This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Something on your mind? Chat about it here.
For those of us still frantically shopping for gifts, we may be down to Amazon and in-store purchases/pickups at this point. One of my favorite things to gift are glasses from The History Company — I've written before about how they're great for the drinker as well as the movie/history buff. I especially love that you only have to commit to two of them at a time!
These glasses are inspired by the Algonquin Round Table, which of course reminds me of Dorothy Parker's poem about martinis (which, should you care to frame it, you can get it at Etsy in this digital download). The glasses are $29.95 at Amazon.
Psst: stay tuned for year in review posts next week, as well as (hopefully) a look at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale, which traditionally starts around December 24. Happy holidays to everyone — stay healthy out there!
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
Sales of note for 10.24.24
- Nordstrom – Fall sale, up to 50% off!
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event, 30% off! Suits are included in the 30% off!
- Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, and redeem Stylecash!
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – Friends & Family event, 30% off sitewide.
- J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Up to 30% off on new arrivals
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 40% off entire purchase, plus free shipping no minimum
- White House Black Market – Buy more, save more; buy 3+ get an extra 50% off
Sales of note for 10.24.24
- Nordstrom – Fall sale, up to 50% off!
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event, 30% off! Suits are included in the 30% off!
- Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, and redeem Stylecash!
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – Friends & Family event, 30% off sitewide.
- J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Up to 30% off on new arrivals
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 40% off entire purchase, plus free shipping no minimum
- White House Black Market – Buy more, save more; buy 3+ get an extra 50% off
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Anon
Has anybody discovered a good browser extension for never having to see a popup about cookie selection on any website ever again?
Anon
Oh man I would love that.
Cat
omg I would love this. “Essential cookies only” forever.
Cat
sooo this inspired me to click around. Has anyone used Ninja Cookie or Consent Manager or Minimal Consent for Chrome?
Anon
haha! Is it bad that my first thought was, “what’s wrong with recipe ideas?” Clearly I have been baking too much this week…
Anon
Ok, in my holiday baking frame of mind, I thought this post was about actual, delicious cookies and I was mystified by the level of cookie selection hatred and wondering why no one is asking for my cookie preferences. Yes, I need a break.
Anon
I would like to know your cookie preferences!
Anon
One of the strangest and most unnerving aspects of this pandemic is the juxtaposition of normalcy and extremely abnormal situations. Almost two years into this thing and I still wake up sometimes and feel like I’m having a really bad dream that I’ll laugh about at the office tomorrow (oh, wait, there is no longer an office to go to…).
How do you deal with the uncertainty and weirdness?
BeenThatGuy
Pandemic life is stressful. In before times, I would have described myself as rigid and inflexible. The healthiest way for me to deal with it is to control the things I can and let go of what I can’t. So now I’m more fluid and have learned to pivot when needed. None of that is easy.
Cat
I’m gradually adjusting but still generally pissy about losing the ability to look forward to things. Family wedding this summer? Who knows. A trip planned for Monday that requires a PCR test Friday? Also who knows… but I’ve swapped to KN95’s for my last errands, that’s for sure.
Walnut
The testing in the middle of travel is such a stupid amount of stress. Like, what if I can’t get home? What if the people I’ve been visiting also have to quarantine for two weeks? A fast recounting of every possible exposure over the previous days. Second guessing removing your mask for a moment when you’re offered a chocolate sample in the cute shop you walked into. OMG IS THE TEST READY YET?
anonymous
I’ve just accepted the new normal. I go about my normal activities, but now I wear a mask. My life post-covid isn’t that different from before. The main difference is that I now WFH full time but that would have happened anyway b/c my company closed several smaller offices around the country to save on real estate costs. I don’t really have a lot of friends so it’s not like I was going out a lot before. I was at home before on Friday night and I’m at home now. I don’t have kids, so I didn’t have to deal with online schooling, etc. We didn’t travel much this year because my husband got a new job and didn’t have a lot of vacation to use.
Anon
I developed a chronic illness a long time ago, so it’s nothing new to have to keep going about life while dealing with uncertainty. I already significantly reduced travel and social activities because I never know how I’ll feel and so much of my limited energy has to go toward my job and close family. It’s not ideal, but there’s not much alternative to just getting on with things the best I can, so I don’t worry about it much anymore. I’m much happier when I focus on the things I can do and enjoy.
