Merry Monday

VarunaTT

I guess the countdown to Christmas has started.  I have to finish my Xmas cards tonight; I really like them and want to send them out.  I honestly just feel like December has flown by.

I spent money like it was going out of style this weekend.  I finished buying all of the frames and shelves I need to get the rest of my art at least framed so that it's protected.  My Bowie section is getting way larger than I ever realized.  I have so much Bowie stuff!  I bought more this weekend, b/c my local record store got in a Bowie/Goblin King doll that I bought, came home and bought the #1 version.  I already have been gifted the 2 Bowie/Goblin King Funkos by a friend.  Then just bought some things I've been needing.  My poor Amazon driver today is going to think I'm even more out of control.  Plus a few new albums.

Otherwise, SSDD.  I tried to stay home as much as possible. I have so many friends who are going through really rough times right now.  I'm happy I'm the person people can vent to, ask for support from, etc., but it was starting to wear me out last week.  One of my good friend's dog died, while said friend was in CA to tell her dying father goodbye.  I just lost it after calming her down, it made me remember missing Bennett and Zelda's death and whew, the tears flowed for a bit.  So, I'm trying to take it easy this week.

STARMOON44

Merry Monday! Our office closes Thursday at 4 and I am going to be counting down the hours. Really nice weekend with family and now I’m just trying not to get sick. 

MissKittyDanger

4 day week and already anxiety.

I'm calling to see my dr after hours tomorrow, but yesterday I took off my bra and my left breast underside hurt.
Not crazy pain, but definitely a weird pain.
I had M feel around to see if he could feel anything weird. I know stuff comes up randomly, but I've never had this.
He couldn't feel anything that he would say red flag, but that doesn't mean it's nothing.

Still sore today, so I'm seeing my dr tomorrow as precaution.

Honestly, I've only told M - I don't wanna panic anyone over nothing when I haven't even spoken to my dr. If anything requires further testing, I'll probably gage what needs to be said to people {ie; my mum or IL's}

climbingsingle

I'm a ball of stress already. I thankfully got all my shopping done, and most of the presents wrapped. But my check engine light came on while I was driving in to work. So I'll be at Toyota tomorrow morning praying that it doesn't cost too much to fix. Meanwhile I told my new boss and her immediate response was "and you'll be in right after that?" Um. How can I even answer that. I don't know how long I'm even going to be sitting there. Does she think I'll just take my helicopter in? So yeah, all of that is adding to my stress. 

and because my job just generally sucks, I don't even get a day off this week. They let us pick a floating holiday to use this week or next week, and I chose the 30th. Have I mentioned that I hate this place? 

I actually did have a really good weekend. Drank coquito, made baked ziti and garlic bread that came out so good and the kids loved, watched football. But yeah, the weekend glow is long gone by now. 

charlotte989875

I’m working today then I’m done for the year! I’m so ready to be done. I need a huge break and it couldn’t come at a better time. I’m wrapping things up and a team meeting then I’m putting on my OOO until January 3. 

My dad is still in the hospital, he has pneumonia on is on all kinds of meds. Not any worse but doesn’t seem like he’s much better. We tried to visit yesterday but we couldn’t because of Covid policies. My mom thinks he’s going home tomorrow so we’ll see. 

banana468

Weekend was super fast.  I took off Friday to recover from my trip and got a late text asking me to sub cantor for the 4PM Mass on Saturday.  I made sugar cookie and gingerbread cookie dough before I left, came back and made some Christmas tree bar cookies and Saturday night watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Chiquita (her first time) and DH ( our probably 25th).  

Sunday was Mass and then I spent the afternoon baking cookies: peanut blossoms, orange chocolate chip biscotti, sugar cookies and gingerbread and later this week I want to do a millionaire's shortbread.  This week I'm in four days and off Friday and crossing my fingers I get it together, have the house clean and the rest of us virus free.  

It feels SO overwhelming and I have to remind myself what the spirit of the holiday actually is...while I have many items going unchecked on my list. 

MyNameIsNot

I'm just counting down until I'm off work; I don't even really care about christmas this year. So 4 days to go! Work is completely dead and I'm totally unmotivated, so I'm working on the brainless BS I've been putting off. 

