing yourself"). I've been working on not to forget myself when interacting and living with other human beings. Also, it appears that I have feelings other than anger, rage, and "hi, it's funny/feels nice".

My fangirlyness interests have changed.

I almost lost my father this June and July to his untreated heart condition (it was a touch and go for a few days). He's alive, but things are complicated, mostly emotionally since I love him very much and he has PTSD and a screwed up childhood which make him act as if he's anywhere between 6-16 years old most of the time.

I was at Pride in Jerusalem where Shira Banki was murdered. [link]

I turned 30.

I cut my hair much shorter than usual, and it's working great.

In August I lost my uncle to cancer, less than a month after he was diagnosed. He was 51, a social worker, and a wonderful human being. He died due an infection, before he could even fight the damn thing.

I started taking oral Arabic lessons to refresh my Arabic, in the Jerusalem Intercultural Center. It's a lovely place.

My company was sold. For now, we all get to keep our jobs, but we'll see again in 3-6 months time. Things will change for a lot of us.

There are riots and violence in my city and all around Israel and Palestine. It breaks my heart and terrifies me and I feel the despair in so many ways.

I was in a wedding this weekend where the bride's uncle had a heart attack and passed away on the dance floor (and it happened to the sounds of Johnny Be Good). The bride is a friend and a colleague. I was shaking for at least 30 minutes.

My mother and sister will be back from a three weeks vacation in the U.S. on Thursday and Friday and I. Cannot. Wait. I took care of my father the whole time my mother was away, and it was demanding.

These are the main events, I think. It's been a hell of year, quite literally. And I think, all in all, that I'm doing well. Feels like my heart was dragged through a field of thrones, but nevertheless - I'm also OK. Which is quite a thing, I think.

Also, for (continued...)

( continues...) those of you who donated for my sister's iGEM project - [link] - thank you! They've done amazingly well and I couldn't be more proud of her: [link]

And that's it. Now it's dinner time, and after it I hope to be back here more often.

Shir, thank you! It sounds like you had quite a year. Tons of ~ma that your 30th year treats you well.

Shir, it's always wonderful to see you around here! I hope your dad continues to get better. May there be healing for his heart and for yours. I'm so sorry for all the losses and horrors you have been through. Hugs, or whatever warm thoughts are comforting to you.

sj, forgetting a few days worth of clothes but remembering the baby sounds like successful parenting to me.

Shir it's good to see you but I'm sorry things have been so stressful for you.

sj, you just left ltc's clothes, you could have left ALL of your clothes.

Haven't watched AoS yet, so I can't go into Marvel, so I'll post this here.

Once again, Karen Hallion hits me right in the feels with one of her tees:

[link]

So, I'm in this play, and it's more than a little of a clusterfuck. Just a mess from beginning to end. The amount of tongue-biting I've been doing is fucking epic, you guys.

So, there's this guy in the play, like 23 years old. He was hugely excited yesterday because I speak media nerd, which I was generally happy to go, although, well, he #notallmen 'd me during the conversation. I did call him on it, because no.

Tonight, he dropped 2 lines (note: we do the play with scripts in hands). The other two of us in the scene got scolded by the director (which is really rich when we haven't gone 5 minutes--with 1 dress rehearsal left--without him stopping us). So, backstage, kiddo starts telling us that we have to keep going when things like that happen. And I said, "Dude. You don't get to lecture us when you were the one who fucked up. Just don't."

So, of course, at the END of rehearsal, he says, "well, I'm really exhausted because I had to take my mom into the ER today for pnuemonia." Which, you know, I feel you, but that's some dirty pool.

ugh DebetEsse that sounds like they're taking all the fun out of being in a play.

(((Shir))) A hell of a year, indeed. Much love to you and all your family, and if your pursuit of an MLIS abroad sends you in the US you know you've got safe places to land all over.