Ribena
You’re right about the juxtaposition being weird. I just finished packing my suitcase to go and see my parents and it was so odd to see a box of rapid tests right next to the trashy paperback I’m planning to read in front of their fireplace in my bag.
Anonymous
Can’t tell if I’m happy or sad to read that so many people had so little change that pandemic life is ok for them. I had a great job I loved, and while I remain employed, I hate wfh to the point where I’m in therapy. I lost a close family member. I lost most friends after socializing went totally online. I realized some friends were really just work acquaintances. My world is so small now, it seems like a I’ve lost fundamental parts of me that I’ll never get back.
Every single day has been a struggle to do better, to find the optimism, to be ok, to try not to think about my life before and how much I lost. Every night I close my eyes and I wish I was home, but I am home. I’m just eternally homesick for the version of the world that I could make my way in. And that world is gone.
Anonymous
Hugs. I feel the same way. You’re not alone.
Anonymous
I am miserable but I try not to show it. The truth is that I worked insane hours with no vacations at a company that eliminated my position once Covid came (revenue was trade shows). And I feel robbed. And it’s not Covid’s fault, but I developed a serious autoimmune illness this past year. So combined that has me home and grateful for my new WfH job even though it is a MAJOR slog. Alone with my thoughts, I start wondering how limited my future will now be. I feel like I’ve gone from looking forward all the time to looking behind. I read this by Amber Sparks (Ambernoelle on twitter) the other day and I think it captures the feeling so well…
Hi Covid here
I have eaten
the years
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for other shit
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so full of days
MagicUnicorn
Thank you for sharing this.
Anonymous
I probably should have said that’s a riff off of a Williams Carlos Williams poem. But still captures it so well…
Ribena
Big hugs. I find myself increasingly blue, just missing my life.
Anon
What is everyone making for Christmas? Looking for inspiration of what to make for Christmas lunch/brunch!
Anon
Any recommendations for fun YouTube channels about beauty, home decor, or art and culture? I love going down YouTube rabbit holes. Currently spending time on HGTV, Food 52, NYT Cooking, and Lisa Eldridge (makeup) but would love other recs! I enjoy having these on in the background while I do chores.
Anon
so sorry, nesting fail. I’m making pasta and fish for Christmas Eve dinner (Italian Catholic family)!
Anon
Oooo, seven fishes? Us too. Love double shampooing to get the smell of baccala out of my curly hair.
Anon
DH is making Christmas dinner and I told him all I care about is having green bean casserole. He decided he wants to make pernil, which I am definitely looking forward to. It will be an eclectic dinner for sure!
Cat
We spend Christmas Eve as just us, and are planning on nibbling a charcuterie board (thanks DiBruno’s!) and sipping Champagne while exchanging our gifts to each other.
Christmas Day – my family does a big brunch so we’ll be having ham, an egg casserole, homemade cinnamon rolls, an enormous fruit salad, etc. Drooling!
Anonymous
Fondue!
anon
A couple of years ago, DH and I made this Cheesy Breakfast Egg and Polenta casserole, and it was easy to make and delicious. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019766-cheesy-breakfast-egg-and-polenta-casserole
This year, we’re having a big Christmas Eve dinner with one side of the family and a big Christmas breakfast with another side. We decided to make a large, festive salad for lunch (baby kale, spiced nuts, apples, blue cheese, some type of homemade dressing, topped with pomegranate seeds). For dinner, DH and I have a tradition of sharing a cheese and charcuterie board from our local cheese shop.
Anon
My sister is in town and gluten free, so brunch is mini crust less quiches (Food and Wine has a recipe that is custard and silky and perfect without crust) and smoked salmon with buckwheat blinis. And probably a fruit spread.
Dinner is roast duck, potatoes, Brussels and glazed carrots. I’m in charge of brunch and BF is handling dinner.
pugsnbourbon
Aw now I’m kicking myself for not having it together enough to make smoked salmon dip. Oh well. I’m bringing champagne :)
Anon
Champagne for the win!
