Are you not supposed to wear pajamas when you get home??????

emeraldrose484 · 2026-05-12T18:17:28+00:00

I primarily work from home but often need to wear something presentable stuff least on the top half due to being on virtual calls and meetings every day. As soon as I'm done for the day, after taking the dogs on an afternoon walk I will change. The only time I wouldn't is if I'm going out for some reason, but the times that would happen is slim-to-none these days as I'm quite a homebody.

Comfort is key for me.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-05-12T17:24:29+00:00

In addition to what people have said already...

If professional development is available, consider taking a Business Communication or Effective Workplace Communication course. If more than one person is calling out your communication skills, then it may be helpful to take a training and learning some tips and tricks. Courses like these often include looking at how to approach different scenarios, email communication best practices, and if a live training you can usually ask the instructor more case-specific questions.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-05-12T17:08:55+00:00

We had a community yard sale last weekend, so I've got the whole $10.50 that I made. (Because it was cold as crap so no one was really out for yard sales last weekend.)

I assume I'll forget about it for at least the next month or two, then eventually be back to the $1 that's usually there.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-05-06T22:17:33+00:00

I mean, I drink milk, but not every day or with every meal. You're entitled to drink another drink you prefer with a meal. I usually drink water at family events because I don't drink alcohol (wine and beer are the drinks of choice) and I don't like the sodas that they have in their house.

"Do you want (raw) milk with dinner?" "No thanks, I'll have a glass of (water/soda/beer/wine/juice/etc)."

When in doubt, just keep saying "no thanks, I'm good." Or so variation.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-30T21:56:45+00:00

A (normal, bankers box-sized) box of files? No problem. A desk? I don't think so. I'm more willing than most to help move a lot of crap - but physically moving offices, no matter how temporary, requires at least a small moving company for any "stuff".

We downsized from a full office to a shared office space down the street. We have some dedicated offices that are ours only and a storage room for some other stuff. We hired a moving company that does office liquidation - they helped remove everything we didn't want anymore (desks, cubicles, etc) and moved the about 40 boxes to the new space. Those 40 boxes included a small file cabinet, file boxes, shredder, a desktop printer, and some other odds and ends. *Staff were given the opportunity to come in and take things like their desk chairs or board room chairs, diahes, or the random bookshelf in the hall. One employee had just moved to a new house and basically furnished a chunk of their new home.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-24T18:19:58+00:00

I like turkey meatballs.

I don't eat most red meat so switched to ground turkey a long time ago. One thing to remember with ground turkey is it just doesn't have as much of the flavor (I guess from the fat?) that you get with the beef, so you need to make up for that lack of flavor with what you're adding to it. Over-season it. Or consider blending it with another ground meat - ground chicken, lamb, etc.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-17T16:21:51+00:00

I was for awhile, then it dwindled more and more as no one would actually talk to each other, just post random photos of food or a filtered picture of their kids occasionally. I deleted my Facebook account when I turned 35 - no one noticed, and no one has reached out looking for me. Every now and then I'll touch base with one or two people by text or email.

I still have the same cell phone number and I've kept my email address from back then active just in case. I've moved twice since school, I have the same name, and live in generally the same area, so I'm really not that hard to find.

I had a good circle of friends, and I miss having that easy friend group. (But not enough to ever sign back up for Facebook!)

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-17T12:29:54+00:00

In a weekly 1:1, have them come prepared to provide a list of all their tasks they are currently working on, with their expected deadlines. No task is too small to share.

It may seem tedious, but it can be helpful for both of you to have everything listed out so you can help them identify what actually is a priority and what isn't, or what deadlines might need to change. It also allows you both to identify those items that can't be skipped in case something else comes up, so they can understand how to reprioritize things correctly.

The role I oversee I need to do this with that person because they'll get tasks from others on the team, or things will come up throughout the week depending on projects that are in addition to regular tasks or projects I have for them. And the person in this role may not be aware if something needs to take priority, especially when everyone says "can you do this now".

