Stephanie Nelson 🥉

Oh man, at 68, I actually feel your pain with the eyesight thing, reading used to tire me out quick but switching to an e-reader fixed that right up. The font sizes go way up, like huge if you want, and it's all customizable so you don't strain at all. The light adjusts to be warm and soft, not harsh at all, and no glare issues outside, even in bright sun on the deck. I snagged one on sale for under 150, and it's been worth every penny. Yeah, sometimes I fumble with the tech but once set, smooth sailing.

Good point - Tightening is worth trying but that grinding is often a failing jar bearing or a worn drive coupler on high‑speed blenders. With it unplugged, rotate the blades by hand - if it feels gritty or has side-to-side play, the bearing is shot and you’ll want to replace the blade/jar assembly rather than lubricate. Also inspect the rubber coupler on the base for cracks or missing teeth; it’s cheap to replace and commonly causes that sound. A drop of food‑grade oil may quiet things briefly, but it won’t fix a worn bearing and can end up in your smoothies.

Yeah and dealing with these insane deadlines feels just like blowing your entire budget on one fancy dinner – satisfying in the moment but you're starving later. I've learned to push back by laying out the facts with a dash of humor, like 'Hey boss, if we cram this into two weeks, we'll end up with a report that's more fiction than analysis.' It shows you're team-oriented while highlighting the tradeoffs without whining.

Been there. When my ex and I split, I learned the hard way that titles unlock behavior. The school started returning my calls faster the day I asked them to mark me as primary contact and even though my actual parenting didn't change. Work is similar. If you are already leading projects and facing clients, it is reasonable to ask for a title that matches what people expect to see. I framed mine as a business hygiene thing, not a personal milestone. No cake required. In writing, I listed a few concrete client outcomes I owned, where title confusion slowed things down, and how changing my title would reduce friction with stakeholders. I said I was not asking for a comp change now and proposed a date to revisit pay at review time. I included the exact title I wanted and offered to update decks, signatures, and the org page myself. Manager approved in a day because it cost nothing and fixed external optics.

Keep it quiet until you have a written offer. transparency can trigger reduced responsibilities, exclusion from decisions, or an early exit, and counteroffers rarely fix root issues. Timing: use former managers or peers as references. tell the recruiter you cannot use your current boss until the offer stage, and if they insist, walk. Do interviews on PTO or off-hours. don't change LinkedIn until after you've given notice, and disable network notifications in the meantime. If asked prematurely, script: "I'm focused on delivering X. if that changes I'll give at least two weeks and a transition plan." Resignation script: "I've accepted an offer. last day is DATE. I'll document everything, hand off A/B/C, and be available for knowledge transfer." Reshuffle lesson: prepare a handover doc, name backups, list risks and deadlines, and propose a timeline so leadership can reassign cleanly during busy season.

Just say you're at capacity and need help prioritizing tasks.

Unplug it and wipe everything dry and then figure out where the water starts... If it shows up at the top around the basket or carafe, you are probably dealing with an overflow issue. That actually can come from a misseated filter, a clogged drip stop pin in the basket, or the carafe lid not letting brewed that model return fast enough. Pull the basket, clean the little drain hole under it, press the pause pin a few times under the faucet, and make sure the carafe lid is on correctly. If the puddle forms under the machine,, check the reservoir. Make sure it is clicked in firmly and that the rubber seal on its outlet is present, not twisted, and not cracked. Look for hairline cracks in the reservoir by holding it up to a bright light, especially along seams. Mineral flakes loosened by cleaning can wedge a valve and redirect water, so run two plain water cycles to flush and descale again if it has been a while. Easy test. Fill halfway with water, remove the that model grounds and filter, set the empty carafe in place, and brew while watching. If it only leaks with the basket in, it is overflow. If it leaks even with no basket, it is on the reservoir or internal path side. If you find a damaged seal or tank and it is under warranty, contact the maker for parts or service.

Push scope, not dates. In meetings say due to dependency on Team B, X points cannot be completed by Friday, propose delivering A only. Put it in writing and copy your manager.

Yes, make one respectful, low-drama ask because changing jobs is the right time to align pay and risk. Quantify the better benefits first so you know your walk-away: each PTO day is roughly your base divided by 260 and lower premiums are real cash, so add those up. If that value is roughly 3 to 5 percent of base, you can justify accepting the same salary or asking for a small bump. Since they say you are near the top of the band, prioritize non-base levers like a sign-on, relocation support, or a written six month review tied to an off-cycle adjustment. Use a one-round script like this: "I am excited about the role and the benefits are a great fit, and I am ready to accept if we can either bring base up 3 to 5 percent or, if base is fixed, add a sign-on and relocation." Give concrete numbers so they can act: a sign-on equal to 5 to 10 percent of base and a relocation lump sum of 3,000 to 10,000 are common and easy for companies. If relocation is not relevant, you can ask for a 1,000 to 2,000 home office stipend or to schedule a six month performance review with eligibility for an off-cycle adjustment stated in the offer or an HR email. Make one clear package ask and then pause, and ask when to expect an update within 24 to 48 hours. If they say no across the board, thank them, reiterate your excitement, and decide quickly whether the role plus better benefits are enough for you to accept. Rescinds for a polite, data backed ask are rare, and one concise round signals you are thoughtful and decisive.