I am in tears of laughter about the new set of lips!

My new person is actually very kind. He does not do any of the things that my terrible person managers did. He is just not a good manager and shouldn't be managing things. He is encouraging of my continuing education, but he also just inadvertently makes everything harder by being a terrible communicator and totally disorganized. His wife is the writing center coordinator, and I just always think- I am so glad I am not his wife! Although multiple people mix us up (his wife and I) because we are the same age, have long brown hair, and are "funky" dressers).

Also, there are no new mice caught, but Petunia continues to stare at the stove. I now have nothing they can get into, because I bought a container for the pet food. Are there rodents, or just a memory. There are some online recommendations to det out a bunch of glue traps and turn on your stove, which seems like I would need to lock Petunia up for.

Well, I rarely got mice INSIDE my old apt, but Devi would watch the stove for hours. The complex had a mouse problem & they'd come up the gas lines to explore, but rarely came inside my space.

Just keep things well sealed & hopefully Petunia's presence will keep them gazing from afar.

So I landed on an interviewing committee today. One of the candidates was severely injured in a training accident a year into his military service. Why should I even be allowed to know that? Because when your service ends Sep 2001, followed by a big gap, everyone is gonna notice. He literally sends in resumes with a "discharge & medical note available upon request" to HR. That's just gotta suck.

Sorta a reverse of my work friend who was at CantorFitzgerald. People see her dates, the 2 yr gap, and just don't blink.

Today at work was very frustrating and I am really ready to be moving on. Also I am getting very tired of trying to my work and check another person's work and train them on new things.

I think I am doing it the best way possible though, we are working in our respective locations (45 min apart) and sharing screens and calling when needed and IMing when a call is not needed. We both have two screens, so I can kinda be doing some other things while walking her through tasks or following her work to catch any mis-steps.

Anyway - I am putting this out into the universe - I want to find a new job in the next 6-12 weeks. Toward that end - this weekend is apply, apply, and then apply some more. But tonight is wine.

Sophia - I am glad the house stuff is getting all resolved, glad the therapist has been so good, and sorry the job situation is frustrating.

Askye - I am not sure I could handle someone who is that inconsiderate of others and wasteful (I mean do you all have the money to be paying crazy expensive heating bills?). And also will not do anything about the anemia which might resolve the house temp issue. She is really putting Matthew in a bad spot, if he seems unbothered by it or just unwilling to attempt a compromise or a solution - that would be a big issue for me also. Sorry it is so tough.

My brother is doing very badly today. He has 2 friends there now, and I've talked to them both a couple of times. I've urged them to take him to the hospital, and if he won't let them drive him, to call 911. They want to respect his autonomy, and I said "Frankly, I know this phrase gets used as a cliche, but he is not in his right mind. He's not capable of making a decision in his own best interest right now."

They texted me about 30 minutes ago to tell me they're still trying to reason with him. I am not lying to you; this is the text (you can tell they all went to the same hippie school that my brother went to): "We're still in process with him, he's moving through phases of refusal but is opening up to the possibility of being driven to the hospital."

Because, see, if I were to convey that sentiment, it would go like "I'm about to beat his ass because he's being a dick about going to the hospital so that he doesn't die."

Oh, jeez, Steph. Is his wife involved in this conversation?

Steph I hope your brother's friends just call 911.

I came home and the house wasn't hot, the window until was off and I think the baseload heat was off. I mentioned it to Matthew and he had taken a hard stance with his mom. I guess at some point today she had turned the thermostat for the baseboard heat almost to max AND had the window unit running and he had enough. The way we divvy things up he pays the utilities Matthew pays that usually and he didn't want the bill

His mom is very trying. She has serious mental health issues and I try to be as understanding as I can but some things are her just being selfish or whatever.

I, too hope your brothers friends call 911. I wish I could fly there for you and call because I am terrible at everything about adulting except calling 911! I have called for two slip and falls outside my house, a man having a heart attack in front of me, my neighbor having a fire and a very low pulse homeless man passed out on a curb by the bus stop. I think it sometimes helps to have a complete stranger make the decision, because I have had a hard time calling for myself.

Msbelle- I want to do the charitable gift but I was paralyzed coming up with charities. I am good with whatever we come up with, but I couldn't finish the form because I have no good ideas or time to research Will we have the opportunity to give even if we don't fill out the form?

Sophia, you can write in, I do not care. The group of people that have signed up will get an email and we will discuss it more.

Steph - echoing that I hope they have gone to the hospital.