Hi Recruiter (who I’d become quit fond of),
Now that I’ve had some time to unwind, I wanted to share why I didn’t stay. Maybe you want to share some of this with Office Manager (OM). She should know.
1) Dumping someone into the deep end of a pool that deep when they’re brand new and still in training is setting them up for failure. Every time I’d look in Outlook there would be 30 new emails with tasks for me. I’d finish training with RETIREE (guy I was replacing and who had been in that role for almost 30 years but part-time for the 5 months prior) and there would be 30 more. By the end of the day there’d be 30 more. We got through very little in our time together because there was SO MUCH info to parse and technical issues to overcome before we could address even simple questions. I also walked into over 2k overdue docket items I’d have to handle. It was overwhelming to an extent that I felt absolutely hopeless and helpless from the second the emails started rolling in (on day 5 when I hadn’t even started working with RETIREE yet). Yes, management was supportive but more in a standing on the side of the pool waving a life preserver kind of way. Docketing tried to help clear some of the backlog, but it just created more work because I still had to look at each of their suggestions to either agree or disagree. I believe they all wanted to help, but the help should have been in place when I started. I also should not have been assigned RETIREE’s full portfolio on day 5. I had mentioned that to ASSISTANT OM hoping that I would have been eased in a little more and was told it wasn’t really possible. Yes, it was absolutely possible, the ppl doing the work just wanted to offload the work ASAP. I get it, but that’s setting me up for failure. They can absolutely ease someone in, they just didn’t want to. Why not assign me half the docket for a couple weeks until I get my bearings?
2) They need a senior X paralegal in that role. I’m convinced now that it was less about liking me so much and more about me asking for less money. $X is not enough money with the expectations they had. RETIREE was there for 30 years in that role. Thinking that it was remotely possible for me to step into that role with the limited support I had is frankly unbelievable.
3) While BOSS PARTNER might be a nice person, she was also cold and unapproachable. And unavailable. Most of the time I interacted with her (or tried to interact with her) she shooed me away or her door was closed. She also left halfway through my interview and didn’t return. That should have been the red flag I needed, but I wanted this to work out so badly I ignored it. She does not seem to have the availability to help train someone and clearly expects perfection. She also was projecting impatience and it’s clear she didn’t have the time to deal with someone who had needs. Again, I get it - she’s busy. But that’s setting me up for failure.
She also pushed back on strange things (including the setup for the X account for which BOSS was convinced she knew more than the X personnel and the X FAQ). I told OM I didn’t feel like BOSS was hearing me, and she said BOSS didn’t think I was hearing her. About what? I cannot force this system to do what BOSS wants. After that first work interaction, I knew we would have a personality conflict. She wasn’t helpful or understanding - she was unfriendly and not understanding and had to be right (I was right, for the record). I also had RETIREE help me with a couple things for her and they were incorrect. That apparently translated into “OP is rushing” and that was given to me as feedback when I am literally doing what RETIREE tells me to do/not do. The work was sent under his supervision.
Also, what OM saw as a good idea (me asking a friendly associate to help me out with getting my X account set up rather than going to BOSS again) seems to have been perceived as me being out of line by BOSS. “Why did you go to him? Why didn’t you ask me? It takes 10 seconds.” Well, BOSS, because you made it clear I shouldn’t bother you with it again until I figured it out. I wouldn’t know if it’s figured out until someone tries, and I don’t want to be chastised again if it somehow didn’t work (which I didn’t).
4) I got extremely mixed messages about WFH v. working in the office. OM said several times she wanted me in the office 3x/wk, but there were barely any other people there. It was alienating. My first Friday there I was the only person in the office aside from a person across the hall I didn’t know (and who had her door closed) and an IT person at the end of the hall. I walked into the hallway and realized I was more or less the only person in the office. I was left alone in a big office in my first week. That felt really gross and sad.
Every single other person I talked to said “no one comes in.” But I was expected to be there 3x/wk? You and OM suggested I go to the TOWN office (office where all bosses actually work but 40 miles away), but when I mentioned it to OTHER BOSS at my welcome lunch he said “I don’t think that’s necessary.” In my interview he asked if I’d be available to come in to CITY “once in a while.” OM wanted me there more often. Then you both suggested I start going to TOWN weekly, but I don’t want to go to the TOWN office. I applied for and accepted a role in CITY. I would have done it temporarily, but if the partners don’t even see the point, why am I wasting my time? Management needs to align on this. It’s unfair to expect a brand new employee to a) be the guinea pig for a new policy that is otherwise not enforced, and b) try to pick between the partners and the office manager over who to listen to.
5) OM pressed me to share info given to me in confidence about a lawyer’s personal life. I told her explicitly he gave me confidential personal information and she kept asking questions even after I said “he told me personal info in confidence and just said he’s unavailable the rest of the day.” “What’s wrong with him…where did he go…what did he tell you?” It made me very uncomfortable. When she told me he had deep mental health issues (I honestly can’t believe she divulged that), I said I get it, I clearly struggle with anxiety. She said “well, his issues are deeper than that” or something along those lines. OM does not know anything about me other than what I’ve revealed (which is very little). I felt very uncomfortable talking about another coworker’s mental health and also having my own dismissed. I know she’s very good at her job, but that interaction was concerning to me. If she’s already discussing another person’s mental health with a brand new employee, what would she say about me down the line? The reality is I do have chronic depression and anxiety which I’ve been treated for a long time. I come from a violent, abusive home and have spent my whole life trying to overcome it. She doesn’t know any of that because she doesn’t know me. I’m surprised she was handled the situation that way. It suddenly felt very emotionally unsafe.
I could clearly go on, but these are the biggest reasons I decided not to stay. I’m very, very sorry it didn’t work out, and I’m deeply disappointed as well. I had hoped it would be the last job I ever had and am still convinced I could have done the work if not set up for failure. I thought the department had its shit together more when I accepted the role, but they don’t and I was tossed into the middle of it.
I have blocked all of you because I want to put this behind me. It was clearly a terrible misstep and I want to forget it ever happened. It completely shook my confidence and has left me in a worse state in that regard than I was before. I’m also convinced the other person left for reasons other than “she got a better offer.” Any offer would have been better than what I experienced.
I wish you well and appreciate the time I’ve known you.

These are the questions we have been trying to answer ever since we as a species first evolved the ability to ask such questions.
Let us first briefly consider our ability to voice those questions and how is it we can formulate any questions at all. There has been some discussion recently on how we in essence 'hallucinate' our reality. While this is true to a large degree, it would be more accurate to say that we 'read' our reality. We process the stimulus we receive from external world and then transform it into language through the neural dynamics found in our cortical thalamic complex.
As we develop and mature our cortical/thalamic complex gradually creates a VR type experience for our consciousness, so gradually we no longer see what arrives at our eyes but rather is what is constructed from the direct sensory experience in the occipital lobe of the cortex - our visual center. By the time we are adults our awareness can no longer directly perceive the external world. It can only see and hear the reprocessed reality as it is reconstructed from direct sensory stimulus, in our cortex. As adults we never see the outside world. We don't see the mountain. We only see the image of a mountain created in our visual cortex. Only when we encounter something that cannot be fit into any existing linguistic category do we see it before filtering and reconstruction within cortical visual centers.
We linguistically interpret and assign meaning to raw stimulus within our cortex which determines our subsequent response and behaviors. Under normal conditions if what we are experiencing cannot be translated into our existing vocabulary then we cannot act coherently and we will either freeze up or become completely uninhibited and out of control. The parsing of external reality into language is a reflex and it is normally beyond our ability to perceive this neurological process as it is occurring.
The answers to the nature of life, why we are born and die and how we can ask such things all lead to the same place and if one question is answered then all of them will be. Therefore I will begin with the nature of life itself. I will use one of the tools that western science adopted early in its history and that is dissection. Lets first dissect life and look at it in the detail that has been revealed throughout the hundreds of years we have been using this tool.
The first medical dissections were performed at the University of Salerno in about the 12 century. Now all these years later we have dissected much and we now have little pieces of everything lying around everywhere. Now we are dissecting some very large things and some very small things. Dissection reveals information contained or hidden beneath the perceptual paywall of physical boundaries like the biological membrane of the cell, or an organ like our skin or the boundaries of the earths gravity. What we see in the modern world is the result of centuries of dissection and reassembly.
Now after all the thousands of years of humans history there is one item that has been produced more times than any other single thing made by humans and their ancestors...transistors. Most people have no idea what this item is or how it works yet humans have made more of it than anything else by orders of magnitude. These things also require more electrical energy than anything else ever mass produced by humans to perform their function as intended. This is a result of a history of dissection and reassembly without any underlying worldview or morality to guide the technological exploitation of the discoveries uncovered through the process of dissection and analysis.
Now at the pinnacle of our evolution we have completely remade ourselves and the world and the results appear to be anything but enlightening and emancipating. We have server farms that are using the energy of a small city and space tourism is well on its way. Unfortunately during our history of dissection we have ignored certain things discovered that do not support the underlying ideology motivating our technological innovations. The problem hasn't been in the scientific process but in what aspects of what we have discovered that have been followed up and not relegated to the the dark shelves of history and ignored. Our cultures idea of progress and evolution as a driving force of nature may be entirely misplaced and as 'superstitious' as any of the other antiquated views our culture has abandoned and transcended along the way.

