Around Round

We had a nasty surprise at work today - another round of layoffs. I don't know the exact number of folks losing their jobs, but Correspondence lost three - two writers and a processor. They were 'scheduled' for their 1x1's today and walked out unemployed. Some of the names I've heard are shocking and almost all of them had long tenures - 15 years, 20 years. They 'trimmed' the department by letting those with the highest paychecks go. I'm about $1,500 away from maxing out in my position so in another three years or so, my name will probably appear on the list. This was shocking and is hard to swallow. The department is NOT overstaffed; they are cutting down so they can give back to Corporate or to the Stowers Institute. They've gone from trimming to greedy. And now there will be even more work expectations on those of us left. We have to pick up the slack of two writers AND we're suppose to begin processing in a month or so.

Sometimes I think I should just find another job, even if it's lower pay and requires office attendance and get the suspense over with. I will again focus on paying off my debt so we could actually make it on a smaller paycheck.

Happy Birthday,Sweet 16

Ana had her 16th birthday party today - at my house. Not sure why she wanted it here but I suspect it was so she wouldn't have to do any prep work (aka housework). Can't say that I blame her there! I certainly didn't mind hosting it as I am pretty good at that and it forces me to do my own neglected chores to get the house ready! It all went off without a hitch and I think Ana had a good time. The house was full of teen-agers and that was kind of different - guess I should get used to it as the kids transition to that stage.

Tomorrow is my last Big Monday - I've been working 10-hour Mondays for 8 years but beginning next week, I switch over to a Big Thursday. I was so glad my manager agreed to let me keep a 'Big' day in exchange for a shortened Wednesday (and to work a split schedule on my Infusion Wednesdays). I didn't care too much which day was going to be my 10-hour one and Thursday is already a rotten day for me so why not add to the rottenness? This week is also my last flex week - next week we go to set schedules. Hate that but what can I do? I need the money!

Speaking of money, we were notified Friday that we are getting a SECOND surprise bonus on Tuesday! ACI has been in court with JPM for a few years (I think) as they separated partnership and I guess ACI was awarded money so the Execs decided to spread the good news (and cash) to us! Wow - I can always use a bonus!

I sent Susanna a letter Friday asking if I could take the girls to Disney late September/early October like I had promised Kristen I would. I don't expect them to say yes but at least when Krissy asks me in 20 years why I never took her (and I took her sisters), I can say I saved for it and I asked her parents and they said no.

Happy 2012

So the world is suppose to end this year - am I ready for such an event? Have I been all I can be for myself and for others? Would I be leaving anything undone or unsaid? Sadly, the answer would have to be YES. This year I hope to settle the air with my sister, make love to my husband and reconnect with my friends. This year.

So, I think I may take some beginning yoga classes. Six classes for $35, once a week. Unfortunately for me, the day of the week the class is offered is Thursday - soon to be my Big 10-Hour Thursday. Or I could try for the 8:30 a.m. Saturday class. Which is the lesser of the two evils? Thursday - I'm not giving up my Saturday mornings! I hope I can do at least most of the positions. I have a feeling I won't be able to and will be encouraged to attend the Yoga for Arthritic Folks class. Not going there.

I took Shawn to Chateau Avalon for New Year's Eve. We had a nice dinner at Louisiana Jazz (live music) and spent about 20 minutes in the two-man hot tub in the room. Then we curled up in bed and Shawn... yup, he fell asleep. I tried to wake him as the ball dropped but he would have none of it. I know he's tired and I get he needs to sleep but maybe he could have tried a little harder to stay awake. Sleeping on the last New Year's Eve we're suppose to get. Sad.

Year's End

As I sit here on the eve of New Year's Eve, I ponder the future. Will George really marry Breezy and live happily ever after? Will Tom and Charlie find jobs? Will Dan survive the divorce? Will my sister ever speak to me again? Will I see Fifi, Emmi and Krissy? Will Bailey come to live with me? Will my boys be OK?

Mo got a bad bite on his side that got infected. Wednesday I found him in the basement with a huge hole in his side from where the cyst burst. Shawn took him to the vet, who shaved my baby bald on his side and cleaned the wound. I'm sure it was Po' Boy - and I'm fairly certainly Mo started the fight. Thank goodness Mo is up to date on his shots. The vet said the wound looked good - I cried when I saw it. Horrible. Maybe Mo will stay away from Po' Boy now?

Well, this is the last entry for 2011 - may 2012 find us healthy, safe and happy in life.

Bailey, the Dog

Dan got his next assignment and, apparently, has had a talk with Kelly. He sent me an email saying he is going to Baku and will be in a small apartment. No one will be there to care for the animals during the day so he can't take them with him. He is looking for a home for Bailey and asked if we would take him. My instinct is, of course, to say absolutely. Shawn's instinct, of course, is to say no. There are pro's and con's but the biggest reason to do it is because Dan needs us to. I talked to Shawn this evening and he is struggling. He's asked to think about it for a bit. This won't be taking Bailey for a few weeks or months but for years - maybe his entire life. I don't know if Dan will ever be able to claim him again - and if he can, if Bailey will really remember being part of Dan's life. For sure we would have him three years as that's the average length of time an assignment lasts.

My heart is shattered for Dan. Obviously Kelly has told him she has no intention of going with him to his next assignment so one of the two will be filing for divorce. Dan has lost everything - his wife, his girls, his home, his pets, probably 70% of his salary and half his retirement. The only things he has left is his job and his siblings. His girls will probably always be visitors now - unless he retires before they finish high school and one or both of them decide to live with Dad. He's going to be halfway around the world locked in a small apartment with no family or friends. I am terrified he's going to start to get careless with his safety figuring there's no one he needs to protect himself for anymore. And all I really can do is pray for him.

No More Flexing

Word came down that we are losing our flex option at work beginning February. When Angela took over as manager and had all her let's-get-to-know-each-other meetings, EVERYONE told her the ability to flex our work hours was the most important perk of the job - the one we wanted to keep above all others (of course, it's pretty much the ONLY perk of the job!). She was so understanding, totally got our desire to keep that perk. "Yes, I hear you.' And now we find out her response is, 'fuck you' and take it away - for the good of the investors of course. God forbid they get a letter in the afternoon mailing rather than the morning mailing.

Yeah, she is SO working to improve the morale of the team. Micromanaging, taking away all the secondary roles we have so there is nothing to put in our ISPs (which translates to no reason for decent bonuses), and taking away the few perks we have left after years of losing them. I guess the good news is that the only thing left she can do (without firing us) is to make the telecommuters return to the office. And that would only affect four or five of us (of course I would be one of those numbers!)

We were so optimistic when Doug was fired and Angela took over. Management saw our disillusions, they were going to fix things and make us love our jobs again. Right; rather it's out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Count Down

So, we are mere weeks away from a New Year. Wonder what it will bring. I have always found the celebration of a new year a bit odd - for all you know, you are celebrating the year in which you will die. How cheery is that? Even if it's not the year of your demise, you are still celebrating moving closer to your end of days. Hooray, I am a year closer to my death! Let us drink champaigne and celebrate! But celebrate we do; even I try to stay up till midnight if only to offer the simple prayer, "Please, Lord Jesus, let me make something of this new year."

I have the Christmas lights on the house - actually, George came by and put the Christmas lights up. That's as far as I've gotten with the holiday decorating. I have the rest of the week off so hopefully I'll have a tree up and garland draped across the fireplace and down the banister by the end of it. I've started one of my famous To Do lists - this one for Christmas. Decorate, address Christmas cards, wrap gifts, mail packages.... I am seriously going to skip Christmas one year. But not this year.