I have a cold. I went to work. I came home after 2 hours. My team lead looked at me this morning and asked if I was ok. I don't have a fever and was going to run and make it a half day.

But before I left I saw that co worker was talking to her team lead and then she caught up with me and said they talked and that her team lead was shocked and appalled that had happened and was going to talk to the academy trainer .

The neurodivergent and peri menopause thing is interesting. I never had good coping mechanisms OR study hormones. ..well no steady hormones until I hit 40 or so . I wonder if that has played a part in my improvement.

(considers endless kvetching"Say it again! No!" in wake of "Buffistas make stuff better," comments and conclude as usual that even Karl doesn't mean me this time.) Even though that is on every draft-dodging peace freak's secret wish list. I think I suck at it, which, how can I have impostor syndrome when nobody thinks I can do anything?! That is commitment to a persona that makes Larry David look like he phones it in.

Oh yay, time for my semi-regular bout of impostor syndrome because I've been a manager for not quite two years and I'm managing seven people holy fuck am I sure I know what I'm doing?

So that's how my day is going.

Belated happy birthday, Beverly!

Fuck yeah clear scans, Calli!

Also we have had semi house guests. M's 2 cousins basically live here part time now I guess.

Oh wow. It sounds like you really don't have any space to decompress after work and pursue your own interests, and work sounds logistically and interpersonally challenging. Is there any possibility of a different housing situation? But good on you for offering wisdom to that 22-year-old, my goodness.

holy fuck am I sure I know what I'm doing

Gonna take a wild guess and say that the people you're managing probably think you're great.

In other news.

So my Dad still isn't on oxygen, needs a sleep study to get a CPAP which may take 3 months, keeps falling asleep during the day while people are visiting and at doctor's appointments, and crashed his fucking car into a tree today when he decided could drive himself to the store. He seems to be banged up but physically okay, but his car is totaled and I seriously doubt he got checked out by a doctor after the accident. My Mom is currently sick (fingers crossed it's not COVID again!) and is struggling to deal with my Dad not being coherent and also managing his care. Currently talking with my siblings on how we can help, which we're probably limited in doing because I don't think any of us are on paperwork as power of attorney or have proxy access. And also acknowledging that loss of autonomy is scary and we don't want to do anything to make the situation worse.

I'd be happy for any advice folks want to share. Also happy for some "that's rough, buddy" hairpats.

If I had any good advice, my own aging/infirm family member situation would be much better, so in lieu of that, you're getting the hairpats.

I can only offer the hairpats. Cuz that's rough, Buddy.

I wish I had helpful advice, shrift.

shrift, that's really rough. I wish I had some useful advice. Tons of hairpats headed your way.

Shrift, that is rough. If none of the siblings are localish to your parents, that makes it even harder.

When my parents had just retired, but before they got really old, Mom used to be a driver for something called “Shepherd’s Center.” She drove people to the store, to appointments, and to social things when they couldn’t drive themselves, often for reasons like your father probably has. It’s church related, but non-denominational. [link] The one I linked to is in the town where they used to live, but several came up when I googled it. Perhaps there’s something similar near your parents? You could try to sell it as “just until the study,” or even “just until the car is replaced,” instead of your dad renting something.

Askye, I hope you feel better and have a chance to pursue your art again soon.