The long delay in accepting the evidence of developmental neuronal death has been regarded as an historical enigma. Here is how the puzzle may now be solved.
Nineteenth-century biologists saw that development has an overriding telos, a direction and a gradual approach to completion of the embryo, and also saw a terminal regression and final dissolution of the adult; but a fallacy arose when the progression and regression, which coexist from early development, were separated in their minds.
Development was conceived in terms of progressive construction, of an epigenetic program—from simple to more complex. For every event in development they attempted to find prior conditions such that, given them, nothing else could happen.
The connections and interdependencies of events assure that the outcome is always the same. Such deterministic theories of development made it difficult to conceive of demolition of structures as part of normal development, and it was inconceivable that construction and destruction can occur simultaneously. It became necessary to regard regressive developmental processes as entirely purposeful and determined. For example, elimination of organs that play a role during development but are not required in the adult or regression of vestigial structures such as the tail in humans were viewed as part of the ontogenetic recapitulation of phylogeny. Regression in those cases is determined and is merely one of several fates: cellular determination may be either progressive or regressive.
The idea of progress in all spheres, perhaps most of all in the evolution and development of the vertebrate nervous system, has appealed to many thinkers since the 18th century. Such ideas change more slowly than the means of scientific production; thus new facts are made to serve old ideas. That is why the history of ideas, even if it does not exactly repeat itself, does such a good job of imitation.
In the realm of ideas held by neuroscientists, the idea of progressive construction, of hierarchically ordered programs of development, has always been dominant over the idea of a plenitude of possibilities, from which orderly structure develops from disorderly initial conditions by a process of selective attrition.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY Fourth Edition Edited by MAHENDRA S. RAO MD and MARCUS JACOBSON (Page 396).

How revolutionary could be the idea that there is a plenitude of possibilities, from which orderly structure develops from disorderly initial conditions by a process of selective attrition. The universe is not learning, experimenting, progressing, evolving and neither are we. The universe is already full of a 'plentitude of possibilities' and it already is what it is and is already all it will ever be... as are we. Whatever it is we think we are observing it is not progress or evolution in any sense of the word but is rather the processes of 'selective attrition'. The universe is something else much more and we are a part of it and need to look no further than within our selves since we are also part of that 'fabric' of the universe. Humans are not standing atop the pyramid of life but we are only one of many different morphological manifestations of the natural processes of 'selective attrition' which find us only different and in no way better than the other morphological and metabolic forms and components of the earths biosystem and its holobionts.
The processes of attrition affects 2 vectors in the realization of a particular existence from a plentitude of possibilities. In order for life and consciousness to exist in the earths biosystem 2 vectors must work together to maintain a fragile stasis between reoccurring periods of geological and cosmic instability. These vectors influence morphology and metabolism. Morphology is influenced and regulated by viruses and that still ill defined aspect of our biological reality they represent. Multicellular metabolism is regulated and influenced by chromosomal and nucleic genetics. When the environment changes then the viral component of the tree of life induces morphological changes in the life forms currently inhabiting the biosphere. Within the nucleus of the cell the genetic code is changed now producing biological forms that after development have the metabolism to exist in the new environment. Life consciousness has within it already all the plentitude of possibilities needed to exist in many different potential worlds and it doesn't need to evolve as it is already capable of arising in almost any conditions. Look at the many amazing ways that nature is already incorporating plastics into its ecology.
Unfortunately for us, our ill fated venture into space has triggered processes of attrition between these 2 vectors that are now adapting the morphology and metabolism of the earths biome in response to the time many of its lifeforms have already spent living in a gravity free environment. The different forms of life we have have brought too and from a gravity free environment are also changing. Switching from a model based on evolution and progress to one based on a preexisting plenitude of possibilities may affect the statistical significance of our predictive models. If we are not progressing and evolving towards something then what exactly is it we are doing with all our technologies but creating the conditions for our own morphological extinction?
The human species is an embodiment of the force of attrition in nature. As a species we have introduced a plentitude of possibilities into the biosphere by reshaping ourselves and our environment through our behaviors and in doing so we have fulfilled our biological function. The model is no longer based on the idea of progress so our behavior as a species need no longer be seen as progressive but as simply transformative. The organisms with the largest genomes are creatures like amoebas and lungfish which could be considered as very important gatekeepers and librarians of the biological information accumulated from eons of harvesting 'information' from an ever changing plentitude of biological possibilities. This information is stored within many levels of biosystem and are all connected by the viral ocean in which the overall biosystem is immersed.
It is creatures like these along with long living organisms like trees and fungi that are at the heart of the biosystem while the human species seems doomed to be little more than a brief biological storm arising and passing away in but a few minutes of geological time. We are no longer talking about a universe born from simplicity and its slow progression towards consciousness of which we are the ultimate manifestation.
Consciousness is the fundamental universal force that gives rise to the biological reality we inhabit. Most everything around us has consciousness and it flows through the underlying fabric of our existence via 'fields' generated by metabolic life, much like how electricity moves along a wire...flowing via the field surrounding the wire and not really within the wire itself. It is what is perceiving the perceptual experience created within the cartesian theatre of our human mind. It is the cortical thalamic complex that creates the unique type of perceptual experience that humans have. There is nothing unique about human consciousness only our perceptual experience. The human experience does not represent any type of progression or evolution of consciousness along an evolutionary timeline.
The only thing modern humans bring to the table is their own unique type of perceptual experience which is initiating behaviors that results in biological information that will find its way throughout the biome and will be stored for eons to come and long after we as a species are gone. The introduction of plastics into the ecology represents a new type of information that the natural biological world is already starting to use in many creative and unexpected ways.

The study of the basic philosophies or ideologies of scientists is very difficult because they are rarely articulated. They largely consist of silent assumptions that are taken so completely for granted that they are never mentioned. The historian of biology encounters some of his greatest difficulties when trying to ferret out such silent assumptions; and anyone who attempts to question these "eternal truths" encounters formidable resistance.
In biology, for hundreds of years, a belief in the inheritance of acquired characters, a belief in irresistible progress and in a scala naturae, a belief in a fundamental difference between organic beings and the inanimate world, and a belief in an essentialistic structure of the world of phenomena are only a few of the silent assumptions that influenced the progress of science. Basic ideological polarities were involved in all of the great controversies in the history of biology, indicated by such alternatives as quantity vs. quality, reduction vs. emergence, essentialism vs. population thinking, monism vs. dualism, discontinuity vs. continuity, mechanism vs. vitalism, mechanism vs. teleology, statism vs. evolutionism, and others. Lyell's resistance to evolutionism was due not only to his natural theology but also to his essentialism, which simply did not allow for a variation of species "beyond the limits of their type." Coleman (1970) has shown to what large extent Bateson's resistance to the chromosome theory of inheritance was based on ideological reasons.
One can go so far as to claim that the resistance of a scientist to a new theory almost invariably is based on ideological reasons rather than on logical reasons or objections to the evidence on which the theory is based.
The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance ERNST MAYR(Page 835).

What do we see when we look at a lion feeding on a fresh kill that is still alive while being eaten? Or a grizzly bear keeping its prey alive for days as it eats it? How about a herd of orca's slowly killing a blue whale? We look away in horror and disgust because we have no idea what it is we are actually observing. Our everyday perceptual experience provides no insight into what is actually happening as this untamed savagery unfolds before us. We have no words for the world as it really is since we very rarely ever perceive it as it really is before being processed and recreated in the cortical thalamic complex. That is what we see and we do not see the outside world as it really is.
A lion consuming a deer is not unlike 2 galaxies colliding. When one animal eats another 2 very large populations of trillions of separate and specialized cellular organisms merge together combining all their biological information as it is being generated in real time. This biological material is processed within the lion and then the viral components and other transgenic organisms move this information between different creatures picking up bits of information and moving it around the biome to be integrated into existing info and/or stored for later retrieval and integration. Very little information is lost when the biosystem is working correctly. When it is not working properly then much information can be permanently lost very quickly. We see this as viruses mutate as they pick up new pieces as the processes of recombination unfold. In times of biological instability plagues are common as insects and rodents are very effective means of consuming this biological information before it is lost due to factors such as changing climatic conditions producing famine. The goal is not evolution or progress but the maintenance of a repository of biological information that allows the biosystem to self regulate its morphology and metabolism. If the organisms that act as gatekeepers, storehouses and librarians are lost then the whole biosystem will collapse.
It the the fundamental energy of consciousness as it 'flows' through metabolic life that powers the biosphere. Earths metabolism and morphology may not look like anything resembling how morphology and metabolism may arise elsewhere in the universe. Unusual organic molecules are being found in the atmosphere of Titan. One such molecule has only been previously found in interstellar clouds. As these molecules break down fairly quickly something must be producing or metabolizing them to maintain their presence in atmosphere. Like electromagnetism if consciousness is also a fundamental force then we can expect it to be active in many different environments.
The nature of consciousness as I am describing it gives rise to one quality that would make space travel somewhat irrelevant. This quality is also behind much of the fuss and importance that humans have made about different types of 'spiritual' experience from their earliest beginnings. Our consciousness is not attached to our own perceptual experience but can move freely between all the perceptual experiences arising anywhere in the universe right now. Every point on the torus is connected to every other point. The perceptual experience of the lion and the deer can be experienced and perceived through the shared dynamics of our own metabolic entanglements as we are all made from the same stuff. It is the 'one topology' suggested to exist in Velinde's and Hooft's model of entropic gravity and the cellular automaton. Morphology is the universal vector for perceptual experience. Metabolism is the universal vector for consciousness.
Biological organisms produce heat/entropy. Think about how significant it is that life can live in external temps well below its own internal heat. Metabolic cellular processes are producing this heat. Biological organisms are not unlike little suns with their ability to produce internal heat. Our bodies are literally made up of trillions of little suns. From metabolism/consciousness arises morphology/perceptual experience. The positive energy generated by the activities of morphological organisms, each with their own spectrum of perceptual experience, counters the negative heat energy of the many metabolic states of consciousness which permeate the universe. When an organism is producing more entropy than the system can absorb that organism is removed or reabsorbed and replaced with one whose metabolism is in balance with rest of biome. When there is too much entropy things like the 'time-reversal of a phenomenon occurring naturally' are no longer available as part of our perceptual experience or vocabulary. Invariably most spiritual practices inadvertently result in the production of less entropy or in the balancing and stabilization of existing entropic forces.
The shamans of old may of been much more in tune with things then we give them credit for. It is a shame that most of their languages and way of life are gone. Like the American Indian I hold the view that the animals and plants around us are our older brothers and sisters and we should learn from them, take our place beside them and not seek to dominate and control but to share the world with them. We have become a species of attrition and seem incapable anymore of transcending our own nature. We cannot help but destroy what we cannot dominate and now we have turned on each other as there is very little left in the natural world for us to conquer. We are no more aware of what we are doing than the couple of meteorites that changed life forever for the dinosaurs. Maybe as Emerson suggested we have learned to ride in a carriage and lost the use of our legs while our giant follows us everywhere.