Otherwise, pretty much SSDD here. It's cold and getting colder, so I'm looking for some warmer activewear options, but everything sucks or costs a million dollars. Buying pants while tall is such a hassle. 

short+sassy

I had a good weekend, overall.

I went to a Christmas cookie decorating party last night.  It was thrown by my friend's realtor.  It was more fun than I was expecting, since the only person I would know was my friend.  There was homemade chai and rum punch.  Lots of yummy finger food/appetizers.  Though the cookies weren't very good, lol.  The other guests were friendly and that kind of party set-up was a good way to socialize because everyone was sitting at a large dining room table with all the cookie decorating supplies in the middle of it.

I also heard back from my insurance agency contact in FL.  He said one claim, related to a storm, wouldn't affect my insurance premiums for most/all future policies.  So with that said, I will probably file a claim for the tornado damage.  It could a little bit turn this situation into a positive.  I have a $2500 deductible, but I was already expecting to have to take money off the list price anyway because of the older roof (that will now be brand new) and I also had some pre-existing ceiling/wall damage to fix.  But those are the same areas that now need a completely new ceiling and new drywall for those walls.

charlotte989875

For a little holiday cheer- we decorated gingerbread houses and this was M’s favorite part. 

CharmedPam

Hey, I’m with all that @charlotte989875.  How can you not nibble on all those candies if they’re sitting right infront if you?
@VarunaTT, with you on that spending.  But yours sounds responsible and for stuff around the house.  I got an email from stitchfix saying orange is the predicted color of 2023 and I was like shut your mouth! That IS my color! And actually I was impressed by their prices.
@MissKittyDanger I’m glad your getting it checked out.  Could be nothing, but always good to have a looksie.

i hope we get out early Thursday too.  We’re in for a storm, so I may work from home regardless. Someone from another department asked the admin and I to go out for dinner to celebrate annoying coworkers 15 year anniversary - but I’m getting my tat done tonight and I was hoping for a no pants Tuesday because it’s a wfh day for us.  Nope.  Sorry.  I don’t like their high end chocies anyway (this was a TBD, but she’s going to pick a stupid restaurant, I know it!)

MissKittyDanger

@CharmedPam Especially because it came out of no where it concerned me.
I googled {M was ready to take my phone} so it could also be early menopause issue, and a few other varying issues and not what my doomsday brain is saying.

short+sassy

Jealous of people who get to leave early/get extra days off for the holidays.

At my work, it's only Christmas day off (this year, the day after).  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Not even off early on Christmas Eve, when it falls on a weekday.

But I took vacation time on Friday because that is the day we are driving to Ocala.  We're staying at a cute, little cabin on a working horse farm!  I'm excited to pet horse's noses and feed them carrots.  They allow pets, so we are also bringing our dog Izzy.  But our cat Maple Bar is SOL.  She was her claws and, while she's mostly decent about not clawing things up, she also cannot be trusted with other people's furnishings.

banana468

short+sassy said:

Jealous of people who get to leave early/get extra days off for the holidays.

At my work, it's only Christmas day off (this year, the day after).  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Not even off early on Christmas Eve, when it falls on a weekday.

But I took vacation time on Friday because that is the day we are driving to Ocala.  We're staying at a cute, little cabin on a working horse farm!  I'm excited to pet horse's noses and feed them carrots.  They allow pets, so we are also bringing our dog Izzy.  But our cat Maple Bar is SOL.  She was her claws and, while she's mostly decent about not clawing things up, she also cannot be trusted with other people's furnishings.

That was my prior employer.  I often had to use PTO for Christmas Eve.  My current employer is off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and with the holidays falling on a weekend they're observed on the 23rd, 26th and 2nd.  

CharmedPam

That cabin and area sounds awesome @short+sassy! 

@MissKittyDanger, this summer I noticed a bump on my arm pit.  I called to move my mammogram up to see if they can look at it sooner, but then it becames a diagnostic screening and a whole new order had to be put in.  I kept my appt because we were only talking a few weeks anyway.  By the time I went in for the mammogram the bump was gone.  Could have been a cyst or mosquito bite too, but mammogram came out clear. 

