The "What's on your mind?" Thread -2017

foxxycat said:

well heard bad news about work related "Stuff". Now I have to decide if the new conditions are enough to make me seek employment elsewhere...or roll over.

I messed around with welding yesterday. I still have more practicing to do but I could actually run a bead without blowing up the machine. I just need to get into the swing of it. I have found several LARGE companies are seeking workers. I just don't want to leave my job. It's kind of boring but you know I like the people I work with. I just don't like the changes that corporate is pushing. There's other companies who treat people much better. Then I forgot that I used to be a store manager for a year. Maybe I can seek out that position...there's so much on my mind...just scared for my future...and loosing the vacation time really ticks me off. BUT I have to make a decision May 1 on whether to stay or leave.

I have a few people in my networking group that are helping me with contacts and just give me support wherever I decide to move on to. I never expected to leave here. Guess I should have seen it coming. Removing Severance pay for salary people is a real low blow in my opinion. Guess I need to shut up too. Sorry. So MAD!

Click to expand...

That sounds really frustrating! I would start looking around to see what is out there at the very least. Change is always hard. But sometimes stuff happens for a reason.

Oh I have already filled out a few applications. It's the waiting and meetings that make me nervous. I haven't had a real interview since 2000. Nowadays they have all kinds of crazy questions and things they ask that are nor related to the job. I guess those questions are a test to see how creative a person is. Personally I find it annoying. If it's not related to the work-then why waste my time? I am beginning to enjoy people of few words. Get to the point. Say it and move on is how I roll.

I practiced some more at lunch. This time I am concentrating on my position of hand-It's coming out better...I just miss my old welding helmet. I was using a loaner and it's not quite as comfortable or easy to use.

Just thought I should mention, for anyone who lost capitalization of their name during the move:

If you click on your name on the upper right corner of any page you will now find a name change button, so you can change it back.

Thanks, moderators.

Margret

I read an article many years ago, by an executive of a large company that frequently acquired smaller companies. This guy said that when they were investigating a company for potential acquisition he would always make sure to take a woman along when he went to talk with the board. It was the woman's job to, at some point, excuse herself to use the bathroom, where she would check for emergency menstrual supplies. If a company has decided to save money by cutting back on those it's a subtle signal that, no matter how good a face they're putting on it, the company is in trouble.

I'd say that when a company decides to do away with severance pay for salaried employees, there's nothing subtle about it. That's a great big neon sign saying "Going out of business soon!" When they begin saving money by shafting their employees it won't be long before they decide to save by cutting corners on contracts. foxxycat , I think you're very wise to investigate your options before things get worse.

Margret

I don't understand why would they tick off their talented help?? It's a SLAP in the DAM face for those of us who worked here 7 days a week and plus always answered phone calls etc off hours. Anyways I hope the other unions in this company can hold on to their benefits because I doubt we will have a chance in hell. Anyways I remember as a manager to always treat my employees well. They would take care of me and the business. This time around it's like we are getting a spanking every time something happens. Not to mention management who never welded or built anything. They don't even know when someone is pulling the wool over their eyes.

We have a buyer so I hear..but where the heck are they?!!! We NEED them to step in NOW and cut the fluff.

When I started 14 years ago we had half of the staff and no issues. Now it's a nightmare to get anything done or all new procedures that have nothing to do with our job...just nothing but a headache. And frankly many of us are looking elsewhere.

foxxycat said:

I don't understand why would they tick off their talented help?? It's a SLAP in the DAM face for those of us who worked here 7 days a week and plus always answered phone calls etc off hours. Anyways I hope the other unions in this company can hold on to their benefits because I doubt we will have a chance in hell. Anyways I remember as a manager to always treat my employees well. They would take care of me and the business. This time around it's like we are getting a spanking every time something happens. Not to mention management who never welded or built anything. They don't even know when someone is pulling the wool over their eyes.

We have a buyer so I hear..but where the heck are they?!!! We NEED them to step in NOW and cut the fluff.

