Dear T,
Your brief reply with the sad face meant a lot. Thank you. And please know that this won't lead to my asking you for another fee reduction. To me it's one thing with insurance coverage changes or outside expenses. Those are outside my control in some ways. But I feel like I should figure out this work payment thing on my own. I figure I have at least until May to do that. And maybe this will light a fire under my azz to make some changes and take control of my career.

You're right that being rejected from the PhD program a few years ago sort of knocked me back. I'm not sure I fully realized how much that affected me, in terms of my ambition and confidence (of course, it also led to stonegate...but we've moved past that). So maybe it's time to make a change and find out what I'm really worth career-wise (without doing anything crazy of course). Because I'm a damn good editor, and it's time I'm paid like one...
Love,
LT