MissKittyDanger

@CharmedPam at 35 I'm too young for routine mammogram, but I'll likely get sent for one.
From my understanding, breast cancer isn't painful. This feels like as if I bruised my under boob.
It's honestly likely nothing but my brain goes dooms day. So obv I'm telling M if it is and things go south, to not be alone forever.
M is giving me crap and to wait until dr appt

charlotte989875

MissKittyDanger said:

@CharmedPam at 35 I'm too young for routine mammogram, but I'll likely get sent for one.
From my understanding, breast cancer isn't painful. This feels like as if I bruised my under boob.
It's honestly likely nothing but my brain goes dooms day. So obv I'm telling M if it is and things go south, to not be alone forever.
M is giving me crap and to wait until dr appt

Woah yah he’s right! 

I get the move right to doomsday but definitely take a breather here a minute. Where are you in your cycle? Changes in your hormones can cause breast pain, so can bras that are too tight/not fitting great, or your clothes were bunched up weird and you didn’t notice. It’s far far more likely that it’s just a weird pain especially if it’s already moved from pain to soreness. 

 

Not saying you shouldn’t get it checked out (always get things checked out!) but I also don’t think you need to tell him not to be alone forever yet. 

banana468

@MissKittyDanger do you wear an underwire and have you experienced recent weight change?  I know that I've experienced breast pain when I wore a bra that was the wrong size either in the band or the cup.  It really sucked when I was starting to get clogged ducts when I was nursing. 

mrsconn23

Good afternoon.  It's been a crazed morning.  I have a lot of people out and things are exploding.  And this is my only work day this week.  Fun times all around. 

@MissKittyDanger, I've had rando boob pain.  I've found toward my late 30's and into my 40's all sorts of one-off shit has happened.  I definitely encourage you getting checked out, but don't stress unless it becomes sustained or gets worse.  

Weekend was pretty good. Saturday was a lot cooking and watching the Colts implode.  FIL took DefConn Saturday night and he's still there since I had to work today.  Yesterday, DH and I had a fun day date of Christmas shopping and checking out the downtown Christkindlmarkt on its last day.  We had dinner at a taco place DH had been wanting to try for a while (I'd met a friend there for lunch like a year or so ago).   

A few hours between me and 'freedom' (sort of, I'll still be checking work e-mails and putting out big fires if need be).  

short+sassy

What is this nonsense?  It's suddenly dropping about 30 degrees to below freezing on Thursday night and for the few days after that (just the lows, not the whole days).  At first I was thinking, "Haha, I'll be in Ocala.  I bet it's a little warmer there."  Nope.  Though the cold spell hits a day later, when I wish it was the opposite.

It's been such a comfortable, mild winter.  I've been loving it.  So surprising.

Of course, the weather gets back into the mid-60s on the day we are leaving.  The cold spell is exactly the days we will be there, lol.  I'm a little worried places will be closed.  Though it won't be below freezing during the day so maybe (hopefully) not.  Meh!

MissKittyDanger

@banana468 I got a new bra maybe a year ago because I wanted to be resized, so yes underwire but I've never had issue? I specifically swapped bras today thinking maybe something was up.
Even waking up today sans bra my left boob was still sore.  
My mum has cysts {she has small boobs} but still cannot do underwire, so it could be just that.

@mrsconn23 My brain goes dooms day scenarios. So I've already gone through a bunch of "worst case scenarios" {which involves lung and breast cancer}    Age wise it'd be about same as you - I'm now 35

banana468

If your mom has cysts then maybe that's it?? 

Fingers crossed for you. 

MyNameIsNot

short+sassy said:

Jealous of people who get to leave early/get extra days off for the holidays.

At my work, it's only Christmas day off (this year, the day after).  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Not even off early on Christmas Eve, when it falls on a weekday.

But I took vacation time on Friday because that is the day we are driving to Ocala.  We're staying at a cute, little cabin on a working horse farm!  I'm excited to pet horse's noses and feed them carrots.  They allow pets, so we are also bringing our dog Izzy.  But our cat Maple Bar is SOL.  She was her claws and, while she's mostly decent about not clawing things up, she also cannot be trusted with other people's furnishings.

Me too. We're off on Monday 12/26, but the rest are vacation days for me. We're a use it or lose it vacation company, so away I go. 

MissKittyDanger

banana468 said:

If your mom has cysts then maybe that's it?? 