SKYX reported a slight revenue increase to $19.0 million in Q1 2024 but faced a net loss of $9.7 million, with EPS at -$0.1, underperforming against analysts' expectations.

Key Metrics

Revenue	$19.0M	2.2%
Operating Expenses	$6.5M
Operating Expenses Growth	14.0%
Net Income	$-9.7M
Earnings Per Share	$-0.1
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$19.8M

Business Highlights

• Generated record first quarter 2024 sales of $19.0 million in revenue compared to $18.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, including sales of its advanced and smart platform plug and play products.
• Reported $19.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, available cash, and investments available for sale as of December 31, 2023, as compared to $22.4 million as of December 31, 2023.
• New Global Smart Home and AI Related Patents. SKYX’s new and existing patents enable and enhance performance of smart home and AI sensors in addition to home safety sensors. SKYX recently received 8 additional patent issuances bringing the Company’s intellectual property portfolio to a total of over 90 issued and pending patents, 30 of which are issued patents covering SKYX’s advanced plug and play and smart home platform technologies for the smart home, AI, electrical, and lighting industries in the U.S. and internationally including China, Europe and 2 patents in India.
• The Company continues to grow its market penetration of its advanced and smart platform technologies product to both retail and commercial segments, through its e-commerce platform of over 60 websites for lighting and home décor.
• Collaboration with a world-leading Chinese Lighting supplier and manufacturer, Ruee Appliances. The collaboration with Ruee will include SKYX’s advanced and smart products to both professional and retail Markets and provide SKYX substantial backing in several areas including financial, mass production manufacturing capabilities, and distribution to global markets including China and Europe. The collaboration is expected to substantially enhance gross margins on SKYX’s product sales.
• SKYX and General Electric (GE) signed a 5-year global licensing partnership agreement to license SKYX’s patented advanced and smart home platform technologies, including its ceiling outlet/receptacle-related products as well as its all-in-one smart home platform technology.
• Announced a collaboration with world-leading lighting company Kichler, which will include SKYX’s advanced smart and standard products for online, retail, and professional channels.
• Announced a collaboration with Quoizel, a premier U.S. lighting manufacturer for nearly 100 years, to integrate SKYX’s advanced smart and standard products for online, retail, and professional channels.
• SKYX continues to deliver its products to thousands of homes in the U.S. and Canada and expects its products to be in tens of thousands of homes within a year.
• SKYX has started sales to the builder and pro segments and opened over 100 builder and pro accounts during the International Builders’ Show (IBS - NAHB) in Las Vegas.
• The Company entered into an agreement to supply approximately 1,000 homes with its advanced smart home platform technologies and is expected to deliver approximately 30,000 units representing a variety of its advanced and smart platform technology products to the developer’s upcoming projects.
• SKYX won 7 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) Awards including most recently two awards for its All-In-One Smart Home Platform.
• Announced a collaboration with Golden Lighting, a leading provider of elegant lighting solutions in the U.S., which will feature SKYX advanced smart and standard products for online, retail, and professional channels.

Guidance
Future Business Drivers:

• We believe we will be cash flow positive during 2025.
• We are encouraged by our path to the buildecommercial segments, large online and brick-and-mortar retail partners as well as our future potential to realize incremental licensing, subscription, and AI/data aggregation revenues.

Expectations: MISS

Immediate Financial Crisis Losing my job unexpectedly has left me in a precarious situation. After working 14 consecutive days, I was fired by my boss at the VFW. The club where I worked is a private establishment, and we primarily rely on weekend sales. Unfortunately, I won’t be working this weekend, which significantly impacts my financial stability. Bills are piling up, and I’m unsure how to cover them.

1. Dependence on Weekend Sales The VFW post is strategically located near a tourist beach town, attracting a lot of foot traffic during weekends. These weekends are crucial for our sales. However, with my sudden termination, I’m facing a weekend without work. Without funds, I won’t be able to meet essential expenses.
   
2. Savings Depleted While I’ve managed to save a portion of my rent, other bills remain unpaid. Utilities, groceries, and childcare costs are pressing concerns. Without additional funds, I’m unable to maintain a stable living situation.
   
3. Health and Well-Being My health is suffering due to exhaustion. I had to call out of work because I was on the verge of collapsing. As a single mom with two kids, taking care of myself and my children is essential. However, financial stress exacerbates health issues. Access to funds would alleviate this burden.
   
4. Temporary Assistance I’m seeking help until I can get back on my feet. While I’m confident in my ability to recover, the immediate situation requires urgent support. I’ve poured my soul, time, and even my own money into the VFW post, and now I find myself sinking financially.
   

Conclusion In conclusion, funds are not just numbers in a bank account; they represent opportunities, security, and freedom. As I strive to overcome this challenging time, financial resources will be my compass, guiding me toward a brighter future. I’ll continue seeking support and exploring available resources to ensure stability for myself and my children.
Remember that you’re not alone, and there are people who care about your well-being. Keep your resilience strong, and I believe you’ll find a way through this difficult period. Thank you all for reading.
gofundme
cashapp
venmo

Il Était Un Bois (which translates as ‘A Tale of Wood’) is the latest release from venerable niche brand, L’Artisan Parfumeur.
​
It’s fair to say that, since their acquisition by Puig in 2015, L’Artisan’s catalogue has undergone significant revision. A lot of its most well-regarded (if not best selling) perfumes have been discontinued and the newer releases, while often well composed, perhaps don’t generate as much of an emotional response as their forbearers. Compares the likes of Voleur de Roses, Dzongkha and Passage D’Enfer (all, thankfully, still available) to the more recent Memoire de Roses, Un air de Bretagne and Couleur Vanille and you’ll see what I mean.
​
Still, L’Artisan are still capable of producing some interesting pieces of work and last year’s nostalgic peach scent, A Fleur de Peche, in particular, stirred something within.
​
What then of Il Était Un Bois? The marketing brief states that:
The perfume explores all the different facets of the woods in an unexpected harmony. Discover its warm notes of vetiver, sweet buckwheat and cedar
​
As a description, this did ring some alarm bells with me - how could a perfume that contained just three accords, only one of which was actually a wood, cover all the different facets of the material? Well, the answer, which was swiftly discovered upon smelling, was that it couldn’t. Obviously.
​
This perfume isn’t a tale of wood - it’s a tale of vetiver and, yes, buckwheat. Given that, the fact that L’Artisan also sought to try and connect the perfume thematically to previous release Merchant Loup (which played with the concept of an enchanted forest) is curious at best.
​
At this point, however, I will park my criticism because, if you ignore the spiel and focus on the scent, what you actually have a is a very pleasant unisex vetiver. Actually, the description for this one should have read ‘what if someone combined Lalique’s Encre Noire with a cereal bar?’ (I expect a call from L’Artisan’s marketing team after this published).
​
Damned by faint praise, you might think, but the thing is, Encre Noire, whilst being an excellent take on vetiver, was almost so heavy on me that it practically put a black cloud above my head. I was just one of those people who, as much as I would have liked, couldn’t get it to work on me, and I often wondered how the composition could be reinterpreted for individuals who wanted a bit more radiance from their fragrance. It’s possible perfumer Caroline Dumur might have been working on the same conundrum…and I suppose the fact that she cracked it goes to show why she’ has a job in the industry, and I’m just someone writing about fragrance!
​
The buckwheat incorporated along with the vetiver accord brings to mind a sweet powdered flour, and this has the effect of pulling the base notes up by their bootstraps and making the whole composition sing. In short, ‘Black Ink’ is transformed in to ‘White Chalk’ (perhaps the fragrance should have been named ‘Craie Blanche’?). The only downside is that, like Encre Noire, Il Était Un Bois is a relatively linear scent, but its performance is, I am pleased to say, exceptional.
​
The elephant in the room in comparing these two fragrances is that you can pick up a bottle of Encre Noire for around £20, whereas the L’Artisan release has an RRP of £170 for 100ml, which is, frankly, obscene if not unusual nowadays. I have no mitigating comments in this regard, except to say that Chanel’s Sycomore, which is another more refined take on the Lalique retails at £210 for just 75ml, and it doesn’t perform as well as this release. To some, that will be cold comfort, but if you want a top notch vetiver and don’t mind paying the money, this might be the choice for you.

