One support for many in difficult times use to be the extended family. But in the US from the '80s on, a lot of corporations moved offices and factories (IBM from NY to NC, etc.) and workers had to either move with them or lose their jobs. Others lost their jobs and moved afterwards. And it wasn't usually a case of three generations, siblings and their spouses and kids, the whole kit and kaboodle moving. It was the nuclear family, if that. If it's you and your kids with no family for 500 miles, problems are much more disruptive. You can't drop the kids off with your sister if you need to go into the hospital for surgery. If you lose your job again and get foreclosed on, staying with family until you get your feet back under you means taking the kids out of school and away from all their friends and losing your local professional connections. But how do you afford to stay? Yes, families have been problematic for people when there's abuse, and sometimes distance is good. But on the whole, it's another layer of protection (howsoever grumbly or irritating) between people and the sharp edge of life that's been stripped away. This can be scary. And scared people can cast blame in stupid ways.

Calli, you're right. The loss of the extended family support has been devastating in ways I think we don't really realize because the isolated nuclear family has become the norm.

Because everything is terrible, I've been trying to focus on work, which I totally acknowledge is a privilege.

Unfortunately, I'm trying not to lose my shit at someone who doesn't seem to understand that: a) I am not a manager, b) I'm technically not even a team lead, and c) I am working two full time roles right now, so what exactly would he like me to neglect in order to do the thing he's asking?

People, man. I'm going to stop being mad and assume he has good intentions after I take a walk and angrily eat some TJ's dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

I got nothing done today because I spent most of the day at the change of command and then they let us go early. Now I just had an ice cream cone, and I think I will go see Finding Dory because the world sucks.

Timelies all!

My folks are here, as is Gary's mom. We are waiting for Gary, whose flight from Chicago was delayed. Sigh....

I had ice cream for snack this afternoon (leftover from a party earlier this week) and chips for dinner. So it's like that.

I had to leave work early with a migraine, take medication, and then sleep for two hours. It's definitely like that.

Good things. Worked all day so didn't have a chance to go on Facebook. Had big meeting with biggest customer and they kept saying things about this project and that with time lines for years so they should pay the bills for a while.

Took back to vendor expensive faucet that we bought a couple years ago, that maybe got messed up when installing, and they were super cool and gave us a brand new one for free. Never even asked for our name or receipt or anything. They said they didn't really think we would walk in off the street with a used faucet that they sold if we didn't get it there.

So we celebrated not having to spend a fortune on a new one by eating at a tiny hole in the wall local seafood restaurant that was nothing short of wonderful. The place is on a back alley where no one would ever find it unless they were told about it. All fresh local caught fish. Oh my!

I'm going to a local comedy lab tonight to try out my new set. I'm not taking class this summer, so I need a refresher. I am nervous and trying not to bolt at the last minute and go home.

A week's vacation begins in 11 minutes or when this call ends, which ever occurs 2nd.