My department recently put together a style guide. Now there are several people in that department who believe that we can convince the other 550+ people in the organization to a) read it, b) comply with it, and c) care when we call them on failing to do a or b.

I am not one of those people. However, I will bring them cookies when their dreams are crushed under the weight of organizational indifference to the serial comma.

Now I want to go back into customer service. I would rock at tech support.

"Can you see the moon? Yes? You need an adapter."

"Ah, what we have here is an AF1022 afterburner sequencing error. You'll need three tea towels...NOT hand towels, TEA towels...a pound of butter and sixteen cat's eye marbles."

"Now, reach inside...no, no DON'T unplug it! That would make this all pointless! Now, jam your screwdriver in the big power box...which one of us is the expert here?"

"You're fucked."

I am not one of those people. However, I will bring them cookies when their dreams are crushed under the weight of organizational indifference to the serial comma.

Please come to work at my office? I would like to be soothed with cookies every time one of the writers doesn't use the style guide.

Alternatively, I would like there to be no consequences when I want to go play live-action Whack A Mole with the PMs who think their specs can be used for documentation with no extra work.

My work rants are all aimed at myself or vicarious at the moment.

Big cats on catnip are cute. Neither of my cats likes catnip, more's the pity.

I have no work rants because I have no work at the moment. Speaking of which, I suppose there is no nice way of saying that I want to be paid if I babysit every Friday for my friend's son? I can't really see myself getting up at 5:30 every Friday for free.

No work rants for me at the moment, though I could do some home ones.

sj, if she wants you to do that work, she needs to pay you. Seriously. It has to be a business transaction. For both of you.

sj, hell yes you should get paid! That's regular work, and it is work. I can see how the conversation could get awkward, but you should mos def get paid.

I'm not sure if there's a *nice* way to say it but I think saying "I can't really see myself getting up at 5:30 every Friday for free" covers it.

She didn't pay me for helping her out this summer originally, but then she did give me an $80 thank you gift along with a pretty pottery bowl. Her other option is to pay for a full day of daycare, so even if she gives me a tiny amount, it's still saving her a ton of money.

ETA: I have no idea how much to ask for, even if I do figure out how to bring up the subject. 5 hours a day, one day a week. Any suggestions?