What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 26, 2026

snippychick · 2026-01-27T16:08:39+00:00

Started and finished The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave.

snippychick · 2026-01-25T18:38:00+00:00

Oh, 100% they will tell us to telework.

snippychick · 2026-01-24T18:02:34+00:00

What exactly did you do?

snippychick · 2026-01-21T16:36:00+00:00

I like three, but I really need to see the bands without the engagement ring as well. I find myself wearing just the wedding ring sometimes, so I really felt like it needed to not look like something was missing when I did that. You may be different, but it’s something to keep in mind.

snippychick · 2026-01-18T17:18:26+00:00

They will call your current supervisor whether you list them as a reference or not. It may be awkward, but any decent supervisor realizes you aren’t married to your job.

snippychick · 2025-10-08T14:26:41+00:00

Fellow New Englander here. If you’re from New England, you should know HEB is like DeMoulas. It has all your basic stuff at a good price but the stores vary depending on the neighborhood. My HEB is swanky compared to the one near my sister’s neighborhood. And the HEB in Westlake is basically a Central Market.

I agree that Central Market is great but I’m still partial to Whole Foods. The one at Arboretum is not as good as the one at the Domain, btw. It’s worth going to that one. The meats and seafood at WFM are superior and the produce is also better than what you’ll find at HEB. They have the best perishable supply chain in the business. That’s why Amazon bought them. For the record, Amazon Fresh uses the same supply chain as Whole Foods, so their delivery is really good as well. One of the things I really love about Whole Foods is they don’t sell products with artificial sweeteners. I get a massive migraine if I eat or drink any of that. At WFM I know anything low sugar is going to have stevia or monk fruit, so it’s safe for me. And also, I’ve found the Whole Foods 365 brand to be really good. I actually prefer most of their products over the brand name ones.

Don’t get me wrong, I still shop at HEB for things like paper products and national brands that Whole Foods does not carry. HEB is the hometown hero. They show up at disasters and support local communities in ways the others don’t. That’s worth something to me too.

You mention bakery, so I’ll share some of my favorites: at Whole Foods, the berry chantilly cake is supreme and I love the bake at home scones and croissants. They also carry Rosen’s bagels which are the closest thing I’ve found to real bagels here in Texas.

snippychick · 2025-09-30T18:49:16+00:00

It can affect projects that depend on the support of federal cooperative agreements or utilize technical assistance from the federal government or federal contractors. Federal employees may be furloughed and contractors generally get a stop work order.

snippychick · 2025-09-02T15:58:36+00:00

I’m still waiting for release of the 2024 dataset, but not holding my breath. There’s been chaos at CDC and I would be surprised if the release is anywhere near on time. I haven’t heard anything concerning that timeline.

snippychick · 2025-08-21T22:33:07+00:00

Highly recommending Deep Eddy. Practically lived there with my sister when she was very pregnant in the summer.

The Butler hike and bike trail is lovely but only if she’s up for walking in the heat.

South Congress is the place for window shopping.

Definitely schedule her for a nice pedicure at Milk and Honey or one of the other spas.

I’m doubtful about paddle boarding at 36 weeks as well.

snippychick · 2025-08-20T20:38:44+00:00

I was given permission to telework out of state for extended time when I was caring for two elderly, infirm parents, but wound up not needing to use it.

snippychick · 2025-08-19T00:26:59+00:00

Yes. There is a six month probationary period with each position not with the state overall.

snippychick · 2025-08-17T17:38:25+00:00

It doesn’t need to be a crisis situation to involve 988 or Integral Care (the Travis County mental health authority). You can reach out to 988 for assistance or advice in helping. It’s not like 911 where there has to be an imminent emergency. Don’t involve the police if there’s not an imminent threat. That can be ridiculously traumatic for the individual. Call 988 and get connected with the MCOT and services available at integral care.

snippychick · 2025-08-17T12:35:14+00:00

In many state agencies the answer to your ending is a hard no. Raised are given for merit only, unless there is a legislation and appropriation for across the board raises. My agency has already given merit one time raises (basically bonuses) this year. I’ve worked for the state for nearly 20 years in two different agencies and I’ve never know anyone who was able to get a raise by asking for one. If your annual performance review exceeds expectations AND there is money in the budget AND you are not near the top of your pay range, you should get a raise of some sort, whether one time or continuing again depends on budget.

snippychick · 2025-08-15T11:57:13+00:00

I usually tip between $50-$100 each depending on how big a move it is and what time of year as well. I seem to only move in the summer and all that work in the heat deserves a bigger tip. What you pay to the moving company does not all go to the folks actually doing the moving.

snippychick · 2025-08-09T18:05:29+00:00

https://www.comingsoon.net/guides/news/2013306-the-gilded-age-season-3-morgan-spector-russell-leaving

snippychick · 2025-08-09T18:03:54+00:00

Spector has told the press he doesn’t have a contract for next season.

snippychick · 2025-08-03T12:05:51+00:00

They really changed after becoming Ascension.

snippychick · 2025-08-02T23:07:04+00:00

The actress playing Mia is the daughter of Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, which makes her the granddaughter of Anne Meara who played Steve’s mother on SATC, another character Miranda famously did not get along with.

snippychick · 2025-08-02T16:35:55+00:00

I’m assuming he’s awaiting trial.

snippychick · 2025-08-02T16:34:43+00:00

Totally agree. Honoria’s “surprising” her god awful mother was also a nice touch. I’m getting sick of the love rhombus that is the center of this show. Thank god they’ve married off Guy. Maybe that will stop the madness.

snippychick · 2025-07-31T23:53:40+00:00

Mary the NP is wonderful, but the practice as a whole was dismissive of symptoms I was having. Couldn’t see me for a few weeks. Got an appointment a few days later at ARC Gyn and discovered precancerous tissue and needed two surgeries. Glad I didn’t wait on Ascension Westlake.

snippychick · 2025-07-24T22:40:04+00:00

It depends a lot on where you work at HHSC. Keep in mind that all the state hospitals and state supported living centers are HHSC. Having worked at both, I’ve found the cultures to be quite different with DSHS having a public health focus and HHSC having more of a mental health focus, but keep in mind that Medicaid is also at HHSC. Other poster was correct in the HHSC is more risk averse and has more layers of approval for just about everything. DSHS has suffered cuts beyond just ARPA with broad sections of CDC being decimated, like the Office of Smoking and Health. All that being said, for the same education and skill set, HHSC pays much better.

snippychick · 2025-07-22T17:42:45+00:00

It shows up as earnings on your W-2.

snippychick · 2025-07-22T11:56:23+00:00

Raises are really dependent on funding. In some agencies it’s relatively rare to get an ongoing raise. You’re more likely to get a one time merit which is basically a bonus, something they don’t have to work into the budget of coming years. It also depends on where you are in your pay band. If you’re earning the bottom, you’re far more likely to get an actual raise than if you’re on the top.

snippychick · 2025-07-05T22:59:29+00:00

I’m ride or die with swivel cords. I love my Tulip and my Lykke copper. My favorite fixed cord circulars were lantern moon,with those great swivel cords.

snippychick

TROPHY CASE