Randoms: Week of 8.31-9.6

chindimples04

Since school officially starts back for many this week.

inthewoods23

@chindimples04 7.6? Are we going back in time? 😆

chindimples04

@inthewoods23 I just really love 2020 and want to repeat it again! 🤣

inthewoods23

@chindimples04 I will say this summer has gone by too fast! Which is weird when I don't always know what day it is during the week.

chindimples04

@inthewoods23 it definitely went faster than previous summers, I feel. I never know what day it is. Yesterday felt like Monday, today feels like Friday. I have no idea what’s going on. 🤣

akoros

Not a teacher, but agree that I've lost the concept of time. I'm generally good at knowing what day of the week it is (particularly if I have to get up on time to "go to work" or can be lazy), but I find myself routinely thinking that last month was April or May. I can't believe it's almost fall!

My mom scored a subbing job and started last week....sort of. She was supposed to sub at one school for the entire first semester, but apparently the district assigned someone else and no one told her until last Tuesday. Luckily she was able to get another subbing position through October at a different school, but they're still trying to figure out how to get her email address activated (she has an account, but I guess it hasn't switched over to the appropriate school or something). She's pretty frustrated, particularly since she missed all the in-service sessions, including an all-day training on counseling kids under COVID (she's a guidance counselor....so kind of important). Apparently the other full-time counselor is also brand new. I feel for all you teachers out there, this is hard enough plus all the logistical and operational nightmares.

inthewoods23

I almost told the Pegs to go to [other baby site] because those are literally the kind of posts you see on the boards there every damn day.

krash_

@inthewoods23 I was thinking the same thing but that's what'll get you the warning for being "unwelcoming"

capnjackharkness

@inthewoods23 Yeah, you can't even hint that people should go away/elsewhere. It 'impedes their enjoyment of the site.'  Cause F us regular and our enjoyment of the site!  #HypocriticalBGs

inthewoods23

@capnjackharkness yeah I think my level 2 warning came cuz I said to the Peggy that they should see themselves out or something.

Thinking more about it... it's kind of the same thing as us hyping for the months, but somehow I feel the way we do it is less obnoxious? Maybe because we don't do it as special AW posts with all the extra questions they add to it?

capnjackharkness

@inthewoods23 Yeah, but we do it within the confines of the dailies usually.  And oftentimes do it more of like "Yeah Woods, maybe this'll be our month!  I'd love to join X and Y who are graduating, cause it'd be super cool to be in a BMB together!"  Which is better than random Peggy being all like "OMG. I want this to be MY month!  Screw all you people I don't know, F ur stories, cause I don't care about you!  This is about MEEEEEEE!!!!" Especially cause they're usually on their first (or early) cycles of trying, and/or already have kids at home.  le sigh.  It just comes across as obnoxious and grating and selfish to those of us who've been around for like EVER, trying to patiently wait to see when/if we will ever get our time.

inthewoods23

@capnjackharkness I legit cried earlier this morning it upset me that much. With everything else going on in my life and just finding out yesterday I need to bench myself for 2 months for the stupid measles vaccine, it just really really sucks. I really can't be happy anymore for some of the newbies that come in here trying for their 3rd+ kid. I have no hard feelings towards them but it's so hard to read about!

Okay I'm gonna go cry some more because you all are just amazing and respectful and wonderful people 

capnjackharkness

@inthewoods23   I'm sorry you're having a rough day.  Also, super double WHA about being benched 2 months for measles vaccine!?  I had no idea that was a thing and is super crappy!

Here's an awkward, loving internet hug from me to you:

inthewoods23

@capnjackharkness yeah, the recommendation is to not get pregnant for a month following the last dose of the vaccine (the recommendation is 2 doses, but 1 could be enough). If you're pregnant and get the vaccine, you've just injected yourself with the live virus which can affect the fetus. And well, I'm sure the other part of it is to make sure you're actually immune so you don't catch it while pregnant. I did get the vaccine as a child so either I've never been immune or it wore off. Thank god I don't live in the areas that had those measles outbreaks a few years ago!

priyadoc

@inthewoods23 Sending you love and hugs  

chindimples04

@inthewoods23 I’m sorry the Peggy’s are coming out. 😢 I was so restrained in my answer. It’s only been 3 cycles here and it gets to me. Those of you who have been at this so much longer have my heart. I seriously think and pray about you all often. ❤️ 

