That's part of the reason I really want to be at a museum -- I think people generally enjoy what they're doing. I'm sure it's not ALWAYS true, but, yeah. Uh oh! That's not good. I was going to ask you about work. What happened??

Today is inventory day, so the past few days have been super stressful trying to get everything in order. Our district manager was at our store yesterday from open to close, watching us and criticizing everything we did. It was really uncomfortable, because we know how to do our jobs. Monica (AM) was getting really tired of them telling her she wasn't doing well enough or getting enough done. And on top of that, she's been planning to take her vacation the first week of July for months now; but yesterday our store manager told her she couldn't because she had decided to take hers then. It was just not a good day for her.

Ooh, I'm sure that's stressful! I remember how stressful the visits from the regulation/assessment people was when I was teaching. You have today off, right? That's probably nice after yesterday. Did the manager know?? That seems pretty rude!!

Thankfully I am off today! But I heard today is actually a breeze, it's just the build up to it that sucks. Yeah, she had known for a few months at least that Monica wanted that week for vacation. I get that she's the store manager and whatnot, but Monica has put up with so much shit, she really deserves the time. But she told me she's going to start taking CNA classes as soon as the next ones start, so she'll have to step down from assistant manager to be a cashier again and work part time. I'm glad she'll be doing something she enjoys.

I feel like that's not good for morale, y'know? Like, if she knew that Monica wanted that week and she basically took it from her, it makes the manager look like they don't really care. Yeah, that's great she's going for something she wants to do! It can be hard to get back into taking classes, too. It's good she can stick around part-time, though. Did they ever end up hiring more people?

- I love that shirt. -

They have so many amazing pride shirts!! It was so hard for me to pick one.

Yeah, it really makes us feel like she doesn't care. Like when I asked her for the 3 days off to go to Pittsburgh, she kept saying maybe. Then she said yes, but when she gave us the schedule, she didn't give me the days off and never mentioned anything about it. I know she works a lot, but she needs to do better with her staff. Yes! We actually hired two new team members. It's helped a lot since it was only me and one other guy, and he's currently out for 3 weeks for army drill.

👋 I think I might have missed replying to you in here forever ago...?

Oof, that really sucks... Like, if she can't give you the days off, she could at least be consistent about her answer AND mention it when the schedule comes out. I'm sure it's a lot to keep track of some time, but that's lousy. Oh, that's good! You were working like crazy.

I'm still working almost 40 hours a week, but I'm just glad it shouldn't be as stressful now that inventory is over. Josh and I just had dinner with my dad. We're all going to make a trip to Grove City (outskirts of Columbus) in the next few weeks to look at apartments and explore the city to see if it seems nice to live in. It would be nice to live there, and maybe work in Columbus since there's a lot more opportunities there. There's even a daycare there that's open all night, for parents/guardians that work midnights. I think that's so great. It's silly to think that all people work the 9-5, M-F.

Yeah, hopefully it's more chill! That sounds like a good plan! It's always better to visit when you can. You said you didn't like Columbus itself too much, right? And that's really cool! I always wondered if/where there were overnight daycares. I never looked it up, but it makes sense that there would be. A place like that would seem like it'd always need people, since there'd be a lot of shifts to cover.

Columbus itself was very concrete and busy (the part I was in not too long ago) but there's a lot of jobs and whatnot. So living somewhere less hectic would be nice, but still be like 10ish minutes away from the city. I know! I'm not sure I would want to work midnights, but I wouldn't completely rule it out. I wonder what all they do while the kids sleep lol

That makes sense. I'd like to live in a city, but I don't think Amber would. Like, she's fine with living close to a city, but not as much with living IN one because of the chaos and traffic and stuff. Sometimes it's pricier, to live IN the city, too. Haha, yeah, I dunno! When the kids napped at the daycare we worked at, we could sometimes do stuff like lesson plans or work on the laptops. But, you couldn't always get wifi in the rooms to work on stuff and it usually only took one or two naps to get lesson plans done. I think some of the other workers did a lot of their project prep, but that was just during a two hour window and I think they usually got a lot done quickly.

