One of my co-workers is pregnant, the girlfriend of another co-worker is mysteriously ill. Much discussion of childbirth and "I should definitely not have a kid but it could be cool" has resulted. I feel old. And amused.

Yeah, I don't know. And I don't know that I could come up with an actual rule, it was just the whole tone was "here's what I need from you," which is not the right tone to take with your new boss IMO.

Would it be better to word it as "Would you be available to discuss my project"?

She can say touch base! But more "I hope I can leave early today due to family emergency; are you around to touch base this morning?" rather than "I need to leave by noon; let's touch base."

(I said I already resented this poor woman, right? I'm not actually trying to say I am in the right here.)

Oh, it was the "I need to leave by noon" part. Okay, I wouldn't have done that, so I feel a little less like I'm completely unsuited to working with other humans.

I'm not actually trying to say I am in the right here.

Well, there are appropriate standards of conversation (email, etc.) in the office, and they're different based on the relative status of the people involved in the conversation. I just misunderstood and thought it wasn't okay for someone to use "touch base" with their superior. I think I've got it sorted out now, though.

I entered the lottery for tonight's Hamilton tix. Wish me luck !

Good luck, aurelia!

Oh, it was the "I need to leave by noon" part.

Again, even though it's totally fine to leave early for a family emergency! I just think a fig leaf of asking for permission is appropriate.

I just think a fig leaf of asking for permission is appropriate.

Yup, once you explained that, I got the problem. I just focused on the wrong thing. I definitely agree that asking is better.

Good luck, aurelia!

Today was the last day for taking the Metro to work before the Red Line shuts down the part I need through Nov 22nd. Boo, hiss.

Also, one of my colleages here has cancer, so fuck cancer, and she is also being celebrated for her 50th anniversary of working here. Five-zero!

I just saved my Dean 40K. I don't think anyone in this place has saved him more money than I have since we've had too cut our budgets (over 1 million from my budget - which is the largest one after faculty salaries) and stayed in the students' good graces. I keep thinking I deserve a raise . . . which I know seems like the wrong conclusion considering budget cutting.

Man, my dress for my Halloween costume is going to be delivered November 1 (the party is tomorrow). I ordered it on October 20 and selected expedited shipping, which is 1-3 business days. November 1 is *8* business days. So I left feedback saying I was very unhappy with their service based on the shipping time.

They emailed me right away and asked me to remove the negative review because "the delivery window is still open." Well, NO, that's my point -- the delivery window is nowhere near the expedited shipping window and you suck because of that.

I can't decide whether to email back and argue or just ignore it.