Congrats on your new Saturn! It looks awesome!

(*cough*foranAmericancar*cough*)


What? Nothing



I hope you´ll have many fine miles with your new friend

Yup, from those screenshots pictures, I'd say it was time for a replacement Saturn. The new one looks greeaat!

The irony of it all is: Saturns, though built in the US, are more like Toyotas and Hondas in build quality. So Saturns hold up better to all the miles we put on them. My heart broke the day Saturn closed its doors (Sept 30, 2009). And so many of the Toyotas and Hondas sold in the US are created right here in the US!

Well, all the more reason for you to enjoy it then! If you take good care of it, it might end up as a desireable collector´s item...

From the damage in those screenshots, it is amazing you escaped with no injuries! You must have an angel watching out over you, I'm so glad you made it out safely and intact!

Indeed. I was in a crash once and my car didn´t get as wrecked as that, but the impact force was still very big. Can´t imagine what you felt, h-e-r.

Actually, in modern cars, it's the responsibility of the car to 'take the bullet'. By getting distorted like that, the car absorbs a lot of the kinetic energy of the crash, and that's a lot of energy that doesn't "distort" the passenger.

In other words: the car sacrificed itself for it's owner.

Aww, such a brave little car.

I guess I'd better go out and pat/hug my car then, make sure it's on my side just in case. I think I kicked its tires the other day...

Philae made it! Frickin' AWESOME!

GO HUMANS! WE ROCK!

And here is the moment that will go down in history:


http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/12/world/comet-...down/index.html

First hi-res photo from the surface of the comet!!

@Stargelman: 1. Yup, my car gave its life for mine. I will always honor its sacrifice. Hopefully Jack won't be called to do the same. 2. I'm pretty stoked about Philae! I've been reading about it in Sci Am and looking forward to its landing. Yay!

@Grits: hehe, photobombing is not strictly a human/earthling thing, it is now?

I was super excited when I clicked on that link and completely failed to note the source, since it was forwarded to me by a brainiac sciencey friend. Lol.

So here is a thing that is happening:

My employer has been making noises about consolidating IT workers under one department, instead of each department having dedicated IT staff. (Without giving too much detail, this is a government entity).

This talk has been going on for over a year.

And we figured it was kind of inevitable that it would happen. However, what we did not really foresee was that we would have to apply for and interview for the jobs that were being created with new job titles. Or that there would be FEWER jobs than there are people currently employed doing IT work. There is a lot more- but I do not really want to go that deep in the weeds.

Bottom line- in the geographic areas I handle (either every day or as needed)- there are 5 jobs under the new scheme- but there are 7 people currently working. So- as I put it "When the music stops, 2 of us won't have seats."

To make it that much worse, we are effectively competing against people we know and like and with whom we have worked directly. And to add insult to injury, if I do get "hired," I will be on probation for a year, regardless of my years of service.

I had my telephone interviews for the 2 job titles I am interested in yesterday and last week. They hope to make the decision by the end of the day Friday (tomorrow). Living with this.... stuff... hanging over me has been less than pleasant, with the result that I have been less than pleasant. For which I apologize.

Bless your heart Treydog. The best of luck that things go your way. I know it won't feel good to ace out a friend, but ... you have to face those kind of decisions if you want to stay employed, from what it sounds. I have to root for the only one I know in the mix, so best of luck to you.

What a miserable situation, treydog. I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow afternoon when I’m sure you’ll be waiting for the phone to ring and the music to stop. It sucks that hoping for your success means hoping that your friends will lose their jobs, but I very much hope it works out for you. Thanks for letting us know that this is going on.

I understand Treydog, I went through a very similar situation myself. Even if you keep your job I doubt you'll feel like a "winner". I know I didn't.

Sorry to hear you're going through it yourself. In my case it also came with a noteable pay decrease.

Yet another case in which an employer f**** the s**** out of their employees.


You definitely have my sympathies, treydog. Hopefully you´ll get your job back which you already had all along

I see my training is being put to good use! Now, next time, don't use the asterisks - use a psuedo-fashioned replica such as ... "forking the shat" or "falking the ship," or my personal favorite, "putting their loaf of bread up the feces boat of the natural sons," (etc).

I feel for you Treydog. Just hang in there, and do what you have to. I am a network technician, and I have been in the same boat more than once. Many years ago I went to work at a company as part of a team of nine people. By five years ago that went down to four of us, with me at the team leader. A few years ago the company went through bankruptcy, and afterward I was the only one left. Now this year I have gone through three employers, and I am still at the same place, doing pretty much the same thing.

Have you seen the latest pictures from the surface of the comet? These were released just a little while ago:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps51be62f8.jpg

*

Cherry pie is in the oven, ham casserole is ready to go in as soon as the cherry pie comes out. Making the apple/cream cheese/marshmallow fluff dip right now, when it is done I'll start on the pumpkin Pie. When the ham casserole comes out, the Pumpkin pie goes in. While it is cooking I start cooking the turkey giblets for broth and gravy, then use the broth to make the stuffing. When that is done and the turkey stuffed, it goes into the oven and cooks while I sleep. Then tomorrow I make mashed potatoes and veggies - and then relax. WHEW!


*

Apple dip and Cherry pie are both done, ham casserole is in the oven. Working on the Pumpkin pie right now.

mALX - Yum! When should we all show up for chow tomorrow?

Gosh, you sound so busy. . . but I know you're having a blast.

I am, I love cooking big meals! Okay, ham casserole is out of the oven, Pumpkin Pie is IN the oven. I take a little break and then it is on to the giblets.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey is in the oven! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Happy turkey eating day, Americans!

