Confessions/Whatevers/Let's Talk/Updates

[Pom]

It has been slower around here as of late and I hope that means that we are all carefully considering the world around us...speaking out more IRL, handling our other life stuff and our work (or not) lives and out there kicking ass the best way we know how.  I think most of us have some heavy shit going on....so let's catch up.  I know we haven't wanted to distract from the important posts about race but I hope we can still be good to each other and continue on?

And if you are a lurker, join in.  

MM wins/losses, post about your cat (or dog), work complaints, kid complaints or JOYS, etc.... let's hear it. 

[Deleted]

I engaged in a conversation with my sister over facebook about race because of my cousin. My cousin posted the awesomelyluvvie link and I read it before I even GBCN'ed this morning. She got 56 likes/19 comments on her kid pulling the fire alarm at school and she has 6 likes for this article posting and zero comments. So that's telling and sad. I finally commented on the article about the lack of comments/likes/shares.

My dog had his tooth surgery yesterday and is doing well but constipated so I've been giving him pumpkin. Tis the season.

I have applied to babysitting jobs via Care..com to pick up extra money for my dog's injuries due to the abuse from the boarders. I have an interview in a few minutes. So I hope to pick up at least four jobs per month and that will add 150-200 bucks to my budget. Bootstraps.

ETA: I also have a phone interview with Planned Parenthood tomorrow about being a volunteer. 

[Roc A Bee]

I had a physical today. I decided to find a doctor because I haven't had one in a while. I expected more, like a full blood panel. I have no idea if that's normal, but instead that I should lose weight. Duh. Eat better. Duh. And exercise. Duh.

I'm annoyed.

[Pom]

@lemonlover, I am so sorry about your doggie. You are a great dog mommy.

I've been enjoying my time spent on my new volunteer work. I'm doing newsletters and emails, etc..It is good to brush up my skills and it's a terrific organization.

My family is all going to be together again soon and I can't wait. My great niece is turning 18. Time flies too fast.

Mostly I have been quiet because Mr. Pom's company was laying off people again the last month or so. They laid off 1000 people in July. It's very unsettling and depressing.

[idahome]

I've been plugging away at a series of demanding work projects. Today I presented my 4th work training in 8 days. Still left to complete: full handbook review, recruiting strategy outline, EEO-1 reporting, open enrollment slide deck to edit and prepare. All of this by Monday.

Why the insanity? Because I'm supposed to have a hysterectomy on Tuesday, but now that's in question. Surgery center called yesterday wanting a down payment that I don't have. If they don't accept my proposed amount the procedure is cancelled. And I have no idea when I will be able to afford to reschedule it. So following a recommended course of treatment based on the review of my biopsy results may not happen and I don't even know what to say.

Frustrated...that's where I'm at right now.

[Deleted]

I wore pants today that I bought in France when I was 18. I was feeling all awesome until I crouched down and they totally split!! It was like a movie. There was a huge rippppp sound and they split right down the butt. I had to hold something over my backside and run back to my desk! It happened at lunch, so I luckily could leave easily to run home and change.

Also in true Bellakitty craziness, I applied for two more jobs (one Friday and one yesterday). They both called me already and I snuck in phone screens. They're both significant steps up from what I'm doing, and also pay much more. I'm really interested in both. One is in a boring industry but I got a GREAT feel for the hiring manager. The other is in a wonderful industry (and the job's 100% remote which I'd be interested in) but the people seemed more corporate and stiff.

Still no career updates for my husband. He had an interview in metro Detroit yesterday which would require us to move that way. It's nearby the one place I interviewed, and obviously if I got the remote job I could go anywhere.

[Deleted]

idahome, that sounds like terrible service (from your doctor's office). They never told you this until now?

Pom, sending good thoughts to Mr. Pom. His industry seems so stressful!

[bostonmichelle]

idahome I'm sorry about your doctor, that sounds like terrible service.

@lemonlover sorry about your doggy. You're a great mom though.

Pom sending good thoughts to you.

