Very sad, lisah.

We have an everyone buys for everyone Xmas, but it's understood that little gifts are just fine for the various extended family members. Siblings too tend to get smaller gifts. It's really only the kids (my two and their two cousins) who get the big gifts. Oh! And there's a baby on Cody's side, she'll be a big gift magnet in a year or two.

Although I'm sure the boss likes the idea of rolling up with a truck full of hams and handing them out like Santa.

Yep, I think that is the idea, since the drivers and foreman get paid by the hour and in the winter the work really slows down. STILL and I cannot emphasize this enough, despite the environment and culture that this is low-level work and they are all somehow scrapping by, the drivers' base pay IS MORE THAN MINE. Uneducated and blue collar does not equal economically down trodden.

everyone is too quiet. did you all miss the part where I do not want to work today?

So 1 of the issues I need help on is at least getting discussion circulating higher than my pay grade. I love that I was just sent this task to do and when I start asking questions, no one knows how to deal with it and there is not any real agreement on steps to take.

I think you should sing show tunes, msbelle. It would be less quiet and would be not working.

t /unhelpful

This is an incredible story. A 5-year-old boy in India gets separated from his older brother in a train station and falls asleep on a train. He wakes up in Calcutta, a long way from home, and has no idea how to get back. Eventually he ends up in an orphanage, and then adopted by an Australian couple. 25 years later, he uses Google Earth and his memories of what his hometown looked like to find where he was from. [link]

Valjean, at last, we see each other plain.

Holy crap.

I am doing interview followup (because I am super professional) but really need to be doing my job.

ION, Timothy Olyphant was on this week's Mindy Project, if anyone is interest in seeing him try to look like a loser. ( mean, he does look like a loser, but a smoking hot one, still.

My family "draws names" for gift-giving for Christmas. Mostly what this means is that I compile the list of assignments, somewhat randomly. Spouses still can give to each other, and everyone can give to the kids.

Over the years this has evolved into everyone having two official recipients, plus sundry stocking-stuffers for anyone they like. It works out, mostly. I do try to rotate the people who are difficult to buy for over the years. And the people who give less thoughtful gifts, as well...

Valjean, at last, we see each other plain.

LOVE!

Also, I hate ADP -- benefit election made impossible. Thanks for not knowing who I am, stupid system!

Sigh.

Also also, one of my students attempted suicide yesterday morning.

oh no Kat. That is awful.