When I started 14 years ago we had half of the staff and no issues. Now it's a nightmare to get anything done or all new procedures that have nothing to do with our job...just nothing but a headache. And frankly many of us are looking elsewhere.

Click to expand...

You're perfectly right, of course.

Greedy people get stupid, or else stupid people get into management and run a company into the ground. Then they make stupid choices in an attempt to save the company, or just to save their own a**es. I know -- that's a rotten answer, but it has the advantage of being true. I'm sure that management would give you a different answer, but it would all be window dressing, an attempt to justify the unjustifiable.

You're absolutely right to be outraged by this, but don't waste your energy on it. They aren't going to listen to good advice from you or anyone else. What you have to do is to protect yourself, which means deciding whether you think the potential buyer will step in soon enough to justify the gamble of waiting for them.

Margret

foxxycat said:

Oh I have already filled out a few applications. It's the waiting and meetings that make me nervous. I haven't had a real interview since 2000. Nowadays they have all kinds of crazy questions and things they ask that are nor related to the job. I guess those questions are a test to see how creative a person is. Personally I find it annoying. If it's not related to the work-then why waste my time? I am beginning to enjoy people of few words. Get to the point. Say it and move on is how I roll....

Click to expand...

A company where I once worked paid for a job-search/resume writing class when they cut 40% of their people.

One of the most valuable things I ever learned (and I teach others this when I can) came from this course.
1a--Make a list of all the things you know you can do. This includes specific skills, working with people, teaching/training and anything else you can think of. Try to recall EVERY paid and volunteer position you've had to get the most complete list.

1b-- Then, pick out those skills or accomplishments that other people think you are good at, or have told you that you've done well.

2-- Make a new list of things you enjoy doing and you believe you do well. Again, include everything from all the jobs you've had. Also include any hobbies or other interests you include in your life that are currently separate from your work activities.

3-- Compare the lists. The skills and abilities that overlap on the 2 lists are strengths and skills you have that are a large part of what you can offer to a new company. These strengths can be easy to "miss" when job hunting and preparing a resume. Typical resumes focus on job descriptions, special training and daily work tasks from jobs you've had in the past.

These extra strengths and skills can help identify a different job category you might enjoy. You can also use the new insights into yourself during interviews when someone asks those "other" questions.

Part of the reason that companies are asking the "unrelated" questions is to evaluate you as a whole person.

Companies are searching to fill a specific job, but they actually hire a person. That person might be a good or bad fit to the company, regardless of job skill qualifications. They may be looking for a person who will be able to perform a variety of jobs, or a person who will be flexible over time if the needs of the company change.

Hiring a new person is expensive for any company. The estimate I saw several years ago was that the hiring process costs the company at least 5 times the annual salary being offered to the new hire.
There are many applicants for most positions now. Employers typically have the ability to pick and choose from many qualified candidates for any one job.

That's why the "other" questions, and even your attitude answering those questions can be important to the hiring company. Most companies want to hire once, and not have to find another person if the first hire does not fit for some reason.

You can search the web to find typical answers for the "unrelated" questions, and find lists of other questions you might be asked during interviews.

I found I interviewed better when I wrote down the difficult or less typical answers, then read them out loud. That forced me to find an answer that "fit me" better than some of the answers I found on the internet.

That became a lot longer than I thought it would be-- hope some of it will be helpful

R.I.P. Erin Moran (Joannie Cunningham from Happy Days). She was 56. They haven't done the autopsy yet, but suspect a heroin overdose.

Margret

Margret said:

R.I.P. Erin Moran (Joannie Cunningham from Happy Days). She was 56. They haven't done the autopsy yet, but suspect a heroin overdose.

Margret

Click to expand...

That's a shame. She was young. I understand she had mental problems.

