hardly anyone has asked me about the really quite large gaps in my resume

On the flip side, I've been asked (multiple job applications, recruiters, and interviews) to account for what I did while unemployed (Cry? Is that what you want to hear???) so if it's not counterproductively stressful or distracting, it might be useful to have the information to hand. IT might be crazier than most (But why did you work in AIDS education instead of IT for a whole entire month??? What are your priorities? Can you be trusted????)

When I say oppressed, I'm talking about structural oppression in society, which is something romantic partnerships of a same-sex nature face, and friendships just don't.

Yeah, I have the same sort of apples and oranges question about "equality". They're not equal, in a logical way, and Equality is a code word for nigh-tangible things, like legal allowances, non-erasure, etc, that I can't see applying to friendships.

Consuela, I agree with people who say that if those explanations contribute to you not burning bridges and increasing your marketability, do them. Otherwise, your plate is really full with said other priority, and you shouldn't lose sleep or anything because of that. Sometimes the thing collapsing behind you is the only way your former employers will get any perspective. I know that your job does more...good? Can I say that? I mean...you have more tasks which appeal to the conscience than an IT desk jockey than me, so make sure you're square with your Maker, etc, etc, but none of these people are helping you get your next job, so that task should be your focus.

I, though, am a workplace idiot, so feel free to ignore me. I've been focussing on personal skill development so much this year (inadvertent NY resolution) that I might drown under this all. But I want to prove to myself that I'm an intelligent and teachable achiever (I've spent a lot of time feeling professionally inadequate, most intensely during said unemployment gaps--when CSI: Miami is depressing because everyone's so good at their niche, you know you're losing hold on reality), and I want to get a consistent reputation for performing, as opposed to having one group of people grateful to me, and another one impatient or dismissive.

So, in addition to helping out the new director with now 4 high profile projects, I've volunteered to be a champion for our new SDLC methodology, and to join a skill inventory working group (What is that? I do not know what that is, but my name seems to be on the list now) because I want to be more like the people here that I admire, and less like the ones that get in the way of me getting my work done.

Thing is, I don't think dead or catatonic are on my 2013 objectives, so I gotta not lose my balance.

Thankfully, something that I've been banging my brain to numbness on, understanding at least at a high level what every single tool in our workstation software does for financial planners (I have never planned more thoroughly than "don't sell your body for rent") of all sorts, in order to be able to recommend the software tool model for new offices, and I was sure I was not only out of touch with the information, but also with the expectations of me. Well, the latter seems to be true, because I over-delivered. So, oops, might need to keep doing that.

This is not the best possible picture, but my (latest, oops) package from zulily came, and from left to right our colours are eggplant, flame, and tomato, and they are LOVELY: [link] (dress, skirt, coat respectively).

Oooh, pretty!

it might be useful to have the information to hand.

Absolutely! The reason I can say for certain that I have not been asked is because those gaps are GLARING to me and I have spent time figuring out exactly how to word my explanations, so when the interview is over and no one has asked I have that no-step-at-the-bottom-of-the-flight feeling. And I haven't had a million interviews, so I can't say it's a definite trend, but it's how it's gone for me lately. And I haven't been hired at the end of said interviews, so maybe it's just a sign that they were never that interested in me. Dunno.

But I want to prove to myself that I'm an intelligent and teachable achiever

Oh god, I should do that. I think I'm going to ask for a promotion anyway.

Needless to say, the line outside Ben & Jerrys was down the block, so I got half-off Cadbury Mini Eggs instead. Why not 75% off yet??

I discovered yesterday that I still have Halloween candy squirreled away in a cupboard. Oops.

I think the original poster's point got forgotten, and s/he probably chose her words poorly when she used "equality." This is what I think was her point:

Kids grow up in a Noah's-Ark world. Little gay kids need to look out into the world and see themselves reflected, and so do little weird kids. Bert and Ernie showed that even awkward, unromantic people can aspire to a joyful domestic life.

Actually, I wanted to say you don't have to be awkward to have a full life with friends and no romantic partner!

Heh. Very true.

Bert and Ernie showed that even awkward, unromantic people can aspire to a joyful domestic life.

Not that I think they can't have a joyful domestic life and be single, but who's actually using Ernie and Bert as a model for their lives, or even inspiration? If that's what they're going to get from it, aren't they going to be somewhat surprised when no one understands why they're living with someone they're not romantically attached or related to?

Oooo, American Masters is airing a special on Carol Burnett.

Not that I think they can't have a joyful domestic life and be single, but who's actually using Ernie and Bert as a model for their lives, or even inspiration?

Joey & Chandler! Of course, they were fictional too...