I’d think they could give you a list of who is on staff.

I think it would be only reasonable to have an updated org chart...

I'm in a bizarre laid-off-but-still-here limbo. My role has been eliminated but my end date isn't until October because somebody needs to stick around and finish turning all the lights off. So I'm actively job hunting but also still at work.

Ugh, that seems terrible. I was just talking about how when I got fired, my boss said I could work the next two weeks or... not work and still get paid for the next two weeks. I said, "See ya, suckers!" wrote up an excellent memo, and left that day. But that was a very different situation.

This was me in 2021. I was formally told in July that my role was being eliminated but I’d known for months before that that it would be. I was really lucky to then get severance that lasted through the end of that year but I still haven’t found a new permanent job. I’ve done ok freelancing but it’s been a rough year emotionally. I’d never been fired or laid off before in my 40 year working life.

It's very hard! I hope you either feel more settled freelancing or find a permanent job.

The laid off but not really for months has got to be weird. . I woke up this morning with a sore throat. I have slight nasal congestion so I'm assuming it's just sore from post nasal drip.

My sleep has gotten all out of whack. I get myself up in the morning and make it through the day but get really sleepy and then sometime fall asleep and take a nap. Then in the evening ill often be tired but around 10 pm my brain is like "I'm awake! I have energy! Let's go do something " and it won't shut off. And then I'll be awake until like 1 am. And then maybe sleep for 4 hours and then I'm awake again and trying to trick my self into sleeping some more.

OR my body will suddenly decide to freak out and I get weird itchy spots on my arms or legs. Or my legs will feel restless or ache. So I'll get up and take magnesium and Tylenol or aspirin and then just try to go to sleep.

I have some Trazadone left from several months ago I keep telling myself to take it for a few nights just to try and get my sleep reset but then I forget.

I have started limiting myself to 30 min naps and I've gotten to the point where I don't really fall asleep (because it takes longer ) but I'll end up lightly dozing or very lightly sleeping and then start to wake up before the timer goes off.

Now I want to start a podcast, called "PPPodcast", where all the guests are encouraged to pop their Ps as loudly as possible.

PPPodcast Presents Mouth Sounds, by NPR.

PPPodcast Presents Mouth Sounds, by NPR.

Will they branch out into other Mouth Sounds, like vocal fry?

I got so bored and ltc was being so cranky that we cleaned out and reorganized the pantry. There was a cinnamon cake mix, a can of pumpkin, and a can of Halloween frosting. So, we’re making Halloween cake in January because as ltc said, “that’s just who we are”.

So, we’re making Halloween cake in January because as ltc said, “that’s just who we are”.

May all your re-orgs end in treats!

Matilda not only cleaned up the piggy cage yesterday, she re-organized the area and moved my reading over to the curved windows and it all looks better.

She's been a champ.

I had a blow up at her early on when she asked for water when she was sitting at the kitchen table within two feet of the fridge and I was doing dishes. But she heard me and is helping put away dishes and laundry and piggy cage cleaning.

Our dishwasher has taken an inopportune time to die, but it will also take effort and focus to get a new one and I don't have an abundance of either right now. But I'll muster it and arrange something with our contractor to get it placed and a new sink in one swoop.

I’m so glad JZ has gotten so much rest and is feeling better.

Excuse the random question because I’m cleaning out the spare bedroom this week (therapist’s orders), but is unscented dry cleaning a thing that exists? Can I just ask my dry cleaner to not add scent when cleaning my stuff? My asthma is very easily triggered by scents these days.

I'm in a bizarre laid-off-but-still-here limbo.

That seems, maybe not more terrible but differently terrible. Ick.

PPPodcast Presents Mouth Sounds, by NPR.

I can hear this so clearly

Halloween cake, yay!

shrift, I was worrying about you this week. Thanks for checking in and letting us know you're still employed.

Yay for better sleep and less ickiness for our dear JZ.

Jess, that limbo sounds unpleasant. I hope you find something that suits you well before your last day employed there.

I lost my grandfathers early (before I was four) but both grandmothers lived into my thirties, and they were powerful and amazing influences in my life. Grandma Lois (Meem) got to meet Lisa and liked her a lot.

And then, of course, I lost both my parents in my late forties (Janet in 2012 and Bill in 2015.)