I have made a list of skills and other experiences. That was a good explanation. Thank you. The one thing I fear is bankruptcy court determining the wages. If they cut wages in half then I don't know how they will find qualified candidates. There's nothing I can do about it. I just have to see what they offer and hopefully the body is reasonable.the thing is they have lied to employees before and people took less money then find out a group of people got raises but the rest of us got shafted.

I know it's time to move on.I'm just sad because I'm not ready to move on. Either way I'm hopeful maybe they won't take it all away but it sure would be nice if we could locate a lawyer who has experience with bankruptcy. And tell us what to expect.

I heard all kinds of different things from various people but I don't know how to tell the baloney from the facts. This is uncharted territory for us.

Either way it doesn't look good for our future. Doesn't look like we will be able to survive as a company.

foxxycat said:

Interesting findings in my work. Last night people stood together and we won this part. Still long way to go.

Jon took my picture last night because Bee Kitty was sleeping upside down on my chest...and I looked hilarious.

I am hopeful that there will be a resolution at work. If not I have other places to put in bids and see what happens.

Click to expand...

Look anyway. I'm looking. (Not finding anything--there seems to be an oversaturation of people applying for jobs in my area--specifically people who seem to be more qualified than me.)

artiemom said:

Sometimes a MRI cannot show everything. I had a lot of shoulder issues, with constant pain, and pulling..
My MRI only gave a possible suggestion of a cartilage tear, a minor bursitis and minor tendonitis, and a bone spur.. The tear was in the 'could be, could not be' territory.

I ended up having a small, but painful, cartilage tear, chronic bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, bone spur.

I suggest you keep up with the orthopedic doctor for a treatment plan..

I will say that ICE was and still is my best friend.

Click to expand...

For those who don't know: Ice, Compression, and Elevation. (I learned it as RICE M--Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Medication.)

foxxycat said:

well heard bad news about work related "Stuff". Now I have to decide if the new conditions are enough to make me seek employment elsewhere...or roll over.

I messed around with welding yesterday. I still have more practicing to do but I could actually run a bead without blowing up the machine. I just need to get into the swing of it. I have found several LARGE companies are seeking workers. I just don't want to leave my job. It's kind of boring but you know I like the people I work with. I just don't like the changes that corporate is pushing. There's other companies who treat people much better. Then I forgot that I used to be a store manager for a year. Maybe I can seek out that position...there's so much on my mind...just scared for my future...and loosing the vacation time really ticks me off. BUT I have to make a decision May 1 on whether to stay or leave.

I have a few people in my networking group that are helping me with contacts and just give me support wherever I decide to move on to. I never expected to leave here. Guess I should have seen it coming. Removing Severance pay for salary people is a real low blow in my opinion. Guess I need to shut up too. Sorry. So MAD!

Click to expand...

Of course!

foxxycat said:

Oh I have already filled out a few applications. It's the waiting and meetings that make me nervous. I haven't had a real interview since 2000. Nowadays they have all kinds of crazy questions and things they ask that are nor related to the job. I guess those questions are a test to see how creative a person is. Personally I find it annoying. If it's not related to the work-then why waste my time? I am beginning to enjoy people of few words. Get to the point. Say it and move on is how I roll.

I practiced some more at lunch. This time I am concentrating on my position of hand-It's coming out better...I just miss my old welding helmet. I was using a loaner and it's not quite as comfortable or easy to use.

Click to expand...

I cannot stress the importance of practice, practice, practice enough. Get people to run you through faux interviews, both single and group.

foxden said:

A company where I once worked paid for a job-search/resume writing class when they cut 40% of their people.

One of the most valuable things I ever learned (and I teach others this when I can) came from this course.
1a--Make a list of all the things you know you can do. This includes specific skills, working with people, teaching/training and anything else you can think of. Try to recall EVERY paid and volunteer position you've had to get the most complete list.

1b-- Then, pick out those skills or accomplishments that other people think you are good at, or have told you that you've done well.

2-- Make a new list of things you enjoy doing and you believe you do well. Again, include everything from all the jobs you've had. Also include any hobbies or other interests you include in your life that are currently separate from your work activities.

