WAC Friday (one day late-my apologies)

Your word this week:
BELATED

We also have this.

I said, what if either of these was actually about the trends in the testing of beauty and wellness products on chickens? My coworker said, that's right up your alley then. Ha!

This magazine has an opening for a senior/managing editor. Hmmmm...that would be too funny...

Nothing new to report, really. Still going between anger, sadness, happiness, relief, shock, etc. about getting laid off...none of these "states" really lasts long, so no worries. I found out that my supervisor understood things the same way...that I'd work until next Wednesday and then I'd be "off the clock" as it were, although I'd be paid for the next two weeks. I wouldn't have to (and probably wouldn't except to get my things and clean up and use the "facilities" to print/copy/send out things) go into work at all those two weeks.

Most of the guys at work apparently are not happy that I'm getting laid off. That's nice to hear/see. It means something. They've said that they truly are going to try to bring me back. That's fine with me and that's great. Obviously, and I told them this, I can't wait around though, and they understand. I also said that, who knows, I might not come back--it will all depend on how good or bad the job is in comparison to the one I just lost.

I have a clean slate now...My first priority at this early stage is to stay in journalism, preferredly editing, and stay in Chicago. From there, we'll see where it goes. As cool as it would be to try to get, say, a job with an NFL team or something along those lines, I don't see that as happening. Besides, that would be an immense time commitment.

I've found two jobs I'll probably apply for...one looks like a day-side job out in Elmhurst editing a catalog. Looks interesting enough in that it's pretty much straight editing and some writing. Nothing exciting by any means, but it looks like the type of job that just might pay well. So I'm going to see. The other is a copyeditor job at one of the majors here. The problem with that is that I'd bet (though I don't know for sure) that it would be a night-side job. That would be undesirable, but not out of the question. I just wouldn't want to go back to that if I didn't have to.

So we'll see...I have a couple other leads. I need to have the guys read over my resume tomorrow though so I can send them out ASAP at least for these two jobs.

Now I need to figure out how to apply for unemployment so it kicks in when I'm done...as well as figure out insurance, 401k, etc.

And I fear saying this...but I'm worried now about my scheduled vacations this year...I had already put in for and planned for two trips...now, what will happen? I really fear this...I best be able to at least take a late-summer vacation at whatever new job...I can live without the post-Easter deal, maybe. I guess I'll just tell them I had this planned way ahead of time...we'll see.

Starbux Princess asked what happened? Well, I'm not entirely sure...I know that I definitely have to work for another week (though, yes, I don't really HAVE to, but you know...) and then there's a two-week notice after that. What I do in those two weeks though, I'm a bit unclear.

Basically, what happened in the grand scope is my company, which was bought back from the evil corporation that owned it by the head guy and an investor group last year, did not make money. So, the banks and investors that own us wanted to see cuts. Two editors were axed, I was one of them, though I was second-highest in seniority of about seven on my level. Theories abound that I was due a promotion/raise and that's why I was cut instead of the second-lowest guy on the totem pole, but whatever. He deserves the job too...sometimes moreso than me, honestly (and I'm not just being nice...).

At any rate, I was brought into the head guy's office with the other editor and told the news...I was pretty dumbfounded, truthfully. I couldn't even ask any questions because it caught me off-guard. But hey, these things typically do that. :)

They're going to help me find a new job--and based on history (they had big layoffs once before), they WILL and they'll probably be successful. I got calls from three of my fellow editors, and I guess the whole editorial staff was pretty shocked that I was let go. They wanted to know if I wanted to go out for a beer or two tonight, but I just wanted to relax and let things soak in...it still hasn't fully.

But see, I don't think you'll see me get furious or depressed over this. I was there for 3.5 years, roughly, without much change, truthfully. It was an awesome job and great, but maybe it's time to make a change. Since I'm not the kind to do that kind of thing myself, maybe this is somebody up there shoving me in the direction of what is better for me. Who knows? I'm the kind of person who believes that things happen for a reason, and typically good, and that everything works out eventually, no matter how bad things seem.

