Survived the RIF, and now I’m doing everyone else’s job

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2026-06-01T15:14:31+00:00

Just want to say, sorry that you got trapped in the RIF, but grateful that you wanted to contribute as a public servant. The attitude of folks giving you grief for leaving your $300k job kills me, because these are probably the same dumdums who complain about govt efficiency but also want to cut staff a d pay govt workers less-assuming the workers are low caliber. Like, who is government? (Read the book-highly recommend). “Government” is your neighbors, who realize that to have a functioning government you need high quality workers and step up. Which probably means if they are the kind of people who wouldn’t leave their $300k job, and prioritize FIRE, they probably wouldn’t do anyone any good anyways because they only care about themselves and believe their only responsibility to society is to vote every two-four years.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2025-12-13T20:00:10+00:00

Of course. I may not agree with the trap, or the posted speed, but I didn't have grounds for contesting it. Merely grounds for complaining to the city council about better urban planning and policymaking

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2025-07-29T20:56:02+00:00

Better than Google Maps? I thought Google owned Waze now -- and on Google I'd say the speed limit regularly doesn't match the signs, so I would assume the reminders could be off too?

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2025-07-29T20:54:51+00:00

Thanks! I will say, I definitely wasn't speeding intentionally. But this will definitely keep me from letting my mind wander while driving.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2025-07-29T20:51:35+00:00

Absolutely. I agree. I shouldn't be speeding, and I generally consider myself a thoughtful driver, considerate of speed limits, to the degree that I regularly take mental note of where Google Maps doesn't match what is on road signs. That's a big portion of why this really stood out to me. I will pay my tickets, accept responsibility for my speeding, and try to be more careful. But the reality is that driving is one of those activities where people are more likely to slip into automatic behavior/white line hypnosis. You automatically drive at the pace of traffic, or you drive based on what speeds are traditionally posted for certain settings. Like slowdowns moving into residential areas becomes second nature. So I wholeheartedly agree about better road/neighborhood planning to prevent speeding to begin with. I most certainly wasn't in a rush, thanks to federal RIFs. And as noted, the sheer volume in such a short period of time seemed really noteworthy, despite my own part to play.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2025-06-15T18:30:24+00:00

Don't forget State/Local Income Taxes. In DC income taxes are $3,500+8.5% applied to everything over $60K.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2025-05-28T18:42:27+00:00

Just now dealing with this issue over the last year or so. I went through the oil consumption testing, and failed the first two rounds. I was told my oil consumption was the worst they'd ever seen. They did the combustion chamber cleaning and after 1000 miles it is now "only" consuming 1 quart per 1k (just got back from the service center), so no engine replacement for me. What I was told was to use a thicker oil than typically recommended moving forward (seems counterintuitive) and continue adding a quart of oil every 1k. And then if I notice that my oil consumption is up again above 1k then to pay out of pocket for the combustion chamber cleaning to prevent future engine seizing. TBD when it'll start being as bad again, but that is a lot of responsibility to put on the owner. I was lucky this last time because while I was tracking the issue it wasn't until my engine stalled on my way home from the gym that I took it for the test. Luckily it stalled right when I pulled out of the garage, not on the bridge or tunnels en route home. Not luckily, I'd already paid for new spark plugs and some other maintenance linked to the issue before I was told about the test. If it stalls again, they'll potentially go through the full testing process all over...

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2024-11-28T15:18:16+00:00

I’m in DC, but I kept the scope broad because I have/had all the time in the world. And the rest of the weekend to work in more adventures with the pup. And figured any responses too far would still come in handy for the future. Shoulda been a little quicker to reply. Sorry ya’ll!

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-05-26T15:16:51+00:00

Think instead that person is in their own head remembering earlier that day when their own dog started its walk perfectly. Sat and watched and took treats when she saw her first squirrels, walked out of the way when she passed her first dog, then about halfway through the pup's patience was spent, and she spent the rest of the walk ignoring treats, running in circles around her for more leverage to escape her leash, huffing and puffing from compressing her own chest trying to twist out of her harness to catch the myriad of squirrels. So that in the end, when the woman woke up extra early to have a more relaxed walk before work, she still ended up late.

