I'm making a fairly significant career shift. I'm leaving the safety of four years at a comfortable gig as a mid-level manager in operations/tech to be an individual contributor learning and development guy at a startup. It's a move I've been pondering for a while, and trying to figure out how to break into, and somehow I just convinced this company I'm the right person for the job. I'm equal parts excited and terrified. The swag from the new company showed up in a box yesterday moments before my current CEO passive aggressively (and embarrassingly) pleaded with me to stay at the current company (in a meeting in front of other people) - It was awkward and awful. I start the new job next week. Lots of change in the pub this week, and I'm happy to be a part of it.
Congratulations! With that CEO behavior it seems like moving on to the new opportunity is a good move?
Me, and my entire small social circle have to be tested for covid. Saturday we went to our friends daughter's birthday, she turned 4. Our friends church-going, conservative family (Sister and BIL in specific) was in attendance, having told everyone they were vaccinated. They lied. Sunday BIL develops symptoms and hides them. Monday presents to the ER for evaluation and tests positive for covid. He and his wife tell my friend this morning. Thankfully there was a good degree of social isolation at the party, mostly outdoors, however there has already been one other confirmed positive test, my friend, the mother of the four year old, the nurse who has gone this entire time in high risk environments without contracting covid. My SO and I are going to get rapid tested and PCRed today because my immune system is barely functional. Guess how I feel.
Yeah that's been the big shift we've noticed - the anti-vax crew has gone from "I disagree" to "I have a right to my opinion" to "you're oppressing my freedom" to just fucking lying to your face. Not one of our patients, but close family friends of one of our colleagues. Colleague attended their birth as she has done for every woman in the family for fifteen years. Labor was complicated for no goddamn reason, colleague missed it because of course everyone's vaccinated, right? Naah. Transport to the hospital, do a rapid, results come back positive but not before ED and L&D were exposed to a florid case of covid. Rapid the husband but not before he's spent an hour hanging out in the NICU with his new baby, exposing fifteen vulnerable newborns to COVID. Two weeks later the brother dies, a week later grandma dies. Mom's still in the hospital for both of 'em, a total of five people admitted to the hospital because two fucking people decided to lie about their status. And that was BEFORE delta.
Apparently, I registered here 2006 days ago, so that's fun. Doesn't feel like it's been that long. I'll be filling in as a TA due to an emergency. Not exactly stoked about it. It's another freshman class that I'm still not 100% sure if it'll be remote or stationary, but whatever. Believe it or not, I made my schedule with this as one of the ongoing contingencies, so it's less of a problem and more about wanting to take a break from teaching. Joys of being the most junior of senior students, I suppose. The dean at the chemistry department was kinda annoyed with my administrative shuffles, but I've been reinstated as a student to complete my degree. Dunno if it's appropriate to give some sort of gift or not, though I suspect not having to see my face again will suffice. Microsoft tech support has been so unhelpful I zoned out so completely I had an epiphany and solved the problem while the guy kept droning pretty much the same shit that's in online docs. Mission accomplished? I guess? The odd/off feeling re time persists. Feels like I'm low energy and somewhat disconnected emotionally, but I simultaneously know it's normal amount of energy fed continuously instead of random bursts. Dunno if that's the new norm, though I begin to like it on its own.
Overwhelmed -- I have a group project due Sunday. There's still no assignment we've received nor groups we've been assigned/chosen. Same class has a four page paper due next Wednesday. Then still have all my weekly homeworks for my other four classes. Depressed - talked to the girl from last pubski. She said she is in fact into me but just getting out of a long term serious relationship and not ready for anything. Anxious - after three rounds of job interview for a student job (wtf) I should be finding out if I got it "within a few days" hopefully I will be employed again soon but who knows.
Overall Health The past couple weeks have been draining. If I'm honest... I haven't had a truly restful weekend in recent memory - easily months. At least, not restful by how kantos two years ago would have defined it. Perhaps its rooted in COVID - and not just the era, but the lasting side effects of July's contraction. I cannot exercise without exhibiting what I'd expect are asthmatic symptoms which keep me seated or laying down for 72 hours. Even leisurely strolls in Southern heat left me horizontal in less than an hour. I've gained 40 pounds since quarantine began, and frustrated at getting knee-cap'd during what used to be a quick recovery period of minutes. Next step pending as a doctor appointment is scheduled for Friday. Work First work anniversary at the current job has passed. I've learned so much just getting the job. At the time, only partial benefits were offered. So, I argued for higher pay to compensate for lack of benefits... to HR... bad idea. Well, then I plead the case to the hiring manager (my now boss)... which gained me a higher starting salary than their advertised ceiling. Since then, I've gotten a full suite of bennies and two raises, plus a title change. All under a year. Fuck yeah. This place (especially my boss) has given me free range to hone what I've learned from grad school and then some. Tomorrow I'm rolling out a fully scripted set of Python tools by yours truly to help my tinnie-tiny department on the latest software upgrade coordinated my (for the people in the back), again, yours truly. On the spectrum of "holy shit" to "nice code bro," overall, it's more the latter in terms of bragging rights when looking at the scripts themselves. But, it feels like a 'holy fuck' to the dept, so I'm rolling with it. The company is small, and landing this job makes me wonder if I'm getting compensated enough still. Despite this, on-the-job training I've been annoying enough to 'manifest [my boss' rage]' is finally on the horizon, and it is exactly on course for what I've aspired to 'round about a decade now. Books I gotta get back in the habit of reading. Just reviewing my comments when I first joined Hubski make me feel as though I've gotten dumber. Hot damn. Found a 'fun read' to kindle the flame again. Next in line are Dune sequels and Foundation to further stoke the flame. Future Speaking of flame, I'm beginning talks with family about re-locating within the next decade or so to get ahead climate change induced migration. Finding better land, community, and environmentally sound regions are in-mind as I'm planning a non-related trip with a childhood buddy. The only conceivable reason to stay where we are is the safety in-case Yellowstone blows... which would also cause an Earth cooling event, I'd guess would run counter to global warming? Yeah... none of this is palatable. Sorry to leave this on a sour note pubs. FWIW, my work is actively involved in countering climate change (a point of pride), but man the uphill battle ahead does look tiring.