Good luck with the job search @bellakitty!

I feel like my life is in a giant holding pattern at the moment of just same old, same old. I'm training for my marathon at the end of October but not really training since I'm 13 weeks pregnant. We are getting a new big boss at work soon. I'm away for a week of training this week. So the last few weeks have been just trying to get stuff organized to be off for a week and not have to deal with a million fires. Also the auditors were in the office last week to do fieldwork so I had to be super responsive to anything they needed. There's a bunch of other shit going down at work that I can't get into here but it makes me seriously question if I want to return after ML in 6 months.

[Pom]

idahome, I know the hospital where I had my hysterectomy waited until the 11th hour to get with me about the cost. I think I ended up around $5000 OOP and they let me spread it out (interest free, so I did it hell yeah). Sending good thoughts for you and I hope it gets handled so you can move forward. Like you need more stress at a time like that. Keep us posted, I'll be thinking of you.

@bellakitty, sending all the job vibes your way! Yeah, this is the 4th bust Mr. P has faced with his industry in more than 20 years. It's great when it's a boom, but it sucks hard when there's a downturn. He feels so bad for everyone around him too when people are scared.

[nicechicken]

We have to do a wage decrease.

Has anybody every had this happen to them before. There's no way to avoid it at this juncture. We may be able to go back up after the new year.

[liveintheville]

Tony was in town today!!! It was great we got to catch up, he played Minecraft with the kids, and took an unexpected nap on the floor. He had just got off the plane.
Tony is our old nanny (like 4 years ago) and he's family. He always stops by to see us when he's on the east coast. He's in his 20s so it's not like he doesn't have other things going on but he always makes time for us. 🦄

[Pom]

nicechicken,I was in a job once that was always changing my pay structure, bonuses, etc. It sucked but I wasn't the main bread winner so it wasn't critical to me, flexibility was. I am sorry you are going through these issues with your business. Did you resign your position?

[daisyn]

I'm finally going to get my car fixed from when I backed into a parked car in March! Goodbye $1500


I start my new job a week from Monday. Transitioning has been awful. My team is crying and my boss is in denial.

[nicechicken]

Sept 21, 2016 20:26:16 GMT -5 Pom said:

nicechicken,I was in a job once that was always changing my pay structure, bonuses, etc. It sucked but I wasn't the main bread winner so it wasn't critical to me, flexibility was. I am sorry you are going through these issues with your business. Did you resign your position?

My boss isn't in for me to give notice until next week. He is incommunicado right now. Hunting.

I feel really horrible about this. And I fully expect people to leave(not the worst thing)or freak out(totally understandable), but my anxiety is so high right now about it i want to do it with respect and dignity. This was the way my lawyer recommended we go about it.

[konapoppy]

Work has been crazy (and good) so I haven't been on much. My weekend away with BFF was amazing, and definitely NOT MM. I now want to go live at the Ritz. With her. LOL.

We are going to Seattle and the San Juans with my parents in a few week. If anyone is up there and wants to GTG, let me know

Other than that, I am just looking forward to the holidays.

[sunnysally]

I was going to whine about hitting our out of pocket max for the year, but then I saw idahome post and I feel terrible. I am lucky that I have excellent insurance and that are OOP max is affordable for us. I cannot believe we live in a country where people are unable to receive the medical care they need.

I had surgery four weeks ago and today was the first day I was able to bear weight on my hip. I'm happy to be more mobile but I think I overdid it a bit. I still have narcotics left so I took one tonight.

[jerseyjaybird]

I'm doing too much emotional labor at work and through my volunteer work. I know I'm too stoic, but does everyone really need to share ALL of their feelings, ALL of the time?

I'm working on a project with a gigantic bully. Over the weekend, I forwarded some of his most abusive emails to my boss and his. His boss wrote to me and said, "I've talked several times with Bully and stressed that all communication must be professional and productive. We have a zero tolerance policy on this." Does anyone see a contradiction here?

I'm sorry to read that so many of us are frustrated or worried.

