Well, it has been a while since I have done a blog post, and now that I have a bit more free time, I’m hoping to get back to regular (or at least semi-regular) posting. I have some ideas on how to move forward, but that may take a few days to implement, so for now I’ll just keep that stuff to myself.
Let’s see, to fill everyone in from last time. I think I mentioned that in October I was going to be taking a new position at work. The new position was with the Production Support team and required me to be on-call essentially 24/7. Well, it officially started in the beginning of October, but I had one remaining project for my old team to finish. The last post here, October 14, lines right up with my transition to the new team. Things got so busy and hectic that by the time I got home in the evenings, I wasn’t interested in spending more time on the computer. Don’t misunderstand, I loved the new position. It was the most excited I had been about work in several years. The team was new, and we were still figuring out how the processes were to work, and at the same time, we were fixing things, both quick fixes and longer term corrections. I enjoyed the variety and balance of the work.
Early this year, my bosses determined the model for our group. There was to be an on-call team, and a long-term fix team. The on-call person would field the problems coming in and after discussion, would decide whether a long-term fix was in order. At that point, the long-term fix team would work to get the problems corrected. I volunteered to move into the lead position on the long-term fix team for the applications I supported. The official transition to this new model was going to be in late April, but the position would start earlier to help with transition. I wish I could tell you that everything went great and that I had just transitioned to that new position, but unfortunately, that wasn’t what happened.
There had been rumors about a coming round of layoffs for several months. Seems the funding had been cut and the IT group had to adjust to meet the funding. Our team was not expecting to be hit for several reasons. For one, most of the members of our team were contractors. There simply weren’t many employees to choose from. Also, while we were the new project, we were also the “pet” project of one of the higher up managers, one of the ones making the decisions. Finally, we had our model and while there was some overlap in jobs, there wasn’t really any room for cutting anyone because of the required skill sets and such.
Well, much to everyone’s surprise, when the layoffs came in early March, I was in the group being let go. This came as a shock and surprise to everyone on our team, my bosses included. In fact, my manager and I had just discussed some of the new responsibilities I would be taking on the day before the layoffs. However, as I have been telling most everyone since this happened, God was not surprised.
Since March 6th, I have been officially laid off. I am still officially an employee until April 18th, but I am currently not working on anything more than a job search and my “honey-do” list. 
We were asked to work a couple weeks for transition, and after discussing it with my boss, I agreed to work a week and be available for phone calls the second week. We went on our planned vacation a few days early and got to spend that extra time with my parents. And while on vacation, my wife and I were able to see a Braves spring training game (more on that later).
So here I sit, typing in my blog once more, soon to be officially unemployed. I have a few job leads and even have an interview this Wednesday. I hope to keep writing this time. I have so much to write about and yet, I almost think I’ve been busier since I got laid off than I was before. As always, thanks for reading, and keep checking back. As I dust the cobwebs off, maybe I’ll touch on something that is near and dear to your own heart.
CC
April 7, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Happened to see your blog that came in my e-mail that I flagged for “The Cajun” (a friend of mine). I started to read your blog and became increasingly more interested. Why? Because I’ve been there myself. The laid off part that is. Also, another good friend of mine has also gone through the layoff. In fact, almost all of my friends. Once you reach a certain age like us, it is a fact of life. What I can say is that life does go on. I’m typing this at work. I have a parttime job that I enjoy very much. In fact, I even have time to answer your blog. How about that? I’m going to add your blog to my “to read” list because I am interested in how things turn out with you. Both of my friends (from grade school until now) have landed on their feet. Albeit with jobs that pay a lot less but they are much happier because now they are doing something they really like, no stress, and no commute. There is life after The Job. Believe it or not. By the way, my blog is “Retired In Delaware.” I just recently resuciated it myself after a long absence.
Take care,
Ron Tipton
April 8, 2008 at 10:19 am
Thanks for the kind words, Ron. I will definitely be updating everyone here as the job search continues. More on that in today’s blog. Thanks again.
April 13, 2008 at 6:27 am
I may be the friend Ron Tipton was referring to in his comment. My situation was in many way very similar to your own and he is absolutely correct there is a better life after a job, but I have a feeling that you know as I know the better life is in trusting our Lord and God. Ron sent me the posting on your job lost, but actually I had read your posting on Oprah even before he did. Tolle may have been just another false prophet if not for Oprah and their thing about “the Now” and living in the moment is hardly a revelation. Jesus taught living in the now and not worrying about the next day, but certainly for a different purpose. It is interesting that Oprah claims she was named for Orpah, but they spelled it wrong on the birth certificate, given that it was Orpah who choose to return to Moab and certainly to its ways. Oprah may speak of “Christ Consciousness”, but she has chosen to follow another’s way, something she could pay a heavy “Tolle’ for later.
I will keep you in my prayers for your job situation and for your continued thoughful blog.
April 15, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Keep on keeping on my friend. One of my lifetime friends from schooldays used to have job for Motorola eliminating (thought job evaluations) co-workers jobs. I warned him that after he was done, they would get him. They did. He thought he was having a heart attack because he thought “they” would never eliminate his job. I kept telling him, “it’s nothing personal, it’s the bottom line.” Once he recovered he got another job near his home. Of course it was for much less money but he no longer had the commute. He has worked there for over three years now. His wife retired last year and she is also working there part-time. I could smack the both of them, that’s how happy there are with life now.
April 15, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Thanks again guys. Larry, I thought I had left a note in reply to your comment, but I don’t see it and I can’t remember exactly what I said.
Anyway, thank you both for the kind words. Haven’t heard from anyone yet, but I’m getting a lot done on my son’s room, and he played his first baseball game tonight (blogging on that shortly).