It took a long time for me to realize that the rest of the world really isn't watching me for reasons to screw up. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm really not that significant to them--in a good way. (Except for maybe my evil supervisor, who appears to lie in wait for reasons.

Debet, I have a similar issue. I hate getting "yelled at," which includes any kind of mild reproof.

One of my awesome roomies just kind of shredded N on my fb page (on the e-card post) and it was kind of awesome.

I hate getting "yelled at," which includes any kind of mild reproof.

Yeah, this. I have a huge defensive streak. Being aware of it forever and fighting it doesn't help. Mostly it has served me well though.

So, it is late enough and I am tipsy enough to share my most personally memorable getting yelled at story. Back 40! years ago when I was 19 I was working for a drug store chain in Philadelphia as an accounts payable clerk. My boss was a yelling type and there were a number of illegal/improper/odd issues on a regular basis. Ah, Philly.

So once a week the head accountant lady came to the office to do whatever and she wore this super strong perfume that caused an allergic reaction with tears flowing and sneezing and so forth. After she left one week the boss called me into his office to ask (loudly) what the hell my problem was with AL. Um, I have no issue with her, but her perfume makes my allergies act up. So he looks at me and insists that "allergies are always psychosomatic and what the hell is your problem".

My defensive reaction kicks in and I tell him he is insane and walk to my desk, pick up my purse and walk out. I get to the subway station and call DH from a phone booth (70s yo) and sob about quitting my job and how we are surely going to starve and be homeless. He is all supportive and stuff. So the subway station and phone booth are right in front on the Philadelphia Inquirer building. My 19 yo self looks at the big tall building and thinks, gee I bet they hire a lot of people. Walk in the front revolving doors and see the HR office. I start work the next day.

I have forever been grateful to insane boss because he taught me at a very young age that there is always another option.

So tipsy, and rambling, and in love with spell check, gotta say.

That's a wonderful story.

Debet, that's something I've been working on for years with limited success. It's a real issue at work for me, especially as a dept chair. So I hear you. It's hard. I just keep reminding myself that I'm a work in progress.

I *love* that story, Laura!

Laura,

how wonderful for you in that the situation worked out. what an asshole boss though. damn.

Fantastic story, Laura. I am going to try to keep it in mind.

An aside, I loathe the claim that allergies are psychosomatic.

OK, watched the first four eps of Orange is the New Black with the roomie tonight. Good times. I have decided the issue is, I don't like watching things longer than a minute or two on my computer. But I can watch Netflix through my TiVo, so at home I'm OK. You'd think Netflix on the road would be useful, but I never use it. I think I must be An Old, to have this problem

Oddly, I can watch things easier on my tablet than my laptop. I've decided, based on almost nothing, that it is because the laptop has a keyboard *right there* but the tablet turns into a viewing screen.