If anyone is interested, we also have a great salmon mousse recipe. It is just a poached salmon filet (I usually do a half pound), a package of cream cheese, a couple tablespoons of the poaching liquid, a couple tablespoons of sour cream, about a tablespoon of diced shallot, a little lemon juice , pinch of salt, and dill. Blitz in the food processor and chill. It’s divine. You could get fancy and mold it, but I am fine serving it out of a bowl :)
Anon
I wrote this down. Thanks!
Anonymous
For Christmas brunch, we do a sausage breakfast casserole with gouda cheese grits and an apple cranberry crisp every year (yes, I’m very southern). I don’t usually eat pork, but I make an exception for Christmas breakfast casserole. Christmas Eve dinner is crab soup. Christmas Day dinner is usually prime rib with a spring salad and garlic mashed potatoes.
Anon
My go to for years has been Smitten Kitchen’s spinach and cheese strata. You can make it ahead, stick it the fridge, then just throw it in the oven Christmas morning.
Anon
We have always done oyster stew on the 24th and a goose or prime rib on the 25th. Last year we did lasagna instead of the goose/prime rib because it was hard to find the meat we wanted. This year we’re trying a ham.
So, on the 24th, oyster stew + potato soup for my vegetarian daughter.
On the 25th, ham, sweet potato casserole (which daughter could honestly live on forever), haricots vert with almonds, and Mrs Reagan’s Persimmon Pudding.
On the morning of the 25th, I usually do one of those bread/egg/cheese/bacon/scallion casseroles that I make the night before and pop into the oven when everyone is opening gifts.
Ribena
Vegetarian Wellington… and a Christmas Colin the Caterpillar cake!
Suzanne Stanton
In Aus my family and many others bizarrely have a hot roast- turkey/ham/potatoes etc etc followed by a hot fruit pudding with custard and cream. I dream of being the cold seafood family with pavlova- but that’s for the rest of the holidays!
Anon
We are making BHG farmers casserole and good old pillsbury cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Cinnamon rolls will go in while we unwrap presents and the egg dish can be made in advance and reheated. Coffee and bloody Mary’s to go with it.
My brother is hosting dinner and doing the usual (ham, turkey, casseroles, etc). We are bringing premade pie and wine. Normally I love to bake fresh pies but not feeling it this year. I have so much going on during holiday “break” that I don’t want to bake pies from scratch.
Anon
Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls but with a cream cheese frosting/icing.
Anon
Rock Cornish game hen, with savory stuffing (INSIDE the bird –the ONLY place for it!), with mashed sweet potato and sauteed Brussels sprouts. I think I’ll make a cream of mushroom soup to start. I’m also going to do a cheese and smoked salmon plate for mid-day, since “dinner” will be around 3 or 4 pm. Breakfast: either ham ‘n’ egg cup baked in the oven or waffles. Rosé champagne and Beaujolais will appear in my glass at different times of the day.
Oh, and it’s just me and the dog, so all this is for ME!
Anonymous
My contribution is the NYT Cooking recipe of Vegetarian Chile with Winter Vegetables.
Anonymous
What are your favorite cheeses to buy at the grocery store for a fancy cheese plate? Vegetarian in-laws coming in 3, 2…
anon
I know it’s cliché, but I still love baked brie with jam and some toasted almonds. It’s easy, melty, and delicious.
Anonymous
St. Angel
Gruyere
Aged Cheddar
Something stinkier and soft from Cowboy Creamery
Valdeon
Anonon
My favorite is the trio of Spanish cheese from trader joe’s. Not very fancy, but whatever.
Anon
Brie, burrata, cheddar, Gouda, gruyeres. Kroger sells Murray’s cheese, and it tastes as good to me as the stuff you can buy shipped from NY.
United Airlines has a really good smoked gouda dip in their on-board snack boxes. It’s made by Glacier Ridge Farms and you can buy it on A-zon.
pugsnbourbon
+1 to the Murray’s cheese department.
Anon
Manchego! I always make sure there’s a goat cheese option, since cow products mess with my stomach.
Anonymous
Chevre, stilton, oozing brie, pecorino and a red mould one (the ones that smells likefarts).