Hi everyone!
I’m hoping some of you will be able to give me some advice or share your experiences with me.
I’ll be 29 in a couple of weeks and I’m in some sort of pain all the time. I’m 5’ 1” and about 185lbs. I’m not the healthiest eater but not terrible either. I’m not super active with exercise but I do walk around at work even though I have a desk job. I have had a history of issues that I see a chiropractor for some of which are a tilted pelvis and ribs that like to pop out of where they’re supposed to be.
I’m on vacation and yesterday I was walking around with my husband and my feet, my ankles, my hips, my lower back, and my upper back all hurt so bad. I didn’t even do 10,000 steps. The other day my wrist hurt to put weight on for no apparent reason but is better now. Sometimes I walk down the stairs at work and get shooting pain in my ankles for a couple minutes. Sometimes my back will start to hurt just from taking my dog out to pee. When in doubt, something hurts.
My chiropractor does want me to get into some rehab and physical therapy but I’d have to go three times a week and it’s only available during my work hours so I can’t. I’m sure it would be helpful though.
I also get migraines and have stomach problems.
Does anyone have any other ideas or anything I should talk to my doctor about specifically? I’m way too young to be in this much pain all the time.
Thanks! 🙏🏻

I will start my first year for master program i want to ask regarding availability to work part time job at university of oulu like tutor or exam observer. When can I apply for it and is there qualification requirements How much they pay per hour ?

Good morning ChatGPT. REI is having their 2024 Anniversary Sale this week. I want buy three items that are on sale (excluding REI Outlet). My budget is $700. Based on the following parameters I want you to pick the best items that will fit into the budget. 1) 2person backpacking tent with highest square footage to weight ratio 2) mummy style mens sleeping bag with a temperature rating of 20 to 30 degrees and the best warmth to weight ratio and 3) inflatable air pad with minimum R-value of 4.0 and high warmth to weight ratio. ChatGPT
Good morning! Let's find the best items from REI's 2024 Anniversary Sale within your budget of $700. Here are the items based on your parameters:

1. 2-Person Backpacking Tent
2. Mummy Style Men's Sleeping Bag (20-30 degrees)
3. Inflatable Air Pad (minimum R-value of 4.0)

1. 2-Person Backpacking Tent

• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
  • Weight: 2 lbs. 11 oz.
  • Floor Area: 29 square feet
  • Peak Height: 40 inches
  • Square Footage to Weight Ratio: Approximately 10.5 sq. ft./lb.
  • Price: $449.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

2. Mummy Style Men's Sleeping Bag (20-30 degrees)

• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag
  • Temperature Rating: 15 degrees Fahrenheit (though often rated conservatively, suitable for 20-30 degrees with layering)
  • Weight: 1 lb. 12 oz.
  • Fill Power: 850-fill-power goose down
  • Price: $399.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)
• Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 Sleeping Bag
  • Temperature Rating: 20 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Weight: 2 lbs. 6.6 oz.
  • Fill: HL-ElixR Eco synthetic
  • Price: $159.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

3. Inflatable Air Pad

• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 6.9
  • Weight: 15 oz.
  • Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 2.5 inches (Regular size)
  • Price: $239.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)
• Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 4.2
  • Weight: 1 lb. 1 oz.
  • Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 4 inches (Regular size)
  • Price: $199.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Optimal Selection within $700 Budget

1. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent - Approximately $449.95
2. Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 Sleeping Bag - Approximately $159.00
3. Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad - Approximately $199.00

Total Estimated Cost

449.95 (tent) + 159.00 (sleeping bag) + 199.00 (air pad) = $807.95

Adjusted Selection

Since the total exceeds $700, let's swap the air pad for a more budget-friendly option:

• REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 5.3
  • Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz.
  • Price: $149.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Revised Total Estimated Cost: 449.95 (tent) + 159.00 (sleeping bag) + 149.00 (air pad) = $757.95
Since this is still slightly over budget, consider checking the sale prices and applying any additional discounts or member coupons REI may be offering during the sale to bring it within the $700 budget.

Final Purchase List

1. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
2. Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 Sleeping Bag
3. REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad

Check REI's website for current sale prices and potential discounts to stay within your budget. Enjoy your backpacking adventures!
What if I only want a down filled bag?ChatGPT
Given your preference for a down-filled sleeping bag, let's adjust the selection accordingly. Here’s a revised list of items fitting your criteria and budget:

1. 2-Person Backpacking Tent

• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
  • Weight: 2 lbs. 11 oz.
  • Floor Area: 29 square feet
  • Peak Height: 40 inches
  • Square Footage to Weight Ratio: Approximately 10.5 sq. ft./lb.
  • Price: $449.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

2. Mummy Style Men's Down Sleeping Bag (20-30 degrees)

• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag
  • Temperature Rating: 15 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Weight: 1 lb. 12 oz.
  • Fill Power: 850-fill-power goose down
  • Price: $399.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Given the high price of the REI Co-op Magma 15, let's look for a more budget-friendly option:

• Kelty Cosmic 20 Down Sleeping Bag
  • Temperature Rating: 20 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Weight: 2 lbs. 10 oz.
  • Fill Power: 550-fill-power duck down
  • Price: $149.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

3. Inflatable Air Pad

• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 6.9
  • Weight: 15 oz.
  • Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 2.5 inches (Regular size)
  • Price: $239.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)
• Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 4.2
  • Weight: 1 lb. 1 oz.
  • Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 4 inches (Regular size)
  • Price: $199.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Optimal Selection within $700 Budget

1. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent - Approximately $449.95
2. Kelty Cosmic 20 Down Sleeping Bag - Approximately $149.95
3. Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad - Approximately $199.00

Total Estimated Cost

449.95 (tent) + 149.95 (sleeping bag) + 199.00 (air pad) = $798.90
Since the total is slightly over $700, you can:

1. Look for additional discounts or member coupons during the REI Anniversary Sale.
2. Consider the REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad to reduce the cost:

• REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 5.3
  • Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz.
  • Price: $149.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Revised Total Estimated Cost with this pad: 449.95 (tent) + 149.95 (sleeping bag) + 149.00 (air pad) = $748.90

Final Purchase List

1. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
2. Kelty Cosmic 20 Down Sleeping Bag
3. REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad

This selection provides a high-quality, lightweight backpacking setup that fits your budget. Enjoy your outdoor adventures!
If I want to save weight and buy the Magma bag instead of the Kelty could I choose a less expensive tent or pad?ChatGPT
Sure, we can select a less expensive tent or pad to fit the REI Co-op Magma 15 sleeping bag within your $700 budget. Here’s an adjusted selection with the Magma sleeping bag:

1. Mummy Style Men's Down Sleeping Bag (20-30 degrees)

• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag
  • Temperature Rating: 15 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Weight: 1 lb. 12 oz.
  • Fill Power: 850-fill-power goose down
  • Price: $399.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

2. Less Expensive 2-Person Backpacking Tent

• REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent
  • Weight: 4 lbs. 11 oz.
  • Floor Area: 33.75 square feet
  • Peak Height: 39 inches
  • Price: $329.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)
• NEMO Dagger 2P Tent
  • Weight: 3 lbs. 14 oz.
  • Floor Area: 31.3 square feet
  • Peak Height: 42 inches
  • Price: $479.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

3. Inflatable Air Pad

• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 6.9
  • Weight: 15 oz.
  • Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 2.5 inches (Regular size)
  • Price: $239.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)
• REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 5.3
  • Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz.
  • Price: $149.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Optimal Selection within $700 Budget

1. REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag - Approximately $399.00
2. REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent - Approximately $329.00
3. REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad - Approximately $149.00

Total Estimated Cost

399.00 (sleeping bag) + 329.00 (tent) + 149.00 (air pad) = $877.00

Adjusted Selection with a Less Expensive Tent

To stay within the $700 budget, consider a more affordable tent option:

• REI Co-op Passage 2 Tent
  • Weight: 5 lbs. 7 oz.
  • Floor Area: 31.75 square feet
  • Peak Height: 40 inches
  • Price: $159.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Revised Total Estimated Cost with this tent: 399.00 (sleeping bag) + 159.00 (tent) + 149.00 (air pad) = $707.00
Since this is still slightly over budget, you can look for additional discounts or member coupons during the REI Anniversary Sale.

