I know you guys are just enthralled by my office remodel, so...

Mounted a 2-vented-shelf AV shelf under my new desk in the corner (it's an L-shape). So now my docking station/laptop is on the top shelf, freeing valuable desktop real estate, with the woofer of my computer speakers on the bottom shelf, getting it off the floor and eliminating the floor-shaking at higher volumes (which was bad because the floor here is, ya know, the ceiling of the first floor). AND since I mounted the shelves off the ground, I can still get my feet in there! #fengshui 2nd keyboard shelf comes today...we'll see how that works out. Sauder was really good about this- I pieced together all the parts that were needed for a 2nd shelf, and they're sending them for $24 delivered. I expected a huge markup there. Highly recommend Sauder!

td11 wrote:that's exactly it. there's so little time to invest in outside of work and my one sorta hobby (video games). i even timed out of like 25 chess matches where i had THREE DAYS to make a move. ennui blows

Serious note though. This does blow. Do you have anything you used to do that might be worth picking back up?

feel your pain td. i'm putting in 50-70 hours a week between my 2 jobs and an average of like 2 hours a day commuting so it's impossible for me to have a life sometimes. living away from home sucks for this, too, because it's not like, hey lets just go hang out with my pals and do what they're doing because you don't know anyone. and honestly, that's the best part about hobbies, you get to meet people. there are websites out there where you can meet up with people with similar interests that i've used in the past(even like pick-up sports games). i've gone to a few tennis groups and met a few people. the dude's suggestion of volunteering for politics is good, too, imo. i actually met my current gf at a bernie sanders thing and you have the added bonus of going in to an environment where you'll mostly agree with the mindset of people around you.

it's about making the effort, tho, and that can be hard sometimes, too.

He's got like five minutes to seal this up. Otherwise I'm taking her home

azrider wrote:He's got like five minutes to seal this up. Otherwise I'm taking her home

Gentlemanly

I'm going to marry this girl by the end of the month.

She already got married by Elvis in Vegas 5 years ago... That's going to be tough to beat.

I think the first step is to identify the problem--what exactly is missing from TD11's life--is he looking for a real passion--that's a tough nut to crack. Typically, a passion sort of finds you rather than the other way--it becomes all consuming and even though many people can't make a living at it, the paying job then becomes a means to an end. Is he looking for a hobby that would provide opportunities for socializing and so forth because outside of work his life is pretty boring? I think most of the advice in the thread is in this direction--that's why people with kids usually don't have this problem as much--they simply spend their non-working hours doing things associated with their kid's activities.

I think what TD is dealing with is in fact very common. In college, you have a ready made set of friends and activities--you want some pals who are up for a game of beer pong on Wednesday afternoon? They're there! But you get to a point where everyone is working, many are dealing with their small kids, and our young urban professional has few options other watching TV after work. Maybe all he needs is a friendly neighborhood bar. Maybe a volunteer activity. Or start homebrewing--it can be very social, and the consumption of beer it involves helps deal with the inevitable awkwardness.

Electronics is a nice hobby and one that's not too common anymore. I've been tinkering with that a bit recently. td should build a clock and bring it in to show his coworkers

touchdown just misses basketball

Work friend is getting married tomorrow. I wasn't invited initially but after they got all the RSVPs she decided to invite more people and I was part of this "second tier" or whatever. I already had plans so I can't go. Am I still supposed to give a gift in this scenario? We've known each other for a little over a year if that matters. Hang out a lot at work but only once or twice outside of work.

nope

buy her a beer

Ahh shit a few of us did lunch at Devil's Den yesterday and I missed my opportunity

yeah, just grab a beer in celebration and thats about it

it doesn't even matter, really. I'm just saying in no way are you obligated to give her some kind of 100 dollar gift (or even 50 or 20 or anything)

by the "rules" as it were

Thanks, pals

Gf is going to a wedding at 4pm today. Understand the cheaper Friday wedding, but a 4pm start is pushing it.

ReadingPhilly wrote:Gf is going to a wedding at 4pm today. Understand the cheaper Friday wedding, but a 4pm start is pushing it.

who the fuck

ReadingPhilly wrote:Gf is going to a wedding at 4pm today. Understand the cheaper Friday wedding, but a 4pm start is pushing it.

Is this a new gf?