[alleinesein]

I really wanted to post this when it happened but with all the stuff thats been going down on the board the past few weeks I decided to wait until things calmed down a bit.

I HAVE A MOTHERFUCKING JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally after 3.5 years I have income and something to occupy my time other than HGTV.  The pay is crap but it is in my degree field so while it is only temporary (ends Nov 8th) I hope it will lead to something a bit more stable or at least open up a few doors for me.

This is the most beautiful thing I have seen in the past 3.5 years...I almost cried when I got it.

[melmel48]

A friend of mine is going through some nasty stuff and has been leaning on me a lot. I truly don't mind, but I don't sleep well anyway, and I find myself staying up talking to him until after midnight every night (about random stuff, not about what he is dealing with) and he makes me so happy. Then in the morning I am dragging my ass.  I just asked him how he is feeling this morning and he replied "meh".. My thoughts exactly!

Work has me so frustrated lately. I am tired of being that person to say yes to everything because I know they are in a bind, but it is getting exhausting. I am not the only one who feels this way. We are moving to a new location in less than a month and we are all stressed out about it. At least I get to cuddle with tiny destructive toddlers for 6 hours a day! 

[ssmjlm]

I'm really hating my job. I'm overworked and undervalued and I think they think I'm joking when I ask when we're getting a cloning machine.

I've been casually looking, but there's not much or a step back. I had a telephone call with one job and the lady basically said "I think you will be bored and your current workload is a much higher caliber than this position." I'm losing my 4th employee (although I've only had her a few months from another team) and the work isn't going anywhere.

I have a shit-ton of comp time and basically get to take off a day at Thanksgiving and hopefully a couple days between Christmas and New Year's.

[raangoli]

Hugs to everyone who needs one - it seems like that is most of us.

Sending you job vibes @bellakitty (and to Mr. Bellakitty as well)! Sorry to hear about the additional layoffs Pom. It's a terrible feeling.

RockNVoll I don't think I've ever heard you sound so down. I am sorry and I agree wholeheartedly with your last statement.


As for me, I am to the core exhausted. I need to draft a cover letter to apply for my own job. I have talked to a few friends to let them know that I may be starting a job hunt. While that all sucks, what gets me is thinking of taking BB away from the wonderful caregivers at the daycare. I hope it doesn't come to that. (PDQ)

My heart is heavy because of all of the recent events - the murder of innocent Black men, the terrorist attacks, everything that has come to light on the boards recently, etc.

Then there is always the emotional aftermath of BB's early arrival that I deal with everyday. I am sure I have a mix of PPD/PPA/PTSD. It's exhausting. And yea, I know I already said that, but it bears repeating.

[Deleted]

This world just breaks my heart. I had a situation yesterday where I was chastised for giving food to homeless people in an area of town many consider "dangerous". I had a mix of pure sadness and rage and it's still on my mind. Now I'm mostly just sad.

Also, the quote to fix the vandalism on our car is $4k. DH's new job sucks and we're seriously considering starting our own business so he can work for himself. My job is busy, I have a ton of freelance stuff to do, and school is simultaneously boring and sucking the life out of me. BUT....my freelance work is heavy enough right now that it's fully covering the cost of tuition, so there's a bright side.

[starryfish]

I recently lost my BFF over something really dumb. She has a history of holding grudges for silly stuff, so I thought it was just that (grudge) but she told my sister she is done being my friend. I finally worked up the courage and sent her an email. I am sad and I am mad that this happened. 10+ years of friendship gone. Ugh it makes my heart sad.

Now I feel like I need to replace her. My next closest friend lives 45+ mins away so its harder to get together (BFF lived 5 mins). Making friends as an adult sucks. I hope maybe I can make friends when the baby goes to daycare next year?

[steph96]

I absolutely love my new job, but I'm kinda in the "wtf did I get myself into" mindset right now. I went from a cushy job where I barely worked to this crazy busy job where I normally work 12 hour days. 2 days ago I worked from 8am to 1am. I am exhausted. I can't believe I'm working so much more for only $2k extra per year.