Fingers crossed for you. 

yeh. She is prone to cysts and they started around my age {ovaries & breasts - both non issue but ovarian one has popped and apparently that's painful}

VarunaTT

Ugh, they spray painted a shelf in the storage room next to my office and it reeks.  I was going to try and make it to 3, but I might be going to WFH sooner than that.

short+sassy

MyNameIsNot said:

short+sassy said:

Jealous of people who get to leave early/get extra days off for the holidays.

At my work, it's only Christmas day off (this year, the day after).  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Not even off early on Christmas Eve, when it falls on a weekday.

But I took vacation time on Friday because that is the day we are driving to Ocala.  We're staying at a cute, little cabin on a working horse farm!  I'm excited to pet horse's noses and feed them carrots.  They allow pets, so we are also bringing our dog Izzy.  But our cat Maple Bar is SOL.  She was her claws and, while she's mostly decent about not clawing things up, she also cannot be trusted with other people's furnishings.

Me too. We're off on Monday 12/26, but the rest are vacation days for me. We're a use it or lose it vacation company, so away I go. 

Louisiana labor laws at least do not allow use it or lose it vacation.  It's not unlimited, but it's generous.  Up to 400 hours per year can be rolled over.  Employers also have to pay out any accrued vacation at termination here.

Though a company can chose to pay it out instead of rolling it over.  This is also state-specific.  My company does that.  They will only roll over up to 160 hours/year and then will pay out anything over that.

I used to have a job where I tracked accrued vacation time for employees under my boss.  Our company had a "use it or lose it" policy, but they couldn't enforce it in states like mine.  We had employees all over the country and I kept a list handy of which states did/didn't allow it. It's about 40-50% of states that, for the most part, don't allow "use it or lose it" policies.

charlotte989875

MyNameIsNot said:

short+sassy said:

Jealous of people who get to leave early/get extra days off for the holidays.

At my work, it's only Christmas day off (this year, the day after).  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Not even off early on Christmas Eve, when it falls on a weekday.

But I took vacation time on Friday because that is the day we are driving to Ocala.  We're staying at a cute, little cabin on a working horse farm!  I'm excited to pet horse's noses and feed them carrots.  They allow pets, so we are also bringing our dog Izzy.  But our cat Maple Bar is SOL.  She was her claws and, while she's mostly decent about not clawing things up, she also cannot be trusted with other people's furnishings.

Me too. We're off on Monday 12/26, but the rest are vacation days for me. We're a use it or lose it vacation company, so away I go. 

Oh this is me too. I have 12/26 and 1/2 off as federal holidays, the rest is PTO. We can roll over 40 hours of PTO to be used in the first quarter but otherwise we lose it too. 

banana468

I'm also going to vent about DH's employer.  They are a government contractor.  I say this so it's understood that when your ONLY (not main - only) client is the government, you are not going to be in contact with your client on federal holidays.

However despite 12/26 being observed 12/26 and 1/1 being observed 1/2, his company floated the 1/1 holiday to 12/30.  They also shut down between Christmas and NY and  employees have to either accrue the holidays or use PTO.  DH has plenty of PTO however I find it really frustrating that in the effort to move the federal holiday they're just forcing their employees to use a day of PTO in the new year.  They know that anyone with younger kids who don't stay home by themselves have to take that day off so it's a fantastic way to get your workforce to start off the year by dipping into PTO reserves forcing those extra days. 

short+sassy

banana468 said:

I'm also going to vent about DH's employer.  They are a government contractor.  I say this so it's understood that when your ONLY (not main - only) client is the government, you are not going to be in contact with your client on federal holidays.

However despite 12/26 being observed 12/26 and 1/1 being observed 1/2, his company floated the 1/1 holiday to 12/30.  They also shut down between Christmas and NY and  employees have to either accrue the holidays or use PTO.  DH has plenty of PTO however I find it really frustrating that in the effort to move the federal holiday they're just forcing their employees to use a day of PTO in the new year.  They know that anyone with younger kids who don't stay home by themselves have to take that day off so it's a fantastic way to get your workforce to start off the year by dipping into PTO reserves forcing those extra days. 

The company I was talking about where I tracked vacation hours.  They were a government and defense contractor.

It was funny because the company only had 7 recognized holidays.  But if you worked at a government facility (and I did), it was written in those contracts that we had to be given all the same federal holidays.