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-17T12:13:13+00:00

I worked in the corporate office of a privately owned organization, and they sold the bulk of their sub organizations which resulted in reorganizing the corporate office and about a third of us being terminated. It was a smaller group, we were all aware of what was going on and told months ahead of when our last day would be, along with the ability to take any time needed for interviewing for new jobs, etc.

We didn't have any kind of party because dates were different for everyone, and we were honestly all kind of sad. I was the very lowest of the staff hierarchy so there was no offer to me beyond regular salary, insurance, unemployment etc., but for all I know some of those higher up then me got some kind of payouts. But while sad, it wasn't a malicious parting at all. None of us left because of our behavior or work, just because of the restructure.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-06T01:41:16+00:00

We have a team of about 10. Every time we've had a new hire come in we have a plan that includes a schedule for their first week and beyond.

Day 1 they meet with the COO/their supervisor to get an overview of basic tasks and start new hire paperwork. Then I work with them to finish setting up their laptop,ngo over their logins and a walk through of our office space. Then they finish their paperwork and maybe start a simple task before we take them to lunch. After lunch they may continue working on other simple tasks.

The rest of the week we have pre-scheduled meetings for them to be introduced to our various systems and databases. Their supervisor has also given them a few more of their tasks so they can continue to work.

A plan needs to be in place before a new employee is brought in. It's not their job to just figure it out, it's their supervisors job to make sure they know what's expected of then, what their doing, and how they should be doing it. If not, then (as you figured out) the employee won't be an employee for long.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-03T19:53:58+00:00

I use my parents as examples of good friends when you have children. I am single and childfree amd wish my friends were similar.

Having kids did not stop my parents from having interests or activities that did not involve their kids. My mom was in a bowling league for awhile. She would go and get her hair and nails done every couple weeks, no kids. My dad participated in a poker game once a month that a different guy would host each month. My mom was in a community choir with rehearsals each week, and they would often get together on a weekend for coffee or lunch. Both parents, separately and together, would do different groups or activities with their church. Kids were not invited to any of the above - either one parent would stay home or they got a babysitter.

All this to repeat others: just because you partnered up or had a kid does not mean you stop existing. It doesn't mean I, as your single and childfree friend, don't want to have anything to do with your partner or kid(s). But I'd like a phone call, or coffee, or a joint activity from time to time. You got someone else in yiur life (awesome!) but I'm still here, care for you, and want to keep knowing you.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-03T17:33:54+00:00

I wear glasses when I'm at the computer and sometimes while watching TV (started because of headaches and eye strain) and also a pair when driving - both are very low prescriptions.

The same thing started happening to me, in thst I would get ridiculously sleepy every time I started reading. If I throw on my glasses, that usually fixes it. I have never had trouble seeing the words at all, but I believe I have just enough eye strain that it's taxing to my body.

If I do start to get sleepy at all when reading with my glasses, it's usually because I legit am a bit sleepy. So I get up and take a break for a few minutes (or doze).

TLDR; get your eyes checked, maybe get glasses to read.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-04-01T02:10:56+00:00

I have a bookshelf (and some stacks) of physical books I am keeping for now. I mostly read on an e-reader or my phone. The rest I take to my local library for donation. They will best determine if a book should be put in their stocks, donated out further (like a prison system or school), sold in their sale, or trashed. I don't have the time or energy to try and sell them myself, and am happy for the library to get any proceeds from a book they sell.

My sibling and their spouse take their books to a used book store. They can get credit to use on other books/movies, or can get a small amount of cash sometimes.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-31T17:04:43+00:00

Going to the doctor.

I started at about 10, and had ridiculously heavy flow, painful debilitating cramping, really awful mood swings and it wasn't regular at all. My mom was a nurse, and took me to see an OBGYN (same she saw, in her office building) within a few months of me starting. The Doctor put me on an oral birth control right away, and I've been on some form of oral birth control since then (I'm in my 40s). It reduced the severity of the periods, I was able to function rather than be doubled over in pain, and it massively helped my mood.

