Hil, that's terrific! Yay for doggies.

Maria, am excited to see you. What Nora said about clothing.

Right now I just want to say FUCKIT and get some kind of boring, easy corporate job that pays 40k and offers healthcare. Those exist, right?

Ah sorry, the fungus is in Oregon:

In most areas of North America, Armillaria solidipes can be separated from other species by its physical features. Its brown colors, fairly prominent scales featured on its cap, and the well-developed ring on its stem sets it apart from any Armillaria. (Herink, 1973)

It is known to be one of the largest living organisms, where scientists have estimated a single specimen found in Malheur National Forest in Oregon to have been growing for some 2,400 years, covering 3.4 square miles (8.4 km²) and colloquially named the "Humongous Fungus."

Ah, found the one I was thinking of:

Another "humongous fungus" is a specimen of Armillaria gallica found at a site near Crystal Falls, Michigan, which covered 0.15 square kilometres (37 acres).

Hil, glad to hear the landlady is being cool about a dog.

{{Gris}} All my sympathy to your family. That's a really tough thing to have to deal with.

Hil, that's good news. I hope you find a suitable companion quickly.

Sail, much ~ma for your coworker.

Weather and clothing tips noted. Nora, I'll let you know as soon as I can.

Oh, just so you know, that wasn't a pressure type of thing, we haven't even talked about vacation stuff yet, I just know that often that time of the summer gets a little busy for us and thought I'd implant the thought of keeping us up to date/in the loop. This is something I've learned to do since living here, because people tend to not remember anything without gentle reminders.

Though we may be saving our pennies and vacation days for going to Ireland in the fall to see Tom's nephew graduate from Trinity.

My sympathies and ~ma, Gris.

And fingers crossed, Sail. It is a truly scary place to be.

Right now I just want to say FUCKIT and get some kind of boring, easy corporate job that pays 40k and offers healthcare. Those exist, right?

When I've tried to find one, no. I mean, they do. They must somewhere. Like a full-grown Architeuthis.

Much ~ma, Gris - coping, and logistics, and grieving when you are able. I hope you're able to get everything to come together in a workable fashion.

Sail, lots of ~ma in your direction as well.

Right now I just want to say FUCKIT and get some kind of boring, easy corporate job that pays 40k and offers healthcare. Those exist, right?

Not at the moment - if you didn't already have it before the current economic situation, you could only get it as a temp or contractor now. We have had (multiple) meeting with the corporate muckety-mucks who congratulate us on our good work (and good sales numbers with a SEVERELY reduced workforce) and assure that someday we'll be able to hire again, but in the meanwhile our current headcount is nearly 50% temp/intern/contract. t /bitter tirade

Oh, no, I broke Bitches with my bitter tirade! Come back! I'll spew nothing but sunshine and roses, promise!

It must mean something that I've been so very dark, for so very long, but I manage to find the time at (over)work to bitch about work...hmmm...

Trying to start a new topic, but I can't think of anything...I really gotta go home.

No, no, bitter tirades are like unto the vital underpinnings of Bitches! Tirade away!

Epic, I could rant at length about the deplorable nature of labor* relations in this country. I choose not to because I have finished a week of full-time fieldwork/internship/clinical/choose your term, and am tired and sore and enjoying a drink from the keg of glory** because my supervisor thought I was fantastic and spontaneously offered to be a reference for me in the future.

However, I have done none of the 4 things that I need to do in order to get gold stars*** on my chore chart. Which runs from now until the beginning of March because I need to lose some weight and learn Swedish, but my life is going to be nuts until after Spring Break because, like an idiot, I tried out for Laramie (and +10), and got cast****, but I do not know what parts I will be playing or my damn rehearsal schedule because there are more auditions this weekend because apparently, she did not get who she needed for the cast.

I should go clean something. After I finish my beer and Elementary from last week.

* note lack of capitalization

** and by "keg of glory" I mean 6-pack of Sam Adams I got in the White Elephant at my aunt and uncle's house.

*** Entirely literal, due to seeing a teacher supply store on my way home yesterday

**** The director said that she liked my work!

Not at the moment - if you didn't already have it before the current economic situation, you could only get it as a temp or contractor now.

HAHAHAHAHA oh shit. I mean, I already knew that, but damn. Any time I start thinking about my job and how much I (don't) get paid, I end up in a total rage spiral about the economy and the 1% and the fucked state of healthcare and especially mental health and the culture of fear and 2nd Amendment bullshit...

BTW, rage does nothing to improve a panic attack, in case you were wondering.