3-- Compare the lists. The skills and abilities that overlap on the 2 lists are strengths and skills you have that are a large part of what you can offer to a new company. These strengths can be easy to "miss" when job hunting and preparing a resume. Typical resumes focus on job descriptions, special training and daily work tasks from jobs you've had in the past.

These extra strengths and skills can help identify a different job category you might enjoy. You can also use the new insights into yourself during interviews when someone asks those "other" questions.

Part of the reason that companies are asking the "unrelated" questions is to evaluate you as a whole person.

Companies are searching to fill a specific job, but they actually hire a person. That person might be a good or bad fit to the company, regardless of job skill qualifications. They may be looking for a person who will be able to perform a variety of jobs, or a person who will be flexible over time if the needs of the company change.

Hiring a new person is expensive for any company. The estimate I saw several years ago was that the hiring process costs the company at least 5 times the annual salary being offered to the new hire.
There are many applicants for most positions now. Employers typically have the ability to pick and choose from many qualified candidates for any one job.

That's why the "other" questions, and even your attitude answering those questions can be important to the hiring company. Most companies want to hire once, and not have to find another person if the first hire does not fit for some reason.

You can search the web to find typical answers for the "unrelated" questions, and find lists of other questions you might be asked during interviews.

I found I interviewed better when I wrote down the difficult or less typical answers, then read them out loud. That forced me to find an answer that "fit me" better than some of the answers I found on the internet.

That became a lot longer than I thought it would be-- hope some of it will be helpful

Click to expand...

It sounds useful to me. Anyway, I thought I'd add one thing to this: I recently discovered that when I was applying for my current job (the hiring process is two interviews and a training class) I actually failed my second interview, but did such a good job on the first one that they sent me to class to see if I'd work out for the company. (The funny thing is that the second interviewer thought I wouldn't be able to last at the job!)

So...I'm back, and slowly getting caught up on the forums. Had a wonderful visit with Krys, as I always do. The first night she was here, we went to Beaufort and ate at a very good restaurant right on the bay. Spouters, it is called. I had shrimp and grits. I think I saw God. And they had homemade, fresh key lime pie! TO DIE FOR! Honestly, I hurt myself, but it was SO worth it! Next day we ran out to New Port (next town over, just 6 miles away...when I lived in Chattanooga, TN, it would have been still in my neighborhood!) to Willis Farms produce stand. Got some tomatoes that would win beauty contests (and LORD SO FRESH AND SWEET, right off the vine!), sweet corn and strawberries that would make grown men weep. I polished those off for supper last night, not wanting them to go bad, and am doing tomato sandwiches tonight. The corn, thank goodness, will keep for a good few days. I'll use it up by Wednesday.

Hekitty is VERY glad to be back in her own bed. She stayed with me in the office, on the daybed, but under protest. That bed is just too small for Her Highness.

foxxycat , I'm so sorry about your job. My father wanted to start a company, and had he been 15 years younger, he'd have gotten the financial backing to do so. His philosophy was that if you want loyalty from your employees, you must first give loyalty to your employees. I wish more businesses thought that way. He always told me that there would never be unions in a business where management and owners really care because those managers would already be doing the things that unions fight for. And I'm certain he would have run his company by those guidelines.

muffy said:

That's a shame. She was young. I understand she had mental problems.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, many child stars grow up to be dysfunctional adults. Ron Howard lucked out; he came from a show business family so he was given the support he needed when he was growing up.

My statement about suspected heroin overdose was based on Wikipedia's article on Erin. It currently says:

This article is currently experiencing high levels of activity because it is about a person who has recently died. Initial news reports, such as the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may be unreliable, and the risk of misinformation is unusually high. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information.

Click to expand...

and includes no speculation about cause of death.

Margret

@jennifurr, how's it going? Did you find out which hospital your husband is in? How is he?

