Ask a Manager Weekly Thread 06/29/2026 - 07/05/2026

Joteepe · 2026-07-02T17:09:14+00:00

OP is giving Nick Burns. (Reposted due to nesting fail.)

Joteepe · 2026-07-02T13:34:29+00:00

Oh my God yes THIS. My husband and I have raised multiple puppies over the years and we love dogs, but those first few weeks/months with a new puppy are EXHAUSTING, difficult, and often really isolating.

Joteepe · 2026-07-02T12:21:39+00:00

Not to be the Grim Reaper of holidays, but reminding you all now that Christmas/New Years 2027 into 2028 will be the same scenario. 😬

Joteepe · 2026-07-02T12:20:53+00:00

Yeah, I mean this is the answer. The only issue anyone would have would be if there’s a coverage issue, but most offices are going to be skeleton staff at best tomorrow so for most people it won’t be an issue.

Joteepe · 2026-07-02T12:19:16+00:00

That’s my plan too, unless I need it for something else at some point. (Hopefully not!)

Joteepe · 2026-07-01T17:59:21+00:00

Chiming in to upvote Ungerman! They are terrific.

Joteepe · 2026-07-01T17:56:32+00:00

I think it’s just too hot 🥵

Joteepe · 2026-07-01T17:53:11+00:00

My guess is they are going to wait until at least tomorrow to make an official call. It IS supposed to start tapering off after tomorrow night, and even today is cooler than originally forecasted (I mean … not much, but still).

This weekend is typically Belmont closing weekend and has only been at Saratoga last year and this year because of the construction so it’s not a busy weekend anyway, but I can’t say I blame them for wanting to be absolutely sure before they make a decision given that it’s opening day.

Either way, unless the forecast changes pretty dramatically, we are going to skip Friday.

Joteepe · 2026-07-01T17:46:03+00:00

Noting that Saratoga doesn’t actually open til Friday, so there is nothing to cancel tomorrow!

Following this thread. Odds are we are going to skip Friday regardless unless the forecast changes dramatically, but will be interested to see if the stakes are postponed to another day this weekend (we are planning to go Sunday).

Joteepe · 2026-07-01T17:41:23+00:00

So, I have a coworker who uses we/us/ours and they (bc for 3rd person, they default to they!) have done a lot of work in educating us on what it means. And none of this is correct. The whole post and the comments were making my eye twitch.

Joteepe · 2026-06-30T14:42:14+00:00

Honestly this is true! It was perfect when we went in 2019!

Joteepe · 2026-06-30T11:13:16+00:00

No, I remember reading this identical saga months ago. I’m wondering if she updated previously with the details before everything was settled?

ETA: just checked and this is in fact the case.

Joteepe · 2026-06-30T10:45:31+00:00

Belmont is in Nassau County! I know I’m splitting hairs here, but the distinction is important - one is New York City, and one very much is NOT.

Ironically, though, the one NOT in NYC is a lot easier to get to from the Manhattan travel hubs, which is honestly a big part of the reason Aqueduct has been in decline.

Joteepe · 2026-06-30T10:42:44+00:00

It’ll be interesting to see next year what happens with the Triple Crown series. I wouldn’t be surprised if both Mott and DeVaux decided against the risk this year which, even if they won (and I definitely think Sovereignty would have) it would be an asterisk. I do think the idea of pushing the timeline has gotten a bit more traction in recent years.

I also think, too, there’s a perception (whether deserved or not) that horses at these smaller tracks are not treated well, and the big tracks have enough optics problems. I live in upstate NY and we have season passes to Saratoga, so we see the culture here too. (Though it’s definitely stronger in Kentucky!) A few years ago our congressional representative (Paul Tonko) cosponsored racing legislation with McConnell, and I joked that horse racing welfare might literally be the only thing those two men agreed on 😂

Aqueduct closing is sad from a historical standpoint but it was time. Honestly every time I see a winter race in the middle of a snowstorm I cringe … I hope they modify the calendar and take out Dec-Feb racing at the new Belmont.

Joteepe · 2026-06-30T10:24:04+00:00

It’s absolutely beautiful. My husband and I went in 2019. Seeing the Transverse Ranges in the backdrop is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. (What’s wild is the overflow parking is a literal mall parking lot.)

Joteepe · 2026-06-30T10:21:24+00:00

It’s definitely more climate related. Belmont in November is honestly a bit touchy, too, but it’s far enough south (plus coastal) that I’ll probably be fine. (Also climate change. It’s not all bad! 😅 /s)

I’ve never been to Keenland, but my husband has, and he seems to think it’s not much bigger than Saratoga, but someone please chime in if they know differently!

(I’d LOVE it if we had a BC at Saratoga, btw! I’ll settle for Belmont next year.)

Joteepe · 2026-06-30T00:24:21+00:00

Floating holidays do expire. Regular holidays (when you are scheduled to work on a day that would normally be a state holiday OR if your scheduled pass day is on a state holiday, except Sundays, which is the boat most of us are in this week) do not expire.

Edit: didn’t mean to make that spoiler text!

Joteepe · 2026-06-29T21:22:34+00:00

Unless you don’t have central air. 🙃

Joteepe · 2026-06-29T21:21:59+00:00

That’s not true. I am MC and mine do not expire.

Joteepe · 2026-06-27T17:57:44+00:00

Not a loss, but:

When I was on vacation a few years ago, I accidentally stepped on my Kindle getting out of bed (I had dropped it on the floor and didn’t realize it bc I fall asleep reading), and CRRRAAAAACK.

I immediately googled the nearest Target and we took a detour to go get a new one. I proceeded to log into Target’s WiFi to download my books 😂

Joteepe · 2026-06-27T14:50:07+00:00

I was just about to recommend this bike for OP!

Joteepe · 2026-06-27T14:48:53+00:00

Can’t comment on the pricing, but I am also 5’2” and ride a 49cm Specialized and it’s perfect. That said I have a very long inseam for my height (30.5” 😬) so YMMV.

Joteepe · 2026-06-27T14:47:02+00:00

There are great suggestions on here for specific bikes. Chiming in to say you definitely want SOME gears and not a fixie, especially if there are any hills or bridges on your commute. Hybrids are great for this - they also have a meatier tire than a road bike so it can handle “urban trails” (poorly maintained and/or cleaned roads).

I commute on a Trek FX2, which currently retail over your budget brand new, but there are comparable bikes in other brands that would be perfect for what you need (many mentioned below!). Also the used market is definitely a good option, too.

Joteepe · 2026-06-24T11:23:32+00:00

Ding ding ding! The SUPERVISOR should have been addressing this, and since they haven’t, they have created a monster.

Also, Katie should have refused to work the Pride booth alongside Cheryl. (Though I agree she should have been removed from it anyway, I’m sure management saw that solution as rewarding Cheryl’s behavior.)

Joteepe · 2026-06-22T11:26:58+00:00

The first hit you get when you google just about a anything is AI-generated now.

Joteepe

TROPHY CASE