[simpsongal]

I'm sorry ssmjlm, I've finally started seriously questioning promotion potential in my fed job, and asking about a QSI or a bonus. I started casually looking too. It's just so messed up the way FTEs are locked up and distributed at some agencies. I'll probably stay but I may push back on some of my bigger responsibilities b/c they're not reflected in my pay grade.

[winnied]

Sept 21, 2016 22:42:20 GMT -5 jerseyjaybird said:

I'm doing too much emotional labor at work and through my volunteer work. I know I'm too stoic, but does everyone really need to share ALL of their feelings, ALL of the time?

I'm working on a project with a gigantic bully. Over the weekend, I forwarded some of his most abusive emails to my boss and his. His boss wrote to me and said, "I've talked several times with Bully and stressed that all communication must be professional and productive. We have a zero tolerance policy on this." Does anyone see a contradiction here?

I'm sorry to read that so many of us are frustrated or worried.A

Do we work at the same place? I'm going through the same thing. It's just way too much feelings right now and everyone "just needs to vent" and I'm done. 

Otherwise, in my life, it's our busy season and leadership keeps pushing pushing pushing and people are just at a breaking point. I think we'll make it through the season, but I don't actually see things letting up all that much after this big event. It'll just be moving on to the next thing. I'm all for enthusiasm and dedication, but this pace just isn't sustainable. 

[Deleted]

steph96, is that something that absolutely HAS to happen? Those hours don't seem sustainable or healthy. I'm happy you like your new job, but I'd be really mindful to not set the precedent of working those hours.

[irene adler]

Sept 22, 2016 0:31:19 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

I really wanted to post this when it happened but with all the stuff thats been going down on the board the past few weeks I decided to wait until things calmed down a bit.

I HAVE A MOTHERFUCKING JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally after 3.5 years I have income and something to occupy my time other than HGTV.  The pay is crap but it is in my degree field so while it is only temporary (ends Nov 8th) I hope it will lead to something a bit more stable or at least open up a few doors for me.

This is the most beautiful thing I have seen in the past 3.5 years...I almost cried when I got it.
View Attachment

. Holy shit, congratulations!!!!!. This is the best news I've heard all week, and you're not the only one crying tears of happiness.

[irene adler]

I'm so sorry so many of us are going through tough/frustrating things. Between everything that's going on in the world and all the heavy personal things many of us are facing, and it's so heartbreaking. Sending good thoughts and hugs to every single one of you.

As for me, work is meh, it's wedding season, so I'm working about 20ish hours on top of my regular work schedule, and I'm exhausted. Naturally, when I feel this tired and overwhelmed down, I decided to register for a marathon and have an interview to teach in the recycling out a new studio. So we'll see how that goes.

[jerseyjaybird]

Sept 22, 2016 9:25:20 GMT -5 winnied said:

Sept 21, 2016 22:42:20 GMT -5 jerseyjaybird said:

I'm doing too much emotional labor at work and through my volunteer work. I know I'm too stoic, but does everyone really need to share ALL of their feelings, ALL of the time?

I'm working on a project with a gigantic bully. Over the weekend, I forwarded some of his most abusive emails to my boss and his. His boss wrote to me and said, "I've talked several times with Bully and stressed that all communication must be professional and productive. We have a zero tolerance policy on this." Does anyone see a contradiction here?

I'm sorry to read that so many of us are frustrated or worried.A

Do we work at the same place? I'm going through the same thing. It's just way too much feelings right now and everyone "just needs to vent" and I'm done. 

Otherwise, in my life, it's our busy season and leadership keeps pushing pushing pushing and people are just at a breaking point. I think we'll make it through the season, but I don't actually see things letting up all that much after this big event. It'll just be moving on to the next thing. I'm all for enthusiasm and dedication, but this pace just isn't sustainable. 

Oh, wow, we DO work at the same place. Create an unsustainable situation and pretend it's temporary, right? I feel you, and I hope you can find ways to make it more bearable.