I totally want to be a PEO now.

I have an advice question: Someone I know, but not well, basically asked me to make a donation to her family, which admittedly is in a terrible situation. But the needs are ongoing medical costs for her father, and I don't understand why they don't get Medicaid. Is that rude to ask?

Is that rude to ask?

Probably it is? But I think it's rude to express your concern for the situation/health of her father and ask if they have a good social services person to work with them.

PEO meetings, that sometimes happened in our house, totally sounded like sorority meetings. A little ritual and then a lot of yakking. And food, of course.

I am so frustrated with my mother, my aunt (not Sox's mother), and my sisters. My mother and my aunt have no jobs, one of my sisters has the summer off, and the other sister has a very flexible work schedule. I had planned a few days of vacation around my CA sister's visit, which is this weekend. They are now all trying to change the plan based on how busy they are and want me to come early and spend more time there. I've got a job with every report due by the end of the month, a five-year old, and a husband who is in Mozambique (so he's not a lot of help right now).

I wouldn't ask, but if an opportunity arises to provide links/suggestions for various services, I'd offer that up. There might be extenuating circumstances (what, I don't know, but I'm unfamiliar with all that.)

Eh, I'm sure they know -- I think her sister is a nurse, and they aren't without resources in general. I just don't understand why they are taking on this whole financial burden, since they then have to pass it along to their friends. That's what Medicaid is for! It's such a hard and sad situation.

I think if you are going to contribute it's easier to ask, something along the lines of "I know some about applying for medicaid. The process is daunting; would you like some assistance."

Otherwise, I'd probably not ask.

All caregiver stuff blows, frankly. And sometimes making medicaid work is extremely difficult.

My meters are getting brains.

Or something like that. Maybe Skynet.

All caregiver stuff blows, frankly.

Yes.

And sometimes making medicaid work is extremely difficult.

Absolutely.

I just had to call the company help desk about my email being locked. I ID'd myself as Connie from Tech Support. Granted, I'm the only Connie in Tech Support, but they didn't ask for my employee number or any confirmation. Maybe that indicates how close-knit this several-hundred-employee company is, maybe 8 years of working here has made me known, but it strikes me as a little lackadaisical in the way of corporate security.

You ought to be able to use that to your advantage in some way, Connie.

Congratulations, Doc Otter!

When I talked to my dad last night he said they would call me "when people start stirring". Are my siblings seriously still asleep? Not that I am really ready to leave, but I am suspicious that they will all go to breakfast without me and only remember they were supposed to call much later.

When I talked to my dad last night he said they would call me "when people start stirring".

My family would say that, and then forget to call me until they were walking out the door to meet them in five minutes. I've taken to getting ready as soon as I know we will meet sometime that day, and then just waiting.

Congratulations, Doctor Otter!