I promised you some hope and something light. I'll do that, but I also want to express deep frustration.

First, the hope: there are probably thousands of solidarity initiatives taking place everyday. Everyday. People here are alive and want to continue to live. Most of the volunteers I cook for are working with Palestinians and Bedouins communities, as well as people in poverty all over Jerusalem and the South. For example: [link]

Yesterday I volunteered to do something else that I feel is important, but I don't want to elaborate about this here because the board is searchable on Google and these are not good times to be a bleeding heart leftist publicly here, unless you want to get doxxed and harassed.

What frustrates and angers me to no end is those who will call for crimes against humanity, transfer or genocide of either "side". And that's worse is when it comes from people who only watch the horrors here and have no friends of family. There are Israelis and Palestinians that are actively not seeking revenge, call to end the war, and keep seeing the humanity and preaching for the sanctity of life. How dare you call for vengeance. How dare you support only one side of massacre (and implying that the other side should die). If us here can see the humanity in others, how dare you tweeting words to inspire more killing. This is not morality. There are lives that are on the line. There's so much trauma and pain and loss on life. There's really no need to act as a cheerleader as if this is a bloodsport and you feel obligated to choose a team. Examples to those of us from here who can still hold on to the humanity in themselves and in others: [link] [link]

And oh, yeah, the funny story. The resident of one the kibbutzes that were attacked returned to his home two days before the attack after several months of hiking abroad. He preferred to see his friends and family before unpacking, so his place was already in mess when the attack begun. All of the equipment from months of travels was in the entrance to his house, slightly unpacked and in a mess.

Hamas skipped his place. The assumption is that because of the mess they thought the house was already hit.

You see, sometimes procrastination saves lives.

Shir and Nilly, your human spirits are a daily inspiration. I am glad to know you both.

Oh, and for the trigger warnings: by now I think that almost every media about the massacres is awful and don't read/watch it, but the truly horrible ones, other than Nova music festival, Be'eri and Kfar Aza are Nir Oz and Nahal Oz.

Nobody could come in time for Nir Oz. Between quarter and third of its residents were either murdered or kidnapped.

Right now I think I'm lucky that I only know two out of all the people who died, and they're not close friends or immediate family. But the authorities didn't identify all of the bodies yet, and I didn't look at the lists yet. I'm also grateful for not being able to remember my dreams right now.

Good grief, -t. That was quite an adventure, but I am relieved that the cats didn't end up nibbling your calves.

Shabbat shalom. It is so good to see you both pop in with updates when I know you are overwhelmed. I know too many of the powers that be are bad actors, but I keep hoping that saner heads will prevail.

David, have you been able to unwind a bit after the funeral and crush of family? How are you and Matilda doing? Are the girls settling in at the shelter? Thinking of you all the time and holding you in my heart.

Hamas skipped his place. The assumption is that because of the mess they thought the house was already hit.

How incredibly lucky for him! But also, I can't stop giggling at that.

Shir and Nilly, you are always in my thoughts these days.

Nilly and Shir, thank you again for stopping in. You’re both on my mind all the time.

Thank you, Shir and Nill for all the updates. I'm really grateful to hear your thoughtful words in the midst of all this horror and hatred.

David, have you been able to unwind a bit after the funeral and crush of family? How are you and Matilda doing? Are the girls settling in at the shelter? Thinking of you all the time and holding you in my heart.

I've taken a vacation from dealing for most of this week. But now I actually have to attend to things. My contractor is meeting me at noon to discuss fixes to the back stairs.

(A four part project! 1) snake out the storm drain at the bottom of the stairs; 2) power wash with eco-friendly detergent the entire space to get rid of lingering cat smells from previous owners and get rid of the proliferating spider webs; 3) Replace every broken or chipped step or riser or bannister or support; 4) Repaint the whole thing.)

Also, EM is coming over today so I have to catch up on certain things I've been putting off - including a call into the Surivor and Beneficiary Support Group at UC Retirement who should theoretically be able to fix three things that have been bedeviling me.

At 2pm I report to my dermatologist, Dr. Shannon Watkins, for yet another procedure to take care of pre-cancerous cells on my forehead. Originally this was going to involve some kind of lotion and then lasers which would result in all the bad cells dying in an eruption of pus and scabs. Yeuch. But I think I opted for the more expensive procedure which will only make me look sunburned and offers a potential glow-up for my skin.

This is the rare occasion where Dr. Watkins will not be cutting on me in any capacity (I don't think).

Do you want to hear the song I wrote about her? Sure you do!

Dr. Watkins has a hobby
she's nice nice nice
She picks up a scalpel
and slice slice slice

She's cutting chunks out of me!
Prophylactically!
If I want to be cancer-free
She's gotta cut some chunks out of me!

Melanoma! Got to go!
Carcinoma! Got to go!
The procedure's name? Is Moh!

I have to say the proposition was dicey
She pulled out a needle and said "This shot is spicy!

My friend Jes had been out of town for the last week so I was happy to meet her at Alembic last night and we had good, connecting talk. She's going to be gone for two weeks on a birthday trip which is going to be a bummer for me, but I'm excited for her.

Matilda is dealing pretty well. Her therapist keeps offering her extra slots, so she went right to a session after the funeral, and then had her regular session yesterday.

She's staying super busy at school and I think that's helping her. She's usually coming home around 8 after keeping score for basketball or something similar.

I haven't been able to reach the school counselor this week, but I've been texting with the girls and things seem stable at the moment. They can only stay at the shelter for three weeks though, so they need to find some Foster situation. I know they have a new case worker who is trying to get the placed together.

Oh, and the hospice service called to remind me that I have 20 free counseling sessions with a bereavement counselor.

So I'll do that now that my schedule is easing.

Oh, and the hospice service called to remind me that I have 20 free counseling sessions with a bereavement counselor.

I'm so glad to hear this.

I'm still in Georgia till Monday morning, but I've moved from the part where I roam around Blue Ridge Mountain backroads and scenic drives mostly by myself to the part where I'm attending Multiverse Con in Atlanta. The panels look great (events don't actually start for another hour or so) and the hotel has a more comfortable bed than my vacation rental did and allows me to set the thermostat down to my personal semi-arctic preference. But part of me wishes I was staying in the mountains until it's time to fly home--I haven't yet had my fill of waterfalls and mountains and just being ALONE.

(And yes, I do realize I live near a bunch of mountains, big spiky ones that are snowcapped for most of the year and are punctuated by volcanos. But the Appalachians speak to a different part of my soul.)

Thanks for the update, David. I worry about you. Having lots on the schedule isn't a bad thing as distraction can help. Nice song. Reminds me that I have to do the body check appointment when I return home. Part of life in the Sunshine State.