Fetch the Bolt Cutters

[singedsun]

Like this isn't New Music Friday yet or anything (Maker, do I wish it was Friday though) but I do need to quickly update to say that the new Fiona Apple album I mentioned last Friday "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" is so ah-maze-ing. Work has been a ball of stress (as I mentioned yesterday) and I haven't done any yoga the last three days as I was getting used to in the last few weeks, but when I have time during the day to have something on that isn't a work meeting, it's this album. I mean. It's just so good. It's typical Fiona Apple sounds, but graduated to like this whole new level of good. I'm in love. If you want some song recs off the album to try, there's "I Want You to Love Me" with all the drama that title entails. There's "Shameika which I can't even describe really but is very self empowering. OH and "Under the Table which has all the power behind it that a line like "I would beg to disagree, but begging disagrees with me" implies. Lastly, there's "Ladies" which is about leaving behind your stuff for the next woman who takes up with an ex. But really, the whole thing.

I spent $40 tonight buying bleach and dye in order to dye Matt's hair blue once it all arrives. I don't know why he picked the hardest fucking color in the world to dye yourself when you're starting with dark hair. But whatever. It's the first time in his life he's in a position to do something fun with his hair and he's decided to make it blue until he gets the call to return to work. I polled the people in my life who do this sort of thing on their own to good results to figure out what they use and what they like and I THINK I'm prepared, but I guess we'll find out when it all gets here.

It's just as well that the beauty supply places I looked at didn't have hair clippers in stock, at least not any decently rated and well-priced ones. Because I'm so tempted right now to cut off the front sides of my undercut I've been growing out. The more the back of my undercut grows out, the more annoying it ALL is and having to be on video calls (they're expecting when available at least 75% of our staff in each meeting to have their videos turned on) it's a reminder of how much I hate what it looks like right now. Now I'm not some fucking Karen that wants my hairdresser back in the salon so he can fix my hair. I have a very overactive sensory issues that mean things like itches and hair growth and rough clothing trigger anxiety in not great ways. But I WANT these front sides grown out, so I'm trying my best to just deal.

Especially since we heard today from our executives that it'll be at least two more months before anyone returns back to working in the office and even then it'll only be a small percentage of our staffs. They'll continue to increase small percentages in our offices (10-15% returning every couple of weeks) as they track what the pandemic looks like in our area and how safe it is to continue to let people back into the building. Most of our teams are small (there's eight people on my team but those people are split among three specific dedicated tasks, plus me and my manager) so losing a couple of people of a team at a time for potentially weeks at a time, would really dent our productivity. When keeping us working from home optimally is the better long-term solution. Honestly, I while I'm stressed currently, I appreciate the efforts our office is taking to contain our workers and keep people safe as possible. Plus, I think it helps drive home exactly how serious it is in the areas where our people live.

I did find out that another team has requested me to upper management as a transfer to their team, not as a team lead but to move over as a developer. Honestly, it might be a pay bump and it'd be great experience. It's not exactly the career path I was headed towards, but having people request me specifically because of my current knowledge and experience is pretty cool. Although this would be a crazy time to be switching roles and trying to train up. I have no idea what that'd look like. Something to think about though.

Comments

[anundine]

I know unsolicited advice is one of the most irritating things in the known universe, so I'm going to apologize ahead of time, but. But! When I was growing out my bangs, I found it very helpful to sweep them under a bandana while they were in that weird too-long but too-short stage. Do you think that might help your issues with the undercut growth?

[singedsun]

A lot of it has to do with how thick it gets right behind my ears and that I tend to get eczema there if I don't kind of keep it trimmed. Part of why I was keeping the undercut in the back but growing out the sides in front of my ears. Tucking it under anything just makes it sweatier and bulkier. LOL

[anundine]

whoops, nevermind then! That's gotta be rough, you have my deepest condolences.

[nyctanthes]

We overlap in three of the four current favorites from FTBC. My fourth is Relay.

[singedsun]

OMG But Relay is also really good! It would've been my next pick if I hadn't been like, more than four songs and you might as well just put down every song on the album.

[nyctanthes]

I enjoy the way many songs start off as "oh yes, a Fiona Apple song" and veer off in a different direction.

And the way she builds a rhythm with her voice. I love it.

New Music Sunday

[singedsun]

If you haven't listened to Tank and the Bangas, but you're enjoying this new album, I'd highly recommend checking them out. I'm getting very similar vibes off the new album. There's a lot of that kind of asymmetrical sound/song structure and that's real appealing. Plus they're upbeat and always a good bop to be found.

Re: New Music Sunday

[nyctanthes]

Yes, I listened to their Tiny Desk concert and really liked it.

[hazyl]

You just reminded me about the new Fiona Apple album...Yay! I need to listen to it. :)

That is great about 2 more months of working from home. I'll be surprised if they do the same for us, but we'll see. And that's also great about the new opportunity at your job.

[lassarina]

It's really great to have your hard work and knowledge recognized! Congrats :)