Gigi
The Professor’s Brie from Wegman’s
Jz
La Tur
Anonymous
True supermarket cheese? Cabot extra sharp cheddar or a goat cheese. If you have a Trader Joe’s it’s all pretty great. I love their triple French Brie. Fancy supermarket? Cypress grove midnight moon and old Amsterdam aged Gouda.
Anon
I do a lot of cheese plates – I used to live up the street from a famous cheesemonger, so I learned what to set out from them:
A crumbly chevre
A rinded loose cheese like camembert
Manchego always
optional veined cheese like stilton or bleu cheese (not everyone is a fan)
Flatbreads with seeds or baguette slices
Almonds (I really like marcona almonds for this)
Mixed olives (castelveltrano and kalamata)
Quince paste/membrillo
Sliced green apple
berries or grapes or citrus wedges
Ribena
Make sure to double check the cheeses are vegetarian – some contain rennet which isn’t.
Anonymous
Or make sure not to mention that when you serve it.
Anonymous
Ugh. Really? You would do that to a friend or family member?
Anon
This is a pretty terrible response.
LaurenB
Going vegetarian isn’t a health concern the way that, say, being lactose-intolerant is. It’s not the worst thing in the world, honestly. Most “vegetarians” I know are just trying to maximize health, but don’t get bent out of shape if they aren’t 100% perfect.
Anon
Reposting because of my nesting fail above:
Any recommendations for fun YouTube channels about beauty, home decor, or art and culture? I love going down YouTube rabbit holes. Currently spending time on HGTV, Food 52, NYT Cooking, and Lisa Eldridge (makeup) but would love other recs! I enjoy having these on in the background while I do chores.
anonymous
Some beauty channels:
Emily Noel
Hot & Flashy
Risa Does Makeup
Abbey Yung
Tati
Jessica Braun
Allie Glines
Anon 2.0
I like Spain on a Fork for cooking videos. I’ve been super into cooking Mexican food lately and have been watching Cooking con Claudia, Views from the Road, Abuela’s Kitchen and Cooking with Gloria.
Other Youtube I like though this may or may not fit in your criteria above (and I watch some, ahem, weird things at times). Jen Chapin – cooking/housekeeping/kid videos but not a SAHM mom which I love. Takes a lot of flack for doing sponsored videos but I admire the way she treats the income opportunity.
Adam the Woo – I skip his Disney content but enjoy his videos on small off the beaten path towns
This is Dan Bell – Cool videos of abandoned malls and their history
Bright Sun Films – Content about buildings, ruins, etc
Mama Doctor Jones – Ah-mazing! I love this lady
Dr. Rupa Wong – She is also a doctor and has great videos regarding you eyes. Also, working mom with a doctor husband.
Worried
I like chateau diaries on YouTube, nami’s life, and Audrey coyne, as well as how to renovate a chateau without killing your partner. I watch them all,periodically.
Anonymous
So does anyone else just feel like Omicron keeps creeping closer and closer and it’s just a matter of time (like days? weeks?) before we’re all positive?
Anon
I do, but it’s 1-2 weeks after schools reopen for us. Until then, stockpiling . . .
No Face
Yes, but that is how I’ve felt for a long time. The risk is always there at different levels, and I have to just make my decisions and live with them.
Anon
Yes, but I also thought this about Delta (particularly before boosters when there were lots of breakthroughs) and it never happened.
Anonymous
Yes. I already had a recent close contact. I am just assuming Omicron but it doesn’t matter. My whole friend group has been isolating this week but we socialized outside and so far only the one positive. I almost gave him a ride home but didn’t.
Anonymous
Yes but I’m in NYC.
Anon
Same. I feel like everyone has it but fortunately it sounds like it’s pretty mild. I’m not getting my hopes up or assuming it’s nothing, just trying to be optimistic. I’m also boosted and WFH.
kitten
Yes, I only leave my house under the assumption that I’ll be exposed. I don’t think we’ll all be positive at the same time but the majority will encounter covid at some point whether they know it or not. I was heavily exposed to covid by a boyfriend a few months ago and felt run down for a few days but antigen tests came back negative. Didn’t bother with a PCR because I didn’t need to leave the house anyways. I haven’t tested positive since the first time I had covid in 2020 but I’ve definitely encountered the virus multiple times.
