You do well to flee, townspeople! I will pillage your lands and dwellings! I will burn your crops and make merry sport with your more attractive daughters! Ha ha ha! Mark my words! Ooh! Ale! I smell delicious ale!

Olaf the Troll ,'Showtime'


Natter 78: I might need to watch some Buffy for inspiration

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


-t - Jul 10, 2024 9:38:55 pm PDT #1476 of 4200
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Yeah, that’s my gut feeling but I think this is what being classified as exempt explicitly removes protections against. It’s a dick move, though.


Laura - Jul 11, 2024 7:02:33 am PDT #1477 of 4200
Our wings are not tired.

The policy justifies personal internet time.

My wireless router is misbehaving. Drops, then takes a dozen restarts to get it working again. Getting a new one tomorrow, but it has been an annoying couple days. We had storms yesterday involving flooding and a tornado. None immediately around me, but this caused a couple power outages. Oh well. Good thing I have books.


-t - Jul 11, 2024 7:48:18 am PDT #1478 of 4200
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

I do find myself taking that tack, Laura. Stay safe everyone with storms!

My summertime love of long skirts does not mix well with my rolling office chair.


Amy - Jul 11, 2024 12:29:21 pm PDT #1479 of 4200
Because books.

We work 10-hour day Mon, Wed, and Thurs, and Tues and Fri till 1. No weekends. But the 10-hour days are a killer, especially back to back.


-t - Jul 11, 2024 12:42:54 pm PDT #1480 of 4200
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Oh, that does sound pretty rough. 10 hours is a lot, especially twice in a row like that!

We were doing a 9/80 schedule for a while - 9 hour days M-Th, 1 8 hr Friday and one Friday off. That was actually pretty nice. 9 hours 5 days a week feels like a lot more, even when the individual 9 hour days do not bother me much

I ran out to pick up Taco Bell for lunch because I was intrigued by the Cheez-It crunchwrap (it's no Doritos Taco) and listened to Beach Read in the car so now I am very much resenting that I have to work rather than listen to my book. I had 15 minutes left in the chapter, too long to sit in the parking lot and finish it up.


Pix - Jul 11, 2024 12:58:01 pm PDT #1481 of 4200
We're all getting played with, babe. -Weird Barbie

Oof, some hard news yesterday. Remember J, my dad's part-time caregiver, who had a bit of a breakdown after my dad died and then said he couldn't move out, even after I gave him a big chunk of money I knew my dad would have wanted him to have to get a fresh start? His mom got in touch with me yesterday to let me know he passed away in his sleep May 2. I don't know anything more than that, but given how distraught he was and his tendency to use alcohol to self-medicate, I worry he overdosed on something or took his own life. I'm just heartbroken. He was 26. He had massive baggage and a lot of issues, which is why ND and I urged him to move back home to Pennsylvania until he got back on his feet, but he also was a genuinely good person who loved my dad and was very good to him the last three years of his life. His mother and I had a nice conversation — she didn't know he was struggling until it was too late, and she expressed her gratitude for all we tried to do for him — but my heart broke for her. Definitely feeling very sad today. I know it's not my fault, but I wish I could have done more.


-t - Jul 11, 2024 1:02:29 pm PDT #1482 of 4200
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Oh, Pix, I'm so sorry. That's such sad news. I'm glad he and your father could help each other the last few years.


Laura - Jul 11, 2024 1:07:17 pm PDT #1483 of 4200
Our wings are not tired.

Oh Pix, that is such a tragedy. He had so many sweet nurturing qualities, but he just self-sabotaged his life repeatedly. I am so sorry to hear this.


askye - Jul 11, 2024 1:11:22 pm PDT #1484 of 4200
Thrive to spite them

Oh Pix that is so sad.


Calli - Jul 11, 2024 1:37:24 pm PDT #1485 of 4200
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

I’m sorry, Pix. How sad.