I was just informed that criticizing anything that Israel has done, ever, means that I support Hamas and want Israel to be destroyed. I need to stop discussing this stuff with my relatives.

Background: pretty much at work by myself now until new boss starts. Lots of watering all week to do to keep new plants alive, thousands of dollars worth of material. Office work is also crazy as I'm still doing the DoH's job. Declared on Tuesday that I would finally be able to start focusing on housekeeping.

Today's scenario: a half an hour from completing first housekeeping, which is a very public space that every visitor sees. Coworker comes over, says nothing about how much better it looks, instead she gives me a *warning* (her words) that ED is going to ask (tell) me to clean my office. I get a bit huffy, and she says that I am not allowed to be offended. Because I receive compliments from the ED all the time, I therefore have no right to be offended at a criticism of the state of my office, which is staff-only.

I actually got really upset, because I find it not only overwhelming that I'm trying to prioritize the billion necessary things needing doing to keep the grounds looking good and alive, but I'm slowly already, on my own initiative, trying to clean up things that have been neglected in preparation for new boss and also because it needs doing and I finally have the time and I'm basically being told that I am a giant slob and an embarrassment (this is my over-sensitive self reading into things, I know, but it's what I hear when shit like this is said to me. Not "hey, this looks great" but "what you just accomplished is irrelevant because there is something else that should have been done right now".

But the part that really upset me was being told emphatically that I had no right to have a knee-jerk reaction of being upset at a perceived criticism, especially since I got compliments in other areas.

Lady, the reason that I get those compliments is because I don't waste my time cleaning my office.

I do have a list of priorities, thank you very much, and they are the correct ones.

Also, if she'd let the ED, in his own flaky time, convey his request, the office, which is on my immediate to-do list, would have already been cleaned, or I'm sure that it would have been phrased much less ominously and wouldn't have gotten my hackles up.

It reminded me of when I was in the Army, in the kitchen with a swept pile of debris at my feet. I was bending over with a dustpan when my shift sergeant, in all seriousness, told me that I'd better not forget to sweep up the floor.

I can't discuss it with anyone either, Hil. I have FB friends that are passionate about the issue on both sides. And I can't even feel comfortable discussing it with friends either since I don't want to be forced to be 100% blindly loyal to their position. It has become really tense, to put it mildly. And I'm not even talking about people who live in the region!!

Very frustrating, julie. Your reactions are yours and no one should dictate them to you. I know in cleaning my own house, my room takes lower priority than the public spaces - so your order of doing things makes perfect sense to me.

I get pissed off and defensive in that situation too. It can't all be done so really someone has to prioritize. If you really want to do that then you are welcome to create the list and let me know what order you think is best. In the meantime, I am working here.

Timelies all!

Have managed to get bug bites on my shin. I guess some bugs got in the house, since I don't wear shorts.(Aside from my pajamas)

All of my screens are wonky, so I wake up every morning it seems with a new bite or two. I don't know what I wish more: ticks or mosquitos? West Nile or Lyme Disease?

I need to spray mint around the house, that should repel everything, so I've heard. At least the ants and spiders.

Bedbugs?

I thanks for making feel less of a nutcase for getting upset at work. Coworker actually asked if I was PMSing. She's one that I can never get to understand where I'm coming from, even though I love her and is a great ally in most things. I think it's in part because she's more on the ED's side than mine, and I'm more critical of the ED and his true motivations and sincerity.

So I had teased him last week about going out on the grounds to look at something other than the artwork. Coworker thought that was hilarious and good that I needled him on that. Then this week he said he needed to get out of the house, so they went for a walk together outside and went to the rose garden. She was trying to point out how lovely the roses looked while he was critiquing how the lighting on the sculpture was off, it was all he could see.

She wonders why, despite what a lovely man he (makes you think he) is, I mistrust him and doubt him and think the worst of his intentions and motivations.

Bedbugs?

I don't think so, but I'll investigate. My first three were tiny tiny ticks that I found on my thighs and ankles. The downside of living surrounded by woods and cats who go in and out.