Edited: Oh Sail. I'm so sorry.

At this point I don't just hope they find a cure for cancer, I hope the cure involves somehow removing each individual cancer cell and making it die screaming as it withers away over a span of months.

This, sadly, will not help Ginger or Meyrav (another friend I lost to cancer in July) or Eddie (my uncle who died in September) or a lot of other people, but I think my sister might have just started contributing to that very notion last year (her name is Shoham, and we do not share the same last name): [link] It's now being patented by the university.

Hurrah, Shosham, sister of Shir!

That's awesome, Shir. And it's good to see you.

Very good to see your pixels too, Brenda. I still think of the place where you took me to eat - it was amazing.

If I'm already posting in this thread, I guess I can use my (somewhat revised) Jewish New Year's post from October, from Bitches:

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. You can all consider this as an invitation.

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

I've been working with my therapist, and 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.

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 to 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.

The violence in my city and all around Israel and Palestine breaks my heart in so many ways. Unrelated, there have been quite a few deaths and illnesses around me.

I've started dating again. Nothing serious, all casual. I surprisingly like it.

These are the main events, I think. It's been a hell of year, quite literally. And I think that I'm doing well. I found that I have more courage and ability to handle some situations and do certain things that I never thought I'd do. Feels like my heart was dragged through a field of thrones, but nevertheless - I'm also OK. And sometimes I'm more than OK. Which is quite a thing, I think.

Thanks for the update, Shir. It's been an eventful year for you! For better and for worse.

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.

I've been there. {{Shir}}

I really feel like a found a good balance, with all the stuff that were thrown in my directions. Not a perfect balance - but a balance, altogether. Coming from a control freak, it's a lot.

And oh, P-C! You in particular made me laugh when I read old posts this week.

And oh, P-C! You in particular made me laugh when I read old posts this week.

What, where, who, was I funny, am I even here anymore. Aw, thanks.

Thanks for the love, ya’ll. It’s wonderful to see you all too.

DH and I have our BS degrees in Accounting.

Laura, I didn’t know that! I’d love to chat with you a little more about your experience. I enjoy it enough but also can keep sufficient distance — I get way too into things at work, not healthy for me — that it seems smart to have credentials. Businesses always need accountants.

SA! It's good to see you posting, and it is good to hear that things are turning around for you. I'm sorry it took an illness to make that happen.

Hi sj!! Yeah, it was tough and took a long time to even realize what was happening, but it was all necessary in the end. I appreciate when I’m stable a lot more.

Hey P-C, I want to congratulate you on all your literary accomplishments this year. You’ve been working and developing so much over the last few years, and it’s been wonderful to see you succeeding in a difficult industry. I purchased Genius Locii on KS. :)

Brendaaaaaaaaaaa!! I love you!

SA, so good to see you posting here! I'm sorry about the physical difficulties, but glad you are improving. I wish we were in the same space--I'd massage your hands for you, since I know now what a difference that can make!

SA, welcome back! That sounds like a good plan that will give you options without taking over life. How's the pup?