I'd give your preferred number as your minimum and go up from there. Don't low-ball yourself!

Is the minimum a negotiation point or set in stone with a laser-grid defense system and highly trained attack geese?

Tommy, Ask A Manager always says not to tell your salary history, because the salary of any given job should be based on that job's skill and requirements, not the applicant's history. You might look at her archives for how to navigate this.

Thanks for the advice, guys!

eta:

Of course, without thinking, I told the guy my current salary yesterday. But my current salary (at least before my pay cut) was pretty high, because my boss almost always contributes the maximum amount to his retirement account that is tax deductible, and he's required to contribute the same percentage to me, so I've been getting a lot of my compensation that way.

(I've never used a recruiter before. Must be more careful.)

Is the minimum a negotiation point or set in stone with a laser-grid defense system and highly trained attack geese?

Oh no, the attack geese! One more thing to be stressed about. :)

Good luck, tommyrot! I hope the job search is way easier than expected.

Thanks for the florist tips, folks! I just didn't want to screw it up and have flowers not show up.

Because I'm 99% sure I'm not going to the funeral. For reasons that are extremely long to sum up, but include the fact that it's going to be raining (possibly hard, as a remnant of the tropical storm [hurricane?] in the South right now) and it's a 50-minute drive ONE WAY in *good weather* (so god only knows what it will be like in the pouring rain), and I just...can't.

I asked myself, if the situation were reversed and it were my dad who had passed away (which will be the case someday [unless there's a family secret he hasn't told me, HIGHLANDER DAD]), and a cousin (or anyone, really) didn't come to the funeral, I would assume they had a good reason and really wouldn't give it another thought. Now, I can't control anyone's responses, and my dad might get pissed at me for not going, but I can't control that either.

And it's not because it's my birthday; that's just unfortunate timing. It's entirely because I just can't do it. I genuinely think the outcome, in terms of my mental health, would be very very bad. And I care more about my mental health than I do about my family members (including my dad) being pissed at me.

But I sure am glad I have therapy tomorrow.

That sounds like a well-thought out and right decision, Steph. I am glad you care more about your mental health than other people's opinions.

I think you are making the right decision, Teppy.

I'm also really happy about living in the future, because I just did both of the following things online:

1. Had an e-visit with my doctor's office for a sinus infection (it's a really thorough online questionnaire, with places for free-text responses), so I should have antibiotics by this evening; and

2. Ordered pizza for dinner to pick up after I take the kitten to his first vet appointment. (My favorite pizza place offers a gluten-free crust, but only at certain locations, so I can't get it delivered. However, one of the locations is 2 minutes from the vet, so any vet appointment is an opportunity to get gluten-free pizza for carryout AW YEAH.)

Didn't have to talk to a single human being. Boom.