My husband’s aunt hated it when her nephews (incl my husband) were small and would start off with “Guess what?!” So she decided to guess. For a good hour—refusing to let them tell her what they had wanted to say. ”You ate a fly today?” ”No! I…” “No no! Don’t tell me! I have to guess! Your teacher quit today?” “No, Aunt Shirley! What I wanted to say was…” ”No no! You said to guess. Liver is your favorite meal?” She kept them going for a good hour and pretty much broke that habit. 🙂 I call everyone my invisible friends. It’s a little more real than imaginary. 🙂 No one ever tells me I’m pretty. Not my mother, my husband, sons…no one. I think I’m a normal-looking person and when I get gussied up I’m at least cute, but I never, ever get told I’m pretty. Don’t feel bad, Easypeasy, for not liking to be told you’re pretty, because I certainly understand why it would become more and more annoying over time. But I think it would be a little awesome to hear it once in a while! Oh well! ETA: I might have had a picture or two on Facebook where someone said, “You’re pretty!” but never in person. And not often on FB. Do other people often get told they’re pretty? There was a sign on 295 heading north into Baltimore that said, “Welcome to Baltimore” and for years—a good decade—someone painted “Hon” underneath it. Every now and then the “hon” would be painted over by the authorities, but after a week or so, it was back on there. I didn’t see it the last time I was on that part of the road, so maybe the “hon” painter finally gave up. I just found a video about Hon man! He didn’t paint it—it’s a sign. It looks like paint when you’re driving by at 60 mph.

I mean, what was up with all that NONSENSE about making you drive home to interview online? That was absolute ridiculousness. And then having to pretend you don’t know each other? What was all that? More nonsense that was downright insulting. And they hired you to do a certain job and then stuck you at the front desk. And they’ve been all, “Oh, you can’t move to the other job because we neeeed you at the front desk and no one else will do it cry cry.” And what are they going to do when you quit, because you will be quitting. Then there won’t be anyone to work their stupid front desk. They did NOT do good by you. I’m so angry on your behalf.

They are such jerks. I can’t even think what else to write. I’m sitting here spluttering in my brain trying to think of the right words to describe what colossal jerks they are.

My parents moved away when I was 22. I’m 49 now. I have seen them only a handful of times since then. They just visited for a week and went home a few days ago. I tend to forget some of my parents’ oddities until I’m around them again. I’d forgotten that my mother is exactly as you’ve described, Quill. Wow, she talks So Much. It was apparent that she is absolutely uncomfortable with companionable silences. You could see her looking a little desperate if a silence lasted for even a few seconds. It was extreme. She told me stories of all the people she sat near on the shuttle bus to the airport and at the airport and on the plane and all the things they talked about. I wonder about those poor people having to talk to a stranger for long stretches of time! It’s a huge demand on everyone else’s attention. She did listen to what others said back, but there was no time for introspection or silence. It felt just like living with a noisy toddler all day long where you long for a chance for even the space to think your own thoughts. I was mentally exhausted when they left, though I love her dearly. Since I get to see her only every few years, I just went with it and braced myself for not having a moment to myself, even in my thoughts. If she lived nearby, I would tell her that I need companionable silence and that it’s ok to have silences with friends. You don’t have to be talking to prove you’re ok with each other. Silence is ok. My mother also doesn’t have many friends, and I don’t doubt it’s because all the non-stop conversation feels so demanding, though my mother would be horrified and mortified to find out that people feel that way about the talking. She thinks she connecting and sharing. It’s just so tricky. But, as I said earlier, I would tell her only if she lived nearby and because she’s my mother and we get along so well. Also, I don’t think it would help to tell someone just once. I’d have to reinforce what I said by modeling silence and asking for some quiet: “Is it ok if I drive in silence for a bit so I can focus on the road?” or “Is it ok if we are quiet while I read the menu and choose what I’d like to eat?” I’m not sure I would tell someone that I wasn’t extremely close to.

I cannot name 3 cities in China or India much less find them. I can name maybe a couple in Africa, but mostly because Egypt is there. I don’t think I can name 3 cities in any European country, except maybe England. Let me try: London, …. no. Not even 3 cities in England. I cannot tell you where most cities in the US are, other than their state, but not where in the state. I just visited Niagara Falls and was astounded to discover that it’s not in Maine. Not ashamed or proud of my lack of knowledge at this point. I just never bothered to learn geography.

Meeeeeeerry Christmas! I got my card in the mail today!! WOOT! @Mrs Tiggywinklewrote inside, “May you have all the joys of the season” and by gum, I’m going to! Even though it’s August, I’m going to have all the joys now! Thank you Mrs. Tiggywinkle!

Yay! I homeschooled for 12 years and thought I’d be a sniffly mess when it ended…but I wasn’t! The time was right. I transitioned into a job that I love and my sons are thriving in what they’re doing now. I’m so glad that your transition is going well!

