Me too, Hil. I made some Annie's mac & cheese and otherwise, I slept late and have been on the couch watching TV.

Well, I just read this week's Torah portion, because I didn't make it to synagogue this morning, and I'm trying to at least read the Torah portion on weeks when I don't go to synagogue. This was possibly the most boring Torah portion ever -- it's entirely a list of how many Israelites there were of different tribes, and of different ages, and will all sorts of various characteristics. First few chapters of Numbers. The haftorah portion was more interesting -- second chapter of Hosea, allegory of the nation of Israel as a wife who has been committing harlotry with other gods.

There's one Torah portion which is coming up in a few weeks where I always feel really bad for any kid who has the bad luck to have a birthday making that their bar or bat mitzvah portion. It's basically several pages of a list of all the people (father, mother, aunt, uncle, sister, step-sister, step-mother, etc.) that you're not supposed to have sex with. I cannot imagine being 13 and having to read and discuss that passage in front of all your family and friends.

I've been to the place Josefina lived. My mom lives very nearby and wants to get Ellie a Josefina when she's older. One of my mom's Indian students loves Kaya (I think that's right) sand was pleased to see a doll that looked like her.

Me too, Hil. Reading, napping, NCIS marathon, and now baseball.

Lazy day here too. Slept late (except for idiot who called TWICE at 8:30 & 8:50 to tell me he lost his cell phone and had I seen it, and then to let me know he found it... thankfully I didn't answer the calls). Watched some dvr. rewatched LOST finale. Played some Risk game online. One a match. Am about to cook something. Dunno what. I need to food shop. But. Too lazy. I really like alone time in my cave apartment. I have too many wonderful distractions here. Books, magazines, Xbox, internet, movies, DVR, sleep. And they are all paid for (except for electricity) which makes for a very inexpensive escape from the world.

Played some Risk game online. One a match. [sic]

You made up for the other game where I spanked you like a red-headed stepchild.

Ya, the island match I had no foothold.

Cooking dinner. Chicken Parm and angel hair pasta. Almost grabbed bottle of vanilla instead of olive oil for cooking the pasta. That would have been interesting.

Oh, man. There was an interloper cat outside that Taz and Marley saw and got their hackles up about- yowling and puffy tails and hissing. Then when Interloper Cat left, Marley was still upset- breathing heavily in a pre-hissing fashion. Taz approached him, it seemed like in a neutral or comforting way, and Marley full out attacked Taz. We separated them and after a while now it seems like they are OK but it was freaky and upsetting- Marley was very upset and aggressive.

Displaced aggression, Nora. Now that you know he reacts that way you can be ready to deflect it. TC goes after us if we approach him too soon after he's gotten hysterical over seeing another cat on *his* deck. We know to wait till he's started to calm on his own. He'll usually come to me seeking reassurance, but I have to observe and make sure he's anxious and submissive rather than still het up before I touch him. Once I do, he usually deflates right away.

You should be able to swoop Taz up and out of range and give Marley a chance to calm down a little. Talk reassuringly, but don't approach until he comes to you. You can tell by his body language if he needs reassurance or he's looking for someone to swat to get rid of the adrenaline.

It looks and sounds a lot worse than it is. As long as you're aware that's how he reacts, it's not that upsetting to deal with.

Hivemind fashion question- sparkly sandals with a heel, and something between the toes - evening sandals or just a really nice flip flop?

eta: something like this [link]