I'm so sorry, Allyson. Interviewing is such a soul-sucking process. Is there someone at work you can talk to about how to improve your chances in the interview?

My room reconfiguration at home is done. I've got all the furniture moved back in, and I am slowly moving clothes into the new closet.

Allyson, it occurs to me that it might also just be that they've seen you "grow up" and will never see you as the mature, awesome manager-level person that you can clearly be/and are. It does happen, and I was having the conversation yesterday with a friend who's been with her company for over 14 years and even though her title has shifted over time to "director", some people still clearly don't give her respect she deserves. In a lot of situations, you really do have to change companies to get that move up and a clean slate with people who will get to know you at your next level. Hope that makes sense. The short of it is, it isn't just you. So please don't take it personally.

Now, off to see the pics Anne posted!!

Anne, the room looks fabulous. I love the wall color, and the floor is beautiful.

Also, someone seems to have scrambled all the letters on my keyboard today. It's three letters typed, backstroke, fix one--no that's still wrong, fix it again, and three letters...no.

Anne, that is such a peaceful, cheerful room!

Thank you! It's a very, very relaxing space. I still can't believe it's finally done.

I bet Jeeves is relieved it's done!!

Very, although he apparently liked to 'supervise' the construction whenever noisy power tools were not being used.

My mom and my sister are coming to Chicago for the day tomorrow. I'm planning to show them around my office and take them for a meal, but I don't know what to do with the rest of the time they'll be here because the heat index tomorrow is going to be ridonk.

Send them to a museum! Or the American Girl store, whichever is more to their interests.

or shopping! or aquarium