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.

I hope the work communication gets better smonster. The only thing I can say is that those sorts of things are hard from both sides. I struggle with the best ways to communicate to my employees.

When communication styles are at variance with each other, it can be so challenging. There is no good guy, no bad guy, but there is a lot of frustration.

smonster, good luck with the work situation. I hope it improves soon.

Still in the long process to unfuck the house. I dropped 50 items off at a consignment shop today, but I was early for the appointment and ended up at the used bookstore next door to waste time and bought 4 books. Oops!

sj, still a net win! I buy a fair number of used books (the libraries here are pretty sad), and I just turn around and sell most of them right back or donate them.

Thanks, everyone. As usual, I feel much better about it today and can have a sense of humor about the fact that he's going to tell me how I should do things. After having told me many times that he doesn't care how I do things. It's just human nature. Some things will get better as we develop a shared vocabulary. And learn each other's pet peeves. Like, it bothered him that I labeled doing my timesheet and job log as "admin" work. Said it wasn't accurate. So he wants me to call it paperwork… despite that it's all online. Okay, boss. Whatever you say.

Yeah, I still volunteer at the library bookstore on occasion and we get so many people in who buy books and then donate them back as soon as they've read them. I'm really so behind on my to be read pile that it is ridiculous of me to buy more books, but it never seems to stop me.

I did that when I was in St Albans but you could get a bag of books for $3! and Hardcovers were $1 so it made sense to buy a bag, read and then donate back when I was done.

I got a call for a job interview , I'd given up but the store isn't built yet. The interview isn't until the 20th.

We sell hardcovers for $2 paperbacks for $1 and mass markets for 50 cents. Also mass market romance are 5 for $1 mainly because we have so many. It's mostly the romance and mystery readers who buy and redonate.

Omg, my mother and my daughter are so loud. Put them together, and I'm looking for my ear plugs.

I got a Sekrit Fall Equinox Skerit Santa present today - four beautiful bowls with dragonflies!

Thank you whoever sent those - pictures are up on the Buffistas FB group!