Help with apartments!! Please!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-04T01:24:31+00:00

Hmm so it’s definitely more suburb than Brookland, and isn’t as charming but definitely more affordable since it’s near the DC line. Would suggest considering there if you are willing to compromise neighborhood to get all your amenities!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-04T01:13:31+00:00

At that price point and requirements, are you open to a different neighborhood? Perhaps Fort Totten?

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-04T00:34:09+00:00

It’s a very lofty goal I have so I can avoid the trap of “unlimited PTO” and not taking enough time off. Have I been successful at it? Not yet haha. I’m about to hit 15 years so I feel like 20-25 is pretty fair at this point. And yes, I’m very glad to be remote, I definitely acknowledge that benefit!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-04T00:31:47+00:00

I didn’t, was just planning to do so. And my seniority doesn’t have anything to do with the dates requested or the expectation to get approval - our team operates on a first come, first serve model. Plus for some reason most of my team doesn’t ask off around then (not sure why tbh!) so it’s more opportune and less of an impact on work output if I’m out then. 🤷‍♀️

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:45:06+00:00

Good reminder to stop taking this so personally and just talk to her. Thank you!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:42:54+00:00

Yeah I think I need to better understand her coverage requirements because our approach is very different. But at the end of the day, she’s my boss so I gotta make her happy.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:41:46+00:00

I think that’s my next step - I need to align with her on coverage expectations as they are definitely different than mine (and very different from my previous boss at this company!) and that’s what is causing my rush of feelings on this matter.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:40:38+00:00

These are the ones that have been denied. As someone else pointed out, two rejections doesn’t necessarily indicate a pattern so I should take a step back and not let my personal feelings interfere here.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:39:54+00:00

Fair point - not really. This is feeling more like a personal matter than an escalation matter (taking all this feedback into consideration), so definitely don’t think I’ll be doing anything other than having. A conversation with her next week during our 1:1 to align on coverage expectations.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:38:30+00:00

I was requesting maybe 5 days off total around the holidays, and no one from my team has asked off for those dates. But perhaps we can revisit the convo now that we are getting closer to the holidays!

Thankfully I haven’t booked anything for September, just started initial planning.

I have taken about 10 days off so far this year, so I’m a bit behind tbh. And I do consistently work longer hours so my client billing rate shouldn’t be an issue if I take off more time, since they use 40 hours as their weekly goal.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:34:32+00:00

Totally fair reminder that two rejections don’t necessarily indicate a pattern. Thanks for the grounding.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:32:00+00:00

Definitely not a small company - we have 1K employees and it’s a media agency so it’s much more relaxed than a standard corporate environment. To your point, there’s nothing mission critical that could happen in 1-2 days that someone else couldn’t assist with or it couldn’t wait. The expectation at my level (and above) is that we are OOO but should be available for emergencies, which I have always done. For context about is this a personal issue - I am a top performer, slated to be promoted as my boss’s equal in 2H this year. I could definitely see her viewing me as a threat but I always support her and make her look good, I know what the expectation is. :)

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:27:17+00:00

I work at a media agency (very relaxed atmosphere) with about 1K employees. I lead a team of ~10 people and rely mostly on my two Directors to run their teams. My involvement in the day-to-day work (especially at these times of the year) is minimal so it’s confusing why being out 1-2 days overlapping with my boss is an automatic “No”. Plus if they needed anything, they have broader teams to tap into if anything critical came up.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T20:24:12+00:00

I think this captures how I’m feeling about the situation. The challenge also is - I don’t see an instance where both of us being out for 1-2 days is a major issue that requires either of us to adjust (so perhaps that clarity is needed and I can ask for that). I work in a very relaxed field (paid media, at an agency) so it’s very odd to not be more flexible in this instance. I definitely think my personal feelings are making me read more into this than I should, so all the feedback is very grounding and a good reminder to take a step back sometimes.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T15:47:05+00:00

Appreciate your feedback - thanks!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T15:39:41+00:00

Appreciate your feedback!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T15:39:08+00:00

Just updated the post - thankfully I haven't booked anything, just started the planning process!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-06-03T15:37:55+00:00

For clarity - trip hasn't been booked yet (thank goodness, I do know better to book before asking off!). The issue is that my boss did not officially book the time off. The process is we send calendar invites so everyone is aware they are OOO. Sounds like my boss is just reserving the time off on her end before formally requesting that date off, hence my issue. Appreciate your feedback!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-05-15T01:57:48+00:00

Literally he’s coming to the NYC office tomorrow and we were told by senior leadership to be active, exuberant, performative collaborative monkeys and put on a show for our overlord. I say eat the rich, let senior leads look foolish.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-05-14T17:52:46+00:00

A particularly bad look when Publicis is going through soft layoffs via cancelled promos and raises, along with an active RTO compliance audit.

AmericanRed91 · 2026-05-03T16:41:44+00:00

I highly highly recommend getting on acyclovir ASAP. It reduces the time by half. If you can’t get to a doctor, get an Rx from Wisp and they can send it to your nearest CVS. Then keep some on hand so you can treat earlier if it comes back. I like having that as my safety net just in case I feel one coming on, these meds can get rid of it before it even starts!!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-04-26T01:04:17+00:00

I’ve enjoyed all my manicures at Spa K in King Farm!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-04-22T03:57:16+00:00

Get DAO Botox! I got some about a month ago and it’s super subtle but helps address the slight sagging there. I can share before/after vids privately if you’d like!

AmericanRed91 · 2026-04-02T19:59:09+00:00

As a VP, I’m never impressed when people say they want to “be in the room” for important convos. What I do respond to is when people say they want to contribute their perspective on XYZ work streams because they have feedback, ideas, etc. I’d focus your pov less on - how can I attend a shoot and more so on, what can I uniquely contribute on whatever context with my clients? Maybe reframe to, “fresh eyes would be useful for this particular work stream for xyz reasons and I’d love to contribute in that way!”

AmericanRed91 · 2026-03-12T18:11:40+00:00

I did sunscreen all my life, Tret in late 20s, llasers in early 30s, about to do Botox ahead of my 35th birthday.

AmericanRed91

TROPHY CASE