Life is teh suck today because (a.ka. the official B_tch & Moan thread)

GWC Community Off-Topic/Other
#721

So I had a meeting with my department chair today to talk about my teaching evaluations. Everything is good on that front. He commented on one thing I could improve which is an aspect of my teaching that I’m fully aware of and constantly working to improve, so nothing unexpected. He did warn me, however, that, due to the current economic situation and the uncertainty my employer finds itself in there may not be a job for me next year, and if there is it might be reduced to a single class a term or something along those lines. While this is not entirely unexpected, it still kind of sucks to actually hear it coming from my boss. I’ve been at this frakking job search for so long with so little success as far as security goes that I’ve started believing that nothing will come of this year’s job search, which does wonders for one’s hopes of a better year ahead.

And the week had started off so well…

#722

That really does suck. :frowning: Hope all goes well in the long run…

#723

Dude, I’m sorry about that.

If it makes you feel any better, it seems like all universities are dealing with this - the summer employment options for us got even smaller than normal last week. I’m feeling selfish and I’m glad I have seniority over most people, so there’s a better chance that I actually will be employed during the summer…

#724

Summer…yeah, there’s that. My last paycheck would be in early June. I’ve got to figure something out before then. But first things first. I just have to wonder when enough’s enough. I mean, I’ve been looking for a tenure track gig for almost ten years now to no avail. Now I’m getting passed over for younger, less experienced people with fewer notches on their belt as far as research (as much as composition can be considered research) goes. Last year I said to myself that it would be the last in which I would search. Now I find myself searching again. When do I quit and look for a real job? And what, exactly, do I need to do to get one of those? Cause I didn’t find one last year either (and I did look).

#725

[QUOTE=Armando;97512 I’ve been at this frakking job search for so long with so little success as far as security goes that I’ve started believing that nothing will come of this year’s job search, which does wonders for one’s hopes of a better year ahead. [/QUOTE]

So sorry to hear that this is the sitch for you at the moment. I am job hunting too and it totally sucks. Good luck!

Thanks for the wise words Armando.

#726

No worries. With you sexy accent you should be able to nab someone soon…except you all talk that way in Australia, don’t you? D’oh! :wink:

The job thing sucks ass, but it could be worse. As my wife reminded me last night, I tend to look at the negative while she looks at the positive. While I haven’t landed a solid teaching stint yet I’m able to actually make a noticeable amount of money as a composer now, which just sort of surprised me over the last two years. It got me motivated to start writing some old contacts to try and set up some new collaborations and keep this streak going somehow. It’s not secure, but it’s something. And hey, as my mother says, “no hay mal que dure cien anos” (that should have a tilde, but I don’t know how to get those on this laptop. So now I have no ill that lasts 100 anuses. GREAT!).

#727

#728

Laugh it up, fussball.

#729

are you saying I complain too much? ¡no me regañes! (see, I can do it )

#730

I with your wife maybe being a composer is your job and the other one is just a hobby that pays some of the bills. I am still teaching without a contract but the union is suggesting we make a public pain of ourselves to get the school board to move. Well we will see how that goes.

#731

Lil’ Solai has a temperature of 102.5. She has already cooled down some…but, well…that is all. :frowning:

#732

I hope Lil’ Solai gets better soon! Sick kids are unhappy kids :frowning:

#733

Give her kisses and hugs. It may not take the temperature away but she may feel better. I will be thinking about her.

#734

Aww, I have so BTDT with the Kearaspawn. When S was little (like younger than 6mos little) she would get upper resp. infections constantly which would lead to ear infections and high fevers which wouldn’t respond well even to ibuprofen piggybacked with tylenol. A couple times I did the tepid bath thing which was absolute torture for both of us, but it did work to bring the fever down so that she was at least comfortable and the meds could work. (Of course this was always in the middle of the night and it was during a period when my husband was traveling constantly, so it was just me frantically calling the pediatrician at all hours and contending with a toddler as well.)

At the time it seemed so bad. Looking back though, I see we got through it. Snuggling in bed with her at night (rather than trying to make her sleep in her own bed) was as therapeutic for her as anything. It turned out, after many months of this and tons of recurrent ear infections, we chose to go the route of myringotomy tubes. She’s been a very healthy little girl ever since. S was always a kid that got high fevers–101.5 and above. Those 102 and 103, even 104 readings start to get scary. AND DON’T FORGET–the body naturally sends the temp up at night. So don’t be surprised if it goes up.

Lots of cuddles and quick feel better vibes going out to Lil Solai. And try not to worry.

#735

This reminds me of my mum letting me sleep on the floor of her room next to her on nights when I was feeling sick or having bad nightmares. There wasn’t room for all three of us comfortably in my parent’s bed, so she would sleepily get a few quilts and dump them on the floor, which was a very quick and easy solution in the middle of the night. It’s very reassuring for little ones to be close by.

#736

Hope she’s feeling better this morning!

#737

So how is the little one doing?

#738

Silly thing to be upset(ish) about… but…

so we’ve test driven all the cars we’re looking at and gotten figures to compare and whatnot, and the car I love best is of course a) the most expensive and b) with the least advantageous interest rate, and c) the salesperson we liked best.

But we liked all the cars we drove, and got good rates, and nice people. And now we have to decide. And I’m a total softy and hate disappointing people.

We know what car we’re buying, we think, unless a last minute crap thing screws things up. But I hate this! I feel so inadequate!

OK I’m going to stop freaking out about buying a car. But it’s scary, and it’s either really fun, or really stressful. Agh!!

#739

Plus side is, it’s a great time to be buying a car!

#740

If you are like me I buy a car and drive it till it is about to die. I try to keep them for around 10 years. So divide the cost by ten years. I freak out about spending money but the car is not so costly if you think of it over time. I also think you should drive a car you like since you will have it for a long time. You deserve to have something nice.

I must also say that my kind of nice car is one that is comfortable and safe for my short self. It also must have room for two dogs and a large husband. So I am not that demanding.

If you are nervous about buying a car try a house.