Based on the numbers coming out of SA and UK, Omicron is either way milder or populations are more immune now.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/22/health/omicron-delta-covid-hospitalization-risk/index.html
Anon
I heard it’s not any milder for those who do end up in the hospital, so I’m guessing “more immune,” but it’s just a guess. We’ll know more soon.
Anon
Populations are much more immune. Studies suggest it’s not intrinsically milder, and may be more severe in unvaxxed kids.
Anonymous
Yes. After having no real close calls for a year and a half and not really knowing more than a handful of people who’ve gotten it, three people close to me are either positive or presumed positive in the last two days.
Anonymous
That’s exactly where I am. I’ve mostly avoided it entirely for the last 20 months. All the sudden several people from different parts of my life are positive. Not to mention several family members in other parts of the country. It just feels everywhere.
Betsy
Yes, and I haven’t felt that way up until now. I’m not sure if it’s just that I’m burned out on precautions after almost two years of doing my absolute best or if it’s really just not worth trying hard enough to avoid it as a fully vaccinated/boosted reasonably healthy person.
Anon
Hah! I tested positive yesterday. I don’t know which variant I have, but I have worn KN95s for all indoor activities (which include only occasional work meetings, no gym or coffee etc), have not had a meal or a drink with friends since summer. The good news is that my symptoms are very, very mild so far. I feel much better than with the average head cold. Vaxxed and boosted (Moderna)—I think this is a vaccination success story, with symptoms improved more than transmissibility. I am isolating in my room to protest others so I am going to be very bored.
Anon
*protect others, not protest them.
Anon
My circumstances are such that, barring an unforeseen emergency, exposure is optional for me, so no, I don’t plan to go out and catch it in the next few weeks.
But a bunch of people I know who made it till now without catching it far have tested positive in the last few days.
Anon
I feel like it’s time to party like it’s 2019, but I haven’t partied since 2019.
Anonymous
Darn right. Vaccinate yourself and move on with life.
Anonymous
The case spike in South Africa was dramatic but relatively short. I am actually hoping we can miss this wave, but not so hopeful I didn’t order home tests.
Anon
I think way more people got infected than official tests show in South Africa and the pattern will likely repeat in other countries. When a surge happens this fast, testing limits hit capacity and we’re detecting maybe 1 in every 10 infections instead of 1 in every 3 or whatever it was before.
Mel
Already happened in Cleveland. 48% positivity rate on testing by major hospital systems.
Anonymous
I kinda wonder about those stats. With home testing winnowing out a lot of colds, of course the rates are going to go up.
Anon
This isn’t really a question, so much as a story and also possibly a way for me to gut-check my own sanity.
For three years my teenage son has been really good friends with this kid I’ll call Steve. He and Steve were really tight and did a lot of things together – pre-pandemic Steve was at our house a lot and my kid went over to his house; through the pandemic, they’d play on Xbox and they’d help each other with homework over Zoom; when they got vaccinated this summer, they met up several times after that.
Around the time school started in August, Steve kind of…disappeared. He stopped responding to text messages. He stopped showing up on Xbox. He didn’t respond to emails. He was nowhere. My son was pretty sad, because he didn’t know what had happened – if he had done something to piss off Steve, or something bad was happening, or what. I thought about texting Steve’s mom but given that these kids are old enough to shave and have learner’s permits, I thought that was too meddlesome and so I just let it go.
I’m WFH, my son is on break. I’m walking by his room, he’s on Xbox and I hear him say “nice move Steve!” and I’m like, Steve? Like STEVE Steve? Steve who disappeared months ago? My son comes out to fill up his water bottle and I ask him, “Are you on with Steve right now?”
“Yeah, he’s back! He’s doing great.”
I’m flabbergasted. “Where was he for the last three months??” This is met with a shrug from my son. I say “what does that mean” and he’s like, “I don’t know and I’m not asking; he seems fine now.” Back into his room.
Maybe my son doesn’t want to know but dammit, I want to know! Where the heck was Steve this whole time? Was he grounded? Did they shut the electricity off at his house? Was he kidnapped by fundamentalists and held in a training camp where they tortured him and denied him all access to electronic communication? I don’t know how my son can just gloss over Steve having completely disappeared out of his life for months and not be like “hey dude, don’t mean to get in your business but what happened?” I’m not going to do anything or say anything because again, kids who are old enough to shave and drive don’t need my help managing their friendships, but I find this mystifying. Is it just me?
