Poking my head for a minute, because I imagine y'all are worried, to reassure you that we are as well as possible, under these very unusual (even for the last year-and-a-half) circumstances.

It's been a hectic weekend - the attack on Iran started on 3am Israel time on the night between Thursday and Friday, and even though Pi+Girl managed to go back to sleep afterwards, the rest of us stayed up watching the news until morning, with me telling PiBoy that he would probably tell his grandchildren about how he watched history being made. On the night between Friday and Saturday there were two alarms where we live, and thankfully both kids managed to stay asleep through them (the safe room in our place is their room), and I was so tired that I just cuddled at Pi+Girl's feet on her bed and fell asleep on the spot and had to be woken up in order to return to my bed when it was allowed.

But all things considered, we're as well as it can possibly be. We've all had so much practice in getting in time to the nearest safe room (nothing beats an alarm in the middle of teaching a class, and returning to the regular pace of the lesson afterwards, and even explaining the physics behind the need to stay in the safe room for ten minutes each time), that even the kids are just doing it as a routine part of the past year-and-a-half. Which is somewhat unbelivable in and of itself, but still.

I'll be teaching via Zoom tomorrow (and probably for some time), and all of the kids' school activities will either be cancelled or postponed (Pi+Girl is finishing elementary school in a couple of weeks, so she's worried about the party and all they're preparing for it), so there are many changes in all our routines (the one I can't stop be sorry about is not being able to go to the yearly book fair in Tel Aviv. It started last week, and we were supposed to go tomorrow afternoon), but all in all, considering how words like "nuclear" and "missiles" and the like are being used like it's a natural part of our vocabulary, we're surprisingly OK.

So much love is sent across the ocean to all of you. I try to skim Natter (and I never skip "Beep Me" and "Press"!), but I hardly ever get the chance to write anything, so mostly y'all are in my heart even if not out loud or in black-on-white fonts. Take care.

That is so scary Nilly!! But glad you’re safe.

I went to the No Kings protest for a couple hours but did not march down to the Seattle center. Some good signs but all feels kinda futile.

So good to see your font, Nilly. Know I am holding you and yours in my heart and wish so many of the words you have to hear routinely didn't have to be said.

Meara, I know. It can be hard to know what really matters. Nilly, I'm touched you take time to read us.

Nilly, keeping you and your family and, of course, Shir, in my heart.

Sending you and your family love, Nilly. Thank you for checking in with us.

Much love to Nilly and Shir.

I did the Oakland protest today, and it was marvelous. Even bumped into a couple that I knew, and I dragged my BIL out to what I believe is his first protest. Tons of great signs, of course. I didn't stay for the rally, just did the march. Maybe 10,000 people, and not a single cop. I guess OPD decided not to start shit with thousands of middle-aged white folks, go figure.

And then I got to babysit for my adorable grand-nephew! He's at that amazing toddler stage where he's becoming a person but still can't really communicate. So fun.

Thank you for checking in, Nilly and Shir. Much safety~ma for you and your families.

Erikaj, that was a terrific poem—thanks for linking to it!

I cut down some thistle heads that were budding, but there’s a whole fallow field next to us absolutely full of them, so it was mostly symbolic. In good news, the community gardens deer fence is finally up, and my chard lived to see it.

I stayed home and donated to bail funds instead of marching yesterday. I haven’t really found my people, politically speaking, and I didn’t want to go alone. (Yes, that would have been a great way to find my people, but I didn’t.) I did love the contrast between photos of Trump’s parade route and No Kings marches everywhere else.

Totally know what you mean, Calli -- I think the only reason I was cool going alone is because I knew it would be smallish and completely peaceful (so not having a buddy seemed fine) and, therefore, less intimidating somehow. Also, I hid behind my phone camera a lot!

But, one of the organizers invited me/gave me a QR code thingy to the NoVa Childless Cat Ladies group, so I'm hoping maybe I can find some political community/activity there. I do have friends here of the same political bent, but we are spread out enough geographically that, unless we were all doing a DC march, our community activities are separate.

Dreary day today. Third wedding anniversary, so we're going to dinner tonight. And we just did our anniversary morning crossword, because almost everything gets the word anniversary added to it today. Like, I'm drinking my anniversary iced coffee, and DH is anniversary web surfing at the moment. This way, we don't have to bother with gifts or cards -- everything we do, say, or touch is the gift. Genius!

I love that anniversary routine! Great plan.

I did not venture down the beach for the protests because I know I can't take the heat—very nice turnout. My only disappointment is that it didn't downpour in DC as was forecast.

DH has a packed basketball schedule today with games and practice. Good thing since Father's Day is rough for him.

Today's house chores include travel planning, meal planning, and house cleaning. DH and Scully leave on Wednesday, and I leave on Sunday. Going to my sister's first to check in on my brother and pick up my road-tripping NY sister.

skip over icky health stuff ahead

My brother is not good in the hospital with fluid in his lungs. They are saying nodal metastasis. The tears in his rotator cuff and his lungs have him in a lot of pain, so morphine and oxygen are being provided. Tomorrow, maybe a cortisone shot in the shoulder, and a scheduled draining of the lung fluid, including biopsy. Although the tumor in his esophagus was eliminated and he can eat again, he hasn't been interested in food for the last week or so. So, there is nothing good in the current situation.

Well, let me get to my list.