I love brenda so much right now. Somebody make her veep of something, quick.

DONE.

Yeah, but when people are posting about potential death and major pain and suffering and true financial crisis I feel like I need to acknowledge that somehow if I'm going to post about a nose bleed. If it were not for being able to invoke the FPC I'd feel completely insensitive for bitching about anything not on that scale. The FPC to me is not an apology. It is a way to acknowledge I'm posting about a problem on a smaller scale than other problems discussed here. By invoking FPC, I'm avoiding the need to apologize. And if you are in better mental health in that area than I am and don't need to invoke the FPC clause go you! But it is really helpful to me.

By invoking FPC, I'm avoiding the need to apologize. And if you are in better mental health in that area than I am and don't need to invoke the FPC clause go you! But it is really helpful to me.

That's kinda how I am right now. I am also waiting for this current swing of depression to get to the part where I have the invincible exoskeleton and I can go touch a Jillifont, but I don't know it that will happen.

(To be PERFECTLY CLEAR, I don't have any urge to go touch a Jillifont. Ever. Invincible emotional exoskeleton or no.)

Hairpats galore, Jilli. Dramatic hairpats, even.

Y'all don't even want to hear about my hangnails. I have them on every nail, bad. Comes with the job.

I am home from work and once again trying to make my sacral vertebrae stop grinding against each other. I had to bring work home, too, which makes me hella cranky.

I'm staying here for Thanksgiving. No specific plans yet - I suppose I should get on that.

My supervisor met individually with three of my five direct reports today. The feedback on the job and me was mostly positive, so that's good. I need to do better about clueing them in to the big picture and managing my stress so it doesn't overflow onto them. And watch out for micromanaging. All of which I think is valid.

Dude, a nosebleed you have *to have stopped* fucking counts. Especially if I can't be like "Gar, rethink your OTP with cocaine...she doesn't love you back!" I can't, right?

Nope, never touched nose candy. And yeah a nosebleed you have to have cauterized counts. It is just that if this was an ouch contest I would totally lose. And probably be in the bottom 20%. I'm not saying it is right. I'm saying if it were not for the FPC I would not have been able to post about it. The weird thing, and I'm totally not saying it is rational, a diamond shoes too tight thing is something I can post about. Cause that is so part of Spike's Bitches culture that I would not think twice. But real pain that does not represent major suffering? For that I need ghd FPC. We all, well most of us, have our neurosis. This is one of mine.

Yeah, but when people are posting about potential death and major pain and suffering and true financial crisis I feel like I need to acknowledge that somehow if I'm going to post about a nose bleed. If it were not for being able to invoke the FPC I'd feel completely insensitive for bitching about anything not on that scale.

It's not insensitive to have the problems that you ("you" = "anybody") have. Everyone's problems are real, and valid, no matter the (perceived) scale.

I really don't think anyone here has ever fallen into the trap of "Oh, your loved one has cancer? That's NOTHING compared to my hangnail!" Seriously. This is not a place where insensitivity runs rampant.

Or maybe I'm just saying that because *I'm* the insensitive bastard.

I get both perspective on FPC, but I kinda like it for myself, because I feel like I bitch here a LOT; people are always supportive, but sometimes the stuff I am bitching about, the FTP is more a reminder to me to, well, invoke FPC on self to regain FP.

I bitch, I calm, I get feedback and help self gain equilibrium.

I see it more as a helpful mental reminder to emodump here, where it's safe, take a breath, feel what I'm feeling, and then examine it through a calmer lens.

But I see Brenda, Tep and Jilli's therapists points quite clearly. I think, like most things, it can be a tool for good or evil, depending on how it's used, so to speak.

Again, my personal take on it, which certainly isn't trying to take away to negate anyone else's reaction to it.

Also? Jilli -- sweetheart, you are a lovely person who has had a decidely unlovely, stressful and heartbreaking year. (Expect a little less stress on the ho-hunting (oh, damn, funny typo -- JOB hunting!) front in your inbox tomorrow/ Sunday.

You are delightful, inspiring, smart, hard-working, creative, a positive role model, and altogether just a lovely, lovely human. I know -- I KNOW! -- it doesn't feel like it right now, but trust me; someone is right on the intenet and it's us, about you.

Much sincere love. Check your inbox.