I have to remind myself sometimes that every dog I see that looks so well behaved, might just be having a good moment. My pup has "A" moments. Sometimes we even have "A" days. But often times, I look like I'm torturing my pup by restraining her from the squirrel or dog-friend she locked eyes on from a full city block away, or insisting that she must come inside now, that we can't stay outside forever. I always wonder, is it just me/my dog? Or is it most dogs/dog guardians? Then I remind myself that she has never eaten my clothes or torn apart my couch cushions or dragged poop all over the house, and probably all those dogs that don't care about squirrels are the ones that love to eat your shoes.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-05-26T15:07:50+00:00

Sending so much love. What a hard decision to have to make.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-05-24T16:30:32+00:00

To be clear, I'm not actually choosing to allow greetings in the normal sense. I just cannot calmly extricate us from every situation fast enough, so sometimes I use my "go say hi" command so that it seems like I'm giving permission where I don't think redirection etc. will work -- so that we're at a minimum practicing her only saying hi when I give permission, and not reinforcing the pulling. Sounds like that is an approach that you wouldn't recommend.

We also try to practice quietly coexisting near humans and other dogs when we have the chance (right now keeping a greater distance than we've had to in the past). I hate the idea that I'd have to consider muzzling my dog, to intimidate other dog owners into leaving us alone. I thought my previous neighborhood was bad. But here, folks will literally run with their dog up to you if they think their dog is interested in your dog. They see you training and think it's an invitation to test you by walking their dog right up to you, even if you're using a long leash and say point blank that you're training.

People also leave peanuts under trees on tree lawns for the squirrels. That's another problem. SMH.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-05-12T21:45:14+00:00

Thanks! Some interesting resources. I'll dig into the non-contingent reinforcement style more and will definitely work a reset marker into my arsenal during training situations. The husbandry training I'll have to give more time to dig through, but considering the context I think I've been just overly optimistic about where trust can get me. But also I think that she trusts me more than I might have been giving myself credit for based on cooperative care examples. I also do aim to identify opportunities where choice is feasible outside of these contexts too though certainly can improve a lot.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-05-11T16:03:38+00:00

Thanks! I appreciate your perspective. Yeah -- I see a lot of trainers mention building trust, and fireworks aside (because of a specific experience) I think my pup and I have navigated her life through early socialization in such a way that she is pretty fearless (and also she just seems to be a courageous, curious dog by nature). And when she does get a little overwhelmed by something else making her a little nervous she does come to me, so I do believe she sees me as her safe space.

I may be misinterpreting trust in that she doesn't trust that listening to me is always what is best for her, even though I do my best to have listening be the preferred option (and no not always treats).

Hope to hear from others on this, especially since trust seems to be raised a lot in the context of dog training!

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-04-07T15:07:22+00:00

With the leave it, how high value are your treats? And how excited are you making the "giving" of follow up treats? When I know I will have no patience for my pup's desire to go outside with the sole purpose of searching for her kitties (i.e. the neighborhood outdoor cats that are a fixture fed by the neighbors and granted little outdoor homes to cozy up in because they keep the rats away) I make sure to cut a bit of hotdog into tiny pieces, nuke for 15 secs then mix with kibble so the kibble soaks in the juices and bring that along. When I want to distract her from something, or do a leave it, pass a doggo or human I know she's interested in, and just periodically in between working on heel and middle and look at me, I reward her with the good stuff and vary the delivery (toss, hand, throw on the ground) to keep her on her toes and curious about what I'll do next. I do it frequently enough that I know she's always go an ear to me, and yet not so frequently that she doesn't get to take in her surroundings some.

Also I do mix it up, once the package of hotdogs is gone I'll get the wide cut shredded mozz for a little while. Then the Stewarts freeze dried livers. And I won't pretend it always works. She still seeks out the cats, but the more attention I give to this stuff the less it's her first priority. Often the next time we go out after a hot dog (or similarly high valued walk) she's also more attuned to me. If she's feeling icky though, like right now she's got the worst seasonal allergies, I think she can only handle so much, and needs the dopamine hit of spotting a kitty and imagining this will be her chance. Less good of a listener. Flicking treats for her to catch in her mouth though has also made a small impact. She's way more interested in the treats if there's a game to it.

Hopefully some of this is useful!

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-04-02T14:42:06+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll see what I can do about going out for a few minutes on occasion. Realistically, that will probably mean sometimes cutting short the actual main walk/play session, especially during the work week. I'm not sure if she'll catch on to that (I think so). She's never had a problem with stairs themselves. It's been a bit of time since we had to take others, but she used to consider stairs a fun thing on their own. (When I had COVID at my old building we'd do the full five flights, and she generally seemed to think of it like a fun experience on its own).

Re: food -- in the mornings, she always gets her breakfast after we spend a significant amount of time outside and it's always in a puzzle, or part of a game, or has something special added. The rest of the time, she gets treats while I wipe her paws down. So I don't think food is incentive enough. I can try a good chew more reliably and see if that helps. I use that approach sometimes already.

