Hey, Jezzies! I wanted to ask you a question: Coworker and I have been together for about four months now, and we’ve agreed to stay together while we’re both overseas—two years (we’ll have been together for about seven months when I leave for South Asia). The thing is, if we’re going to get assigned together the next…

I applied to renew my passport, which I need to get ready for my work move inJune. 

I’m so sorry. 

I love all of those! Thanks for the reminder--I should totally watch them again this week! 

Followed! Thanks! 

Oh, my gosh, that sounds horrible! I hope you’re feeling better (kiddo too), and that you get to do something really fun to make up for the noro-nonsense. 

Pump up jams, beloved snacks, and a timer. I’m a big fan of the Pomodoro Method to break down huge, unpleasant tasks. 

I really love El Ministerio del Tiempo, on Netflix--it’s basically like Warehouse 13 with more time travel. 

I learned that my favorite concept album/folk opera is being turned into an off-Broadway show, and so I naturally need to buy tickets ASAP and see if I can convince my boyfriend to do a weekend trip to New York with me to go see it. 

That sounds like a lovely night! What books are you reading?

Have fun! If it sucks, grab pizza. Otherwise, it’s not so bad to have a chance to drink some wine and maybe meet some pretty chill people. 

Ginger nuts for the win! I love them so much. 

They really aren’t that good. Truthfully, I’d rather have a rich tea biscuit or a shortbread or a Jammy Dodger, something like that. 

I feel this hard. I’m a fed, and the shutdown was brutal; it was only because I was able to get out of town this weekend to see my best friend, and because my boyfriend (also a fed, same agency) is the best human that I was able to stay sane.

I typically open my blinds for light in the morning and close them after sundown. Bedroom blinds are always closed because my window is right next to a street lamp. My mom was really concerned about that sort of thing when I was a kid, and it sort of stuck with me. 

This is AMAZING! BTW, what is your IG handle? I’d love to see more of your stuff. 

Oh, you poor dear! That’s positively awful for you. Is there anything we can do here to help? Like sending cash, or gift cards to your local grocery stores? Or even just a treat to do something frivolous?

This looks BEAUTIFUL and I honestly cannot wait. I’m going to see it, I’m going to make my mom see it, I’m going to take my friends to see it.

I feel this so hard. Luckily, I bought too much alcohol for my Christmas party last week when I still believed we’d get a CR, so I’m well stocked in white wine and beer for now, but I’m seriously hoping that this ends quickly. The last thing I need is to not get paid for a month. 

Hey, Jezzies! Any other Fed workers out there? I started at my Fed agency in July, and while I’ve been trying to save since I started working (I was in grad school before this), the combination of student loans and Christmas means my savings are thin right now. How are you all weathering the shutdown? Emotionally,…