I am wearing several layers of clothing, and a fleece hat. I am indoors.

If my aunt Mary was on fb, they could have a tactless off. You mom makes me laugh and laugh and think of Mary...

I actually know(of) two men named Cloves, actually, Jilli. One was a newspaper editor who had the dubious "honor" of receiving my red-and-green resume in a Christmas card during my "Ya gotta have a HOOK!1" job-hunting period after college, and his son, Cloves Campbell, Junior, is a Democratic legislator.

There is a Clovis way back in my father's family and, more recently, a Crafton.

Editor-istas: I just got a formatting question from a coworker who is presenting a short (3 pages single spaced) paper to a state group of law enforcement types and hasn't had to write a paper since before computerized word processing. He wanted to know...how to write it. I think I hit the basics (follow the end of a sentence with a single space and then capitalize the first letter of the first word, consider using a footer to auto paginate) but wasn't sure if there's a "business standard" for things like margin size and single vs double spacing. Would AP stylebook be most appropriate?

Can't sleep for worry.

bonny, I think Ginger is right; the lesson is "move on". You always try to fix things, and sometimes things can't be fixed by you. Or don't want to be fixed, if the things are people. Finding a place where you can live without struggle is a good goal, and will be a great relief when you do.

erin, I think AP style would be fine. That's probably the style they're most familiar with, anyway. I'd tell him to use the default margins in Word (I assume that's what he's using), just to reduce stress on him. Single-spaced is preferred but double-spaced is easier for some people to read, so I might use that.

Zenkitty, I'm sorry you have so much on your mind and heart.

bonny, you deserve a peaceful, properly cared-for home. You also deserve better in business. It seems to be a pattern with this business, that even though you have been brought in for your expertise in solving people problems, your solutions and by extention you are not getting an appropriate level of respect. And you know, it isn't about people having honest disagreements with you in any given situation. It just isn't. Undermining you is doing damage to the business, to the brand. The business owner, in letting that manager continue to jerk things around is engaging in self-sabotage. How long can you be immersed in this company culture without taking damage to your own psyche?

One of the hardest lessons to learn in life is this: You can't fix anyone but you. I am certain you know it in theory. But there are layers to this principle that we have to keep peeling back, over and over, to truly put it into practice.

I just wish I could figure out whatever this lesson is so I can get the hell over it and move on.

Man.

So I've mentioned that I am working with someone who I now call the hell-bitch, who has been complaining to all and sundry (but mostly my managers or other higher ups) about how much I suck?

I've come to some kind of equilibrium, I think. It's still kind of awful, but I had a 10 min. talk with someone who has a lot of influence and power over both me and her. And he was all 'be honest about what you could have done better, but you have a reputation. And so does she. And if you feel like she's crossing a line, you need to tell me that. You need to say something to her (work it out in thread!) but also tell me.'

Also: she's you peer, not your boss. Which is not quite for real, I don't think. But if Bob sees it that way, that is all that matters. [Also, he's making her take coaching on how to interact and work professionally with people. He told me before he told her.]

I need some calm- and strong-ma over the next few days, when my life will be 24/7 Vivian. [22/7 - I actually changed my flight so I wouldn't be on the same plane and have to take the same car to the hotel with her.]

But I'm not in the despair place I was. It's going to be shitty as fuck. But I'll survive.

Well, brenda, that sucks slightly less. I wish you heart's ease.

Guess who went back to the doctor today?

This girl!

Last night for a few hours I had a fever , this morning I woke up coughing, although not as bad and my ears still hurting.

Verdict is - well I don't have an infection. Maybe it's asthma related??? (that's basically a guess) so I got an inhaler. The cough medicine pills Steph and Suzi were talking about earlier and told to take more decongestant. Also - stay away from extreme temperature cahnges (meaning going outside and back in again), don't talk, drink lots of fluids, drink hot tea and stay home today and tomorrow from work.

If I still am not improved by Monday call them back.

Although honest to god I don't know what they can do if I'm still not better. And the nurse doctor whoever it was I saw was like "oh this has only been going on since Jan 27." NO NO NO I came IN on Jan 27 because I'd had a cold for 6 days and still wasn't well. nThis has been going on since Jan 20th.

I was also told to stay in bed and rest, I did not ask if sitting in front of the computer counted as resting, although I am planning on alternating between this and laying on the couch watching tv.