Lots of interesting class issues in this discussion. Like several others, I was the first in my family to go to college. Certainly the first to publish a book or do anything in the arts. My grandfathers were a farmer and a mechanic, respectively. My dad was career military, highest rank a Master Sergeant and then he worked for the post-office (going from carrier to management).

I went to a very preppy private liberal arts college. It wasn't weird at spring break with everybody heading off to Aruba or things like that - actually my friends all drove down to Florida and stayed with my parents. They put up eleven college students - kind of nuts but it was fun.

Still, I didn't know from docksiders when I went there.

We're back from Fremont. We won our first game of the Divisional tournament (basically the state championship, or rather Norther Califonria championship, since the state is so populous it gets divided into two).

Emmett walked three times and crushed a ground rule double, scored three runs, played great catcher including blocking off a baserunner on a play at the plate.

If we win two more games we're the champs.

The game was only two miles from beth's house, so she came to watch.

the women in charge of our registration, who reworked the budget with me, and assured me that the problems that I'm having are normal, and she'll help me with some things that have been worrying me.

So, wait - it's actually normal that you're having these problems, you're actually solving them, people are working with you, things are getting done, and he's still not pleased?

Um, is it mean to think that he suffers from a sort of the-work-should-be-done-perfectly-overnight-by-midgets-and-fairies syndrome?

Also, remember how I said I found a work-around solution for my computer problem, working from another computer? Well, that other computer stopped working with me, too. The same thing it ran perfectly in the morning, it claims it can't right now. The exact same thing. I'm poisoning computers or something, I don't know anymore. And I don't know what to do.

Even though I am still in academia, I'm a contract from a corporation. Total culture shock whenever I deal with them.

Having grown up at a boarding school, I often forget what people's idea of them is.

I'd never actually been to a boarding school until I spent Thanksgiving with the friend whose mom was the shrink. It was a lovely place, a girls' boarding school in Chattanooga, and lord knows S and A adored it. But I still couldn't imagine having lived away before college. Though lord knows I was ready by then!

Allyson, really sounds dysfunctional and I hope you get better soon.

eta: and Nilly again came in with the goods! Sorry about your evil computers, though.

Um, is it mean to think that he suffers from a sort of the-work-should-be-done-perfectly-overnight-by-midgets-and-fairies syndrome?

That sounds about right.

Ugh, Nilly. I wish I had anything more than good wishes for you!

Also, remember how I said I found a work-around solution for my computer problem, working from another computer? Well, that other computer stopped working with me, too. The same ting it ran perfectly in the morning, it claims it can't right now. The exact same thing. I'm poisoning computers or something, I don't know anymore. And I don't know what to do.

Oh, Nilly, this sounds horrible.

I always feel a little bad at work because (and I know this is hard to believe) I am the most "do not put up with shit and I am a working professional not a slave" secretary/admin in our office. Because of this, though, I actually get a lot more respect/collegiatlity from the big!boss than a couple of people who are technically senior to me who just do everything she says exactly the way she says it, even when it is ridiculous. I mean, i mostly just don't tell her. My old job put me at an advantage, too, because I have close working relationships with people really high up in the university. But I feel bad sometimes that I get treated with more respect for me and my time.

ETA re Academia:

I still laugh because the students (and sometimes the professors!) think the admins get Christmas break, too. I mean, yes our work is light and some people take vacation time, but it is not our "time off"!

You can pass the interview bone my way, right?

I need it for Google tomorrow, but after that, it's totally yours. (I also have another second interview with a different place on Tuesday, but I won't be greedy.)

It sounds like your relationship with your boss has become toxic. I won't try to assign blame because I certainly don't know the whole story, but I hope you'll find something else soon. And write that children's book, because I want to buy it.

In other news, I got a haircut this afternoon!

But I still couldn't imagine having lived away before college.

Yeah, my mom actually wanted me to go away to one of the Select Sixteen so that I would be more challenged, but I didn't want to leave home. It probably was a good idea, but given that she died the year I graduated college, I'm very glad to have had that time with her.

I still laugh because the students (and sometimes the professors!) think the admins get Christmas break, too. I mean, yes our work is light and some people take vacation time, but it is not our "time off"!

When I worked at my grad school, they closed Fridays in the summer -- and the admins had to use vacation time! Or make up the time, I think.

Select Sixteen

What's that?

Sorry for dumping this you-can't-do-anything-about-this stuff on you guys. It's just that you're the only ones awake. The people who can actually try to help me (or diagnose me as computer poison) are all asleep right now. I e-mailed them (including the poor just-wanted-to-help guy whose computer I just poisoned), but it'll be a few hours before they wake up and see it.

In the meantime, I have to make myself stop thinking about *this* part, and get back to the other million parts I'm behind on. It's just so hard to stop thinking about that nagging thing that wouldn't work, you know?

Oh, well. Focus. Yes. That's it.

I need it for Google tomorrow

Oh, good luck.

Go Emmett!