Margret

Wondering about @alicia88 where is she? hope she is ok.. all the bad things which were happening to her.. thinking about her..

The coroner's report is back on Erin Moran; she likely died of stage 4 cancer. Drugs are not suspected. http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...ancer-harrison-county-coroner-says/100842220/

It seems that she was impoverished; I have to wonder whether she'd even been previously diagnosed.

Margret

Mamanyt1953 said:

So...I'm back, and slowly getting caught up on the forums. Had a wonderful visit with Krys, as I always do. The first night she was here, we went to Beaufort and ate at a very good restaurant right on the bay. Spouters, it is called. I had shrimp and grits. I think I saw God. And they had homemade, fresh key lime pie! TO DIE FOR! Honestly, I hurt myself, but it was SO worth it! Next day we ran out to New Port (next town over, just 6 miles away...when I lived in Chattanooga, TN, it would have been still in my neighborhood!) to Willis Farms produce stand. Got some tomatoes that would win beauty contests (and LORD SO FRESH AND SWEET, right off the vine!), sweet corn and strawberries that would make grown men weep. I polished those off for supper last night, not wanting them to go bad, and am doing tomato sandwiches tonight. The corn, thank goodness, will keep for a good few days. I'll use it up by Wednesday.

Hekitty is VERY glad to be back in her own bed. She stayed with me in the office, on the daybed, but under protest. That bed is just too small for Her Highness.

foxxycat , I'm so sorry about your job. My father wanted to start a company, and had he been 15 years younger, he'd have gotten the financial backing to do so. His philosophy was that if you want loyalty from your employees, you must first give loyalty to your employees. I wish more businesses thought that way. He always told me that there would never be unions in a business where management and owners really care because those managers would already be doing the things that unions fight for. And I'm certain he would have run his company by those guidelines.

Click to expand...

I'm glad you had a good visit. It sounds like you had a lot of fun!

Margret said:

Unfortunately, many child stars grow up to be dysfunctional adults. Ron Howard lucked out; he came from a show business family so he was given the support he needed when he was growing up.

My statement about suspected heroin overdose was based on Wikipedia's article on Erin. It currently says:

and includes no speculation about cause of death.

Margret

Click to expand...

I think they do that on purpose to avoid upsetting the family of the deceased.

artiemom said:

Wondering about @alicia88 where is she? hope she is ok.. all the bad things which were happening to her.. thinking about her..

Click to expand...

Well, she had just started a new job, was looking into moving into a new apartment, was working on quitting smoking, on top of everything that happened with her sister. She probably doesn't have time right not to post. I'm sure she'll let us know she's all right as soon as she gets some breathing space.

Margret said:

The coroner's report is back on Erin Moran; she likely died of stage 4 cancer. Drugs are not suspected. 'Happy Days' star Erin Moran likely died of cancer, Harrison County coroner says

It seems that she was impoverished; I have to wonder whether she'd even been previously diagnosed.

Margret

Click to expand...

There are types of cancer that, even if you're not impoverished are almost impossible to catch in time to save someone. One of my grandparents was like that--he had some kind of stomach cancer (can't remember what kind), and it spread to infect everything.

Now, I know a lot of you have been patient with me (with my insanely increased hours) and now I can say--I finally have enough written in Magic School and Egg (still hoping for a better name) to post an excerpt! So, here's another excerpt (and for all the newcomers, if you're interested open a conversation with me and I'll send you what I've written so far)!



Ban'cha rolled his eyes. “That sounds like Rhyssa.”

“It sounds like you know Rhyssa,” commented Odandi casually as she daintily scooped some of her eggs with her fork.

Ban'cha shrugged, but Yarey could see that he was uncomfortable. “He knows my mom,” he said.

Yarey decided to change the subject. “So, where is the red boulder? I didn't see one yesterday, and he spoke like it's easy to find.”

“That's because everyone wonders why we have a red boulder next to the fish pond,” Shysera explained.

