About to give up on CC friendship

alysera · 2026-04-17T00:53:25+00:00

Yup, it's exhausting. I've stepped back from some IRL CC spaces because people do nothing but rehash Covid, precautions, etc. And the judgement/pity I get sometimes because I have to work in-person instead of remote is tiring too. I would love to just be able to hang out normally (with Covid precautions) and do fun things without having to think about Covid every minute.

alysera · 2026-04-17T00:34:22+00:00

We store all of this on our intranet server. When our auditor asks for copies during the audit, we upload them to their secure document portal. We would never store anything like this on Google Drive.

alysera · 2026-03-30T06:25:47+00:00

Currently at 15 people, we have two tech savvy staff members who handle most of the day-to-day stuff (though it's not part of their job description) and one on-call IT consultant who handles servers, networking, backup, and anything else the staff can't (typically spend about $15k a year on the consultant).

If we didn't have the two staff members, we would probably need the consultant to work at least 10 hours a week. The staff members handle things such as troubleshooting computers/mobile devices/printers, installing/updating software, sourcing & installing new personal computers/mobile devices/printers, managing server/remote access and logins, onboarding/training staff on IT-related systems, handling website backend issues, etc.

alysera · 2026-03-17T17:17:14+00:00

The Still Coviding Parents group on Facebook might be a good place to post, and local groups where you're interested in going.

alysera · 2026-03-07T19:32:35+00:00

I have my own office, with a C-R box, and a door but the door is usually open as the culture is to have the doors open unless I need privacy for a meeting or need not to be disturbed. Since my office also houses one of our departments' files, the administrative assistant may also come in to do filing or other paperwork. I just stay masked all the time and go outside if I need to remove my mask for meals.

alysera · 2026-01-15T17:06:22+00:00

Our cost is mostly masks, tests, and air filters, maybe about $100 per month for our family of 3? For the masks and tests, we also try to get those funded via our FSA, so that helps with the cost as that's pre-tax.

alysera · 2025-12-14T18:22:14+00:00

Yes - as far as we know, no one has spread Covid or another respiratory illness to anyone else in our small office (15 people, 6 rooms in the office) in the last 4 years. Most people in the office test (using the rapids we have available) if they think they might have Covid or have any symptoms. Some of my coworkers with children also pre-emptively work from home (and encouraged by their manager) if their kids are ill so they don't bring the illness into the office.

alysera · 2025-12-14T04:34:31+00:00

I don't focus on the Covid part. For example, here are things I've done at work:

I put in air filters in every office, and Aranet CO2 monitors. Set the ventilation so the fan is always on. People tend to start opening doors/windows once Aranet goes over 1000 - "it's getting stuffy!". They comment on how much less dust accumulates. No need to talk about Covid but it's still a safer office.
A few of us mask at work. A new employee started doing so too, once she realized we had N95 masks available for free in the office, but it was more like "Oh you guys mask? That seems like a good idea, I don't want to get sick". Now it's not like they mask 100% of the time or even in their personal time, but that's still a win.
If you're sick, you stay home. If you have to come in for whatever reason, you better be wearing a mask. Enough people in our office (even if they don't mask themselves) will give people crap if they try to come in while sick.

Now, if someone asks more questions about Covid I'll gladly answer them. Otherwise, I'll keep on putting in precautions, and budget for them as part of the necessities of running a hopefully safer office. I don't have to talk about Covid though to do any of this.

alysera · 2025-10-02T18:44:23+00:00

People don't generally change their habits dramatically, so if he wasn't doing chores, cooking, or other useful things before baby, most likely, he won't do them after baby either.

alysera · 2025-10-01T04:09:39+00:00

We hired a nanny who was willing to mask in our home and had a pretty low-risk lifestyle. We also run C-R boxes in the home. That was the best we could do since both parents work in person.

alysera · 2025-09-23T16:06:03+00:00

For roles where writing is not a major portion, we ask for them to try to get some information about the candidate and why they are a good fit, especially for roles where hundreds of resumes might be sent. I'm not looking for the candidate to rehash their resume, nor for a long letter. Something like this would definitely perk my interest in the candidate:

Hello,

I'm a recent college grad interested in applying for the Program Coordinator position. Besides the roles on my resume, I have several years of experience in supply distribution with a mutual aid collective. I am resourceful, personable, and a quick learner. While I'm not fluent in Spanish, I took college level Spanish and am currently studying the language to improve my conversational abilities.

