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 sort of unrelated, ita, but I was doing an email search for something else and came across one from you 2 years ago about ERISA...I know more about it now, and was embarrassed that my answers were vaguely not helpful then. I hope it didn't hurt you!

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?

I wouldn't be surprised or confused by two people living together as adults who aren't romantically involved or related. I've seen it happen more than once, mostly women as it happens. Hell that was me for a good decade of my life.

I find this whole conversation confusing. Somehow people I find very dear are upset, and I have to admit I didn't hear anyone on the board say anything about how friendships are structurally oppressed in the same way gay couples are. All I heard is that some think friendships tend to be discounted as less important. And then, after Plei reminded me of how much I hated Ernie as a kid because he was so mean to Bert, I'm kinda just in the zone where really the pair shouldn't be considered role models for anybody.

I have to explain white kind of white person I am.

I am now imagining the question as "How white are you?"

I know more about it now, and was embarrassed that my answers were vaguely not helpful then

Nah, I fucked myself over on that one.

Somehow people I find very dear are upset

Shit. Who have I upset?

Perhaps me zipping all over the playing board doesn't help, but...Ernie and Bert aren't, to me, demonstrating rare because it's weird and we need to support you behaviour. It's rare, I'd assume, because not many people want to do it. It's not a typical friend behaviour, and if Ernie and Bert are setting expectations, it'd come to naught. But I don't get why anyone needs to be told it's okay either.

And, since people are upset, I guess that's the entirety of what I was apparently very badly saying.

I think I misstated the situation above.

I have loved this job: I love being in the public sector, working for an agency whose primary mission is saving lives. I love the subject matter that I work with, and that I get to work with non-profits and state and local agencies, and other federal agencies, and sometimes I get a helicopter ride to a project site. This despite the piss-poor personnel management and the frankly incompetent hiring system.

I might be here for another six weeks if I can't line up a job quicker than that, and if for the rest of that time all MY WORK gets redirected to other people, I will be fucking miserable nearly every hour that I'm there.

I cannot disengage while I'm sitting in the office actually listening to and watching it happen. If I can find another job fast, great! I'll quit. But in all likelihood I'm going to be there until the end of next month and I'd prefer not to spend it having my self-respect go down the tubes because everyone is pretending I don't exist, which is what it feels like right now.

Woohoo, application submitted! God, I hope there were no typos. Wish me job-ma please.

It's almost 1 AM, but I kind of want to celebrate by watching an ep of Game of Thrones. But I should really go to bed.

Who have I upset?

I did not mean to accuse anyone of upsetting others. My apologies. It does seem like there's some miscommunication, but that's all.

I may very well be misreading things and thinking some people are upset when they aren't.

have you seen the self-defense umbrella?

[link]

cconsuela - can you introduce people? Over email. over the phone - or just even a note to the new person?

Having been there- and stayed "til I found somethng- even if you hated the job , it is demoralizing. and Matt will say it too. You may not be able to disengage, but you have to try. In the long run, it is better for your clients. Your clients don't have a lot of options so be fair to them

BTW - Matt is looking for your resume