I'm a little worried about the neighbor whose plants I've been taking care of. I think she was supposed to be back by now and she's not. Given the shenanigans on her past few trips (passports getting switched in a third world country and requiring the local embassy higher ups flying back to get her passports, haitian "flu" almost hospitalizing her- and she's a pro at this, she ran a program in Iraq in the early stages, burqas and all) I'm hoping this trip to Africa didn't contain drama.

Oh, James, oh.

Man, I just...

Yeah, no.

That eyeshadow is hideous. (I would say that about it on anyone, man, woman, crossdresser, Kang, Kodos, Ent, or pet rock.)

Nice gloves, though.

t edit I get that drag queens are aping and exaggerating the stylized image of femininity. Franco's not going for a tasteful PTA look there. But I still don't like it. (I don't like the general drag queen genre, actually.) (And, of course, they're not dressing for me, so it doesn't really matter if I like it or not.)

The church I grew up in

It sounds a little strange to me, but I know what you mean. Growing up Catholic, not a lot of church shopping goes on (unless you're looking for the latest mass possible.)

When I've said it, and I'm sure I have, I meant more the religious tradition (Presbyterian) rather than the actual specific church.

When I've said it, and I'm sure I have, I meant more the religious tradition (Presbyterian) rather than the actual specific church.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking--if I said this, I"d probably mean "Catholocism" as opposed to "St. Monica's". May have to do with not attending/being Catholic anymore. But I would totally not bat an eye at someone else saying it and meaning either one--if they currently attended a church, I might assume they meant the actual church (as opposed to ..sect?) they went to as a child.

That eyeshadow is hideous. (I would say that about it on anyone, man, woman, crossdresser, Kang, Kodos, Ent, or pet rock.)

Yeah. That is not a good makeup look on anyone or anything.

On another subject, this is pretty cool.

Military planes do a flyover at Lambeau before every Packer game at the very end of the anthem - it's very cool. This one is from this past weekend, and my friend Augie is playing the trumpet! [link]

My mom gave me a ministeamer in my stocking last year, which I unearthed unused this week. I used it on my interview jacket and shirt, and it works great!

Wish me ma, guys, at 1045 CST. INTERVIEW. NEED JOB NOW.

Although, a question. If I was to be offered a job at, for example, 10K where the range posted was 9 to 12K, with benes, is saying something like "I don't need the heath insurance package, but I would like the life and the flexible health savings, and to make 12K, would that be a good place to begin negotiations?

Most of the jobs I'm applying for get bennies, and we need to stay with Dan's insurance for his son, so I don't need them. Since the company hiring wouldn't have to pay that cost, it reasonable I should negotiate more salary or vaca, right?

That's tricky, because as far as I know they can't really stop you from enrolling in the benefit plans, at least not long term. I don't know if you can get the FSA without the health plan either. Maybe David or someone can tell you more?

Also check the limitations of the benefits packages carefully. One of the nasty tricks that a few crazy insurance companies have slipped in is that you have the option of health coverage through a source other than your spouse then they won't extend coverage. It was part of the IATSE union insurance phrasing at one point.

That's tricky, because as far as I know they can't really stop you from enrolling in the benefit plans, at least not long term. I don't know if you can get the FSA without the health plan either. Maybe David or someone can tell you more?

Right, you can't really waive your eligibility to the health plans as a negotiating element. But I do know that benefits are definitely seen as part of the total compensation and explaining your situation (being on Dan's plan) might be persuasive to them.

It would really depend on the policies of the individual company you're applying to, and how much negotiating leeway the HR person would have.

I don't think it would hurt to put it on the table. In the right circumstances it could be beneficial to the company to take you on those terms. And if they don't like it, they'll just say that's not something they can do.

Generally speaking, benes are seen as standard for the pay grade / job class. And HR people don't like making lots of exceptions. OTOH, if it was for a small company where (for example) the owner's wife is the HR manager (something like Tep's situation) I could kind of see somebody biting on that.