Hope you can find something that helps Miss Kitty, Suzi.

I am so overwhelmed right now. The chaos of moving and adjusting to a new roommate is one thing. Not sure how well our personalities and needs are going to mesh.

But the bigger thing right now is work. This is my second week of being alone on the job - my sole coworker left for a job somewhere else. So I'm on a job site full of dudes by myself; about half are Honduran with English fluency from none to decent; the other half are blue collar dudes who grew up here. The guys are nice and treat me with some deference, which has both good and bad. But I still feel isolated.

And my boss, when he's here, which is rare, makes me tell him what my plan is and then picks it apart. This is, like, my least favorite way to learn and get feedback. It feels like one trick question after another. And I know this is my issue, that I hate being wrong and feeling stupid, but even if it will be good for me to change that attitude it's going to take a while and in the meantime I'm frustrated and angry all the time. Which is visible on my face, because that's how I am.

Right now I just feel like I will never be good at this and should change fields entirely. Again. And maybe I'm just never going to be a good employee. It's not them, it's me.

Okay, hopefully venting helped. I probably need to talk to him at some point but when I get upset he just wants to fix things but doesn't always ask me HOW I want his help. And even if he did ask I don't know what I would say. A traditional apprenticeship-type thing is not in the cards.

God it's hard not to take things personally.

I am super defensive and hate being or feeling wrong, smonster. I don't know what your communication structure is with your boss, but that is probably the best place to start. Maybe expressing your desire to improve your skill level and frustration in finding the best way to make that happen. As in having a troubleshooting the process of learning rather than the actual skills.

I almost sent my supervisor "Finishing up right now, AIFG!" Because when I write "right now," I always want to write that... he seems tense today, probably good not to get into it now, though I think he'd find it funny at some point.

Good luck with Miss Kitty, Suzi. When it comes to feline pain, we swear by buprenex. Squirt a little into the cheek pouch, and the difference is fast and noticeable.

I will make a note of that Fred Pete. She might allow a quick squirt. We will start with the Glucosamine and go from there.

Our Old Man Poodle thinks Glucosamine is the most delicious treat devised by man. He starts licking his lips each morning as we get it out for him.

I just looked over and ltc was blowing kisses at her own reflection in the little mirror in her play yard. She kills me with her adorableness!

How adorable!!! ltc, so much sweetness in a little package.

sj I tried to like that she's so cute.

Thanks, Laura. We are definitely struggling with communication stuff. This afternoon when I sent him an update, he was very positive - I'm sure he had noticed my frustrations and was trying to give me some positive feedback. Given the way the work is set up, I just don't see a way to solve this easily. The simplest (not easiest) way is for a dramatic attitude adjustment on my part. Hormones aren't helping, for sure.

sj, that is so incredibly adorable.

erika, I often have the same impulse.