Final Purchase List

1. REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag
2. REI Co-op Passage 2 Tent
3. REI Co-op Flash Thermal Sleeping Pad

This selection provides a high-quality, lightweight sleeping bag and ensures you stay within your budget with a more affordable tent and pad. Enjoy your backpacking adventures!
How about if I sell my old car for $300 and raise my budget to $1000. Make sure to keep the Magma bag on the list.ChatGPT
With a new budget of $1000 and keeping the REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag on the list, we can choose higher-quality and lightweight items for the tent and sleeping pad. Here’s an optimized selection:

1. Mummy Style Men's Down Sleeping Bag (20-30 degrees)

• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag
  • Temperature Rating: 15 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Weight: 1 lb. 12 oz.
  • Fill Power: 850-fill-power goose down
  • Price: $399.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

2. 2-Person Backpacking Tent

• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
  • Weight: 2 lbs. 11 oz.
  • Floor Area: 29 square feet
  • Peak Height: 40 inches
  • Square Footage to Weight Ratio: Approximately 10.5 sq. ft./lb.
  • Price: $449.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

3. Inflatable Air Pad

• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 6.9
  • Weight: 15 oz.
  • Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 2.5 inches (Regular size)
  • Price: $239.95 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Total Estimated Cost

• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag: $399.00
• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent: $449.95
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad: $239.95

Total: $1088.90
Given this total, you are slightly over your $1000 budget. Let's look for a less expensive but still high-quality alternative for either the tent or pad to stay within budget:

Alternative Tent Option

• REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent
  • Weight: 4 lbs. 11 oz.
  • Floor Area: 33.75 square feet
  • Peak Height: 39 inches
  • Price: $329.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Revised Total Estimated Cost with this tent:

• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag: $399.00
• REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent: $329.00
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad: $239.95

Total: $967.95

Alternative Pad Option

• Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
  • R-value: 4.2
  • Weight: 1 lb. 1 oz.
  • Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 4 inches (Regular size)
  • Price: $199.00 (Sale price might be lower, check the current discount)

Revised Total Estimated Cost with this pad:

• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag: $399.00
• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent: $449.95
• Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad: $199.00

Total: $1047.95
To stay within your $1000 budget, the optimal combination would be:

Final Purchase List

1. REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag - $399.00
2. REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent - $329.00
3. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad - $239.95

Total: $967.95
This combination provides a high-quality, lightweight setup while staying within your $1000 budget. Enjoy your upgraded backpacking gear!
Can you give the total price which would account for the current discounts. ChatGPT
Searched 5 sites
With your increased budget of $1000, here's a selection of high-quality backpacking gear that fits your requirements and takes advantage of the discounts available during REI's 2024 Anniversary Sale:

1. Sleeping Bag

REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag (Men's)

• Sale Price: $297.49 (25% off from $399.95)
• Features: Down fill, rated for 16°F, 1 lb 12 oz weight, excellent warmth-to-weight ratio.

2. Tent

REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent

• Sale Price: $262.49 (25% off from $349.95)
• Features: 2-person, 3 lb 15 oz weight, spacious interior, high square footage-to-weight ratio.

3. Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad

• Sale Price: $187.46 (25% off from $249.95)
• Features: R-value of 6.9, weight 15 oz, high warmth-to-weight ratio.

Total Cost

• Magma 15 Sleeping Bag: $297.49
• Half Dome SL 2+ Tent: $262.49
• NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad: $187.46

Total: $747.44
This combination totals $747.44, leaving you with $252.56 under your $1000 budget. This allows you to either save the remaining amount or consider purchasing additional gear or accessories such as trekking poles, a backpack, or other useful items for your trips.
These prices reflect the discounts available during the REI Anniversary Sale​ (REI)​​ (Slickdeals)​​ (CleverHiker)​. This setup offers high-quality, lightweight, and efficient gear for your backpacking needs, maximizing your budget effectively.
If I switch the Half Dome tent for the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 what would be the total price taking into acount the discounts.ChatGPT
Searched 4 sites
Switching to the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 tent and keeping the REI Co-op Magma 15 sleeping bag, here’s the updated total with current discounts:

1. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent

• Discounted Price: $300 (40% off from $500)​ (REI)​​ (GearJunkie)​.

1. REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag

• Discounted Price: $279.93 (25% off from $374.95) .

1. NEMO Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad

• Discounted Price: $127.39 (25% off from $169.95) .

Total Cost Calculation

• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent: $300
• REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag: $279.93
• NEMO Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad: $127.39

Total: $707.32
With your new budget of $1000, this total of $707.32 fits well within your budget, leaving you with approximately $292.68 to spare. This combination optimizes for weight, warmth, and overall value, making it an excellent choice for your backpacking needs.
Thank you for your time. Now I can go to the store and not need to get advice from a sales person. ChatGPT
You're welcome! I'm glad I could help. With this information, you should be well-prepared to make informed decisions at the store without needing further advice from sales staff. Enjoy your shopping and your future backpacking adventures! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

(I am using a new account to post this, i have been in the infidelity subreddit since January, just didnt want this linked to my other accounts. Mods, please reach out to me for verification of being in group with other accounts if need be.)
I apologize in advance for the long post, I'm trying to edit as I go, but I am typing it quickly on my phone.
I (37F) have been with my husband (36m) for almost 13 years, married almost 12. About 2.5 years ago we hit a rough patch and stopped communicating and working together. Around that time we had his daughter (13) move in with us, she is severely depressed among other mental health disorders. When she came to us, she had been using drugs and drinking for the previous 6 months, so we set about getting her sober and working through withdrawals. School was also a constant battle, getting her to do her schoolwork and practice the things she was learning in therapy. I say we were dealing with all of this, however, it was mostly on me. My work schedule allowed me to adjust my availability to work with her therapy schedule and to alow me to be home to help with schoolwork. My husband is working third shift and unfortunately had been unable to move to a different shift, so I didn't mind carrying a lot of the load he was working to provide for the family. In the midst of this my SD ended up getting hospitalized for having a plan to unalienable her self, in dealing with the recovery from that we also had multiple deaths in the family (6 total between the 3 of us in a year and a half).
So that is the stress that caused us to begin to disconnect. My focus stopped being on our relationship and I was constantly dealing with putting out fires. My step daughter and I began butting heads, her psychiatrist attributed it to her borderline personality disorder. Our house started tuening into a war zone, I would go to my husband and ask for help and he wouldn't step in or fully have my back. My SD was opening disrespectful and aggressive towards me and we would get into verbal arguments (not in the beginning, the relationship devolved).
While all this was going on at home, my husband began to confide in a female coworker. He mentioned one day to me how he had a crush on her, I told him I wasn't comfortable with the friendship. He kept it on, eventually moving to her team to work along side her. Now he has never physically done anything, not making an excuse just painting the picture. As he confided in her and got closer to her, he began to have feelings for her. She knew/knows about his crush. He would come home constantly talking about her, and about her relationship problems (her cheating on her significant other with a different coworker). About how he would give her advice about her relationships, and so on. I still kept asking for distance.
January of this year he came to me and told me he wanted to move out. That he wasn't in love with me and wanted to see where things would go with a different coworker (who was also in a relationship). We went back and forth for a few days about how he wanted to leave before he finally told me about the other woman. We spent the night and next day talking about everything and he decided to stay and work on us. He stopped communicating with her, told her they weren't to speak to each other any longer at work and that was it. After a few weeks she got a new job and quit.
Beginning of February my SD moves back to her mother's after she had been fighting about going back for ages. My husband and I had gotten to the point with her therapists, that there was really nothing more we could give/offer her. So we let her go, hoping that things would start to improve for her if she was in an environment where she wanted to be. She has been doing slightly better, and does seem happier.
End of March/Beginning of April, I had a feeling and took a day off from work so my husband and I could talk. My husband decided to tell me he was leaving me and moving out, that he was moving to a camper on the first coworkers property and would live there. Apparently she had been in his ear the whole yime we had been working on each other, telling him to leave me. Reminding him of how his daughter and i fought, and that we would scream and call each other names. I again begged for distance between them, and asked him to stay and work on us REALLY work on us. I told him I need to get a better job so I don't have to be financially dependent on him, as I don't want him to feel obligated to give me money (he said he would if he moved out). He decided that yes, we would work on us that he would tell this coworker that we were working things out. At first they were still friends as before and then she started reminding him of all the negative things and never being supportive of him working on his marriage.
Which brings us to now, I started having a feeling again last week and asked him why he was diatant. He told me that his coworker was moving to another shift and he was sad that he was losing his friend. By this point I had had him block her on social media, and was under the impression they stopped communicating unless it was about work. Well no, she had been in his ear after about 2-3 weeks of us building back from April. So with this feeling I had, I came home early from work and he told me again that he was leaving. That he didn't love me (which he told me he said to try and make it easier, but that he still does and I know he does) and she had asked him to move to her place. He told me he loved her and wanted to see the what if. I messaged her and told her to back off from my husband and allow us to work on us, and that it was impossible with her being in his ear constantly. She went off on me and my husband and blocked us both.
We are working things out, and we both know we need this cloud of her gone before we can truly connect. So he is going into work tonight and I am just filled with so much anxiety. He is stressed out because work is going to be stressful, he thinks she is going to make his life miserable. He is going to talk to one of the managers and see of he can switch places with someone else on another team, while waiting out her going to an opposite shift (she's going to first shift, while he is still on third and in a different department.) We are also in the process of applying for new jobs for both of us, for a fresh start and more distance.
I just hate feeling like my life is up in the air, I love this man with all my heart and I am still in love with him. I told him that I will be here to support him as he starts his grieving process of losing that friendship and potential romance. (Hie screwed up is that, but at the end of this he is still my best friend and i do not want to see him hurting.) I told him I don't want us to talk about splitting up in the future while we are working on us, I only want us to be positive. I told him I know us fully working on us will only really start to happen once she is no longer in his life and he can grieve. I asked him to atleast give me that much, to atleast try and then attend marriage counseling if we hit a wall. He has agreed, but I still have so much anxiety about all this. I know it will pass, but it's just so hard.

