Jesse, can you go to HR and spend an hour talking about each/all of them? Seems the logical way to respond to that method.

Oh Laura, how absolutely delightful. I'm so happy for your son, his bride, and for you and everyone concerned. Just the thought of all that happiness is uplifting. Thank you for sharing with us.

I believe you that it is terrible but I don't really know why?

I appreciate your support!

OK. What's supposed to happen is, during the review process, everyone goes online to provide feedback on various people, including their boss. The form basically just asks for strengths and weaknesses. Only the person's boss sees the feedback, and they aren't supposed to share who said what. Instead of doing this, the people who report to me went in a group to talk to HR. It just feels weirdly aggressive for no reason.

My old back door neighbor grew up with DIL's father. Buds for 50 years. Neighbors sons and my sons grew up together and remain close although neighbor moved. Whenever there was a big BBQ or family type party all 3 families were there. Tate and Bobby crossed paths a few times at these family events but were both pretty shy. Neighbors have been parents to my kids and Tate, as I have been parents to their boys. T&B didn't get together until they were 21, but all 6 parents have known each other and floated in the same circles a while.

The part that the kids have commented on is that they have a great respect for the marriages of all 3 of their parental role model couples. They both enjoy doing things with us old folks. They met at my old neighbor's house so she will be officiating and hosting the reception. They live in an airport community and have a big hanger they will use for the party. They will move the planes out into the yard. Although the neighbors aren't official parents I know they are as excited as they will be when their boys marry.

Watching your child forge ahead in life with a partner and family that seems so well suited to bring happiness is really joyful. Not only is DIL awesome, but her parents are too. Mom is a high school teacher and great fun, and Dad coaches disabled kids for special olympics.

When I read about and see so many stories of shitty humans I have to keep reminding myself to look around and appreciate the many excellent humans.

Jesse, that just seems super odd and wrong.

That's wonderful, Laura!

OK, yeah, that does seem weirdly aggressive, Jesse. Certainly weird. Deviating from procedure for no apparent reason is off putting and strange, for sure.

I had a tangentially related chat with a coworker today. Yesterday she came by my cube and offhandedly asked if I was going to decorate and I said something like "we'll see" because I don't really feel like it and don't know if I will. I guess it wax bothering her, because when I ran into her in the kitchenette she asked I was thinking about leaving -which I am, but, like, next year, so not really. So I said not anytime soon but I didn't feel really secure in my position and she understood that. Such a friggin' minefield.

Watching your child forge ahead in life with a partner and family that seems so well suited to bring happiness is really joyful.

That's fantastic.

Such a friggin' minefield.

Yuuup.

I am annoyed. The art I bought was listed as framed, and the description included the color of the frame. The art got here, the receipt included the description of the frames. But no frames. I didn't spend over a hundred dollars for three pictures still curled from where they came out of the printer (yes, art prints come out of a printer, but the last piece I bought from them was nice and flat). I sent them an annoyed note.

Oh that's super wrong, Connie. I hope they apologize and fix it.

12 hours straight at the computer today. Stupid work. Thankfully my parents brought me food.

Oh that's super wrong, Connie. I hope they apologize and fix it.

They've got an automated refund process that processed immediately. Shouldn't a company be less willing to give people their money back? I think I'll find another source of cool pictures. Still, I've got the money for frames now.