Anon
I’d assume your son knows and was asked to keep it to himself.
Anon
I don’t think it’s uncommon for teenage to have drama and stop talking for a few months and then get over it and move on like nothing ever happened. Probably more common with girls but it happens to boys too.
Anonymous
Any chance he went to rehab or inpatient treatment for something? I wouldn’t expect him to want his friend’s mom to know that.
No Face
I would assume your son knows and isn’t interested in telling you.
Anon
I assume he was just grounded and not allowed to use electronics. I’m don’t have kids and never got grounded when I was a kid, but I assume that’s a thing some parents would do these days, especially if he got caught doing something inappropriate online?
Anonymous
What kind and socially graceful behavior from your son—either he knows and isn’t sharing the info with those Steve hasn’t consented to sharing it with, or he doesn’t know but understands it might be something that Steve isn’t comfortable discussing. It could be medical, mental health related, spending time with a dying family member, part of a nasty custody battle, appearing in an embarrassing reality show, who knows. I wish that more of my acquaintances and coworkers had your son’s discretion.
Anonymous
Good point. There was probably some good parenting, or at least modeling, involved.
Anon
Assumptions are dangerous. I’ve seen this happen recently with a friends son. He had a friend “mysteriously disappear” then resurface. He resurfaced only to take his own life several days later. When he was MIA, he was in a mental health care facility. Please tell your son that it’s ok to say to Steve “how are you? I was bummed when you dropped off the planet”. If they are old enough to have learners permits, they are old enough to ask these questions.
I hope in your case the kid was grounded.
Anon
Did Steve get a girlfriend? Sometimes highschool romances, especially first ones, can impede friendships before the girl/friend balance is restored.
Anon
This is my guess. I had a friend who’d ghost me and then come back around when the relationship ended. Repeatedly. We had been really close and as grownups its NBD as we are now old married ladies, but it was exhausting at the time(s). Immature people do immature things.
My one kid has a friend who will text “A broke some house rules and in a gadget fast” so that we know (the mom and I are friends also), but I don’t mention to my kid unless she asks what is up with A or if A can come over (like can I ask the mom if texts aren’t returned).
My kids have had ghosting issues since first grade and it’s hurtful to them and yes, I’d like to know the story especially when the kid seems to be unaware of any drama or issues and is really sad.
Vicky Austin
“Old enough to shave and have learner’s permits.” Repeat as needed. Let it go. Definitely weird though.
Anon
This sounds like boy friendships. My son is 19, has two besties he has only rarely seen in person since March 2020, and they drirft apart and come back together on the regular. I don’t get involved and it doesn’t seem to bother my son in the least.
anne-on
Oldest daughter roll call – anyone else who was told they’re now in charge of tracking down, shipping, and/or handing out tests to your extended family? Despite these people being fully functional adults with their own families who could, presumably, handle this themselves? I declined that ask and am now ignoring the text messages about ‘well, who do you think has them?’ ‘where did you order from’ etc. etc. etc.
About ready to call it a day, open some wine, and start blasting christmas carols while I bake cookies and ignore the not so subtle hints that this should be on me to figure out and organize.
Anonymous
YUP. Although, there really does seem to be a shortage. Le sigh.
Anon
Kudos from this internet stranger for refusing to do this for them! They will figure it out, and you enjoy your wine and Christmas music.
Anon
Ignore, ignore, ignore. A week from now when the text chain has moved onto a new topic you can respond to that, if you want to. I’ve been the oldest sister for five decades now and I feel like I’m finally learning to choose my battles.
But wine and christmas carols are never a bad idea.
I have a story tho- my siblings and I used to watch TV shows and movies together regularly. My dad never watched the TV but one time wandered in while we were watching some old movie. He listened to us for a while and finally said to my younger siblings, “Don’t you ever let your sister watch a movie in peace?” I then realized that my siblings were constantly asking me about the movie – “is that the guy from before?” “why did he do that?” “why is she crying?” “is that one the killer?” – and it was so ordinary to me I never really noticed it.
