What's everyone up to right now?

[Clueless Morgan]

are he an Heidi getting along now?

Oh yeah.  They've got a thing going on alright.

A good thing, I hope.

Got the official word last night. The new job is gonna pay 21.3% more than I'm making now. I was sooooo tired of getting underpaid for the positions I've held! This will put me square in the middle of the salary range for electrical designers. While near the bottom for a senior designer, I'm not too fussed about that since I've only been senior for less than a year. Better health benefits at a much lower cost, 100% match on my HSA (health spending account), 100% match on 401, three weeks of PTO (plus five sick days) and two weeks off (paid) over X-mas/New Years. My official start date is Jan 4th. I talked to the boss about my current gig and told him they'll likely turn me loose within 72 hours of giving the news and he responded with "That's fine. We'll get you sooner."

So, I'm gonna drop the bombshell on Monday, after the end of year bonus is deposited, and let the chips fall as they may. Chances are good I'll be at the new gig on Tuesday since I'm currently between projects.

Awesome news! Congrats! I got a raise a couple months ago but I have no idea where that puts me in terms of average pay for someone in my position with my experience level. I should probably find that out... That's what I get for not being super ambitious.

[KevinM1]

I feel bad for my ex/best friend. It's kinda a long story, but I'll give you the cliff's notes version:

She lives with her dad. He's really irresponsible, and likely has some form of mild mental illness (he displays bipolar tendencies). He can't afford to pay for where he's living alone, and he'd likely get taken advantage of by someone else, so she lives with him and helps pay the bills.

She's been in a relationship with her boyfriend since 2000, but it's not like a real 15 year romantic relationship. He used to be a lawyer, but it doesn't seem like he was a good one. I can only find one thing he's written online, and beyond that there's not much pointing at his former profession (contrast that to my brother who's a lawyer and has multiple things online, and a much larger professional footprint in general). He's in a similar situation as her's in that he lives with his mom because she had a brain injury.

So, the two of them only really see each other on the weekends.

He works night security, and has for at least three years now (likely longer), but it seems like he has no ambition. He hasn't kept up with his continuing legal education. I don't even know if he'd be allowed to practice any more. And he doesn't seem interested in trying to do more with himself. And she's already vented some frustration that they're going nowhere fast.

She doesn't have many friends. She has the people at work, with whom she occasionally does stuff with, but usually not. Her friend from childhood (essentially her sister from another mister) has two toddlers, and is in a bit of a weird marriage (she's nearly 10 years older than him, and is kinda like a mother figure to him, too... and he has anger issues), so there's not a lot of adult conversation happening there. And then there's me.

So, her birthday is on Tuesday, and it looks like no one is going to do anything for her. Not her dad, not her boyfriend. She's coming over here on Wednesday to do an early Christmas gift exchange, and I'm getting her a birthday cake, too, because dammit, someone needs to. But I just feel bad. She's a sweet, kind, intelligent, strong, beautiful woman, someone who has her head screwed on straight despite the people around her, and she's being let down by the people who should care about her most.

I wish I could do more, but I can't cross that best friend/boyfriend line. It's frustrating because she deserves more.

[c172]

Watching Akron/Stanford (from Kansas City, Kansas). NCAA 2nd semi in Men's soccer.

[Edwardo Piet]

Awww. You're so sweet Kevin. I'd find that situation really hard to deal with too. It must be tough.

By the way: If her dad really has Bipolar, that's certainly not a mild mental illness... especially if it's type 1 or 3 (type 2 is more mild but still pretty serious, especially the lows).

[TheRealJoeFish]

Watching Akron/Stanford (from Kansas City, Kansas). NCAA 2nd semi in Men's soccer.

I was at a semi tonight. Pennsylvania AAA High School football semi!

Final: Imhotep 72, Saucon Valley 27 !!!

Saucon valley's one of the best teams I saw this year, but Imhotep could beat some college teams, no joke

[KevinM1]

Awww. You're so sweet Kevin. I'd find that situation really hard to deal with too. It must be tough.

By the way: If her dad really has Bipolar, that's certainly not a mild mental illness... especially if it's type 1 or 3 (type 2 is more mild but still pretty serious, especially the lows).

Yeah, it's hard to say because I haven't been in the same room with him in 16-17 years, back when me and her were dating.  He was always a bit weird, but from her description of him now, it sounds like he's fallen off the deep end.  Not to the point where he's going to hurt himself or others (he has no violent tendencies), but just....

If I didn't know better, I'd say he was an alcoholic.  He apparently gets really emotional at times, to the point of yelling or outright crying.  And over things that really shouldn't generate that kind of response.  I know that she doesn't really drink outside of a glass of wine here or there, but I'm not sure if he's a closet drunk, or if there's something else going on.

All I know is that most nights, when she comes home from work, she eats supper then essentially locks herself in her room to watch TV or surf the web because she doesn't want to deal with him and his loud anime that blares on his TV while he yells during the programs.  Or when he rants and raves about dumb shit.

I basically just want to give her a huge hug and give her a better place to live.  But, that pesky best friend/boyfriend line.

[c172]

I miss PCN, the cable channel. They had a lot of the PIAA stuff (though it tended to be from eastern PA or around Hbg., whereabouts PCN is situated).

[Kitty Galore]

Sitting in the cafeteria at work, Listening to THE NEW SEASON OF SERIAL!!! and eating out of my latest NatureBox bounty.

Omfg guacamole sticks. O.m.f.g.

You get Naturebox?! That's awesome, is it really good?

And please tell me more of "Serial"? I've heard of it but don't know really what it is.

[Edwardo Piet]

mmmm guacamole

[Clueless Morgan]

Cleaning in preparation for going to my office party tomorrow and so I don't come home to a mess.

To facilitate efforts, I am listening to Michael Jackson and dancing around my house while I clean.