Exchanges with People that Make Your Brain Hurt

[Elfmama]

Work is always a good source of brain-hurts.

I need to request approval to travel to a conference (first of several this year).  The way travel works, you either set aside funds for it in your project budget or you use general budget X.  This year we have significant cutbacks so using budget X is not an option.  No problem, since I set aside enough travel budget to cover all the conferences /meetings I should attend this year.

Well this year travel is being heavily scrutinized so now I need approval from two levels of management.  That's fine, of course, cuts down on frivolous spending.  The problem is, if the travel is not approved, they take that money away from my budget.  So I'm supposed to set aside money out of my already tight budget for trips I consider essential to the success of the project, but if I can't convince upper management then I lose the money.  That's painful, but okay, I get it, that money is considered "extra."

Nope, the real brain-hurty part is that apparently there is a set of 'code words' that will help get approval, and 'trigger words' that will almost always earn a rejection.  Lest you think a trigger would be something simple like "it's close to where my family lives/I've always wanted to go to that city," oh no.  Triggers include "publicizing company research" and "networking with other subject matter experts" and "building scientific credibility" - you know, the actual POINT of a conference.

So for the same conference, as long as I use the exact right words, I will probably get to go.  But if I justify it in a slightly wrong way, then no.  I feel like the managers have a hand over a buzzer and the minute I say the wrong thing, ZAP, sorry you lose.

Morale is ... not high.

Holiday gift idea:  A hair sharpener, to keep your boss's hair extra pointy.

[gramma dishes]

...   Always multi-day visits, usually 5-7 days.  And I was the only one who would watch them.  DH wanted to visit with his family, not chase toddlers.  The ILs just shrugged and said that since I was their mother, it was my responsibility. (MIL and I had a looooooooong and unpleasant history.  She hated being a grandmother.)

I honestly hope you reminded her (and your husband) that yes you are the mother, but there are TWO parents and watching the kids is no more the Mother's responsibility than their Father's. 

Not only that, but I'd feel AWFUL if my grandchildren got into something I carelessly left in their reach and they were injured or sickened by it!!  I'd be so sad and so ashamed. 

[BarensMom]

...   Always multi-day visits, usually 5-7 days.  And I was the only one who would watch them.  DH wanted to visit with his family, not chase toddlers.  The ILs just shrugged and said that since I was their mother, it was my responsibility. (MIL and I had a looooooooong and unpleasant history.  She hated being a grandmother.)

I honestly hope you reminded her (and your husband) that yes you are the mother, but there are TWO parents and watching the kids is no more the Mother's responsibility than their Father's. 

Not only that, but I'd feel AWFUL if my grandchildren got into something I carelessly left in their reach and they were injured or sickened by it!!  I'd be so sad and so ashamed. 

If DH pulled this with me and our hypothetical children, he'd be cut off from the activity that made said children.

[ladyknight1]

Speaking of sour cream, my ex-FIL used to brag about how he only drank skim milk ("anything else tastes too rich to me"), but he'd eat sour cream by the spoonful.  He also loved piling tons of whipped cream on chocolate cake (not that there's anything wrong with THAT ...). 

DH's favorite dessert!

[Piratelvr1121]

I hope he changed his tune over time!! I know my DH wasn't much of a help to me when my older two were toddlers.  He wasn't useless but just lazy in that if I was around he barely did anything.  I knew he was capable because when the eldest child was an infant and I had to work, he took the child to a "Family Fun Day" his company was holding.  Or as the Marines fondly called it "Mandatory fun". 

The wife of a fellow marine told me she was surprised that he brought Pirateboy1 in a matching outfit with matching socks and was very attentive to him all day.  But at home or when I was around it was "But I don't know what to do with him!" 

I'm glad to report that now that Piratebabe has come along, he is MUCH better about that kind of thing.  He's gone from planting is butt in the car and whining I'm going to make us late as I'm working on getting 2 toddlers coralled and into the car, to getting the older two to helping me get all 3 boys ready and in the van.  A matter of maturity, really, on both of our parts because now my backbone's to the point where I can point out that he'd get us on the road on time if he helped out.

[ladyknight1]

We are Windows users and pretty advanced, but DH's company bought new laptops that all run Windows 8. Windows 8 is a completely different OS and does not have very many common features.

I would not upgrade!

[gramma dishes]

We are Windows users and pretty advanced, but DH's company bought new laptops that all run Windows 8. Windows 8 is a completely different OS and does not have very many common features.

I would not upgrade!

