Last Monday

[clevermanka]

Since I'm on vacation next Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, today's my last Monday at this job. Weird. My life is going to change So Fucking Much and I don't have a way to process it yet.

Talking with mckitterick about my job-bullshit feelings this weekend, I told him I haven't really thought about it much because honestly I don't know for absolutely sure that it'll happen. I mean, it's like 99.9% a sure thing that I'm out of here, but my life is just So Fucking Weird (people who haven't been around a while, seriously, my life is just so often ...*confused hand wave*). I feel like there's no point spending the mental energy required to emotionally digest the change until it has Actually Happened.

I am the person who, when people who know me find out Weird Shit Happened, their usual response is "Oh, of course that happened to you." Of Course!

Found out on Friday evening that my lambs, getting no satisfaction from their complaints directed to the Dean or the Provost, sent off a bunch of letters (real actual paper letters) to the Kansas Board of Regents (who govern all Kansas state-run universities). My precious darlings, god they're fighting so hard and I tear up a little when I think about their efforts too much so MOVING ON NOW.

mckitterick and I finished Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House yesterday. I was so worried it was going to go off the rails like American Horror Story but it didn't! It had a good, intimate, meaningful ending and I just... *chef's kiss* Why are simple ghost stories so hard to find? Like, stop with the Biblical/Apocalyptic shit in the final quarter, already (I was so angered by Hereditary I still can't talk about it rationally).

We also watched the first episode of Guardian again, using the downloaded version from YouTube (that someone made easily available here I don't know who but they are an ANGEL). You know, just to make sure it worked. Talking about it afterward, I mentioned a plot point that isn't made explicit in canon but is obvious when you read between the lines and it made mckitterick so sad he had to lie down. This fucking show. I also received my order of stickers, postcards, and bookmark (it says "Worth it"--my heart!) from AvenueX's shop and they are so adorable. I wish the face stickers were on more durable paper but I still love them. No idea where I'm going to put them though. I used to put all my fandom ephemera on, you know, my office walls so anyone who saw and recognized stuff could know I was a more than willing participant for conversation about it. Now, though...Hm.

Another thing to think about later when it's Real.

ETA: Big News! Was sending a music recommendation to extrapenguin and discovered that Starset just today announced the release date for their next album! September 13, 2019. And they'll be touring again! FUCK YEAH.

Comments

[mecurtin]

a plot point that isn't made explicit in canon but is obvious when you read between the lines

Explain?

[clevermanka]

The fact that Shen Wei could've met Zhao Yunlan three years earlier if he hadn't been avoiding the SID. ;__;

[mecurtin]

sob sob sob it's true

[clevermanka]

[jo_lasalle]

Oh. Point... *sigh*

(Also, your dude is invested! *g*)

[clevermanka]

My dude is really SUCH a good dude. He's by far the more sensitive one and he's enjoying seeing me get worked up over a piece of media for a change. I'm so happy he liked it so much. It really adds to the experience watching every single episode with someone and being able to immediately talk about it in person!

[jo_lasalle]

Kansas Board of Regents

How very... Dixingian.

It's great the students are still sticking up for you. But urgh, what a stressful and sucky situation. My on-going sympathies. >.<

[clevermanka]

Yes, very Dixingian in that it's backwards, archaic, and (near-literally) from hell.

Thank you. I am probably not as stressed out as would be wise? I haven't even started researching health insurance options although I have brunch appointment next week with a friend who used to work for the insurance marketplace thing. I also need to start pulling my shit together to file for unemployment but it's just sooo much easier to scroll endlessly on Tumblr.

[jo_lasalle]

That's what I thought it sounded like!

The health insurance thing is just so infuriating. Good for you you have someone who knows the field, but srsly that shouldn't even be necessary... (Not that me being ragey about US healthcare craziness helps you, but, well.)

[clevermanka]

Angry Solidarity Fistbump!

[minoanmiss]

*neams at you*

[clevermanka]

I'm not entirely sure what neaming is but coming from you, bb, I welcome it with open arms. =D

[minoanmiss]

This is what I get for replying while half asleep. That was meant to be an encouraging beam

[clevermanka]

"To Neam" = Nuzzle + Beam

It's what you do when you want someone to tell from your facial expression that you like them but you also want to give them a big hug at the same time.

[seascribble]

I'm so proud of your students for sticking up for you and so glad you were appreciated by SOMEONE. <3

[clevermanka]

They are just The Best. I finally finished reading the 18 page letter of testimonials they submitted to the dean and ;__; MY HEART

[anarfea]

Sorry but I know you've been posting about losing your job for a while and I know you work for a University but I'm not sure what it is that you actually do? Fill me in? Anyway, I am like you; I tend to not think about big changes until they're actually there. Since December I've known that the company I work for is going to be sold and I might be out of a job when that happens, and I've not done anything like look for another job or update my resume or anything like that because it hasn't happened yet. So I feel you. Also I hope that those lobbying on your behalf can save your job.

[clevermanka]

I'm the secretary in the English department who manages all graduate student academic stuff (and a very small part of their GTA stuff, but that's mostly someone else). So I do everything from helping people complete their applications (up to and including contacting tardy recommendation letter writers and registrar's offices to track down missing transcripts) to scheduling their final exams/defenses and apply for graduation. I know all the policies and (more importantly) all the policy loopholes. I'm also (handily) feared by the faculty so when a student isn't getting a timely response from committee members I come in and get the answer for them--usually within 24 hours. I'm also an informal general store (analgesics, tampons, dental floss, snacks) and provide psychological counseling.

I am very, very good at my job and I honestly enjoy it which makes this whole thing so much harder. If I was miserable I could pretend it was a blessing but instead it's just really shitty.

Hope you don't find yourself in a similar place come December. You really don't need that stress on top of everything else, jesus.

[anarfea]

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. What's their excuse for letting you go? Budget cuts? Anyway, it sucks. My own situation is a little less precarious? We have a buyer now, and my boss thinks it's unlikely that this buyer will want to make significant personnel changes. So I feel a little bit better? But I think things will be much better once the deal is actually signed and I don't just have my boss's word on it.

[clevermanka]

Ya know, FUNNY THING, the only thing they'll say is it's due to "restructuring." Not budget cuts, not performance-related. Just "restructuring." Never mind that a couple years ago people in my exact position got moved to another office on campus but I didn't, and now I'm just completely out. HMMMMMMMMM.

[anarfea]

That blows that they won't even give you a real reason.

[clevermanka]

rEstrUCtuRInggggg