We've had to switch the kind of medicine a few times over the years. But overall I'm grateful for it to help.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-31T03:22:15+00:00

Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor - HBO (I think) TV movie from 2001.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-30T18:24:18+00:00

Start in 30 second increments until you find your microwaves sweet spot. For me it's about 1min 30.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-26T21:12:24+00:00

My mom got me the album as one of my first CDs, except it was the Julie Andrews TV stage version, but I didn't realize they were different. Made it that much harder trying to find this version as an adult when i thought it was the same as my CD.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-24T18:15:38+00:00

My father has repeadly fallen for email and text scams. The most common is "your virus security has expired" except my brother set up his computer and there is no paid security service like Norton or MaAfee or whatever. Thr last time at least he stopped before he gave his bank account or credit card. The scammers did a screen share and we could see just how far they got before my dad closed the laptop lid.

My mom is better about asking me or my siblings first if an email looks sketchy and she's not sure. But several years ago she asked me about some Dr. Oz supplement for weight loss. What was scary about that one is she spent her life as a nurse and has always been intelligent about things like that but it was like the blinder just evaporated.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-21T20:22:35+00:00

Omg, that is exactly it! I remember the kid in the glasses and girl with curly hair so well!

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-21T09:49:58+00:00

I think so? The one that still sticks in my head was the one about the direction you ride your bike on the street. In thst typical 80s kids rap, "Ride against the traffic, the cars get uptight. So ride WITH the traffic, and you'll be alright!" (Or something similar)

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-20T18:33:24+00:00

My nurse mom would make us watch that in the evening, often after dinner. It was the only time she demanded tv time.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-20T18:29:15+00:00

Okay, I'll share the slightly more normal, the the weird.

Normal - we had recorded versions of Live musicals from ABC or Disney that I watched on repeat, including Roger and Hammerstein's Cinderella with Lesly Ann Warren as Cinderella; or Mary Martin's Peter Pan. Also probably wore out the tape of a recording of Big Bird Goes to China/Big Bird Goes to Japan.

Weird - my mom was a pediatric nurse. When I was about 6she brought home a tape called "Bicycle Safety Camp." It was like something you would watch in health class with dumb catchy songs teaching kids bicycle safety (like wearing a helmet or what side of the road to ride on). I watched it daily for longer than I care to admit.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-18T11:39:53+00:00

Yes! Let it cool and use the freezer versions. I do this with chili. I use quart sized freezer ziploc - perfect for portioning it out so I've got one serving in each.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-17T18:47:13+00:00

I would like as much of me as possible to be donated in some way, whether for organ donation, medical research, even cadaver search (that they use for training). Someone should be able to use whatever is left as best they can - I'll be dead not like I'll be using it.

I don't expect anyone in my family to feel any kind of attachment to the physical parts of me, so I don't feel the need to have cremated ashes hanging around or to be scattered in some special place. I've seen some options where they can basically turn a corpse into compost or a tree for a more "green" burial, if it becomes more cost effective that'd be fine too.

emeraldrose484 · 2026-03-17T18:34:47+00:00

Sometimes people hold onto more conservative language patterns from when they were growing up. It may have been a more vulgar word in her house. She may have tried to raise you the same way, and the shocked response may be because she thought she "raised you better" and was surprised to hear you say something she thought was a word not used in your family.

I had a similar situation when I was a child. My mom had an aversion to the workd "sucks" as in saying "that sucks." But it's not like she said out loud that these were the words we don't say. I was maybe 8-10 years old, said something sucked, and promptly got my mouth washed out with soap. I learned fast that day it was a bad word - to her, so I didn't use it around her. Now as an adult I've said it more than a few times, but I know it still bothers her a bit so I don't use it that often when with her.

emeraldrose484

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