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.

The church up within I grew?
 
Yeah, I would say the church I grew up in, both to mean the denomination and the specific locale.

working for the county part time I did refuse the health care, and I get the dollars for the cheapest plan. but more like 700 - 1000 dollars a year, not 2k. but this is standard practice in gov't work

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

Yeah, I've worked at companies that did this. It's shitty.

One of my former students just thanked me on FB for teaching her so much during her summer at camp that one of her college classes is a breeze.

Aw. It warms the cockles.