Ladyknight1, your post really caught my attention.  Our PC is old and sad, but I love it to pieces.  I had never used a computer before in my life and I bought this one and plugged all the parts together all by myself.  I even assembled (again all by myself) the Sauder type office furniture that I bought at the same time.  My adult kids helped me learn how to navigate it at the beginning and other people stepped in now and then to teach me additional stuff, but basically what (little) I know I figured out mostly for myself.

But we've been having a little trouble with it lately and I know we are soon going to need a replacement.  I was looking at them at the store where we bought this one and the salesperson there told me that going from Windows XP to Windows 8 would drive me insane.  He said they could still get a few with Windows 7 and that I'd probably be okay with those, or I could wait and see what came out after Windows 8.  But he would NOT recommend "8" for me.  He said it would probably drive me to become one of those little ladies who hurls their computer out the window.

[VorFemme]

If you can use Windows XP, then Windows 7 will be easy (says a 55 year old grandmother of one).  I am personally not wild about Windows Vista.....being asked if I am sure that I want to do thing every single time makes me a bit crazy.

If you want a NEW computer with Windows 7, buy now.  If you don't mind a used computer with Windows 7 - there's always eBay.

I'm sitting at one of two "matching" eBay laptops, both running Windows 7 right now (two story house and a fear of not having a working computer when it comes to running my embroidery machine - which will not be getting updated to run on Windows 8, according to the manufacturer). 

I've heard from several people that Linux is easier - but my embroidery machine won't run on Mac or Linux, either. 

Once I get a newer embroidery machine (gotta talk to VorGuy, my accountant of Scotts descent about when that might happen, before or after Phoenix, Arizona and Death Valley freeze over, I hope) - I'll think about upgrading to a more current operating system.

In the meantime - Windows 7 is advanced enough......

[gramma dishes]

If you can use Windows XP, then Windows 7 will be easy (says a 55 year old grandmother of one).  ...

...   If you want a NEW computer with Windows 7, buy now.  If you don't mind a used computer with Windows 7 - there's always eBay.

I only have a PC.  What I have been thinking of doing would be get myself a laptop with Windows 7 (if I can still get one) and hope my PC lasts until something more appropriate for my needs than Windows 8 becomes available as a PC.  That would give me time to 'adjust' to a newer if not newest system and would also tide me over for awhile if the PC does actually eventually just give out so I wouldn't be entirely computerless in the interim. 

What do you think of that idea?

[andi]

I hate Vista - I'd love to trow that laptop out the window and get 8. (hubby is no longer allowed to make computer purchase decisions alone)

[Mental Magpie]

Ready for a brain hurt re: computers?

I currently have an I-Phone, a Snow Leopard Mac, a Kindle, and a Windows 8 PC.  I refuse to get an I-Pad, though; why would I need one?  I use Windows XP at work, btw.  Talk about versatility...

I can't really tell you which one I prefer, but as far as knowing how to do the most on one versus the other, Windows XP is the most familiar.

[stitchygreyanonymouse]

Ready for a brain hurt re: computers?

I currently have an I-Phone, a Snow Leopard Mac, a Kindle, and a Windows 8 PC.  I refuse to get an I-Pad, though; why would I need one?  I use Windows XP at work, btw.  Talk about versatility...

I can't really tell you which one I prefer, but as far as knowing how to do the most on one versus the other, Windows XP is the most familiar.

My boyfriend is always complaining about how I hurt his brain: I have an iPad and use OSX (Snow Leopard at home, Mountain Lion at work), but I refuse to get an iPhone in favor of my Android. I love my iPad and iOS as a tablet interface, but it just doesn’t work for me as a phone interface.

I really dislike Windows in general, but I do have Vista installed as a dual boot for embroidery stuff. I greatly prefer XP, but it’s no longer supported for what I need to do on it. I’ve fooled around with 8 a bit at work, though, and I actually like it pretty well… not more than OSX though.

[gramma dishes]

I'm really embarrassed to ask this, but what's OSX?  I've never heard of it.

[nutraxfornerves]

I'm really embarrassed to ask this, but what's OSX?  I've never heard of it.

It's the operating system used by Apple computers. They give "cat" names to different versions: Panther, Cheetah, Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard, etc.

[gramma dishes]

I'm really embarrassed to ask this, but what's OSX?  I've never heard of it.

It's the operating system used by Apple computers. They give "cat" names to different versions: Panther, Cheetah, Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard, etc.

Oh.

Okay, thanks!  And thanks for not making me feel totally stupid for asking.