Your “well, who do you think has them?” reminded me of that.
“Not me,” would be a good answer here.
Anon
I thought of another one – “idk. Let me know if you figure it out”
Anon
“Wow, that’s crazy! Good luck :-)” is a response I have applied in situations where people obliquely try to dump solving a problem on me, when they are very capable of solving it themselves. Remember, “No” is a complete sentence, y’all.
Anon
Feel your frustration- are you the oldest daughter with computer/internet skills that older family members rely on? Was just having this conversation with a friend…we have a public health emergency and if you want to get a critical vaccine you have to navigate web sites and scheduling apps launched by Giant pharmacy/retail/grocery vendors. Where’s the emergency vaccine set up in a stadium or parking lot to enable as many people as possible (especially older people without PC skills) to get easily vaccinated?
Anonymous Canadian
Were you someone watching how I spent my Friday afternoon?
Anonymous Canadian
Sigh. *someHOW watching… My kingdom for an edit button some days.
Anon
nope and “I am busy in 4Q work now” would always be my response
Anonymous
Oh I just ordered them for everyone unasked. I know my job.
Anon
Middle daughter, but same. If I did not put the tests in their hands, there would be no testing, and I am trying to maintain something since my parents died.
Anonymous
So my husband and I are the youngest but somehow we are the ones who are expected to do all the adulting. Fortunately this seems to be the one domain where we are off the hook. My husband spent the day driving to every drugstore in town. He managed to score what seemed to be the last two boxes of test kits in the entire county. I just looked at the expiration dates: January 2022. I suppose we’ll use them up within a week of when school starts up again anyway. Sigh.
Anon
hahahaah. If my husband’s brothers believed in COVID, this would be me.
Anon
Favorite online ballet classes for adults or video tutorials? I have a kid under 5 so I’ve accepted that I’m not going back to in-person classes anytime soon, but I really need to lose the Covid 20 and ballet is the only workout I’ve ever been consistent about (other than walking, which is hard in Midwest winter).
Anonymous
School of Richmond Ballet. Look for Ms. Massey’s classes but not the intro series.
Anon
I’ve done Kathryn Morgan’s classes on YouTube before. I also like Ballet Beautiful – it’s not a ballet class but it’s a great workout.
Anonymous for this
How did you initiate and execute your job search? I’m restarting mine in earnest, after a lot of close calls that involved hearing that a potential employer wanted to prioritize someone more junior, would get back to me in a few months, and so forth. Much of my job search has been spent taking a networking approach and reaching out to people directly. Third party recruiters have been somewhat helpful but I can’t rely on them. At the risk of outing myself, the industry is real asset investing. Experience is broadly in an investment role, with some related strategy and operations, not law, but I imagine there are parallels. There is a track record of advancement and solid, relevant educational background. It seems like there is a lot of appetite for junior people in the space as well as senior level folk with a solid track record, but navigating mid level opportunities has been a challenge. As we delight in the holidays, I would love to read your inspirational war stories of tackling a job search.
Junior
Does anyone have any advice on setting boundaries? Or, failing that (as I doubt I’ll be capable of doing that for years yet), dealing with having no boundaries?
I received a message from *very senior person* late last night, which started off with “I know you’re on holiday, but…” and (hating myself), I answered it and spent honestly too long preparing the files.
That was my first day of the holidays, it was a half-day for me, and I started work at 5:00 (my job is very hurry-up-and-wait, and I had to finish off some loose ends before the holidays). The day before, I was up working until 22:00 (although after sending what I needed to send, I didn’t get out of bed at 22:30 to answer the messages I later received, which I was proud of). I worked more than the 8 hours I’m allegedly paid for just before leaving my computer (and it was a HALF DAY, counting as part of my holiday allowance).
The only reason I’m now free is because another colleague intervened and said hey, Junior shouldn’t have to cancel her holiday plans for this, Non-Christmas-Celebrator can finish tidying up the loose ends.
I doubt I’ll stop being a pushover any time soon, so how do I deal with my frustration and self-hatred? Context: I’m a recent grad, so very junior and looking for a promotion at some point!
Anon
Given your last line, you don’t get boundaries right now, you’re doing the work to earn them later.
Anon
+1