I do think that exploring your options re: your job would make you feel better. Even if you go on an interview and find out that the new job isn't something you would like at all, it will make you feel better about what you do have. There has to be a low stress way to approach it, a baby step version.

Committing to a job for 12 years for retirement benefits doesn’t sound like a great deal to me. A lot can change in 12 years. Companies are dumping their pension obligations. Even governments are backing away from promises they made their employees. My mother has stayed at her job for the retirement, but in hindsight I think she would have been much better off leaving years ago. Now she has reached that retirement age, but that minimum cut off would only give her health insurance and a meager pension i.e. 2-6k a year. She would still need to work.

I can't believe your company is checking VPN logs to keep people out of the office! I really do hope you hear back from that woman at some point - if you just had a different boss it could really change your life. So many people are advocating for you, something has to change soon!

I did manage to get everything shipped and ready. Things kept changing, even three hours before the deadline! I was surprised I was able to complete all of it. I had a quick chat with my friend about the chaos - we're both kind of wondering if it's related to this specific project (they've never done one this big) or if it's something more systemic.

It's really bizarre. My initial impression, that this guy was somehow likable even though he was saying such rude things that first time I talked to him, still holds true. He is very nice, very helpful, extremely relaxed. All the last minute meetings he tried to set up were because he is disorganized and has too much to do.

You are right that being hourly instead of salaried must have something to do with why I am so much happier being a contractor! I also just like that I finally have my own consulting business. It’s weird how much it improves my sense of self. It doesn’t make any rational sense, but I noticed last night at a board meeting that I am much more confident and willing to participate.

I've known people who didn't know their foot was broken, but you could just as easily have strained something in that area. I can’t remember the name of it, but there’s a really common top of foot injury that makes walking painful – I did it to my foot earlier this year and worried it would be permanent, but it did eventually go away.

I'm sorry you caved on the chocolate, but it was a learning experience - maybe next time you will be able to resist a little longer now that you know it doesn't help! I do need to adjust my diet. It's so hard. I eat without thinking.

Off to shovel a roof in preparation for the 20 inches we are going to get tomorrow... this has been a horrible couple of weeks in terms of the weather. I don't remember ever getting this much snow in such a short time.