Maybe I shouldn't be so eager and grateful and happy to relate to this kind of thing, but I do. I get it and it's sort of a relief to see this from you, vent art, and to know what the fog is like, this month has been gray and tough.
I like how fog clings to you. :>

I try to keep a positive outward face, but I do have my struggles too. :} It's been a rough month for a lot of people in a lot of ways, and I'm facing some major job uncertainties right now too which is particularly stressful when you've got people (and mortgage payments) depending on you to not be out of work. So yeah, sometimes I get down and depressed and uncertain, and art can be a great way to try and burn off some of that. Or at least express it and share it when I can find the right words.

There's fog and there's uncertainty and it's hard to see a clear path, but the fog is kind of nice in its own way. And at least I have a shiny thing.

You look really good in this. I like how the fog clings to you. => Here's to keeping job! :S

Thanks hon. :) I did this like mega-quick, just wanted to get the emotion out, so I'm happy it came out lookin like a Dorey despite the fast work. Yay for clingy fog. ^^

Keeping job seems unlikely at this point, but best (only?) current possibility is looking like being taken up by a short project elsewhere at the University. Will only be for 3-4 months but it's breathing room to keep looking for something longer term, ideally at the University or elsewhere.

Aww that bites. :< Well, there's still breathing room. But that does bite. When's uni going to reckinize how essential and irreplaceable you are?

That's actually one of the most frustrating parts - my immediate bosses and colleagues and everybody who knows me and actually does the researchy stuff and does know me, they all want me to stay and have another project they really want me on. So I've somehow managed to convince them all I'm worth having around. :) And they've been fighting to keep me. It's heartwarming and awesome. But it's the higher admin people, who don't know anything about me, just concerned with finances and all, to whom I'm just a disposable asset. And hiring somebody for a fixed term contract costs money, while it doesn't cost anything extra to just throw somebody at the opening who you already have on permanent staff.

All the actual research staff involved have tried to make the case that no actually I've got exactly the right skill set and I'm pretty good and the ideal person for the job and all, but... apparently it wasn't convincing enough. I'm doing my best to not be better and irate over the situation, but it does feel kind of lousy and shortsighted.

*million mile stare, jaw hanging open* Admins. Get your ducks in a row. |:F I see though, where you are working is a good spot, because everyone is wanting to keep you.

Sadly the sense I'm getting is that this is pretty much the norm in this stage of this career. But yeah, as I say that's what's making it that much harder and more frustrating, is how many of the actual researchers and academics here -do- want to keep me around! And in turn how much that makes me want to stay. So hopefully this other 3-4 month project will work out at least, and in that time maybe something else will work out to keep me here longer. If not, I'll be forced to look elsewhere, which may even involve a complete career change.

A complete career change possibly? my gosh, I think you were graced with more courage than I can imagine. :O

I'm hoping not; I'd very much prefer to stay in environmental science and academia, but with limited options and an increasingly desperate need to know I'll keep having income, I may end up in some kind of business data analysis or something. Not that I couldn't later come back to academia, but... argh, it's just all rather frustrating, having a PhD and three years of very solid work experience with, to be frank, some pretty good and highly technical skills, and yet having this much uncertainty. And coming right up to Christmas too, I'm struggling with things like... how much can I reasonably spend on Christmas gifts for my parents when I don't know if I'll have a job in the new year yet. :P Really hoping I can extract a firm answer from HR early this week!

Fortify, Doran dear, you'll make it, you are enough. *squeeze*

*wag, hugs tight* I'm workin on it. :) Getting by, applying for lots of things, trying to set myself up the best I can. But thanks hon, your support means a lot. *squeeze*