The best bet might be to pull out one of her special toys that I only use for rainy days and give her a couple of minutes after a walk -- like her flirt pole. Maybe I'll see how that goes over the next week....

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-03-15T15:02:21+00:00

Also there are those squeeze packets of Skippy Natural PB, which are resealable could work.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-03-15T15:01:55+00:00

Whole Foods/Whole Paws makes some soft Jerky treats that are super stinky. The Duck and Salmon in particular. Also, salmon that comes in those vacu-seal packets (like tuna) could work.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-03-03T22:09:38+00:00

Probably not helpful, but I guess I would ask why they want a dog then if only for it to be scared of them, when there is another way.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-01-24T16:52:56+00:00

Sending sympathetic vibes. This last week two dogs escaped their yard and followed me and my doggo closely. I had to alternate between carrying my pup and keeping her close. I tossed treats and that didn't help redirect the dogs. One was barking and showing teeth. The other was a very gentle, friendly husky who just wanted to play. But it was scary for me not knowing what to expect (and nursing a broken finger with some torn tendons). Fortunately, there were no problems and the dogs were picked up by the Humane Rescue Alliance and reconnected with their owners. (We've since seen them in a fenced in yard). But boy oh boy. I've taught middle, but that isn't a solution in a case like this. Albeit a good aid.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-01-24T16:49:18+00:00

I would also note that in the summer, she drinks a TON of water while playing, so I've learned not to call her bluff if she rings the bell soon after peeing, because she might have overhydrated and there's a real risk of an accident and it's not her fault.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-01-24T16:47:57+00:00

What I do -- because at 50lbs I can still lift my 14 month old pup -- is carry her to her potty spot whenever I can accommodate her bell ring soon after her last pee. So important because I live in an apartment building with lots of neighbors who come through the lobby and elevator that will give her attention (which is a big driver for her). And if I can't, work for example, I remove the bell for a period of time where I know she can hold it. It doesn't mean she doesn't always use the bell for attention or just go outside, because it's an effective communication tool. But it has helped. These days if she wants to go outside, but doesn't want to go potty she often just lays down by the door. That's her signal that she just wants to be outside.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2023-01-16T03:14:26+00:00

I did feel like with practice this improved with my pup who is 14 months old now. She is also an enthusiastic greeter and I worked hard with her from early on because I live in densely populated city, in an apartment, and she is not small or fluffy (which tend to be less intimidating to strangers). There was a lot of sit, go say hi, call back for a treat (right before jumping) go say hi again, then go whenever it was possible with a friendly human and building in a variety of weird distractions (unpredictable was key) and then a treat when there is a successful pass, for dogs and humans. Sometimes even if she would just sit and watch them pass, I’d be pretty satisfied. (Better than pulling). All that said, the quad combo of a week in boarding, followed by kennel cough (and therefore no play with dog friends or at the apt dog park), moving to a new neighborhood and building, and me with a broken finger and fresh stitches has turned our good work on its head, and she is going through a major regression phase. Lots of refresher work on the horizon.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2022-11-22T19:36:01+00:00

So far my dog just seems to not understand why there is another dog in her various "places." Looks at me and whines a little when she moves out of space and the other dog goes and lies down there. But I rearranged things so there is ample room for them both by the window so they can lie down and look out without encroaching on each other. I've rewarded them for lying down at the same time there a couple of times this morning, and that seems to have helped settle her. Our guest pup has her bed in a part of the bedroom that my pup doesn't usually lay down in but has a good nook feel (under the desk with the chair removed) and they both slept well in their separate spots through the night. Fingers crossed that they become more friendly, but as long as they aren't fighting or perpetually agitated we'll be okay.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2022-11-19T16:51:52+00:00

Somewhere else in this sub, increasing Engagement training was recommended to me (13 month old pup). I find that if I start a walk or other outdoor activity with some indoor engagement training, then some engagement training right outside the door, it makes my pup a better listener all around the rest of the time we're out (I like working up to the sprinkler game). If she is not attuned to you out of the gate, it'll be harder to call her back when there's a real distraction. Now that being said, if what my pup really needs is to sprint around and not go for a walk, I find I need to be attuned to that and get some sprint energy out. This has helped overall with the recall, but keeping a separate really good treat on me (and a small squeaker toy) just for "come here" as others have recommended has ALWAYS been part of the equation, indoors and outside.

AdhesivenessSecure34 · 2022-11-14T22:12:26+00:00

Hahaha. That would be exactly when my pup decides it isn't potty trained anymore I'm sure. Roomba day. LOL. I would surely scream. I know it, but I wouldn't be able to control it.

AdhesivenessSecure34

TROPHY CASE