I would like to live IN the city, we both would, but it's too expensive. I'm not sure how much we'll be able to afford yet because Idk how much I'll be making when I find a job, and I need to add up our other expenses. Bleh adulting lol. Have you heard of the Cosi science center in Columbus?

- This is the one I would get if I could get a top. I love how they have a variety of identities represented in that shop. c:

I'm trying to be more open about being Pan, though my fiance and friends know. So, having people be so open about their identities on Subeta is extremely liberating and making me more confident in myself.

- I don't remember. D: I think the last thing I said to you on here is that I delete pings sometimes (on accident).

What I commented to Alana about is okay for anyone to reply to. ^^

It is super expensive, usually. When we were looking at Buffalo, the apartment we almost had $765 (well, it was supposed to b $795 but then there was that big mess up that screwed us over lol) without most of the utilities included and was super small. And that was a cheaper apartment. Like, most of the other ones we found in our price range were studios! Yeah, bleh, adulting! I don't think that I have! Science centers are usually fun, though. There's a kid's science center a few hours away we used to go to a lot that was really awesome. Did you visit it?

Yes, I loved that one too! It was Josh's favorite. I'm super glad you feel more open and confident here. Living in a small town, I feel like I can't be myself at all. So having Subeta has been so great. and are also super accepting and easy to talk to. I have like 5 LGBT shirts, but I almost never wear them here because of the area I live in. I can't wait to move and wear them more comfortably. c:

It's so crazy that almost $800 for a small apartment is considered cheap. But that's probably about what we'll be paying also, plus electric and internet, etc. Cosi is a super fun hands-on science center for kids and families. I've thought about trying to get a job there, but they seem to mostly just hire part time, and I'm going to need full time. But they're so cool and informative!

Appropriate timing for me to mention I thought I forgot to reply to you haha. I'm pan, too! I'm semi-out? Like, friends and family know, and I'm sure most people who are friends with me on FB also know. But I also get nervous because I live in a conservative area and worry it could jeopardize a job around here or something.

It is crazy, and frustrating. It's impossible to live on your own without making a ton of money or living somewhere crappy or not being able to afford anything else. <_< That is cool! Part-time jobs sometimes lead to full-time, if you got the chance. And it might be better than nothing at first, at least?

For real, it sucks. I would honestly love to work part time, but I'm sure we probably wouldn't be able to afford everything if I did. Josh works 32 hours at Walmart, but he makes $10.20 an hour, so it adds up okay. I'm hoping that I'll be able to make a decent amount considering I have a degree, but I know some daycares don't really care. The one I worked at only paid me 25 cents above minimum wage because I have one lol

- That'll be awesome when you can be in a more accepting place! :D It's true that I live in an accepting area and I can forget how other places are unaccepting. Like, my fiance's workplace is very LGBT+ friendly and in a Target nearby, there's a whole section with LGBT+ clothing.

Our apartment is $810 per month. It's a studio, on the first floor, our "porch" is shared with someone else and with the community's grilling area, and we don't have a washer/dryer in the unit. This was the cheapest option that was near my fiance's job and in a decent area. Yeah, apartments are very expensive here.

- While you can't be denied a job based on your orientation, it does happen. Yeah, they could just say they found a "more suitable" candidate or something.

I haven't had a chance to explore who I am until recently. I lived with oppressive parents (even something like me cutting my hair short was frowned upon). I know I'll never say anything to them or my biological family. But, I would like to be able to publicly say (unless it's unsafe) who I am without being ashamed.

Oh my goodness, I need to see this Target! The nearest one to me is an hour away, and I never go there so Idk what they have. Yikes, that's so steep. I'm worried that after we pay bills, we'll have nothing left to spend on anything for fun. I don't want to just work and pay bills and that's it.