Wow! This just made me want to go hug my big sis who's visiting now - but she's still sleep.

I don't know... it seems to me you'd have to work a least a little bit to be a rocket scientist. And being a two star general has got to carry some heavy duty stress. I doubt his life is really all that cushy. And I think that if you get passed over your first time around for promotion as an officer in the military, you're unlikely to get promoted the second time. And you don't get a third chance. That info comes from a good friend - major in the Marine Corps.

Ask him why he didn't tell you. There could be all kinds of good reasons why he didn't tell you.

Is it really his fault that you've had to struggle in your chosen field? Is that really something you should be angry at him for?

I'm not asking this to be mean, but just to help you put some perspective on it. It sounds like you're really unhappy with your work environment and maybe it's time to look around at what else you can do - either in your field or something else. Change can be good.

I wouldn't eat all the chocolate cake though. A slice or two should be enough.

V.