And Another One Bites the Dust - Round 6

My first treatment without S as my oncology nurse, but L was very competent and friendly. I got several new prescriptions from Dr B for the muscle pain and watery eyes. I have given up the contacts all together, glad I spent the money on new glasses. Dr says without the steroid drops the watery eyes will turn to dry eyes, so I get to look like I'm perpetually crying. Surprisingly, despite how tired I feel my lab results are good. Dr B said my responses and side-effects are normal but I don't feel normal. I know compared to what they could be I'm lucky to have minimal side-effects, but it is still rough going. 

I did get out of the house this time and went to see Star Trek with a good friend. We are down to 11 days of furlough and as of July 8th will have one less day of pay every week. The loss of pay is going to hurt but I will have an extra day for healing without taking a sick day. Still working on the dissertation, but work is slower than I had hoped. Just feel so tired and the brain is in neutral. Really just want to curl up and forget about anything that requires thought, but that is just not an option.  

And the Last Woman Bales

So it is now official. The woman who was working as our supervisor filling in for the Col has given noticed. What is it that they know that I should know? Not that it matters, I can't go anywhere any time soon. I try to do my best as mock department head, but I have no actual authority. Everyone at work is nervous and not surprisingly moral is low. Of course there are those who seem to revel in causing discontent, but even the best people are struggling. I mean really, furlough, lack of stability, talk of RIFs, and no one to go to for support. At this point I have no desire to ever apply for the department head position. Let me go back to being a peon, and worry only about getting better. Of course I keep doing what I can at work, and hope that things get better when the new leadership gets on board.

Furlough ... Furlough Come and I Gotta Stay Home

Well we all knew it was coming, but today we got to officially "agree" to be furloughed. Here sign this letter saying you willingly take a 20% cut in pay because the politicians have convinced the American people that you are the enemy. It is your laziness and incompetence that is the cause of all that is wrong in this country and freezing your pay and demonizing you hasn't been enough. Now we take your pay, and that will make the country stronger. Why do people believe this crap? Why are so many willing to make other hard working people the source of their anger? Because we make so much? Seriously? Take a look on USA Jobs and see what we make, bet its less than a comparable job in the civilian sector. I know I took a pay cut when I went fed, but it was supposed to be stable. But now wanting stability is just more proof of what terrible people federal employees are. I truly hope people wake up some day and realize it is not the people who work for a living who are the enemy, it's those spouting hate and anger and trying to convince you that working against your own self-interest today will give you a better future. Of course I'm not holding my breath on this one.

Finally got IRB approval so started sending out invitations to participate. I am hoping for at least 25 individuals, but I'm starting later than I had hoped, so many of my invitations get out of office replies.  I hope not everyone is on summer break.