“Fish pond?” asked Anba with puzzlement.

“We do grow some of our own food,” said Shysera wryly. “If you become students, you'll learn about all about it.”

Yarey looked down at the make-shift sling on her chest, where her egg was. There it was again—the warning that they might not become students. Not becoming a student could be much worse than simply going home in disgrace; it could be fatal—and everyone was aware of it. They accepted it, and it colored everything they said or did. That felt—wrong, somehow, although she couldn't put her finger on why.

“Yarey?” asked Ban'cha. She looked up to see he was concerned, and frowning. “Are you all right?”

“You're probably exhausted,” Anba said. “Why don't you go take a nap after you've spoken with Rhyssa?”

Yarey smiled weakly at her friends. “I'll think about it,” she said as she picked at her food. To her surprise the eggs were all gone and Ban'cha scooped some off Shysera's plate to put on Yarey's.

“Hey!” protested the student.

Ban'cha rolled his eyes. “It's not like you're still hungry, and she doesn't like the bread,” said Ban'cha. He turned to Yarey. “Eat,” he ordered firmly. “A good breakfast can make any day seem better.”

There was a surprising note of bitterness in his voice. Should she address it? Better to simply pretend she hadn't noticed. “If you say so,” she said with a smile as she ate the eggs. Most cooked eggs, when cold (except for hard-boiled eggs), weren't very good. These were. The cold made the cheese crystallize slightly, and it was very tasty.

“So,” said Odandi once Yarey was eating again, “where's the fish pond?”

“It's at the back of campus,” said Shysera. Oskald, whom Yarey hadn't noticed before, yawned and stretched from around Shysera's neck. Shysera grinned at him. “Good morning, sleepy-head,” she said fondly.

Oskald sniffed. “Mornings are a barbaric ritual that you humans insist on going through for reasons that I, for one, never intend to understand.”

“I didn't even know he was there,” said Odandi as she stared at Oskald with awe.

Yarey was glad that she wasn't the only one who hadn't noticed him. It made her feel slightly better, and she watched as Shysera picked food up from her plate to feed her soulling. “How did you know what to feed him?” she asked. Suddenly she was the table's center of attention, and she flushed. “I mean,” she clarified, “when he hatched, how did you know what he could and couldn't eat?”

“I didn't,” said Shysera calmly as Oskald dropped to her lap, pulled himself onto the table, and began to feed himself from the plate. Shysera met Yarey's eyes as she explained, “None of us do. The first week you spend with your soulling you're learning all of that; what they can and can't eat, what they can and can't drink, whether you can take it to the garden for the inevitable result of all that eating and drinking, or whether you have to get a specially spelled pot because the soulling's messes will eat right through anything living and poison the drinking water.”

Odandi blinked in surprise. “That sounds—very specific,” she said slowly.

Shysera chuckled. “That's because it is,” she told the girl. “One of my roommates for my exam had that exact problem. She actually,” the student added with a grin, “poisoned most of the campus by accident, because the poisons from her soulling's waste ended up in the drinking water.”

“Is she a student here?” asked Yarey with wide eyes.

Shysera nodded. “She most certainly is. It's not like they killed anyone, after all.” Shysera looked pointedly at Yarey's plate. “If you're finished with breakfast,” she told the girl, “it might be a good idea if you get yourself down to Rhyssa's.”

“Right,” said Yarey as she grabbed her tray and stood up. “Which way do I go?” she asked.

“Just follow the path right outside. You'll get there.”

“Don't stray from the path,” advised Oskald. “The advanced magic class is practicing today, and the paths don't change.”

“Does that mean the rest of the campus does?” asked Odandi.

“Not the buildings,” said Shysera as Yarey made her way to return her tray.

Yarey kept one hand securing the egg as she walked down the path. She was afraid of failing. She couldn't help but be worried by the multiple colors on her egg—no one else had that. Then again, only the majority of the soullings she'd seen were single-colored. There were still some, like the Headmaster's that were multiple colors. She was happy that her egg wasn't the same colors of his soulling, but she was still nervous. Something about the colors made her uneasy, and she didn't know why.

