u/YamAggravating8449

Title probably isn't quite spot on. I have taken on more responsibility and need to let go of some of the detailed work I once did. However, my direct report is less than a year into their role and this is who I need to hand work off to. They support project managers in a project controls capacity. So their day to day work comes from others but they report to me. As I hand over more work, I'm noticing that some of the tasks or advice (mostly advice) people would come to me for, they are going to this new person. They aren't seasoned or qualified enough to give some of the advice that I've seen them giving.

On one hand, I want them to learn and I need work off my plate. On the other, I want to step in and tell them some of these are "me" questions or something they should not be providing input on, especially when it comes to final review, risk, budgets, generally business stuff. I've years gaining respect from other managers and now I'm worried they're going to this other person and getting incorrect direction and half the time I don't even know.

I'm struggling with how to step in without micromanaging. How do I even bring this up? The PM team also needs to learn that this person isn't qualified to help with certain things yet and are still learning the process. It's not like they are my 1:1 replacement. I was doing the project controls job AND higher order tasks so I was qualified to be more of a sounding board. Maybe I'm too afraid of being hard on people.

Ladies! Where are we getting our shoes these days. Need a nice pair of business casual shoes that will hold up with time. I want to try on in person and not gamble with the online return shit. I don't mind something $100-$150 for a pair. Maybe a flats, maybe a small heel. Where do I go?? I know Nordstrom rack and TJMaxx, but those are hit or miss hunts.

Our cat is allowed to go outside from breakfast until dinner. Recently, I've noticed that when he tries to go after a squirrel (which is has never and will never catch) and he misses, he gets all embarrassed or something, runs to the door and asks to be let in so he can have a bite of food.

I cannot for the life of me understand this behavior other than the fact that maybe he thought he was going to get something that made him hungry and now his natural drive wants a snack. Funny thing is, he never actually eats any of the mice he's caught. He just catches them in the basement or around the house and then leaves them as gifts.

What are your favorite destinations for good award trip value? Unfortunately we're based in Denver so we usually have to go through PDX or SEA or fly on American for anywhere cool. We've also done the DEN to ANC direct already. We'll have 100k miles this month and want to plan another vacation. Hawaii could be cool, but we'd certainly want a business class seat for a long flight and I'm not sure if we can get that with the current points between us. Soon, we'll need to switch to another card with more flexibility, but I want to get one last trip with Alaska.

Traveling for work. I don't have an assigned seat yet (econ ticket) and there are none available for selection atm. It's a 3 hour flight, so not awful but...summer delays can always make time on plane longer...here are my options for seating choice:

1. Pay $170 for FC. Out of pocket cost since work wouldn't reimburse the upgrade

2. Pay $99 for E+ exit row seat or bulkhead ($110). Again out of pocket, but I could select an aisle or bulkhead.

3. Wait until check in to get a seat assigned, which will more than likely be a middle E+, even though I submitted preferences on my profile for aisle then window.

It's a short flight but I despise middle seats unless I'm with my husband and want to work a bit on the flight. If it was at dinner time, I'd do the FC upgrade but it's like 10am so breakfast/drinks aren't quite worth it (do people drink on work flights in the am??)

We live in the mountains and have lots of grass and weeds. Do people who "rent" out their goats charge for the service or is it a trade situation? Like...your goats eat for free and we could provide water, in exchange for me getting mitigation.

In a couple of months we will be renovating our house. Part of the renovation will include opening up the wall to the exterior for an addition. Right now our cat has access to most of the house, but really has their own room that is on the opposite side of the house from the construction where they have toys, little box and food...and where they sleep at night (we don't let him roam freely at night).

Because the house will be open and I don't want him running around outside with lots of people here or getting scared by noises, I'm considering that he gets locked in his room for the duration of construction, or gets put into our basement.

The only problem with the basement is that it's unfinished and isn't accessible from the inside of the main house, so it kind of feels like a dungeon and wed have to bring him back upstairs at night if we wanted time with him. The second floor isn't really feasible because there is no door to keep him contained up there. What if others done when they are renovating with their cats around?

Ugh, it's Friday. There has been lots of work drama this week. I'm approaching my luteal. And I just cannot focus today. Took my normal dose and I feel like it's doing NOTHING. I'm just jumping from app to app on my phone seeking some kind of "fix". I wish I could go for a walk but...work. I'm remote today but worry someone will ask if I'm away for too long.

Any tips on what to do when I'm in a loop and have no motivation?? All I want to do is cuddle with the cat, zone out with reality TV (which I've avoid bc it means finding my headphones...) or walk on a beautiful summer day.

Given the delays and flight cancellations in the last two weeks due to fog, if you are vacationing in the Azores...BUY YOURSELF SOME TRAVEL INSURANCE. Not really a "Pro-tip", but more of a...don't be stupid and get stuck with an extra $2K in cost.

You'll want to read the policy carefully for clauses around weather delays, flight delays, trip interruption. Policies can be relatively cheap but be super helpful with events like we've seen in the last two weeks. Additionally, if you're flying SATA between islands, even in good weather, and there are delays that put you over the interruption threshold (4-6 hours, depending on policy) you could potentially use the policy depending on what you purchase to cover meals, transportation, etc.

We had it for our trip and didn't use it, luckily. But you bet I was googling my policy when it looked like our flights might be impacted a couple of weeks ago.

I've taken multiple international trips without it but for somewhere as unpredictable and fickle as Azores, it's worth the peace of mind for an extra $200-$300 (we had a two week trip).

Our indoor/outdoor does not have a cat door. We don't really have a great place to install one. So, when he sits at the door, we let him out as long as he's been offered breakfast, and at night he doesn't go out when it's getting dark. However sometimes he doesn't eat all of his wet food in the morning. So like an hour or two after he has been out in the morning, he wants in again for a snack. Then, right back out. Only around 12-2 does he actually stay inside and just find somewhere to sleep. Around 3 or 4, he's back out until dinner.

If he wants out and we don't let him, he gets very chatty and sometimes rambunctious or attention-seeking. But some days it's a lot! Today he's come in twice and it's only 11.

How do you handle the constant in and out? Do you just deal with it?

I've been asked to manage about 6 new direct reports due to company departures and leadership deciding not to backfill. All 6 people hold the same role and I currently manage one person in my state also in this role. These new 6 are scattered throughout the country so I wouldn't see them regularly unless I travel.

Any tips for taking on so many new staff at once? I used to do the same role when I started so I know the job well. I'm still a new manager though (less than 3 years of direct "management"). What I'm most worried about is supporting them during a large transition while continuing to do my job as an IC and leader, and support my current staff member since they are less than 6 months in. Some of the 6 I would manage have been with the org for 15+ years. I feel like it's a well oiled machine but I also think their current manager has found a good balance between letting them be independent and managing quality, process and growth.

Recently went to PDL (Azores) via United from Newark. I've read they run limited routes with this plane to Europe/Iceland, I think. We sat PP, which is basically domestic first, on the red eye over and Econ on the way back. Why on earth does United use a 737Max for this route? Mainly wondering because there are only TWO econ lavs in the back. There was a line for the lavs nearly the entire flight and I felt awful for the FAs trying to do a full econ meal service, drinks and then pre arrival snack with so many people getting up on a 6 hour flight.

Are there any other aircraft or layouts with a lav in the front of PE that could be used here? Or layouts with 3 lavs in the back? Seems the runway can accommodate larger planes in PDL. We saw a 767 land from a euro carrier.