This is entirely on me and my vagueness as to why I found this mildly infuriating, but I’m really intrigued by the variety of takes you all have shared. I say this as a compliment!

I’ve been working in higher education for too long, probably because I like the work, and the ability to exist in a forum where I can think creatively while influencing the future for good (as if goodness still exists, but I digress). So I guess you can say I care about my work. Hate the place. Hate the system Like the work.

The most infuriating part exists well ahead of this particular email from the Dean of Students (whom holds their recently defended Ed.D from where they work). Education from this private university is not worth the money or time, especially when they don’t honor the education received from themselves for themselves. Because private and the _ reality of it all_ (I suppose), promotion only exists in who you blow. I have three degrees, and am actively working on my PhD, with over two decades employed by the university, having received the highest honor an employee can receive from their time and performance at the university (a revered award akin to outstanding achievement), and am just universally liked (their words, not mine). So when I was passed for promotion when the longstanding department head retired, I was advised it was because the guy who got it had an Ed.D and I only had a Master’s (in org leadership, from where we work). So I’d at least fall in line as number 2, I was advised. Nope. New guy gave it to his buddy who he shares the same countertops at home with. This buddy, with the countertops, and fewer years with the university, has but a high school diploma from the local HS. Their families hangout on the holidays. It’s not just the countertops.

The particular human embodiment of AI slop who penned the prose in my post is another example of wrong peg, wrong hole. Placed in the position because of their relationship to another employee, and skirted through the Ed.D program at work with unusual ease and speed, this is how we present ourselves to our money. Then when enrollment drops, we’re quick to point to “nationwide trends” instead of “we provide education so void of value, we don’t even care when we have people with our own pinnacle tier of education producing word art regardless of platform or messaging service to the students (read money ) while at the same time neglecting to promote proven effort and skill into leadership positions of those also with educations from the university.”

That’s the mildly infuriating part, for me at least. 😬

Has nothing to do with the actually training. That’s annual formality stuff for just about all employed Americans.

This made my day.

Evil Drip Brew Gang represent!

After trying the alternatives, including unreasonably priced espresso machines, I’ll never stop using $15-$20 (USD) 12-cup evil drip brewers. Most efficient way to get coffee in me as quickly and frequently as possible.

Ol’ JD rolls up to the pearly gates.

Bible God: So, couches?
JD: You betcha! Bible God: C’mon in, my man!

Just a jizzy awful mess up there.

Frederick Co VA top user has their information “redacted.” Must be targeting minors (16-17 yr olds)

It won’t solve the problem, but after a nearby skunk spraying, I found placing one dryer sheet in each of my hvac intakes (with the filter) freshens everything up for a few days.

Anyone else notice a sudden uptick in guillotine related content over the past week or so?

I’m looking to transition to an educator role with the PhD. It would be a bump of maybe $20k-$25k. I never imagined making six figures, and I grew up in a fake rich family (crippling debt), so anything above $80k would be mind-blowing. The faculty position would require more “work,” but it would probably be more rewarding.

I’ve been passively studying stoicism for the pest few years, and while some of the strategies meant for dealing with certain aspects of my psyche (like envisioning a stop sign when feeling triggered), others sound a bit too defeatist to me. Committing oneself to any singular concept is the fall of man, so I’ll definitely look into Taoism after your recommendation. Thanks!

Thanks for the advice, and for insight on the job market.

Oddly enough, just did the math and ~60% spending power in 15 years alongside what I save up to that point might actually be doable. I have zero debt aside from the mortgage (costing significantly less than current avg rent costs), a car purchased outright new in 2024, all major household concerns addressed over past five years (new roof, new HVAC systems, new sump pump, renovated bathrooms, new 10x10 shed).

I believe I’m dying, but my doctor thinks otherwise. Clean bill of health with all milestone checklist procedures completed. Family life expectancy is the kinda average 68-74 (cancer, heart disease).

