I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

notself - thank-you for the links.  I would think that if computer screen give blue light, that TV screens would as well...  I'm going to suggest that he wear yellow tinted glasses when watching TV.  (I do the computer more, he does the TV more...  )

Linda - your dream stress reliever is funny to me because it so much matches what I have done .  When I divorced my 1st husband I did three things to relieve stress.  1.  I chopped wood.   2.  I went to the local tennis court and practiced my serve (every time I hit the ball I envisioned his face upon it)  and 3.  I went to the local goodwill store, and purchased as much cheap glassware as I could find.  Set up a garbage can with a lot of tarps around to catch flying glass pieces and then I shattered things with wild abandon.

Kam - he doesn't have heart disease - it's just me (and him) trying to be proactively careful.

Hurrah!!!

Raw  eggs at the tree in your yard works well too.

KAM -  now doing the happy but boring foxtrot in honor of you and Downton Abbey.  

Kam - that's the BEST news - relax and enjoy

Buffalo meat's cooked and I have a giraffe special. Some berries (I've been known to munch on them in lean times, but shhhhh!) for you veggies, so let me see your plates.....

So glad to hear the good news, Kam!

Mary

About the Post Office, to those on the other thread, the one and only reason the Post Office is in the trouble they are in is because of a lame duck session bill passed by Denny Hassert that required the post office to put enough money into their retirement account to pay for the retirement of postal workers not even born yet.  It's an ungodly amount of money...something like $5 billion a year and totally unnecessary (but I'm too tired to double check this).  This is what put them in the red and probably another plan to force privatization.

Ok. If I say I'm a lioness, then I'd better show some courage from time to time and disclose something of myself without fearing the worst, so here goes:

The reason why I am so extremely stressed and in need of attention, etc... is because I have three interviews tomorrow for a job. Generally, I would not be unduly stressed about such things, but this happens to be for the job I am already doing, and have been doing for 8 months,  which makes things awkward, IMO. I know why they are inviting other candidates - they HAVE to -- but it is still awkward. I felt as though people today were avoiding me. If I don't get chosen I will be unemployed, a disastrous situation to be in on the eve of a possible sequestration.  My anxiety rises by the moment. If I am rejected for the position, I will feel humilliated since I am the one doing it. Also, I would really like to qualify for health insurance - it isn't cheap paying for medical care by oneself.

And of course, stressors always come in groups, don't they.

So, point of anxiety number 2: I finally mustered up the courage to sign up for a dating service. I am working on my profile and trying to be as realistic as possible but having trouble. The alter ego who is helping me has a different view on this and wants me to (IMO) make the profile all rosy and perfect. I say no because people will find out the disaster they are dating soon enough - may as well break it to them in good prose, what.  I don't disclose medical information, of course, but I try to be humorous and disclose the less embarrassing taboos about me. When I post my photo I get winks, and photo likes, etc.... It becomes evident that nobody is reading the profile. When I take my photos OFF, all I hear are....crickets. So here I am, unsure of what to do, with (IMOI) spider webs growing in my vagina.

I have an admittedly annoying habit of erasing posts when I disclose something personal, so if you read this in time to see it, you got the scoop - and thank you for listening to a rant of self-pity!

Bartender - I'll have whatever you think I need. Make it a double.

Athena: just want to say, anytime you want to rant or roar, that's what we're here for.  (Didn't intend to rthyme, just came out.)

Wish we really could send drinks over the internet.

Fingers crossed for the interviews.  I've been there - having to interview for something I was already doing and doing well.  Even though they have to do it, it feels embarrassing. Good luck.

On dating - I've been out of this for so long, but ido  remember how anxiety producing it is.  Just remember, there have to be people to date who can recognize how remarkable you are.  All of us do.

Athena - I can't advise you on either, but I sure know how smart and stylish you are and anything you write in a profile about yourself will be smashing prose that any intelligent man will appreciate, and I suspect you would only appreciate that type of man.  I can't speak to the job situation, but understand how discomforting your situation might be, and how ridiculous it is that we have to worry about healthcare insurance alongside a job.  I tend to agree with Linda on listening to your alter ego vis a vis the service...good advice Linda.

Thank you guys, again for your support and congrats.  Life is good.

Kam, yay for good news!

Athena, good luck in all your endeavors! (in case you delete) I would say however that promoting your positive qualities is probably a good way to go.

I think it was Kam that mentioned the onus put on the postal service. I just ran across something that speaks of this. Those that don't trust can at least use this as a jumping off point to do some research,

"In 2006, the postal service generated a profit. That was the last time it did so, because in late 2006, a lame duck Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which among other things forced the postal service to fund its retiree health benefit obligations 75 years into the future, and to do so within 10 years. Taking care of retirees is a good thing, and we've seen far too many workers expected to fill the gaps in pensions and health benefits underfunded through no fault of their own. I'm not arguing that the postal service should reverse course so far that it leaves its retirees without health care. But if you needed a single concrete example to demonstrate that this is a manufactured crisis, here it is: Congress put a burden on the postal service that no other government agency or private corporation faces, and when that causes or accelerates problems, it's taken as evidence of certain doom and the need to make deep cuts. According to Sen. Bernie Sanders, not someone who is going to argue for leaving retired workers in the lurch:

[T]he Postal Service should be released from the “onerous and unprecedented burden” of being forced to put $5.5 billion every year into its future retiree health benefits fund. Sanders’s office explains that “even if there are no further contributions from the post office, and if the fund simply collects 3.5 to 4 percent interest every year, that account will be fully funded in twenty-one years.” At the same time, the senator suggests, the postal service should be allowed to recover more than $13 billion in overpayments it has made to a federal retirement systems."

Athena - try not to worry so much - you are the woman for the job. I understand you've been on contract in this position. So if they weren't happy with you you wouldn't still be there.

Working from home today after having to buy a new chlorinator for the pool - the man is installing it as I write. Only 2 days until we go to NZ