I am in awe of you people who have never had jury duty or only once or twice. I've been called so many times I've literally lost count. Never actually been seated on a jury though, thankfully. I feel like I have a hard enough time making decisions in my own life that I don't want to be responsible for decisions about anyone else's. I've made it to voir dire about 4 or 5 times, but either low enough not to get seated or excused. Since I've been transferring to the Vista court rather than Downtown SD, I've never even made it out of the jury room (knock on wood).

Timelies all!

I usually keep a cloth mask in my purse. On my way to work I realized it wasn't in there. I had a chamois cloth in there, and held it over my nose and mouth until I got to the screening station at work, where I got a surgical mask. Still don't know where the mask went.

I hope you nieces get over Covid quickly.

I'm a little frustrated with my therapist. Lately it's been taking him a week to get back to me. I know he has stuff going on too and last time he said he was just overwhelmed with stuff but I would at least like to get a reply to my email. I'm trying to verify an appointment for Tuesday.

Cindy, that is scary. And speedy recovery to your nieces.

Thank you, all. I am quite safe. After all this time in doors I forgot that reading stuff on Twitter makes everything feels worse. Don't get me wrong: it is bad, and there is violence, and going back home from campus was a bit concerning, but the damn algorithm that pushes the worst vids and tweets in your timeline makes everything feels worse.

Every summer it gets tense here (for those who are not in the Middle East and are confused by this statement: we're after the first heatwave, and today is 30 celsius. So, summer). Being in this very weird post-covid times and at times of governmental and political vacuum/limbo, and in Ramadan, does not help. There are usually wonderful art festivals and peaceful initiatives to help to ease the tensions (I'm thinking of Mekudeshet for example), but it's too soon after covid to have most of it happening now. These times will be over, eventually. Tension and violence comes and goes. There is a peaceful demonstration planned for tonight. I won't go there, but this is just to say that although it is heartbreaking, some anti-violence actions are happening too.

Thanks, everyone. The last I heard, my nieces don't feel sick so far. They were tested because of the known exposure, so I hope it's not too hard on them.

Today is my youngest son's 21st birthday. For those of you keeping track at home, that's the escape artist, whose greatest hits include, "It was white and square, and looked like a tooth."

After all this time in doors I forgot that reading stuff on Twitter makes everything feels worse.

I think that a lot (with regard to the news in general).

Oh, wow, I can't believe "looked like a tooth" is 21 today! Holy cow. Happy Birthday, not little anymore dude.

Happy birthday wishes! Wow, 21. All adult and stuff.

Happy birthday, Cindy's!YoungestSon!

Happy 21st birthday to Cindy's Son!

I talked to Emmett yesterday and he had just gotten his first vax. His GF has had both already, and so has his roommate and his GF. So his whole household will be jabbed, and we can see him more often.

I've asked him to come down for Matilda's Wisdom Teeth surgery, as she's getting very anxious about it.

Thanks, everybody. The birthday boy is still sleeping, as is fitting at 21.

David, when does Matilda have her teeth out? Is she having all four at once?

I'm happy to hear Emmet's been jabbed. Everyone in our house has had two shots. My oldest son gets his second this coming Thursday. My mom has been fully vaccinated since late February, so we're doing Mother's Day together, even though my oldest will be only be 11 days post-shot-2.