Of course the unknown and the $$$$ that requires, but otherwise, doable?

I’m always looking for new opportunities. Of the 15 years, I would be willing to sacrifice 5 to learn a trade of some sort, and then the remaining 10 (or more if I like the work or start my own business) working in that field. The unknown is just so f’n scary at my age. What happens when I follow my dreams (there are none) or pivot into a financial disaster of my own doing and end up struggling through poverty in my later years? My safety net is my savings. Not much of a net. No family remaining. Literally no friends. Transplant to this area 19 years ago and wound up alone after several absurd failures. Never took the time to make friends, since I believed my wife-not-wife’s theory of not needing anything but each other. She loved adultery.

I’m doing it for a few reasons. 1) It’s free education and I enjoy learning, 2) Spite (my immediate supervisor was promoted over me with a high school diploma), 3) I’m hoping it will both give me something to do over the next few years AND give me the sensation of fulfillment or satisfaction knowing I have reached and completed the highest level of post secondary education. An accomplishment I’m hoping I can hang a hat on. I think this is subconsciously the real reason.

Our entry level positions begin at $35k. You don’t want this smoke. 😁

Excellent points. I would love to start my own side hustle, perhaps consulting, but I literally don’t know the first thing about any of that. I do however know the ins and outs of a 501©(3). Capstone for my MS was developing a strategic plan for a local non-profit. They loved it so much, they made me a Board member. Did that for three years before realizing it was more of a social club for white retired women. Resigned from the org, and two years later they closed up shop. Turns out, they were banking on gaining a pipe dream celebrity endorsement (Ellen DeGeneres of all inhuman cretins) instead of following the strategic plan.

I am both these. Happy(ish), yet unsatisfied. But I think I’m unsatisfied because my brain insists on holding me to a level of excellence I cannot exhibit let alone maintain.

You’ll love this. Two years ago on the last cycle of promotions after our long time director finally retired, I was set to advance from an assistant director to a director role. This would either have been the primary CIO position, or a second in charge role. Well, the CIO position was given to a guy the former boss had been priming for the role (god fearing, white, christian) for no good reason aside from him having a PhD. Fine, earned, I suppose. Well that should certainly align me for the second in charge seeing as I have the next highest level of education completed (three degrees: AS, BS, MS). ~screeching brakes~ NOPE! The new director instead promotes his best buddy to director over me. Nepotism, not fine, but it exists. Here’s the kicker, the guy he promoted not only has fewer years with our employer, his highest level of completed education is high school. That’s right. It’s all in who you blow. (they drive matching Subarus)

Immediate reply is probably, “Why are you still there?”

If I’m working towards a PhD I am too smart to waste my life working a boring job

Best compliment I’ve received in what seems to be a lifetime. Unfortunately, the boring job provides the means to earn the PhD. So I would need to stick it out at least another 3.5 years. Allowing time for absurdities, I’m giving myself until age 52 to complete it. Need a deadline or I’ll just chip away at it forever.

Teaching is likely where I will end up. I’m already responsible for employee onboarding (it’s an email), and have conducted many public speaking affairs, most involving some new change to something nobody is going to love. Or “special projects” as they like to call them. The projects I’m given are those others have failed because I’m a mark for getting stuff done. I could teach as an adjunct now with my masters, but the pay is abysmal.

Homeowner, 1500 sq ft, single family home. Built in early 00s. Been here for almost 9 years.

Yep, sorry about that. I was trying to make this sound as unrelated to my actual situation as possible when I originally posted. Gave up the ghost on that almost immediately. WV eastern panhandle is where I’m located. Work in VA. On the edge of what they call the DMV (Delaware, Maryland, VA). Yes, they omit the omnipresent WV lurking just alongside big money northern VA in the colloquialism. Our area has just as many people commuting to DC for six figures, as we have folks living in squalor. It’s definitely WV up in here, but maybe a little shinier.