My oldest was like this! He also could last only seconds. I used to think that if we were in WWII hiding in a closet from the nazis, or in the cold war hiding from the KGB, we’d be caught for sure, because he couldn’t stop making noise. He’s 19 now and is the quietest one in the house! Go figure.

Buy a gothic castle-y house in England on a stormy cliff by the sea. Convince my best friend and her husband to come and live in it with me. They can have the west wing. Read books by the fireplace of my library each evening. Wander around in the hedge maze on the grounds each afternoon for exercise. On the stormy days, I could wander through the secret passageways for my exercise. Have a cook. There would be lots of cats and some sort of huge dog that is quiet and pads through the house following me around. Pay for all my American friends to come visit me whenever they like, so we can still hang out together even though I’d be over the pond. Try out some hobbies until I find one that sticks. I’d start with seeing if I like gardening, since I’d have plenty of grounds for gardens and it’s not as muggy and buggy in England as it is here. I would wear a lot of sweaters with thick, mid-calf-length skirts and sensible boots. ETA: And I’d have a ridiculously expensive modern sports car. I’d buy a new model every year. I don’t really like speeding, but I think it would be fun to have a snazzy, modern car.

Thank you for the update! I hope it goes exactly as you wish it to go!

And Scottish. It’s a Scottish thing as well. Not in the slightest. Mid atlantic for sure. I don’t think any of the original colonies thinks of themselves as midwest. I moved from Maryland to PA and started hearing “needs washed”. For the first 15 years I lived here, it would rankle. I hated it. It took everything in me not to correct the locals. But about 4 years ago, I stopped thinking of it as “wrong” and starting thinking of it as a dialect. Dialects are allowed to be “wrong.” Another common one around here in PA is using let and leave backwards. Instead of “Leave that on the table,” they’ll say, “Let that on the table.” It’s hard for me to think of that one as a dialect and not just wrong.

I love blazers and coats and jackets. I go to the thrift store to get them and have quite the collection now. I just love them! I also love records, but only Christmas records. I also get them from the thrift store. I have a record player and only use it in December. I pull out my stack of thrift-store Christmas records and play them one after the other. After Christmas, they’re packed away until next year. I have too many jackets/coats/blazer and too many records, which means there’s no reason to go to the thrift store anymore, which is a little sad. I loved the thrill of finding a treasure. But I have more than enough, so I’m staying away from the store for now. ETA: It’s the records that make no sense. I can get all the same songs (and better ones), at the touch of a button wherever I want to get my music. But I just love the whole routine of changing out the record and having to get up and flip it when the first side is done, and then yelling at the cats to “Get away from that record player! You know you’re not supposed to be on that table!”. It’s much less convenient, but I just love the tactile-ness of putting on the record and watching it spin around and lifting up the little arm and placing the needle.

I didn’t get to read the OP, but whatever happened, I’m sorry. It sounds like you’re stuck looking for a new job because something bad has happened (maybe ethically wrong? don’t know) where you currently are. Looking for a new job is a pain.

I never thought Friends was funny back when it was on TV. I thought Seinfeld was, and still do, even though there are some very dated ideas/plot lines. I love The Office and New Girl. I also used to like Malcolm in the Middle, but haven’t had a chance to see it in years, so maybe it would be different watching it now. Otherwise, I don’t think there are any other sit coms out there I like. I didn’t like Arrested Developement or Parks and Recreation, for example, or anything else I can think of.

I haaaaate planning trips/vacations! So Much Work. And to add insult to injury my family acts like I’m being “cute” when I plan things. Like, “Aw. Look at her being ‘The Mom’, planning things! Isn’t she cute!” It’s like college students coming home and looking down on their parents for being stressed with running a household. “I don’t know why they’re so stressed. I was able to run my dorm room just fine!” They have no clue the work that goes into pulling off a nice vacation. They think it just sort of organically happens and don’t realize how smoothly things go because of all the work I put into it to make it happen. The next time I might very well just say, “I want to go here,” and let them plan it without my intervention. They’ll probably be low-key about it and it’ll all work out beautifully and we’ll all get to sit back and enjoy things and they’ll say, “See, Mom, you were all stressed for no reason.”

Both jobs have pros and cons, but being miserable on the job is the deal breaker. If you had to do the drive every day, that would give me pause. I work from home for a company 75 minutes away. Very rarely I have to drive in to work and it’s a looooong drive. Three hours in the car every single day would be pretty bad. But as Katie pointed out, if it’s just one way when you have to drive it, it’s the same commute time for people who drive 45 minutes one way. So, not a big deal. You drive the hour and a half, work and sleep for a couple of days, then drive the hour and a half back home. Since it turns out you’re away from the family the same amount of time, but are working in a healthy environment and getting paid more, then go for it.