That is bs what your DH's employer is doing. smh.  It doesn't even make sense.  The 30th is two days away from the holiday.  The 2nd is only one day off.  

banana468

short+sassy said:

banana468 said:

I'm also going to vent about DH's employer.  They are a government contractor.  I say this so it's understood that when your ONLY (not main - only) client is the government, you are not going to be in contact with your client on federal holidays.

However despite 12/26 being observed 12/26 and 1/1 being observed 1/2, his company floated the 1/1 holiday to 12/30.  They also shut down between Christmas and NY and  employees have to either accrue the holidays or use PTO.  DH has plenty of PTO however I find it really frustrating that in the effort to move the federal holiday they're just forcing their employees to use a day of PTO in the new year.  They know that anyone with younger kids who don't stay home by themselves have to take that day off so it's a fantastic way to get your workforce to start off the year by dipping into PTO reserves forcing those extra days. 

The company I was talking about where I tracked vacation hours.  They were a government and defense contractor.

It was funny because the company only had 7 recognized holidays.  But if you worked at a government facility (and I did), it was written in those contracts that we had to be given all the same federal holidays.

That is bs what your DH's employer is doing. smh.  It doesn't even make sense.  The 30th is two days away from the holiday.  The 2nd is only one day off.  

Right!?   It's under some alleged premise that they're giving the employees an "extra" company holiday in 2022 but it forces those employees to start off the year using their PTO hours (and it's hours for them too).  

Don't get me started since DH is salaried but if he logs 39 hours (and he has a badge to punch a clock) then an hour of PTO is deducted so they aren't overcharging the government which is more BS.  

MissKittyDanger

banana468 said:

I'm also going to vent about DH's employer.  They are a government contractor.  I say this so it's understood that when your ONLY (not main - only) client is the government, you are not going to be in contact with your client on federal holidays.

However despite 12/26 being observed 12/26 and 1/1 being observed 1/2, his company floated the 1/1 holiday to 12/30.  They also shut down between Christmas and NY and  employees have to either accrue the holidays or use PTO.  DH has plenty of PTO however I find it really frustrating that in the effort to move the federal holiday they're just forcing their employees to use a day of PTO in the new year.  They know that anyone with younger kids who don't stay home by themselves have to take that day off so it's a fantastic way to get your workforce to start off the year by dipping into PTO reserves forcing those extra days. 

Yeh our new company has that. Since the merger we won't have enough PTO they're just brushing it off this year, but you're suppose to use PTO between xmas and new years. - in this case 12/27, 28 & 29 because 12/30 and 1/2 in lieu of new years

It's just annoying because we actually don't open then so we're forced into PTO and idk what'll happen if we don't have enough.

banana468

MissKittyDanger said:

banana468 said:

I'm also going to vent about DH's employer.  They are a government contractor.  I say this so it's understood that when your ONLY (not main - only) client is the government, you are not going to be in contact with your client on federal holidays.

However despite 12/26 being observed 12/26 and 1/1 being observed 1/2, his company floated the 1/1 holiday to 12/30.  They also shut down between Christmas and NY and  employees have to either accrue the holidays or use PTO.  DH has plenty of PTO however I find it really frustrating that in the effort to move the federal holiday they're just forcing their employees to use a day of PTO in the new year.  They know that anyone with younger kids who don't stay home by themselves have to take that day off so it's a fantastic way to get your workforce to start off the year by dipping into PTO reserves forcing those extra days. 

Yeh our new company has that. Since the merger we won't have enough PTO they're just brushing it off this year, but you're suppose to use PTO between xmas and new years. - in this case 12/27, 28 & 29 because 12/30 and 1/2 in lieu of new years

It's just annoying because we actually don't open then so we're forced into PTO and idk what'll happen if we don't have enough.

In the US I think it depends.  If you are forced off because the company isn't open and you don't have PTO accrued at all but you're eligible for unemployment benefits then I think you can technically file for unemployment for that time but I'd need an HR expert to confirm that. 

Most companies that do this as a practice will not let you take PTO into the red if those are known times.  So if you get say 2 weeks PTO and are required to use 5 days at the end of December you won't be allowed to do things like take a 2 week vacation in July without massive management approval to allow you to do something like take a week unpaid.