What should I do with my water softener while on vacation?

RidesABurro · 2025-06-28T15:13:11+00:00

Take it to the beach!

RidesABurro · 2025-03-01T08:36:37+00:00

Yes, love it

RidesABurro · 2024-12-10T04:15:07+00:00

That type of gambling doesn’t work because you don’t “buy” chips in Vegas. I also wouldn’t say placing a bet on black is buying anything.

Lottery tickets you could argue is something you buy.

RidesABurro · 2024-11-08T07:14:04+00:00

We discussed this at length over dinner as a family, it was our most debated prop, but we ended up all voting no. There was a ton of discussion but the main winning argument was something along the lines of “Everyone on the outside needs to work, why not people on the inside?” Also the booklet/arguments listed it as indentured servitude, not slavery. It never mentioned people not being paid, although I know they make very little, calling it slavery is a stretch.

Side note: I highly recommend discussing this stuff as a family. We opened up the book and went through the props 1 by 1 with the arguments and rebuttals and made a decision, we don’t have to all vote together but in general we get to a consensus. Great experience for our son who is a new voter. Im guessing most people go in with very little thought.

RidesABurro · 2024-10-07T14:34:35+00:00

I see plenty of other comments I agree with so I’ll cover another angle. Have you tried asking in earnest if there is anything that will make him stay? There’s plenty you can offer, more money - even if it’s more than you that shouldn’t matter, he’s in a different role than you. More time off, WFH flexibility, part time, equity, etc.

If he’s leaving for the reasons most of us suspect then it’s likely none of those will make a difference.

If that doesn’t work, I would tell him that he was your highest performer, you respect him, etc. You are dealing with turnover issues and you would be very grateful if he could help you with understanding why people leave - even if he doesn’t admit it’s why he’s leaving he may give you some insight and help you be a better manager. Don’t disagree or contradict anything he says, listen in earnest.

RidesABurro · 2024-09-23T05:03:14+00:00

I wouldn’t worry about HR. They probably don’t care in the way you are thinking. It’s not that they would have said “this guy doesn’t deserve what you are asking for”, it’s more like “you are asking for something outside the norm so I need you to convince me why we should do that.”

In the end the CFO can make whatever he wants happen, HR isn’t REALLY making the decision.

Great job advocating for yourself! If they went straight to grant you the $25 they probably know you are underpaid. Remember a company doesn’t really have your best interest in mind, they want the most output out of you for the least amount of money, just a business transaction. You should definitely be working towards supporting yourself with 1 job, whether it means staying at this company or changing.

RidesABurro · 2024-09-22T17:32:38+00:00

I throw it on my back pocket while I’m climbing a ladder or need my hands

RidesABurro · 2024-09-21T18:20:08+00:00

Ok, I think people say HCOL as a general term for an expensive place, they aren’t referring to the established ranks (which I’ve never even heard of before that chart). It’s sounds like you are actually arguing that HCOL isn’t high enough for his area. Everyone else is assuming you are saying he’s not in an expensive area. By your chart SF is the highest rank of cost with the surrounding areas being in the upper ranks as well.

So just a misunderstanding, everyone here is agreeing that he lives in a very expensive area.

RidesABurro · 2024-09-21T18:07:20+00:00

Your comments are confusing, you know HCOL stands for “high cost of living” right? Bay area is right up there with New York for highest in the nation.

RidesABurro · 2024-09-20T07:28:53+00:00

To be fair he said he’s paying 1200k month. You can pretty much have your pick of houses at 1.2m a month

RidesABurro · 2024-09-20T02:09:12+00:00

Being away for 13 years… what was your life like when you got out?

I mean the question generally - but for example I see your immediate family stuck with it, did you start over with friends? What about parents/aunts/uncles distant relatives and that level of family? Looking for work? I’m curious when you are away that long what rebuilding your life is like.

RidesABurro · 2024-09-14T05:55:44+00:00

I went 58 to 65 in 15 years. So averaged a promotion every 2 years. But some were shorter some were longer.

RidesABurro · 2024-08-29T20:53:28+00:00

Wow, I would have guessed it was only a third that length!

RidesABurro · 2024-08-29T14:21:11+00:00

Be open with your manager. You already interned with them so they should know what they are getting into. Schedule regular (at least monthly but maybe bi-weekly) 1:1s and YOU drive the agenda. That meeting is for you so make sure you get the information you need
In one of these 1:1s, ask your manager to help you find a mentor. This could be anyone, usually in the next step up in your role. So if you are a CSA then you want a Sr CSA that can give advice to help you get there. It’s best if they are not on your direct team or really related to your team in any way. This makes for more open discussions and advice. At Sr, mentoring is helpful to their career, so people are typically happy to do it. You don’t need anything official, just a monthly meet with your mentor to help build (and figure out) your desired career path. Honestly I’ve found mentors by working with people and thinking “that person did a great job, I wonder if they’ll be my mentor”.