Hello to all. As the title says - Im in search for photo camera backpack which is expandable, something that also allows me to put some clothes in it when I hike.
My photo gear is one full frame body and two lenses, but probably will add another body and lens soon. I think that something in the range 20-25l (before expansion) will do the job. Also (before expansion) it's recommend to be around the size of maximum allowed airline cabin bags - 400x300x200mm, a little big bigger is not a problem.
At the moment I think that Pgytech Onemo 2 is closest to what I'm searching for, but If someone have others suggestions, please let me know.
Also I'm in Europe, so it must be available for purchase here.

I palace chased 2 years ago and I specifically remember a website that listed what AFSCs were available at what base, but for the life of me I can’t find it again.
Interested in transferring/retraining at Keesler from my current job/unit, and I can guess they have the AFSC based on their units but I want to be sure before I contact a recruiter ya know?

Hi everyone.
Quick background to provide context:
I am a mature age mid 50's. I was medically retired 13 years ago and finding it getting tough financially. Living in Australia is getting tougher and tougher and I reside with my elderly mother for months at a time, otherwise I would be homeless as rent is too much. I spend a good time overseas and prefer a lifestyle as an expat where my money goes much further. I will end up permanently abroad at some stage. I therefore want a purely digital nomad style lifestyle with online work providing me income.
Masters of Counselling:
I have an undergraduate degree that is not relevant to entering directly into a Masters of Counselling degree, which is an area of study I feel that I would be interested in. My past career was in law enforcement, mainly in the field of detectives. Course advisors have assured me that I could enter a Masters by first completing a post grad certificate of counselling and some do not require this.
I have considered this course as I have always had quite a lot of empathy towards people, like listening to them, and also have an interest in psychology. I have dealt with many situations in my past career whereby I have dealt with victims of crime as well as offenders, where, despite having to be the one to prosecute them, I was able to listen to them, elicit information from them, and sometimes be the one to talk to them about the direction in their lives. I have also become a consumer of the mental health system for several years as I suffered due to my psychological injuries that led to my retirement. So, in a strange way, perhaps I have a potential to be a counsellor.
I spend majority of time overseas and only a few months back in Australia (where I am quite dedicated in a carer role for my mother), so dedicated face-to-face, on campus study is out of the question.
I have looked at the following institutions:
AIPC - offer a Masters of Counselling over two years full time and the physical attendance components of the course can be done at the end and back to back, allowing me to do the vast portion online without the need to keep flying back and forth at great expense. You will receive qualification for registration with ACA
APAC - they offer a Masters of Counselling over two years as well. Physical attendance is in 2nd year over two course apparently requiring 2 days a week for 16 x weeks as well as a 3 day workshop. You will receive qualification for registration with ACA
APAC also offer a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy over 2 years as well. This is a preferred degree as it qualifies you for registration with PACFA. The confusing part of this is that on their website, the course appears to be only on campus and requires fulltime attendance.
I was referred by APAC via an email to watch a YouTube video of their counselling courses. In that video, they do not mention the Masters of Counselling, rather they only mention the Counselling and Psychotherapy Masters. The video appears to allude it to being possibly an online course with a practical component that is not per subject. I could not keep returning per subject. I am confused as it seems a bend of both masters courses and I will need to clarify the differences between the website course structure compared to the video I was referred to.
Edith Cowan University - offers a Masters of Counselling and a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy too. The Masters of Counselling is available online. The other degree seems to be campus only. The qualifications for both seem to be either ACA or PACFA.
I am not sure which institution to choose, if I embark on this journey of completing a Masters Degree. I am not young and I will be close to 60 years of age if I finished it.
I need to know: what institution would those that have studies, graduated, enquired at those institutions, would you choose in my shoes?
Also, is it a realistic and viable career choice to offer counselling services online via either a private practice online setup or via employers providing work to counsellors? I have read jobs offered online and it seem that experience is a must. Employers also want those who have spent time doing face-to-face counselling work.
I have read forums of graduates (mainly of Diploma graduates) who have struggled to find work. It also seems not easy to start off with a private online practice. I do not have copywriting, webpage, business or marketing experience. And these skills seem to be important for those wanting to kick off a private practice. The main hurdle I envisage is finding, acquiring clients and keeping them.
The fact that counselling services cannot be claimed with Medicare is also a big drawback. I recall in my times when I needed help, I sought psychiatrists (for meds mainly) and psychologists for counselling and therapy. I only once used a counsellor who was also a registered psychologist. The main reason was Medicare rebate as I was struggling financially.
I see that online counselling would suit clients in remote areas and for those who do not want to be face-to-face with others.
Is the market saturated with counsellors? Am I doing the right thing gong ahead with this? I need a way to make money online. I can see it is possible with counselling. I know there are people who have strong opinions against online counselling. I also know that there are counsellors doing online work (as per their forum comments).
I would appreciate comments of any kind. Constructive, critical, whatever. Thank you for your time.
Regards.

Hi, guys! I'm back. I've just finished reading Starset's new novel, A Brief History of the Future, and i really needed to share it.
Some of you may know me from my previous posts on the Starset lore:

• In "The Starset lore Part I: Transmissions", I covered the events told in The Prox Transmissions (Starset's first novel) and linked them to the album Transmissions.
• In "The Starset lore Part II: DivisionsThe Starset lore Part II: Divisions", I tried to gather the information we had on the new storyline, mainly based on Divisions content (Horizons hadn't released yet by then) and I shared my speculations about its meaning.

Now that I've read this book, I want to sum up what we have now. Keep in mind that, for obvious reasons, this post is all spoiler content. If you plan to read the book(s) I encourage you to do so, because I'm unveiling some of the main "plot-twists" in the second book. I won't be writing a literal summary of the book's plot (I will focus on the content more than in the "drama"), but key elements of it will appear. Also, I'm taking for granted you are already familiar with the contents in The Prox Transmissions -if not, I recommend you reading my post or just dropping this post altogether and go read the book!
If you have already read the books, don't plan to read them or don't care about the spoilers, stay with me along this long post because you will discover much about Divisions, Horizons... and what's coming next!!
Let's go then!
In a unknown year the novel starts in a world dominated by a state called the New East. it's not explicit in the book, but we have reasons to identify the New East with China: it is a current superpower and the powerful people in control have Chinese names. This state is governed by a Governing Committee, composed by Ministers that stay in charge for 5 years, with an exception: the Minister of Security, also known as MinSec. He is the head of the New East's secret police and he is to remain in charge for life.
Prior to 2024, Aston Wise (remember he was one of the protagonists of the previous novel!) is locked up by the US Government. They force him to create the BMI and its Architecture. In 2024, as I have said, the New East manages to obtain it and the big war starts. This part of the story is also explained deeper in a video (called "Initial Debriefing", available in Starset's YouTube channel since September 9th, 2021), with some minor incongruencies:

In the year 2010, the US Defense Advance Research Projects Agency -or DARPA- began work on a neural link system known as the "Brain Machine Interface" developed under the highest levels of secrecy. This technology was to be used in covert espionage campaigns with the goal of giving the US a major advantage in the ever-growing cyber warfare battlefield. The intention was to use the "BMI" on unsuspecting foreign agents, giving US Intelligence a remote line into their minds. Launched in 2020 to great success, the BMI provided a window into the intentions and secrets of numerous potential adversaries. Then, in 2021, a botched operation allowed this technology to fall into the hands of an undisclosed state who would then use it agains the US itself for over a decade. This state -which came to be known as the New East- used this technology to syphon intellectual property and assert control over the US, allowing it to rise swiftly as a global superpower. In the early 2030s, the crippled US launched an attack to the New East. This was quickly thwarted. However, as the New East was fully aware and prepared, in the end, the US and its allies capitulated and became known simply as the New West. Citizens of the New West, now mostly impoverished laborers, were offered BMI implantation -sold on the wonders of its amazing benefits. Eventually though, all were made to comply. Only then did the true goals of the New East become apparent.