DoubleUp8

@inthewoods23 I'm sorry you are benched and that the Peggy got to you. 

mindyb2019

@inthewoods23 I’m so sorry friend that your benched for 2 months because of that vaccine. Giving you hugs ❤️

keikilove

@inthewoods23 I’m so sorry for the stress and sad feelings.😢 That surprise “benched for 2 months” really sucks! I just wanted to throw out there that I’ve had the Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine more than once but I’m not immune to Rubella. I’m not going to get the vaccine again because I think I’m one of those people that doesn’t develop an immunity to it. I wonder if you might be the same with the measles? I realize this sounds wildly irresponsible to not get it again, but if you’re in the 2-5% who don’t develop the immunity it’s not so crazy. I know we have some doctors & nurses on here who might be able to add more insight. 

fitzfizz

@inthewoods23 I also put some info in the dailies, so check that out if you have not already. In response to @keikilove as well, more than half the time that I check titers (usually we do measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and hep the person is not immune to at least one of those. Not everyone responds to all vaccines. It is odd to me that they would delay procedures until you are immune to measles, though I totally get that they don’t want you to get pregnant right after the vaccine. Rubella is really important before a pregnancy, but measles really is not. As another anecdote, I had to be re-vaccinated for rubella 7 times during med school before I finally was immune. So eventually it does happen! 

keikilove

@fitzfizz Thank you for adding all that info! Very interesting. 

inthewoods23

@capnjackharkness @priyadoc @chindimples04 @DoubleUp8 @mindyb2019 @keikilove @fitzfizz you all are seriously the best! ❤️❤️

@keikilove it's so strange to not be immune! The immunity rate is lower for rubella than measles. Makes this so much more perplexing.

@fitzfizz thanks for all your knowledge! You're practically my secondary PCP 😆

kpearse99

Guess whaaaaaat?!!! 

It’s a full moon, biotches!! 😂 bring on the crazy peggys!! 

mindyb2019

@kpearse99 ahhhhhhhh Noooo!! 😂 

inthewoods23

I was gonna do a fun before and after of my warning but dammit TB 😆 I still have to be on my best behavior today

bluejeanbabi05

Hi hello hey. I'm super awk, so I'm just gonna fall in here and pretend I know you all (intro'd a week ago, and dipped my toe in the IF thread Monday).

@chindimples04 I legit have trouble with the days of the week for real. Today one of the girls in a fb group I'm in that does daily threads posted today's with the caption "Tuesday," and I just merrily went about the first couple hours of my day thinking it's Tuesday. Good surprise, though!

Is Peggy what we call people who do one-off posts like that one two days ago? What's the story behind the nickname? Also anytime I hear anyone talk about trying for a specific month or sex I immediately want to punch something/one. 

chindimples04

@bluejeanbabi05 yes, Peggy’s make the one offs. Now that it’s a full moon, most of them will be of pee sticks asking us if they are pregnant. 🙄 You know, because pictures do justice. 

@inthewoods23 of course the full moon lands on the day your level 2 expires. It’s like a test of your restraint. You can do it!

daisy528

I'm also new around here, but I have a question. How the heck do you guys get on TB?! I have no issues from my desktop at work, but the lag when I am home is out of controlllllll. I've tried both internet and cell connections, and tried TB app. No dice. Does anyone else have this problem and have secrets on how to access without wanting to rip you hair out?

bluejeanbabi05

@daisy528 I have a lot of trouble on my phone, but haven't had an issue yet on my desktop. Knock on wood. 

@chindimples04 Lol. I personally have really effective ute goggles, like I can tell you whether you're having a baby, unicorn, or blob just by looking at your U/S, but I have never had line eye.

capnjackharkness

@inthewoods23 They count it down to the MINUTE!?!?  F-ing ludicrous! (also, this is something I personally should know, but apparently never paid attention to?  HA!)
:: also mumbles something negative about BGs... ::

inthewoods23

@capnjackharkness you can bet I will have a new screenshot at 9:22 central posted in celebration! 