Thanks Mustard!

People not from the US have been asking what Thanksgiving is on other sites. Thanksgiving is keeping the tradition alive of sharing our bounty with new friends, and to remember/remind ourselves what we have to be thankful for.

We (at my house) always propped our door open and welcomed anyone in who wanted to share the meal with us, which is why I always cook so much. The men in the neighborhood always went from house to house with an empty plate, and at every house they would fill some of that house's meal on their plate to bring home to their family. They would usually stay a few minutes and have a few bites with you and for some good conversation before moving on. That way we all had a share of each other's meal (bounty) at all our tables; and in some cases caught up with neighbors we might not have seen enough of with busy RL's.

One of the things we were always grateful for was good friends and good neighbors.

I think that sounds so nice, mALX Being able to do that without being "exploited" so to speak is just pure awesomeness.

But having the door open at this time of year? Really?

Technically, it wouldn't have stopped us because we have one big heavy (red) wood door that we propped open, but there was still a thin glass door between the elements outside and the interior of our house.

(not sure if you can see the glass door in this picture):






In this area Thanksgiving is USUALLY mild. (Note the greenery and the XMas wreath on the door). I say usually because this year it is freezing and snowing. But even if it was freezing cold out; our house was heated with coal heat - meaning so suffocatingly hot that all through the winter we walked around inside with the windows cracked an inch and wearing shorts and tees.


Anyway, when I met my husband, I had to sell my house and move into his - his neighborhood would probably shoot anyone that showed up on the doorstep with a plate. My old neighborhood is just a warm memory now, that is kept alive via telephone or visits, lol. I did bring plates to two of my new neighbors here in the past, both died in the last couple years, so this year it is just the family (and my older son is deployed, so he won't be here).

Reposted, so I never forget the memory of fallen shipmates . . . .

What an amazing solemn tribute to what so many suffered on this day. Thank you, Acadian.

Wanted to get the good news out there quickly, as I appreciate everyone's good thoughts so much.

Got "The Call" earlier- I will still be working- and will also be getting substantial increase in pay.

So- yay me for all that. However, there are some flies in the buttermilk... people I have worked with will still be disappearing, and there will (for a time, at least) be just 2 of us covering the work that was being covered by 3.

But I will count my blessings- it means Mrs. Treydog can stay retired and will still be on my health insurance. And more money is a good thing also- not just in the short term, but also as it will improve my retirement and Social Security benefits.

And I know you are going back to the ranks of the "previously employed," Mirocu. Sorry for that. But I have faith that you will find somewhere that appreciates your talents and will make proper use of them.

Meanwhile, thanks to all of you for all of the positive energy.

The coincidences abound Ser Trey, I started with a new company......again. This time I was hired as a dispatcher , so I'll be on the other end of the lunacy.

But, I'm quite familiar with the Hospitals, and procedures so I won't send the CCT Unit for the stubbed toe, and the BLS unit for the subdural hematoma.

Even saw a couple of guys there that I used to work with this morning...at least I'll be in familiar company.

Best of luck and wishes with you!

Peace!

Treydog – That’s good news indeed and, doubtless speaks well of your proven talents and value to the outfit you work for. I know what you mean though about feeling badly for those being let go.

Black Hand – Glad to hear that things on your job front are secure as well. I’m sure that your field experience will prove to be a huge plus as a dispatcher and, hopefully, the familiar faces will help ease the transition.

Now. . . we just need to channel positive energies so mirocu finds a great job!

Or a very nice lottery ticket..

Great news on the job fronts, treydog and Black Hand!

Mr treydoggie and Blackie dear...I'm so glad to hear the good news on the job front! Pleases me alot really


Now I had my share of bad luck today....

got this phone call from a guy from the travel agency expedia....asking me if I had booked a hotel in Kameroun! Never been to that country and never will go there! Then he asked if I paid with my CC ! NOOO i yelled! ...so he said he would cancel the reservation and tell the card company my card is compromised....

well I went on to the eurocard website and of course I found the wretched bill...together with TWO more bills from a chinese wedding-shop! Payment made in chinese yuan and the total sum was approx 1650 EURO!

yup I cancellel my card and I also filed a complaint to eurocard! grrrrrr Im getting so terribly mad!
Hope I dont have to pay those darn bills first and then wait for refund.....NOT a good christmas start....

minque, I'd be mad too! I hate scammers. If only they'd use some of that creativity to do something positive instead of destructive. Although the rules vary between countries, I'm sure you won't ultimately be liable. Still sucks though and you can't help but feel angry and a bit violated. Grrr!

Congrats to both Trey and Blackie. For Minque - how terrifying it must be to find out someone has your information and was able to do something like that to you! Acadian said it true, violated is the word that comes to mind. I am so sorry, and hope the company covers you on that - they should, that is for sure.

I´m sorry to hear that, minque! If that happened to me I´d turn green and grow to giant proportions, if mALX hadn´t trademarked it..

I´m always paranoid whenever I use my card but I think it´s a good thing. I use cash whenever I can. Do you have an idea of when it could have happened?

Thanks for understanding My frustration....mirocu it happened the 21st of dec..or at least my card was usel that day...My nowadays very dead card....But there was Christmas anyway and it was a good one..so let's hope things Will be sorted out after the holidays

I'm still alive, will be back soon. Hope everyone is enjoying their holidays!

I hope you all have a great new years! As for myself, I'll start the year off by proposing to my girlfriend.

And we shallst all pray for thou, DE...

Good luck to you, DE. Hope it goes well!

Best wishes to you both, DE! :-)