The New West is a de facto and de iure protectorate. The New West has its own local police -that dealt with murder and robbery-, but the military and, most important, the Civil Authorities (CA), are controlled by MinSec -focused on thought crime.
Soon after the end of the war, some people were drafted for the reclamation in Virginia by the New East army. This was a forced-labor suicide mission because it was a fallout zone. The goal was the recovery of documents from the US, such as blueprints for advanced weapons and intel. Those who survived, developed NeuroTIDS (neural tissue interface degeneration syndrome) because of the radiation.
Once in control of the US (now New West), the New East implanted into all citizens the BMI. Now, people deal with three layers of reality: unaltered reality (UR), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Considering the BMI, there are three states:

• BMI glowing white (normal state: people are in UR with elements of AR).
• BMI glowing blue (also called frosting: people are in VR having some pleasant experience, while looking absent and apathetic in the outside). See an example of person frosting in the Diving Bell music video.
• BMI glowing red (also called supplication).

(There also exists the Everything Machine in this storyline. Indeed, people ate only printed food, as real food as reserved for the New East).
On top of this, there’s an intelligent algorythm or artificial intelligence in the Architecture, called the Overseer. It is capable of detecting thought crimes by accessing a person's sensory input and also altering their perceptions (for example, blurring texts from banned books). When a thought crime is detected, CAs intervene and turn the perpetrator into a supplicant. Supplicants are stuck in VR prisons while their bodies wander in the streets or are collected and put into "corrals". See an example of a supplication facility in Where the Skies Ends music video.
The protectorate of the New East upon the New West is mantained thanks to the Quantum Comunicator, which keeps both connected and also connected to the Architecture
On the other hand, there's a rebel network still in function. They manage to meet and develop their plans by modding their BMIs, so that they become undetectable under the eyes of the Overseer. Their plan is to trap the MinSec and use their credentials to get access to the Architecture and destroy it from the inside.
(In Manifest music video you can see examples of people frosting, people supplicated, the modding minor surgery, the rebels, the CAs using their "freezing" weapons and supplicating civilians and a bigwig from the New East, maybe the MinSec himself).
Also, it is said that the New East didn't manage to conquer all the Old West (US) territories. There's rumours about the socalled Western Territories, free land where some former rebels already live, though its real existence it's in never confirmed in book. In The Breach music video we can see how a family leaving in the New West takes the opportunity of escaping into the Western Territories during some sort of shutdown.
The New West capital is established in Philadelphia, where the events in A Brief History of the Future are set. Here's the Quantum Communication Center and the New West Center for Advanced Innovation (CAI), where the most brilliant programming students are sent to develop their skills and work for the New West/East. One of this students is one of the protagonists of this book, Thomas Bell (again, someone whose name we are already familiar...), who quickly proves to be the best one and gets to be chosen as the Director's assistant. Eventually we get to discover the Director is Aston Wise and later on we find out he is the Architect himself.
A feature or app of the BMI that will reveal crucial to the plot is the Shadowcast: one can frost but, instead of being conscious in a VR, "enters" inside a celebrity's mind for an hour and experiences all they are experiencing live (the user is passive and can only perceive, but not intervene or influence the shadowcast celebrity into doing anything). You can see an example of this in Symbiotic music video, where the user is finally able to successfully Occupy the body of the celebrity. In the book, when this happens, the person occupied has their BMI turned purple.
In the book, Occupation will be a tool used by Bell and Wise, but also by the government, in an attempt of using the supplicated bodies to their own purposes. The original project launched by the New East and commissioned to the Director of the CAI (Aston Wise), was called by Wise himself 'Project X'. New East wanted to present it to the citizens as a way of emancipating from work: while working, you can let yourself be occupied by the Overseer, who wil perform your job while you can be having fun in VR. In Icarus music video you can see an ad made by the New East to promote the "benefits" of this technology (called Werk here); the other ads are based on previous BMI technology (AR, VR and Shadowcast). (Fun fact: have you noticed that the actor in 3:12 is the same from the Ricochet music video?).
As I said in the beginning, it is not my goal to sum up the book's plot and even though I have already spoiled you much info and some plot-twists, I'm not telling you here how the story of the protagonists develops and how it ends. However, I can't refrain from telling you this: the last page of the book has a QR that redirects to a video that has me really excited.
In the video, we see a man. He tells us it is 2048. In spring 2026, the New East took over the US. But... guess who's back! Oh, yes, the Order! Or rather they were there all along. In fact, the man who's talking to us is Stephen Browning! On July 4th of 2026, after the New East invasion, the Order tried to launch a spacerocket to get to "a lonely planet" (Prox!), but it was intercepted by the New East and then the army destroyed their base, so they lost all hope in a future on another planet. However, they managed to hide a "time mechanism" (I guess the same they had in The Prox Transmissions) and, finally, sent a message to 2024, warning us about this future that awaits us. Then he sais:

Dear Order friends, the time has finally arrived. We're headed to space. We're going go Prox.

This announcement matches Starset's video from six months ago ("It begins. And it ends. Now."), where we see images of astronauts and spacerockets, evoking space travel. Wow! Did you miss that "space-y" aesthetic, plots and sound from Transmissions and Vessels? Because it sounds like we're getting them back! Note that at the end of this video, the three dots of the BMI are occupied by three symbols:

• The bottom one is the symbol of the Order, appears at the beginning of each chapter in The Prox Transmissions.
• The middle one is the symbol of Divisions album, I'd say it's a symbol of the rebels.
• The top one is... unknown? It is quite similar to me to the symbol in Faultline, but I guess it represents the "following chapter"? Who knows.

It also matches the music video for Starset's last single, Brave New Word! And there's more news: the end of the video linked in A Brief History Of the Future ends with a "to be continued in Spring 2025".
So... Again, there are some questions left unanswered (and I love that!): How are both books linked? Are they the same Aston Wise and Thomas Bell, but in an alternative timeline? From where will the story continue? (The Order in 2048 colonising Prox?). I'm soooo excited to learn what's coming next and to listen Starset's next album (I love Brave New World).
Let me know about your impressions, opinions, theories... feel free to add any info I could have missed, to correct any piece I could be mistaken about, etc. Thank you so much for your attention (I literally created this account only to write these Starset lore posts I feel very invested to and English isn't even my first or second language), I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful!!

the cops took her, the 13 yro walked to his uncles, and the 17 yro was at his cousins till the next day.
we took them to our rented house in the next county. previous tenants tore down all the doors, left holes in the walls, took off some outlet covers? working with landlord to fix but between our jobs and his jobs its a long term project.
we are prepared to take them long term if needed (mom arrested over the weekend, no updates besides what they got her for) since uncle couldnt help much beyond feeding 13yro and taking him to his brother. they have a full house rn so they couldnt keep him for long, and the moms brother has been MIA for months.
at this point we dgaf about mom, i just wanna know what we need to get custody of it comes to that besides a less trappy house. we both are employed and had already planned to take the 17yro for the summer so he could find a summer job. were working on getting my boyfriends insurance back so were going to social services this week anyways. gonns try again for food stamps but their mom has the 17 and 13 yro claimed on her EBT and we dont have custody so idk what we can do w that?
mom also wasnt happy when she called and we told her we were taking the boys but we cant find any other family to take them (17 yro doesnt know his dad, 13yros dad is an older man who walked out and has cancer. no ones heard from him) so it really is just us that could take them. the only other person we know we didnt try bc its their retiree great aunt who also has cancer.
do we need to do anything to mitigate possible legal issues on our side or should we just take them to social services with us?

Don't know where to start. I will keep it short and simple because I'm not good at explaining things.
I'm a 24-year-old IT student specializing in Unity C# development since the beginning of university, and I'm currently in my 7th semester. During the COVID period, my dad lost his job, and he was the only one supporting our family. So, I had to step up. I knew programming but didn't have any job experience. Fortunately, my uncle had a friend who runs a software house and was starting a new game development startup. I joined him and started working. It's been 2.5 years, and I've gained plenty of experience.
However, there's been a lot of office politics from day one. There are two guys who are very jealous of me because, even though I'm junior compared to them, I get a better salary. I've been ignoring them as much as possible, but now things are changing again. The office is facing financial issues due to industry changes. The product we're working on is losing money, and the owner is micromanaging everything. Even though they know who is responsible, they aren't making any decisions. There's no policy or structure in my office, and it's becoming a headache. I work day and night, hoping things will get better, but they haven't. It's basically torture to go there and work, and I'm doing extra tasks beyond development because they aren't hiring more people.
I need some guidance on how to survive this situation. If I leave this job, there are no jobs currently available in the market due to a recession. Should I leave Unity game development and switch careers?
I'm not good at explaining, so please forgive me.

