All the job~ma for Mr. Jen.

But I’m going to the flagship store tomorrow (Fortnum and Mason’s, so yeah) where I have every expectation I will not have that excuse. TBD

This trip sounds like it has been perfect. You may need the tea box as a reminder of the good times in future years.

The ones that had been removed were all the ones where any of the "Are you a member of any of these underrepresented groups?" boxes were checked.

Hil, that is seriously upsetting.

The number of people with job insecurity right now is horrific. Here and all over. The numbers for employment, consumer confidence, and so many other measures will plummet. The general anxiety level is harder to measure.

In Laura news, my sister is here. We visited my brother for his 70th. His BP was 80/50, but his wife added several cups of water to his feeding routine, and it is better this morning. I'll drop off my sister to the airport at noon on Sunday, and pick up my son and GF at 4 because her grandmother died so I flew them down. Fortunately, she spent quality time with her when they were down for Christmas. I'll pick them up at FLL and then drive 1-1/2 hours to my BIL's house for Super Bowl party stuff. My cousins are visiting this month too. I love the activity and visitors so it is all good.

In other news, my new pup was the star of our training club's insta this week: [link]

Nice to finish on an uplifting note!

You know you're an adult when you hear thumps from above in the night and think "please let it be a ghost instead of squirrels in the attic."

Squirrels in the attic would be bad, I vote ghost also. Or unseasonal Santa’s reindeer on the roof though that runs the risk of roof damage I suppose.

I woke up and started work and walked into a bit of a shitstorm. One country’s team members have been whining and complaining a lot. And some of it is them being complainers but one thing we didn’t disagree with them on but had to say “listen, that’s not something the client has agreed to, even if we think that’s short sighted, so we have to follow what they agreed to until it is a problem we can justify”. And they tried to say an earlier problem was justifying and we said no, that wasn’t it because they hadn’t followed the process. Have been going back and forth this week…and today they pulled a problem and tried to follow the expected process and (not at all shocking) it didn’t work. So now it’s a problem because it didn’t work, the client is mad because their own process didn’t work, and the team is feeling justified in the earlier issue (even though that one didn’t go through the broken process). They weren’t right before, but they are now, and we aren’t surprised, but that still doesn’t mean they were right last time? And yet, not surprised. It’s all a pain and now we have to go through a whole justification process and nobody wants to admit fault. But it all feels so minor compared to the fall of our government??

Also kicking someone out of their home on 3 hours notice after firing them for being a woman is so this administration. Jesus.

Taking a brief tea break before heading out to dinner at the Swan before the Globe.

Extravagant tea box has been acquired, after confirming it is not available for shipping to the US so really what choice did I have? But seriously, this is a box that will be around for years and years I expect.

Link for the curious: [link]

In the meantime have been eating my way across London. 14 Hills last night, Hawkmoor today, and now the Swan.

That's lovely, Brenda -- the top is beautiful!

Love the box! I would have bought it, too.

So pretty, brenda! Not a surprise that you couldn't resist!

brenda, looks lovely!

I also am working my way up to calling my reps, but I did send an email to the only Republican who theoretically represents me, and actually got a reply today directly addressing my concern! I mean, he said Musk has a high security clearance, the president can appoint whomever he wants, and anyway our private data is totally safe! But it looks like he's also heard enough concern about it to have a form letter ready for this particular concern. I think that's a good sign.

My mission today is to work myself up enough about USAID to call.

My current employer is one of those big-endowment schools, but therefore also one with fairly conservative rich donors, so I have been wondering how this was going to play out, but the Arts & Sciences dean yesterday addressed fac&staff and said good things. Including that people whose grants are affected will be supported. Good intentions and all that, of course... but I was cheered.

ETA: I've had Chappell Roan songs stuck in my head for DAYS and then went and listened to one Sabrina Carpenter song and now THAT's stuck. Seriously. Brain. The lyrics are punchy, but there's a limit.

I just got a notification of an offer to change my next nephology appointment, from April 3rd to...11 minutes from now.

Funny! But no, thanks.

Coming out of colonoscopy. All good. Anesthesia is awesome! Feeling fab. Thought I'd share.