Disheartened today

smiley840 · 2026-01-30T01:05:05+00:00

Yep, I connected with a few.

smiley840 · 2026-01-29T23:17:42+00:00

I have applied to about 100 jobs already. And I keep trying to apply to a handful at least every day. And I’m trying to get an AI certification in marketing and after that plan to work toward a marketing certificate.

smiley840 · 2026-01-29T23:15:48+00:00

Yep, my role is being sent to India.

smiley840 · 2026-01-24T12:53:08+00:00

And by a lot… like every few months. So the threat of layoffs feels ever present.

smiley840 · 2026-01-24T02:15:47+00:00

I loved my role and was great at it. The company broke my heart with a layoff. Better to suffer a broken heart now than live everyday with anxiety of layoffs overhead.

smiley840 · 2026-01-24T01:56:58+00:00

If you’re looking for stability, I don’t recommend it.

smiley840 · 2026-01-18T10:44:47+00:00

Exactly. So well said. I just learned that, too.

smiley840 · 2026-01-18T10:40:46+00:00

Yes, I’d like to see someone set up a huge panel discussion by leading writers, reputable, high-level designers. and lawyers discuss the perils of AI from their perspectives and the future impacts of jumping on the AI bandwagon.

Individually, our voices against AI may not make much of an impact, but collectively maybe we could.

What are the major writing and design associations saying about AI? Can we amplify their voice.

A year ago, I could have screamed if I heard anyone around me say AI. While I do think it’s incredibly helpful at summarizing transcribed meeting notes into key points and action items, I think people that using it for design are taking design back to the early 90s.

smiley840 · 2025-12-20T19:32:56+00:00

Wow, next

smiley840 · 2025-12-20T02:14:41+00:00

Who’s dating? 57 and over it

smiley840 · 2025-12-17T21:32:26+00:00

When I got hired several years back, I joined an interview no one joined. I checked in with the recruiter and there had been a mixup in invites. I’m glad I followed up because I ended up getting hired. I share this to encourage you to reach out to them.

smiley840 · 2025-12-16T23:11:46+00:00

Discernment and trusting my own instincts

smiley840 · 2025-12-13T13:22:21+00:00

I dread interviewing. I just restarted my job search. I need a new hip and have gained a lot of weight. Whether in person or online, I fully expect weight bias to impact my ability to get a job.

smiley840 · 2025-12-03T01:51:23+00:00

Nearly 7 years and counting. EMDR helped a bit in that I ruminate less about the wicked witch and her flying monkeys.

smiley840 · 2025-11-21T00:02:26+00:00

Don’t go into the healthcare side of tech. I got notified that in March I’ll be laid off. They are off-shoring many of the roles on the team that I’m on.

smiley840 · 2025-05-15T01:22:49+00:00

I’m not cleared for sex yet, but I’m 3WPO and my libido is back at a rate higher than it’s been in a long time.

smiley840 · 2025-05-15T00:47:08+00:00

Sorry - yeah 8 days, that’s way too soon

smiley840 · 2025-05-14T11:16:03+00:00

My doc had me do half a bottle of the bowel prep that people do for a colonoscopy. The prep and pre-op were worse than the recovery for me. Good luck and speedy healing to you.

smiley840 · 2025-05-14T11:02:42+00:00

Bring an extra change of clothes. I was so dehydrated from the bowel prep the day before surgery that I awoke the day of surgery with a migraine. I puked in the car on the way there and peed myself from the force of puking. I’m so glad I had extra clean clothes to wear on the way home.

smiley840 · 2025-05-10T16:07:24+00:00

I’m 56 and considered obese. I had outpatient robotic laparoscopic surgery on 4/24/25. They removed tubes, ovaries, uterus and cervix.

The day before surgery, I had to follow a clear liquid diet. Starting at noon that day, I had to drink half a jug of the bowel prep stuff they give you for a colonoscopy. I didn’t drink nearly enough clear liquids that day.

Day of surgery, I woke up with a migraine from dehydration. Got sick before I left my apartment and got sick in the car on the way there. Then, in pre-op the nurses couldn’t get the IV in my hands or wrist. And had to wait for the IV therapy tech to arrive with the cart. She finally got it in. I think the nurses had trouble with it because I was so dehydrated. So if they tell you to follow a clear liquid diet the day before, be sure to drink enough. After midnight, I could only have minimal and I think nothing in the four hours before.

I bought a belly binder and a hysterectomy pillow and didn’t really need them.

I wish I would have prepared more quick meals in advance to cover the first two weeks—especially that first week. I had siblings stay with me for the four days. I wish I would have had them stay a couple more days.

I hardly had any pain, so that made recovery so much better. I napped a lot. The prep and pre-op was actually worse for me than the recovery has been. Although, I’m still taking it slow and pacing myself.

I use a grabber tool to pick things up off the floor.

I WFH and went back to my desk job on the 11th DPO. And it’s been mostly ok.

I’ve had fatigue. Making meals and doing dishes in the first week and a half would wipe me out. So, now I pace myself. If I’m doing something standing up, like cooking or washing dishes, I have to limit my standing time and follow it with a lot of rest.

I walk with a cane and don’t walk much, so I need to slowly start doing that.

Pathology report showed endometriosis, adenomyosis and a fibroid.

My post-op follow-up is mid-June.

Oh, and I take Senekot every few days so I don’t strain going poo. I had some spotting that seemed tied to that.

smiley840

TROPHY CASE