Link to the group: https://discord.gg/hYakTzKz3k
💯 ( 2,500+ Successful Orders 💪 ) Owner: qsafeint (old tag: QsA Feint#8588)
We offer TOP quality Boosting services [League of Legends, TFT], done by professional and experienced Master ~ Challenger boosters.
✅ CHEAP, QUICK, CLEAN jobs only
✅ ALL REGIONS AVAILABLE
✅ Everything Included: DuoQ, Streaming, VPN, OfflineMode
✅ Well-Vouched - perfect reputation - 100% positive reviews
Also Available:
Coaching Sessions - Grandmaster ~ Challenger professional coaches:
pre-game knowledge: (champ select + loading screen)
in-game Macro (theoretical) + Micro (mechanical)
post-game we go over all the mistakes in replay
at the end of the session you will get everything summarized in a notepad
Reddit Vouch Threads: ( Definitely worth a click⭐)
https://www.reddit.com/Lolboosting/comments/11aw98k/vouch_thread_for_ugreatgamer77/
https://www.reddit.com/Lolboosting/comments/11513rk/vouch_feint_boosting_vouch_thread_7/

Introduction: Online Work for Mothers: Get Paid for Their Opinions :
In the digital age, mothers are discovering new and innovative ways to contribute financially while staying at home. One of the most engaging and flexible opportunities available is getting paid for sharing opinions. This burgeoning field offers mothers a unique way to leverage their insights and experiences, turning thoughts into income.
The Rise of Online Opinion Jobs :
The internet has revolutionized how businesses collect data. Companies are eager to understand consumer behavior, preferences, and trends. This demand has given rise to various online platforms where individuals, particularly mothers, can voice their opinions on products, services, and concepts. This feedback is invaluable for companies aiming to refine their offerings and stay competitive.
Benefits of Getting Paid for Your Opinions :
Earning money for your opinions comes with a host of benefits. It’s flexible, allowing you to work from anywhere at any time. There are no strict deadlines or quotas, providing a stress-free way to earn extra cash. Plus, it can be quite fulfilling to know that your insights are helping shape future products and services.
How to Get Started :
Starting is simple and requires minimal effort. Begin by researching reputable survey sites and market research panels. Look for platforms with positive reviews and clear payment policies. Sign up, complete your profile, and you’re ready to start taking surveys and participating in studies.
Finding Legitimate Survey Sites :
Not all survey sites are created equal. It’s essential to find legitimate ones to avoid scams. Look for well-known platforms like Survey Junkie and Makesurveymoney .. These sites offer a variety of surveys and pay reliably. Check online reviews and forums for user experiences before committing.

• Survey Junkie : Survey Junkie The best Survey Site to get paid for your opinion For Moms, Complete your profile toget matching surveys y Take online surveys anywhere, anytime, and on any device. Earn points by successfully completing each survey, Redeem your points instantly for cash via PayPal or e-Giftcards “The surveys aren't complicated.” You Can eran 800$/ Mounth START ERAN NOW.
• Makesurveymoney : MakeSurveyMoney is a platform where your opinion matter and can earn YOU cash. your opinion are valuable and you can monetize your time by taking part in our surveys. Start now From your Home to voice your opinion and get rewarded with MakeSurveyMoney, You Can eran 500$/ Mounth, START ERAN NOW.

Understanding Market Research Panels :
Market research panels often provide higher payouts than standard surveys. These panels involve more in-depth studies and may require a bit more time. However, they can be more rewarding. Nielsen, Pinecone Research, and Ipsos i-Say are excellent examples of reliable panels that value thorough feedback.
Balancing Work and Family Life :
Working from home requires a balance between professional tasks and family responsibilities. Set specific times for completing surveys to ensure you’re not overwhelmed. Communicate with your family about your work schedule to create an environment conducive to productivity. Flexibility is key to maintaining harmony.
Success Stories: Moms Making a Difference :
Many mothers have successfully integrated online opinion jobs into their daily routines. These success stories are inspiring. Take, for instance, Jessica, a mother of two who earns a steady income by participating in surveys during her kids' nap times. Or Maria, who uses her evenings to contribute to focus groups, earning enough to pay for family vacations. These real-life examples showcase the potential of turning opinions into financial contributions.
Conclusion :
Getting paid for your opinions is a viable and flexible option for mothers looking to earn extra income. It’s a unique way to influence products and services while maintaining a balance between work and family life. As more mothers embrace this opportunity, the impact of their collective voice will continue to shape the marketplace. Embark on this journey today and start turning your valuable insights into earnings.

Dear Community Members,
I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to inform you about a comprehensive resource I have developed concerning the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). Understanding the NFI's role and its implications for individuals working multiple jobs, particularly within the public sector, can be quite challenging. To address this, I have compiled two detailed documents.
The first document provides an in-depth look at the NFI, including the nature of the checks they perform, the methodology behind these checks, and specific Freedom of Information (FOI) inquiries I have made. This document also incorporates valuable insights gathered from various discussions and personal experiences shared within our community, making it a definitive guide for anyone considering Overlapping Employment (OE).
The second document is a meticulously curated list of over 100 companies that report to the NFI. This list has been verified through a formal request to the NFI, ensuring its accuracy. It serves as an essential tool for those looking to navigate OE without conflicting with organizations monitored by the NFI.
Should you be interested in obtaining these documents, please feel free to direct message me. While there is a nominal fee associated with the documents, I assure you that the insights they provide are well worth it. Additionally, I am available to address any queries you may have moving forward once purchased.
All the best with OE!

I’m in a new country, surrounded by not-so-familiar culture and unable to find a job. There’s of course the burden of the university, its fees and everything on me. Honestly though, thank fuck for the fact that I have a cousin that I’m living with, and I’m not paying for anything as of now. But, I would’ve been on the streets by the end of the first week if not.
Idk man, this just sounds like a rant at this point.
Well, more about me - I’m a normal guy who loves music, anime, F1, tv shows and every other boring thing that would define me as just another guy.
I don’t ghost people. I’m big on texting and I’m always available for a chat. You can usually expect very quick replies from me.

x-post from personalfinancecanada
Messed up really bad, can’t sleep at night… One question.
Hey, so please don’t call me an idiot, I already know I am. I just need some advice because nobody around me is financially or legally literate.
I’m 24M international student living with parents (Ontario). I have massive debt (around 7k Credit Card, 6k Personal Loan from a shady loan company, 2k in unpaid Parking Tickets), and my Canadian status is set to expire near the end of the year. I may have to leave the country before my debt can be paid off.
I’ve been looking for work since I got payed off in 2023 and have had literally zero luck as it seems work in my field of study is completely dried up and going to AI/experienced individuals. I currently work a dead end retail job that pays me barely enough to keep gas in the vehicle so I can take myself to work. I’m living paycheck to paycheck and find it extremely hard to keep up with my debt obligations.
I want to know, in a worst case scenario where I end up losing status and leaving Canada before being able to pay off my obligations, what will happen? Will my parents incur my debt, am I going to be put on a most wanted list?
Please, I’m actually really scared and still have around 7 months to get my act straight. I haven’t been eating and I’ve lost a heck of a lot of weight and sleep because of this. I’ve applied to jobs literally every single day but to no avail, not even a callback.

Just a vent but looking for advice.
I (35M) and wife (34F) - we have a 17 month old son. We both have full time careers. Wife works from home, I have a blue collar career with a rotating schedule. My wife works 4 11 hour days a week. She has weekends off, and gets 1 off day during the week that she usually gets to choose, which we will try to schedule for when I work a day tour. Sometimes my days are on the weekend so we are covered, but sometimes my 2 days are during the week. I also work nights, but we are able to get by for that.
I make good money, my job has OT opportunities, and I have a side hustle, so I make enough money to support us. I like having our 2 incomes, but we can get by with just me working. My job is a set rotation schedule so I can't change the hours. I can swap with other co workers but that's not always a guarantee because I need to find someone to swap with that week where it works for them too.
Child care issues / options:
Family - my inlaws are OUT!!! They are no good to me, and my MIL has 5 other grandkids with bad parents that need her more, they barely can get by with both parents working and they need her more than we do, and she prioritizes them. So even if I wanted my MIL to help, she couldn't.
My parents live 2 minutes away, but now they are looking to move away. This week, we needed child care 1 day, and my father told me they can't committ because he needs to wait to see when realtor can show him more properties. This really annoyed me and I was in a scramble trying to swap my day with xo workers. Im not trying to stop my parents from moving, just annoyed my father couldn't give me 1 day, then when realtor does call he simply tells realtor "I'm watching my grandson Tuesday, but I'm available all other 6 days to look at homes".
Day Care - day care is $1550 minimum a month for son to go there the 2 days. This is out. I'm not ready to drop my son off anywhere / he isn't. And for that price, my wife should just not work because that's a good chunk of her salary. Yes I would be paying for that too, but my point is we would be better off just son staying home, wife not working and me working extra to make up the loss of her wages.
Wife's job - I keep asking my wife to talk to her manager and let her manager know what is going on, and for some reason my wife isn't doing this. Her manager already said she can't work part time at her position. But her company has other positions .. so I want to know can they offer her another job title that is part time, can my wife work Saturdays sometimes so when I'm off a weekend she can take 2 days off during week but work on weekend..
My wife wants to work, and doesn't want to quit her job. So that's why single working parent isn't the answer now.
We are trying to hire a baby sitter. But that is just not easy. No one wants to work these days and it's hard for me to trust someone too.
I'm frustrated that I'm worried but my wife doesn't seem worried. She thinks my parents aren't really going to move (even though they have an offer on their home) and I don't know if she fully understands how annoying it is for me when my dad has to out entire week on hold because he is waiting for a realtor to call him. My dad is a good person but has OCD ways where he just has to make everything 10x harder than it has to be and I'm just done and don't want to deal with this behavior anymore.
I'm communicating with people trying to hire a baby sitter. But I just don't know what to do.