Yellowstone isn't a real concern to any legit scientist. It got some buzz in the ill-informed media, but no legit scientist believes it is anything other than a hot hole in ground that is mostly dangerous to those who fall into one of the vents. Explosive Yellowstone events are in the past. As far as relocating ahead of climate change migration... yep. Am on the same page here. Working with another couple to find the right piece of land for the four of us to construct two "vacation homes" ... which will also be our fallback positions, if things go to shit. Fortunately, here in the Pacific Northwest we have some seriously righteous land available, that is of no interest to Amazon employees (and their pocketbooks), and are very difficult for your average climate refugee to access. I have about a 38% belief that in my lifetime, "I got mine, so fuck you" is going to be a required mindset, as people are forced to leave their bioregions due to desertification, and move to the greener bits of land... like where I live. Taking a defensive stance today, to address this potential for tomorrow, is a practical move.
Your Vox article was a part of the scare a few years ago, and led the geophysicists to revamp their analyses and give updates on the Yellowstone situation. The key problem with Yellowstone is that there have been three big events, and the average of three data points is meaningless, plus volcanoes don't work that way and fail to erupt on schedule. They erupt when the magma chamber gets over 50% liquid, and Yellowstone's is only about 5-15% currently, as it slowly moves across the historically cooler and less active geography of the midwest. So there's no reason to think it may erupt... and even if it did, an eruption would be a lava flow, not a huge volcanic event like we usually associate with volcanoes. The journal of the American Geophysical Society (EOS) has an excellent article for the lay-person here, which lays it all out with the latest science: https://eos.org/features/dont-call-it-a-supervolcano And the USGS - while being less eloquent - agrees: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/yellowstone-overdue-eruption-when-will-yellowstone-erupt
Your first few sentences triggered a need to visit more current findings… regardless of what was found the delivery implies smaller explosions are not concerning… sure. The BIG one occurring is not likely now, you’re right. Another concern off the mind, great! But regarding following: One concept which stuck with me from astronomy: geophysical calamities are a matter of when - not if. From a human’s perspective in 2021, maybe they are a thing of the past. But historically, there have been roughly 0.8 mil between Yellowstone’s 3 super-explosions. So, 140,000 years from now would be a time to re-evaluate. Speaking of, beginning to narrow in on climate/land criteria before suitability modeling/GIS application. It’s odd how my parents are so checked out, while their sons are quietly talking of migrating the whole family ahead of the worst to come (generations out, mind you). Expecting that mindset never hurt. EDIT: Ref. source layered with Army Corps of Engineers and USGS data. https://www.vox.com/2014/9/5/6108169/yellowstone-supervolcano-eruptionExplosive Yellowstone events are in the past.
I really do wonder to what degree globally people have been sleeping worse. Personally, the number of fully restful nights I've had in the past eighteen months can be counted on one hand. I used to not dream almost every night and not wake up? Now I have long, vivid dreams almost every night and sleeping through is a win. Same here... I did get through a few books and can attest that starting with fun & short is the way to go. But the ol' habit is gone, and I miss it.I gotta get back in the habit of reading. Just reviewing my comments when I first joined Hubski make me feel as though I've gotten dumber.
In spite of the rougher sleep, I’ve added an extra mattress topper, white noise (via fan) and an eye-mask have been a nominal help. The topper was the biggest bang for my buck. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson’s how I’m starting out. It’s a comedic telling of struggling with mental health. Lawson has a knack for witty, conversational way of writing that compliments hilarious stories.
My understanding is that Yellowstone blowing would take a couple years off the calendar, not much more. I believe Pinatubo bought us what, 5 years? Ain't nuthin' but I imagine the folx in Pinatubo's shadow would rather have foregone the eruption. What's your pulse-ox? mine hasn't been above 96 since March 2020. I also ended up with a fuckton of inflammation. If you have the insurance for it, get a cardiology consult 'cuz COVID is fuckin' mean to the heart. Mine told me that COVID was the equivalent of a heart attack for me. And because it fucks with your heart'n'lungs, "dying in your sleep" is a thing post-COVID does to you.
