I think I just had a parental milestone moment. Ben asked me what AIDS is.

Eep. What did you say?

My grandfather's cancer hasn't metastasized. That's a relief.

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I'm sorry HR wasn't more helpful, Jilli. I think you did the right thing by reporting your discomfort and asking for help, but I wish you'd walked out of there feeling satisfied with the HR department's efforts on your behalf.

Tonight I have my first pilates class and I've got butterflies because I hate walking into a new place with new people. Maybe the studio will have stairs under which I can hide.

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Gorgeous tat, Juliana.

Me? I'm home from work. I went in only long enough for someone else to get there to take my place. I was up most of the night with fever 102ish two hours after taking a couple Tylenol, which generally are brilliant for my fevers. As the only other symptoms are sinus/allergy type, I infer there is a sinus infection. I'm taking olive leaf and cayenne extract. Definitely improving - as I feel mostly ok when I'm sitting around doing nothing. It's when I get ambitious and try to do something that I get slammed with the need to nap.

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Tonight I have my first pilates class and I've got butterflies because I hate walking into a new place with new people.

ooh me too! I like to hug a wall. ... even if I do know some of the people.

I need some kind of job-related -ma something I think. My friend's company (which used to be part of my company sort of) wants to interview me next week. I'll go for the experience (I've been in this job for 7! years) but ... I dunno. I don't know if I want to be doing basically the same thing in the same industry and leave my beloved boss and co-workers. despite all the annoyances of working here. I'm really nervous about it all right now. gah!

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Eep. What did you say?

I said it was Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome -- that it comes from a virus that attacks the body's immune system. When he asked if he could catch it, I said it was generally passed by contact with bodily fluids and people usually caught it from the blood of someone else who had it, and generally from having sex with someone who had the virus, or from sharing needles when doing illegal drugs. **edit** I also told him that if he had a friend with AIDS or HIV, he could hang with that friend and sit next to that friend and touch that friend, and not contract AIDS.

He asked if it was only in Africa. I said it wasn't, but that it is devastating Africa. That we've managed to control the spread of it here through education about how it's contracted, and that now the big focus needs to be on Africa.

My grandfather's cancer hasn't metastasized. That's a relief.

That is very good news, P-C. I'm so glad. Is it operable?

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My grandfather's cancer hasn't metastasized. That's a relief.

Great news, P-C!

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I said it was Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome -- that it comes fro a virus that attacks the body's immune system. When he asked if he could catch it, I said it was generally passed by contact with bodily fluids and people usually caught it from the blood of someone else who had it, and generally from having sex with someone who had the virus, or from sharing needles when doing illegal drugs. He asked if it was only in Africa. I said it wasn't, but that it is devastating Africa. That we've managed to control the spread of it here through education about how it's contracted, and that now the big focus needs to be on Africa.

Damn. That's a lot. You should also have him read this.

Is it operable?

It seems to be. They're going to see a cardiologist because he had a heart attack a year or two ago, and they want to make sure he can handle the anesthesia. The doctor is also still deciding whether they want to go in now or shrink it with chemo/radiation first.

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but I wish you'd walked out of there feeling satisfied with the HR department's efforts on your behalf.

The thing is, I knew I wouldn't. I've had experience before^* with how this company's HR department handles potential harassment situations, and I knew there wasn't going to be a lot in the way of help.

^* The last time I was a full-time employee of this company, a co-worker started leaving religious tracts on my desk, and offering to pray with me. I went to HR, who basically said "Well, ask him to stop. If that doesn't work, talk to his manager."

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Glad to hear your good news, P-C.

You are a very informative mom, Cindy. Way to go.

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P-C, that's wonderful news.

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