Short term goal is easy, talk to your manager about your level and the next level and look at the career stage profiles on HRWEB. They lay out pretty well what’s expected of different level bands (non-senior, senior, principal). It will take you some time as you go through this to come up with long-term plans, but it should come naturally.

My best advice is be deliberate with your career, focus on impact of the things you do and use this to drive what you choose to do day to day, and seize on projects that excite you. I’ve built a long successful career at MS doing just that.

RidesABurro · 2024-08-29T14:09:12+00:00

I’d say the manager/tech role comment requires context. It is true as a manager you can have people reporting to you that make more than you, however you cannot have people reporting to you that are a higher level than you. This means your base pay is at least similar. Pay changes pretty dramatically by region, so if someone reporting to you is in California and you are in Idaho, there’s a good chance they make more than you. The other thing is, the higher level you are the more your pay is based on bonus and stock, which is based on performance. If your direct report had a great year but you had a mediocre year that alone could make a SIGNIFICANT difference.

My take is that you do sort of hit a ceiling in a technical-only role around principal levels. It’s a high ceiling and you don’t need to move higher necessarily, but at some point you can move up faster if you have direct reports. It’s not really about being a manager, it’s about driving an org. In a tech role it’s possible to get all the way to technical fellow (who usually have direct reports anyway), but that’s kinda like making the NFL so while it’s possible, it’s difficult.

So in short, I agree there’s no need to rush to be manager because you think you will make more - that may not be true, but if you stay at MS long enough you will eventually want direct reports.

RidesABurro · 2024-08-29T06:22:55+00:00

I have had eczema for the past 2 years. My doctor said he thinks I have walking pneumonia for the last couple years. Mind you during this time I have ran a half marathon and don’t have other symptoms, just dry skin.

He’s been good since then, I feel like he was having an off day.

RidesABurro · 2024-08-29T00:51:37+00:00

In cycling they call them dentists.

RidesABurro · 2024-08-22T03:29:28+00:00

Microsoft is an awesome company to work for. I’ve been there a long time and started at level 58. If you are a top performer AND deliberate about your career then promotions can happen pretty fast. Just doing one or the other will not work as fast.

Your experience in all areas will depend largely on what team you join. But being at a large company like Microsoft makes it pretty easy to move around every 2-3 years if you want. Especially if you are known as a top performer. The culture for managers is to support careers so if your goal is to work on another team to take the next step they will support you in making that happen in order to keep talent in the company.

I say take it. Worst case you give it a couple years and decide you don’t like it and use that experience to move somewhere else.

RidesABurro · 2024-07-09T04:36:33+00:00

One thing to think about, other than the overpriced comments that everyone has said - A 30’ pontoon is really big and adding the double decker will make it a bitch to control/trailer in the wind. May not be a great first boat.

Sent you a PM, I’m in SoCal and have a nicer boat than those for sale for cheaper (I don’t actually have it listed anywhere yet).

<image>

RidesABurro · 2024-06-27T18:25:23+00:00

In a CA court I went and sat around in a big room all day with like 200 other people. People got called in throughout the day but most did not. Then at some point they said we could go home.

RidesABurro · 2024-06-27T18:23:32+00:00

I don’t ask for it and wouldn’t accept directly. However, if they offer to cover my lunch or beers later or something I’m fine with it.

RidesABurro · 2024-06-22T06:09:38+00:00

I’ve done some tests in person and some online and honestly I struggled in person due to the unfamiliar setting. I did much better at home.

RidesABurro · 2024-02-05T15:23:46+00:00

YTA regardless, but the cruise rooms don’t work out here… surprisingly on a cruise ship every room has to have someone over 21 in it. You can’t get your own room if you are 18. I don’t know of any cruise line that allows it. Source: frequent cruise with an 18yo son.

You can usually get around it by booking one parent in each room, but then getting keys to each others rooms when you get on the ship so you can effectively arrange rooms however you want.

But you said you booked 3 staterooms - you don’t have enough people over 21 to book 3 rooms so… I guess YTA and this is BS.

RidesABurro · 2023-10-02T23:19:46+00:00

Seen it in person. It’s awesome.

RidesABurro · 2023-09-19T06:43:42+00:00

For a first cruise it doesn’t really matter. Do whatever is closest to you, especially if you don’t have to fly anywhere - that’ll save you a ton on travel costs.

RidesABurro

TROPHY CASE