This was harder to find modeling for Yellowstone on than expected given the Yellowstone craze in early 2010s, and existing data of Pinatubo. Below quote’s source #2 98, so pretty good, considering my general doctor offered up a CT scan with contrast and waived co-pay to look for clots. The way we discussed it, the urgency isn’t there, and more likely than not, I’m young enough that we should re-visit after 4 months IF I’m still finding breathing less-than-effortless. I’ve found it seems to be the top of my lungs providing more resistance to air… Ahywho, the doc stated pretty plainly they could run an ECG, but couldn’t do anything even if something shows up. Close family friend is a cardiologist who will provide prelim advice before I consider a local heart doc. Losing sleep over that fact will reduce the chances, right?My understanding is that Yellowstone blowing would take a couple years off the calendar, not much more. I believe Pinatubo bought us what, 5 years? Ain't nuthin' but I imagine the folx in Pinatubo's shadow would rather have foregone the eruption.
The 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines was about 1,000 times smaller than Yellowstone’s largest known eruption; it caused temporary, yet measurable, changes in global temperatures. The sulfur dioxide emitted from the volcano interacted with the atmosphere, which cooled the Earth’s surface for three years following the eruption. At the height of the impact, global temperatures dropped by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit (0.7 degrees Celsius).
Several eruptions during the past century have caused a decline in the average temperature at the Earth's surface of up to half a degree (Fahrenheit scale) for periods of one to three years. The climactic eruption of Mount Pinatubo on June 15, 1991, was one of the largest eruptions of the twentieth century and injected a 20-million ton (metric scale) sulfur dioxide cloud into the stratosphere at an altitude of more than 20 miles. The Pinatubo cloud was the largest sulfur dioxide cloud ever observed in the stratosphere since the beginning of such observations by satellites in 1978.
And because it fucks with your heart'n'lungs, "dying in your sleep" is a thing post-COVID does to you.|
So two days ago I was at my in-laws' house, and my kid was messing with my mother-in-law's pulse oximeter. To show him how it worked I put it on my finger, and it read 96. I was like, hmmm, this thing is broken. So I tested it on my son and my mother-in-law. Both 99. WTF? I had just had a covid booster the day before, and all day I felt like dogshit all day, and then the next day (yesterday) I felt like I was having asthma all day. Couldn't take a deep breath without coughing, etc. That doesn't appear to be one of the known side-effects of the Pfizer vaccine, but I wonder if I discovered a new one. Anyway, I have a new found appreciation for you and others who have been struggling with long term low oxygen. I was struggling after 2 days! Feel better today, but I'm definitely going to remeasure to make sure there's nothing there anymore.
My wonderful boss is moving on to his next company on Oct 1. He's the only reason I have stuck in my role at this company. He's the perfect manager; professional, protects me from shit I don't need to worry about, gets me raises and bonuses and kudos for my achievements, and helps me develop professionally. My company is really a shambles. Held together with spit and chewing gum, and only continuing to look successful because we have several key contracts with key companies locked down, which makes us "leaders" in the industries we serve. My boss helped me work in a protective, professional bubble, and deflected the BS so I could focus on doing excellent work. Of course, that has resulted in a 600% improvement in my numbers this year, and the work I have done is worth about a million dollars a month, on contracts that extend for the next 3-5 years. This is in the year of COVID. When schools (our primary customer) were closed. Anyway. He's gone the day before my 53rd birthday. Happy Birthday to me. So now I'm looking for a new job. And am grumpy about it.
Update on this post. Made it to the next round. Panel interview tomorrow. I was in the middle of a video meeting with my prospective boss this morning when this happened.
People management is people management is people management. I saw three black bears on my trail run yesterday. One of them stood up on it's hind legs and that was when I got the hell out of there. Exciting, but a little uncomfortable when you're by yourself on trails less used.
Our local regional burn is happening soon - I’m excited but also a little over it since I’ve been in charge of the shit show that is been ticketing this year. With total attendees number that shifted, lots of camp churn and cancellations because of the “vaccine passport”, our first lottery sale and low income process, Eventbrite bugs - this has been a total mess. I’ve made about 100 mistakes and gave myself way more work than needed with too many ticketing “waves”. Also people suck at finding emails and following deadlines. My only solace is that it should go smoother next year. And that I’m not part of any camp to deal with - just a cool hamster wheel art piece with my crazy artist friend Vlad. A bit worried about the cold, but also pumped at the idea of a burn after 1.5 years
Been a little while since I've stopped in; I need to work on that. My last update in May I said about not getting the job I had been waiting on. There was another one in the background that I had been wanting and it was partly luck that I saw the posting for it. Well I've got it! Or... at least... I should have it? I'm now 4 months into recruitment hell, where the only information I get back about the process is if I call up and ask if everything is alright. I shouldn't be finding out this far down the line that basic ID documents haven't been accepted or that instructions that were meant to be included in my offer letter weren't. I've been working on some artwork, it's taken me a little while to refine it and finish it up and I keep flip-flopping on whether I like it, or hate it entirely. Missed the deadline for the staff art gallery though; but I might write it up and post it on here if there's any interest?