She was also worried about Ueni. She knew, without being able to explain how, that what she'd seen was the truth. Ueni was in trouble—and there was no doubt about it. There was that strange man in the—the whatever-it-was that Yarey had experienced. She also had no doubt that the man was trouble, and dangerous. She was certain that the man was going to mean danger, specifically for her, one day—and she didn't know how she knew that either.

Somehow she knew these things without knowing how she knew them—and it was terrifying. Everything else she knew, she understood why and how she knew it, and how she'd learned it. Things were changing that she hadn't expected, and she found it frightening.

She looked up after being absorbed in her thoughts to see a giant red rock next to a relatively large pond. She supposed the pond was the fish pond that Shysera had mentioned earlier. The rock itself was huge, dominated this part of the landscape, and was unmistakable.

Still, Rhyssa had said that he'd be in the rock—how did that work? He didn't appear to have door in it. She stepped off the path and circled the boulder to find a way in. It appeared to be solid rock. She reached out and tapped a section—and it felt like rock. It sounded like solid rock when she tapped it. Just as she was wondering if perhaps she'd been caught in some kind of joke, a door appeared and opened right next to where she'd tapped.

Rhyssa stood inside the door and looked out past her. “Most people knock on the side closest to the path,” he said calmly. “Please, come in.” He stepped aside and she, a little warily, followed the order.

The inside was brightly lit. In addition to the glow sand walls there were large crystals hanging from the ceiling producing a clear, bright light. She wasn't certain, but she thought there might have been a slight hint of blue in it.

“Those are sun crystals,” said Rhyssa. “According to Zachi they work along the same principle as the glow sand in the walls, and as long as they're not magical lighting I don't care.”

“Were you also in the war against the Drar?” asked Yarey as she looked around. There appeared to be several desks, complete with chairs, and odd chairs that looked like oversized footstools in front of them. She'd never seen a chair without a back before, but she supposed that there were some fairy races that had tails and traditional chairs wouldn't be comfortable for them.

“Hmm. Yes. Your uncle and father were as well, I believe? I heard your father never returned, and I am sorry to hear that.”

He didn't sound sorry, as if it grieved him, but sorry, as if it had once been something to grieve over. Yarey looked at him. “Did you know my father?” she asked him.

Rhyssa's features contorted into a grimace. “I wouldn't know,” he told her. “Humans all tend to look the same to me. The healers back home say it's a result of a head wound I took in the war.” Rhyssa shook himself all over in a manner similar to the animals back on the estate when they were wet. “Well, please follow me,” he said leading her past the desks and stools towards the back.

In the back was a large desk that was just at the right height for a comfortable chair for Rhyssa. The desk itself was wider than any of the other desks, and appeared to have different slots built into it that he seemed to be using to sort his paperwork.

tallyollyopia said:

---BIG SNIP---

There are types of cancer that, even if you're not impoverished are almost impossible to catch in time to save someone. One of my grandparents was like that--he had some kind of stomach cancer (can't remember what kind), and it spread to infect everything.

Click to expand...

Very true, and no one has said (to my knowledge) what kind of cancer it was. The thing that bothers me about this is that she was alone. Generally, when terminal cancer has been diagnosed, a person dies in a hospital or hospice, or at home but with some kind of caregiver. Except, of course, if one has no insurance, no money, and no family to take care of you. And in that situation, the chances are high that one doesn't visit the doctor to get a diagnosis. I hope she wasn't in too much pain, but I strongly suspect that she was.

Margret

News:
Heart - just fine. Woohoo!
Brain - stable. Woohoo!
Shoulder - stress fractures. Ouch, literally. Doctor is sending me to an orthopedic surgeon. He doubts I'll need surgery but is convinced I will need PT; either way I need a specialist.

Back to lurking.