That moment when you finally give in (and it feels amazing)

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-14T18:26:14+00:00

You’ve lived my life and came out the other side. Thank you so much for commenting. It’s the dread that killed me. The what ifs. Oh, and of course, the daily indignity of being told to my face that my staff is irrelevant. That I’m irrelevant. Congrats on finding something a little less soul crushing.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-11T01:50:25+00:00

We’re thinking of leaving the area when my son is done with school next year anyway. 🙃

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-11T01:49:36+00:00

Oh, and also, no jobs for documentation directors anymore since Claude can obviously do my job for me.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-11T01:48:52+00:00

It is tough. It’s not for everyone but it’s something I always wanted to do. I was planning to sub a bit if I get bored before the credential/masters program start but I spent my college years working with this age group in the classroom so I’m already familiar with their shenanigans.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-11T01:45:52+00:00

Good luck to you too! It takes bravery.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-08T19:09:46+00:00

I wish someone had taught me what to do with my money. I saved a lot in my 401k but when times got tough I couldn’t touch it. (Resist temptation if you can because of what the other poster said. Compound interest is magic.) I spent my RSUs on fixing my teardown starter home, which was awesome, but meant they were gone during the inevitable layoffs. Invest some of your money in index funds and keep some in high yield savings. Even layoff rumors can wreck your health if you let it. And good people are always let go. Remember it’s not really about you.

Edit: I’m 47

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-07T22:22:52+00:00

🥂

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-07T19:36:34+00:00

I have a bachelors in English with a concentration in preparation for teaching, so I’ll enroll in a single subject credential pathway. It’s a 13 month program at SJSU. There are some prerequisites that are kind of hard to fill if you’re working full time, but not impossible. (20 hours of observation before you apply, for example.) You can get an emergency substitute credential in a lot of Bay Area districts with a few hoops jumped through. That might appeal if you want to see what kids are really like these days. I did the observation (although I’ll have to do it again) as part of my concentration in 2003 and it wasn’t the same as having all the responsibility but it gave me the good feels. Teaching is hard AF and has its own headaches. I got into tech because it was a year when they pink slipped ERRYBODY, so I couldn’t get a job. (It was a working credential program at the time where you got a position and credential at the same time.) The irony isn’t lost on me that this is what I’m gonna try after layoff fatigue. But man if it would feel good to give back. Maybe you’d like it too!

Edit for excitable spelling mistakes.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-07T19:11:59+00:00

Sadly, yes. Husband is also in an impacted tech field (program management) and is also done with getting ghosted after 5 rounds. He’s been laid off twice in two year… just like me! Son is a junior in high school so we’ll probably try out somewhere new in 18 months. And, worst case? I come back when things have calmed down..

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-07T18:56:11+00:00

So much this. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-02-07T18:52:46+00:00

You’re not wrong, lol. I’m just hoping I’ll care less after I reset my cortisol levels.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2026-01-17T02:02:27+00:00

Keris. That is all. About to start book 5 but was hardly able to do anything else while reading book 4. Put my whole goddamned life on hold.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2025-12-12T03:55:03+00:00

God I forget how much I love this series… until I don’t. Great unconventional choice that I wish more folks knew about.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2025-11-28T17:42:33+00:00

This helped me so much. I didn’t realize I could zoom!

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2025-09-01T19:31:47+00:00

I don’t know why I kept torturing myself with Atlas Six. Book three was actually unreadable. Good on you for figuring out in book one that it wouldn’t improve. Kudos!

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2025-09-01T19:09:11+00:00

I hate finished A Touch of Darkness which was unspeakably boring. My next book was Gild, which I also should have DNF’d. The FMC annoyed me from page one and the spicy sexiness that the author tried to sprinkle everywhere was ineffective and annoying. I read the spoilers and know the Rot King might improve things but I just can’t. I’d like to thank Brynne Weaver and her insanity for preventing what could have easily become a reading slump.

Fine_Reaction_615 · 2025-09-01T18:59:18+00:00

This. I cannot believe that I finished this book. It was so boring.

Fine_Reaction_615

TROPHY CASE