@chindimples04 crossing fingers for no Peggys today so I don't have to have restraint lol!

akoros

@daisy528 I haven't been able to get the app to work well for about a year, it lags terribly. I have the same problem when using a mobile web browser, so I just gave up and only use it on a desktop browser (which means I really only comment on weekdays since I hate using a computer when I'm not working)

@inthewoods23 I hate the term "triggered", but I totally got triggered by that one as well, to the point where it surprised me how upset I got. I'm sorry it was rough for you.


Not at all TTGP-related, but I'm just so p*ssed off about stuff at work right now. There's numerous changes/things happening and they're refusing to give any clarity or guidance on ANY of them. Excuse me while I rant: They want to significantly change the performance review process at the *end* of the year...any performance issues were supposed to be discussed and addressed already, you want to rip the rug out from under people now?? Not to mention the extra time it'll take to actually do all that, and the fact that the second half the FY has been insane with mandatory telework and other challenges. It's an election year and we've had ZERO training or briefings on the Hatch Act. The only mention was a link buried in a blast email that was near impossible to find even when I was looking for it. We have a lot of new employees who may not know about this at all, not to mention that some of the guidance has definitely changed since last time. Yes, they do go after staff for this, regardless of what higher-up officials can get away with. And now the payroll tax deferral, which is mandatory for all federal employees. No way to opt out, no (good) way of rejiggering our other deductions to ensure a consistent paycheck. Oh, and no written guidance/tips and don't bother going to HR with questions. Thanks, a**h***s. /rant

inthewoods23

@akoros I wasn't that bothered about it in the beginning, but then you start dissecting every sentence and thinking about your own situation in relation and it just hurts so much. It makes me tear up a little bit even now. And I can't even imagine the feeling for those of you who have had MCs! You had true due dates, not these hypothetical "if I get KU this cycle I'll be due in [month]!" due dates

capnjackharkness

@akoros Oh the joys of working for the Fed Govt.  Le sigh.  Same boat here.  Our SUPERVISOR were supposed to change our performance plans if we weren't going to be meeting the critical elements by like end of June.  NONE of us got ours changed, so now we're just all waiting to see how we get F'ed on our evals now.  Also, yeah, we've asked about the payroll tax thing and basically our agency is like "We don't have enough info yet. We'll let you know when we know."  Super helpful.

akoros

@capnjackharkness If it helps, I just finished up drafting some explanatory points to send to our staff. I don't mind sharing in a PM

priyadoc

@capnkjackharkness @akoros I’m a federal employee too! I don’t 100% understand the payroll tax thing, but that explains why my last couple of direct deposits have been larger? 

@fitzfizz You’re an MD too! Now it makes sense why you were curious about MH’s board exam I’m a psychiatrist so I never check anyone’s titers but I remember it was super annoying to have them drawn in med school!

akoros

@priyadoc Probably not quite yet, it took effect yesterday (Sept 1). Bottom line: if you make less than $104k ($4,000 bi-weekly) you'll see one of your tax deductions go to zero (per our payroll provider it's the OASDI, Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance deduction), which is normally 6.2% of your wages. Starting in January, however, that deduction will approximately double (~12.4% of wages) to collect both the tax due in Jan-April as well as the deferred taxes in Sept-Dec. 

priyadoc

@akoros Thanks so much for the explanation!! I just looked on mypay and apparently the increase was because they finally processed the raise I earned almost two YEARS ago. 

akoros

@priyadoc Ugh, and that's why we were told to not bother HR or payroll with questions, they can't even get the simple stuff done properly!

inthewoods23

Release the snark!! 🤣

capnjackharkness

@akoros it may differ agency to agency, but more info never helps... so lay it on me!

@priyadoc and @akoros Ugh... HR.  :: shudder ::  Almost as bad as calling the "help-less desk" (our IT used to be called the Help Desk).  Anywho, thankfully in a past life I did payroll taxes and bookkeeping, so I understand my paystub better than most.  However, many people don't get it, and this has the potential to really mess with those who can least afford it (i.e. those who are working and desperately need the money, but don't understand their pay / taxes and have NO idea that they may have to pay DOUBLE the amount back in just a few short months).  There's a reason why almost no private companies are taking part in this.  Too bad CDs are worthless as an investment anymore, or else I'd stash the money in a small several month CD.  Le sigh.