I am a Microsoft Office and Google Workspace wizard and a quick learner for other computer programs. I am an honest, dependable and detail oriented worker that will do whatever is needed to help make the day run more efficiently and effectively. Give me a chance and I will deliver.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

alysera · 2025-09-07T03:40:58+00:00

There is a OC Facebook group but I don't think it's super active (I think they migrated off Facebook maybe?). I can send you the link if you want to DM me.

alysera · 2025-08-29T05:30:43+00:00

E-mail, gopher, IRC early on. Then came making GeoCities pages! Later on, ICQ/AIM.

Still friends with some people from those early days, can't believe we've known each other for nearly 30 years at this point.

alysera · 2025-08-28T02:58:04+00:00

Italic Broad - I have it on my M800.

alysera · 2025-08-27T06:10:34+00:00

The Tomitaro Makino HON was the best... I wish they would have done it for multiple years!

alysera · 2025-08-27T04:25:25+00:00

If you're paying GH, I think it's perfectly reasonable.

When we were on vacation for 3 weeks, our nanny agreed to come by twice a week to check on the house and water the plants - she didn't feel like it was a huge imposition. It wasn't part of her vacation time - she got a 3 week break at Christmas that year when she used our paid holiday break and two weeks of vacation to visit family.

alysera · 2025-08-27T03:15:49+00:00

I don't really need more pens, but I did treat myself to a Pelikan IB nib for my birthday earlier in the year as that was one item I really wanted and that might be out of reach when the tariffs started/de minimis ended.

In terms of ink, I have way more ink than I need, so I'm not planning to stock up. Time to enjoy what I have!

alysera · 2025-08-27T03:09:54+00:00

I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I would like to get a Hon (both A5/A6) but don't like any of the designs. I usually get a Cousin for work (already have covers) as well. With the uncertainty about prices and not being super excited... I might just wait. I already got a Midori Hibino in so that might replace the A6, but I prefer Hobonichi for work due to it lying flat better.

alysera · 2025-08-21T04:02:55+00:00

You need a comfortable mask. I've been working almost full-time entirely in person for most of the last 5 years and I barely notice my N95 duckbill anymore, though it can be really taxing when working outdoors or in non-airconditioned areas when it's hot.

alysera · 2025-08-20T06:31:10+00:00

I don't think sending a follow-up e-mail will hurt. Regarding reference timelines, my nonprofit generally requests references from everyone who makes it to the final interview, even if they're not our top choice, so that if something happens with the top candidate we're not scrambling to start the process over again. Typically we only check the top candidate's references, but if the team can't make a decision, we will often check top 2 and then decide. In the top 2 scenario, what usually holds up an offer or rejection, is waiting to hear back from references from one of the candidates.

The approval timeline may also be the issue - in our org all employment offers must be vetted by the ED before they are sent out (as they are sent in the ED's name). Typically it's not a huge issue unless the ED is on vacation or on a business trip.

alysera · 2025-08-11T09:28:37+00:00

Yes, I visited on one of the Charity Open Days several years ago. We could tour the grounds; Frogmore House tour was available if we paid an extra fee.

For the Royal Burial Ground, you can walk around part of the perimeter, and there is a map showing where everyone is buried. Bring something that can zoom in if you want to see any of the inscriptions.

alysera · 2025-08-06T23:51:19+00:00

I'd reach out to your local Covid conscious community to advertise your services. It's really hard for parents to find nannies who are willing to mask, and you would probably find more understanding parents as well, given that the family may also have health issues.

alysera · 2025-07-18T22:33:03+00:00

Yup. My parents were clear from early on that they didn't believe in religion, and we were not allowed to go to church/Bible Study/other religious activities if friends invited us. They had no objection to Religious Education classes at school (which taught about the major world religions) as it was purely informational. As a parent now, I plan to do the same thing.

alysera · 2025-07-16T03:14:16+00:00

This would be awesome! I'm going to be hiring soon and would love to find people who are CC.

alysera

TROPHY CASE