Think of it this way: I have a world of opportunity sitting in front of me right now--a clean slate. I could even start all over if I wanted to...we'll see. There's much to think about, sort through and do.

So now, it's on to find a new job...the question is, what?

How about that? I was just laid off. No joke.

Have a nice day. :)

So the Yankees get A-Rod and quite possibly will get Greg Maddux, according to rumors heard on sports talk radio this morning by a coworker. Part of me wants to get a refund for my split-season Sox tickets, though my brother paid for them, and not even attend a baseball game this year. It's not even worth going, it seems (of course, I will go and will enjoy myself). But I'm not even mad about it...I can't get mad anymore, because it figures--it's not surprising in the least. It's a shame that Major League Baseball is so fucked up like this that it would let this happen. I wish the league would have folded during the last strike. I hope this is the undoing of the league, somehow. But I know it won't be. The rich (OK, only the Yankees) will continue to get richer while the rest of the league toils in near-miss land.

My personal favorite line in this story is the very last one. :)

WAC Friday was a genuine success...for what it's worth. :) Another word this Friday, assuming I remember. :)

Weekend update...

Friday I went to a benefit dinner for a cousin of a friend of Gina's who had to have a heart transplant. It was a buffet dinner, raffle and silent auction. Also, there was dancing. It was fun. I didn't win anything in the raffles they had, but I did win the wine on the table and the candle holders on the table because my birthday was closest to the girl who the benefit was for. Woohoo...or something.

Saturday was the big day...we went to 312 Chicago for dinner, which was great...except for one (and maybe a couple, if my credit card online statement isn't lying to me) thing. The food: Fantastic. The service: Fantastic. The ambiance: Great. The fact that they cancelled the main draw for me and didn't take it off the Internet: Quite disappointing.

I had picked 312 Chicago because their Metromix (which doesn't deserve a link for this) ad said they'd be giving away a trip for two to San Francisco for diners this weekend for V-day. Well, turns out that they cancelled it and didn't get to change the Web site fast enough. I was disappointed and tried to communicate that to them, in the hopes that they'd dock a little off my bill or something--I told them flat out that was the reason we were there...we could have gone to any number of restaurants. But it was a good enough time that I didn't really press too hard...and I didn't want to anyway and ruin the evening.

But now, I look at my online cc statement, and it seems that (unless it's just a temporary number, which is possible) they charged me $30 more than what I put down. Actually, $29.73 or something like that. And it's not like I tipped poorly...I gave 20 percent. So I have to see in the next day or so what the official post to my cc is and if it doesn't match, I'm ripping them a new asshole over the phone...

After dinner, we went to The Viaduct to see "All's Well That Ends Well." I have to say, following the dialogue required some concentration, but I told Gina that following it in a play is far easier than reading it. It was a good show and a cool story...it's a comedy, so that's always good...it was a grand total (intermission included) of three hours...and the seats weren't comfortable. But the play was done well enough and the story good enough that it was good.

After that, we drove out to Elk Grove Village, where her cousin had a hotel suite...we hung out there with her cousin and my brother and just relaxed...then we went home.

Sunday we went to church, then my parents' house for Eddie's b-day "party" where, for the first time ever, the three of us boys had girlfriends and they were in attendance. It was good...I'm sure my mom loved it.

We then headed to Gina's parents' house for her brother's b-day "party." That also was good fun and relaxing...but we were getting tired, so we left...we were gonna watch a movie then, but we were too sleepy.

Today, we wrapped up the V-day festivities by going to IHOP on Diversey and California, where we went the night (morning) I first asked Gina to dinner...we had gone there last at 5:30 am back in September after talking for several hours in her apartment after a wine-tasting party she'd held...this time, it was a more normal time. :)

She went home and graded papers and I came home and played "SimCity 4" because Gina had bought me the "Rush Hour" expansion pack for it...it kicks major ass...so much so that we were late for the UrbanTherapy Presidents' Day Par-tay because I lost track of time. :) It happens.

That, of course, was a blast, as usual...UrbanTherapy, Kelly and Kathleen were there...and me and Gina. And now I'm stuffed... :)

So tomorrow begins another day/week. Off we go.