I went back to work in May 2021 for a company that used to guffaw when people asked if they could work from home, but now has everyone working from home. So, maybe scout around for companies that are still working from home, though per this thread, not every company is WFH. How many hours do you want to work per day?

@Moonhawk Any updates?

I agree. Don’t make announcements that you’ll look for another job. But be very clear and up front that you want this job. This isn’t a time for being subtle. This is a time for frank talk. Walk in with your resume and cover letter and say, “Boss, do you have a few minutes?” Plan out what you’ll say. Something like, “Here’s my resume and a cover letter because I’m applying for X position. Frankly, I’m surprised that I have to apply for the position I was hired for and that you’ve posted for it outside the company. When did my career track change?” And then see what he says and go from there.

Apply for the job, don’t wait. Get your resume updated TODAY and write a cover letter and turn it in on Monday. Make the verbiage on your resume match the job posting. Point out in the cover letter that you were hired with the understanding that this would be your job and you’re glad they’re moving forward on that now. You can’t predict the future, so make your decision based on today, not on “maybe we’ll move”. Doesn’t matter if you need the training, apply anyway. You were told that you would have that job. It’s dodgy on their part that they’ve posted for it. I would 100% bring up in the interview that you were hired with the understanding that this would be your job. If you don’t get this job that you were hired for, start looking for a job somewhere else.

I’m a lot like you. I rarely have houseguests, but when I do, I plan it out a good 4-5 weeks out. My parents will be here as houseguests in 4 weeks and last weekend was when I made my master list of every task to be done. I do the things that won’t get messed up again earliest (decluttering any piles in the house of things that need “homes”/going on a big recycling run —we take the recycling stuff out every 3 or so months), and save the things that get messed up quickly for last (bathroom/kichen). It’s all very organized. There still will be a bit of a flurry the day or so before the event, but it’s down to a minimum.

This is why I don’t host parties. My parents are visiting from 2500 miles away for the first time in about a decade. They used to live here for about 20 years, so they still have people who know them, plus a few of my friends would like to meet them for the first time. My parents are odd people and I’ve told stories about them and people are like, “Oh, I just gotta meet your parents!” I was wondering how to squeeze in visits with some of the people who wanted to see them and my dh said, “Let’s just have an open house party while your parents are here.” HAHAHAHAHA! Houseguests AND an open house party!? HAHAHAHA! The man has no clue. Not happening. We’re just going to meet with various people for lunch out every day they’re here. We’ll tell people, “We’ll be at X for lunch on Wednesday. Come, and we’ll have lunch together.” So far almost everyone is scheduled. To me, that’s much easier than an open house party on top of house guests.

I wear a tshirt bra because I cannot stand the sensation of anything against my pimples (don’t want anyone googling words and coming to this thread), and that includes certain fabrics. I have to use readers now and I keep a pair on around my neck with a cord and I can’t stand it if the readers bump into my pimples. The bra I use doesn’t have underwire, but is just a bit thicker material around the rib cage. I buy them for something like $5 at Walmart and replace them every few months. But my bookshelf is on the small size, so I don’t have any issues with straps digging in or anything like that. For me, the bra is simply a shield against anything touching my pimples. I take it off at night and it’s ok with most of my jammies, except for one pair of jammies that has some sort of picture ironed on to it (or something like that, can’t describe it well), and I can’t stand it if that picture touches the pimples. I ought to just get rid of that pajama top. I’m the same with shoes—gotta wear them because I can’t stand the sensation of all the bits of dirt, floor, etc touching my feet all day. I like them encased and protected. So, I’m opposite other people for sensory issues. My sensory issues make it so I prefer to be encased and it makes me feel protected. But of course, I don’t have any pain issues, like straps digging into my shoulders or ribs. That $5 bra is pretty comfortable and doesn’t really hold up my tiny little bookshelf—it’s just a protective layer.

I love wearing shoes. The only time I’m not wearing shoes is in the shower and in bed. I have house shoes that I wear in the house that are for in the house only so that I’m not bringing dirt from outside shoes in. I change into outside shoes before I go out. My dh has broken too many toes going barefoot and I just don’t understand why he continues to be barefoot with all those broken toes. I don’t like the sensation of being barefoot. Every little bit of dirt or fuzz on the floor sticks to my feet and if my feet are sweaty, I’m getting that sweat all over the carpet. Yuck.

In my saddest years as an adult, I wrote a blog every day. I was learning photography and it was meant to be about taking a picture a day and sharing it, but I do tend to have a humorous streak in me, so the posts were often funny. But there was plenty a time when I would write my blog post straight, and then “humor it up.” Once I start making the change, I’m able to keep writing in the same silly vein. So, I would suggest starting to write something straight…and then humor it up. Exaggeration is usually what gets me into a funny mood.