"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
08/07/2020 at 13:16 • Filed to: None
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"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
08/07/2020 at 13:16 • Filed to: None | 5
| 11 |
I thought this image was appropriate; I walk by these flags on the way to my (soon-to-be-former) office often, and I would always notice when they were at half mast, wondering what it was this time - hoping it was “just” one person who had some significance to the state or the university, and not another mass shooting or something. Now, I find it strange that they’re flying high all the time. I mean, you can’t run them half-mast for 5 months straight, right? Or can you? I don’t know. But somehow, the death of that adjacent tree really set me off. Come on, cut it down already. Give up. Move on. Somehow it seems like the perfect representation of 2020: Optimistically raised flags despite an ongoing worldwide catastrophe, and a looming dead tree just right in the middle of it all.
I wasn’t really looking for a new job, partly because I had no idea what I’d do, and partly because the job market is cukoo-bananas right now in several ways. So who knew I’d be taking on a new challenge and leaving this place behind, in the middle of what has proven to be one of the hardest years of my life - and I’m sure that’s true for MANY.
I went on furlough June 26th, had a planned week’s vacation at the end of that 4-week period, and came back to work to give my 2 weeks’ notice. My wife’s job is secure. My kids are healthy. We’re refinancing our house at historically low rates and raking in the, uh, savings over time I guess - but seriously, we will spend $100,000 less on INTEREST as a result of this refi. Oh I almost forgot, we bought land in January and cashed out a bunch of money right before the biggest market crash in a generation to do so.
All in all, 2020 has been weirdly good to us, all things considered. I can’t express the range of emotions I’ve been through this year but I have to look at the big picture and recognize these positives for what they are. It’ll help me in mid-September when I’m fully involved in my new teaching job and feeling totally overwhelmed because it’s all new again. But certainly the teaching position is a good move long-term, and I expect if I can get through this time, I’ll be there for the duration.
Just today I was feeling great about the beautiful weather and my coming opportunity and then I walked into the bank (weird, right?) and there are signs all over the place, Do Not this or that, people are super nervous around each other, and it’s all just crazy and kind of depressing.
this is a goose that took up residence at my in-laws’ lake house this summer. because why not, 2020? his name is Al.
What a year, Oppo. And hell, it’s only 2/3 over. I think we’d better buckle up for the finale.
Just Jeepin'
> functionoverfashion
08/07/2020 at 13:26 |
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I remember an editorial comic a few years ago when there was another mass shooting seemingly every other week. It showed a father telling his son that when he was his age, flags used to fly at full staff.
WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
> functionoverfashion
08/07/2020 at 13:29 |
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2020 has been an oddly successful year for me as well. Finances are good, Family has been healthy (so far), I’ve spent a ton of time on my boat.
All that while being acutely aware of everything going on and trying to be supportive of those around me who aren’t doing so hot..........
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> functionoverfashion
08/07/2020 at 13:44 |
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It is one of those times where things are bad but they are so much worse for so many other people that you can’t help but be thankful you have your problems.
For Sweden
> functionoverfashion
08/07/2020 at 13:50 |
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Of course this is the year of the Murder Goose
NKato
> functionoverfashion
08/07/2020 at 14:16 |
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At least you had the money to do all that. I've got only 10k in all, and I'm sure not buying a house with that.
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functionoverfashion
> Just Jeepin'
08/07/2020 at 14:18 |
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It’s like the Onion recurring headline, “No Way To Prevent This, Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens” or something like that.
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functionoverfashion
> NKato
08/07/2020 at 14:20 |
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I am very lucky and very thankful, for sure. I’m lucky to have married a woman whose career drive is what it is, too. She’s incredible and makes 3x my salary.
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functionoverfashion
> For Sweden
08/07/2020 at 14:21 |
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He’s gonna be a Christmas Goose if I have anything to say about it. As in, dinner. In case that wasn’t clear. I’ve had enough of his shenanigans.
Nom De Plume
> functionoverfashion
08/07/2020 at 14:34 |
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I actually had to resort to looking up this site in recent years. Quite obviously someone at all of the public places displaying a flag at half mast was aware but never available when I asked. That dead tree really drove home the point.
BaconSandwich is tasty.
> functionoverfashion
08/07/2020 at 16:39 |
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It really has been quite a strange year, hasn’t it?
I’ve been very fortunate, for the most part. I’ve still got a job (even if the company I work for is spastic, and I “only” got a 1% raise this year - which is lower than inflation - but again, I’m glad to still be employed!
).
Last year a neighborhood lady let me pick a ton of cherries, which we canned. I think 24 1 L jars in total.
After the pandemic hit, and we were at least a few weeks into it, I decided to start making cherry pies using the canned cherries, and giving them away to people we knew. (We were/are still very careful with keeping social distance, and not going out anywhere
if we can avoid it, and a pie seemed pretty low risk
). I think today we made pies #35, #
36, and #37. We’ve given away almost all of them. It’s been neat to see some people’s reaction to getting a random phone call asking if they like cherry pie (or Saskatoon berry pie, for a few of the recent ones). I figure that lady was nice enough to share her cherry tree with us, that we should pass it on.
On the flip side, my computer decided it didn’t like running much anymore, so I replaced it about two months ago. I was hoping to get a bit more time out of it, but we knew it was on its last legs, and I needed a reliable machine for work. It was the first time I had ever put together a computer from scratch, but it went well. Then about a month ago our clothes washer got progressively noisier and was shaking more. It too, was on its last legs, so we ordered a new set.
There’s been other challenges too, but compared to others that we know, we’ve gotten through this so far pretty well. It’s hard to complain when you see some of the pain that other people have (or are) going through.
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functionoverfashion
> BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/08/2020 at 07:00 |
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That’s a great thing you’re doing with the cherries, I love it.
A huge number of people were put on furlough from the university this summer, and the administration all took a big pay cut and put the money toward the employee assistance fund - for those who needed it most. That’s at least a little something.
For my part, I’ve been supporting local charitable organizations that I feel have been making the most difference in the lives of those in need; I try to find ones where my small contributions will go the furthest, rather than sprawling organizations like the Red Cross.
My wife has been able to keep all the employees at her work, so far anyway. We’ll see what this winter brings.
Cheers