Hi Hvert...

Sorry I missed the update. My vacation ended on Friday, and I'm back at work - and miserable. So miserable. I mostly work from home, and I literally have nothing to do, and no communication from my boss/team. It's like I don't exist. It's unreal. We do have a team meeting schedule for tomorrow morning, by phone, so we'll see what's happening. It just feels ridiculous and crazy to be "back at work" after three weeks, and have *nothing* from anyone.

That does sound confusing (about putting an offer in that specifies not working for the guy who thinks he's hiring you!). Can you get your friend on the phone to figure out what's going on? I find that some people aren't good with communicating important details in email, and a short call can clear up the confusion - maybe you need to talk to her?

Hmm.... otherwise, I don't know what to say! You seemed to be in a good place with not pursuing the job, then she pops up and tells you to ask for whatever you want! If it's work you don't want to be doing anymore, maybe it is better to let it go? I don't know... if you could use the cash and don't mind doing it, and can manage to get it positioned so that you're not reporting to that guy... it might be worth it? Do you know what you DO want to be doing? That's always my biggest stumbling block. I don't want to do something that I know is not on the path to where I want to be, but it's hard to figure that out when you have no clue where you want to be.

Really, honestly, at this point... "where I want to be" is just retired and done! But that's still a long way off, I'm afraid.

Good luck!