In all of the time I have known John he's had a Motorola communication device strapped to his body. That device was the corporate umbilical cord and carrying it was part of the job. He got paged, chirped or called at all hours our entire married life. You could mark the phases of our marriage by if he was carrying a beeper, Nextel or slider phone. Today was John's last day worked and he surrendered the slider prototype he has been carrying for the last several months. He could have kept it- but it would have come with a rather large, pricey package that is not within the budget of a family without a steady income- so we let that phone go.
Yesterday we took an outing and went to the Sprint store. I have a Sprint package and it seemed more economical to add on to our existing package. We came away with a free lower tier Samsung phone. I sort of stifled a chuckle when the salesman asked if he could explain the phone or show us its features. Thanks buddy, I think he can handle it.
After a quick stop to get phone holder at the dollar store we headed to Office Max to pick up a laptop bag/brief case for John. Yes- Moto wanted the lap top and the case back also. For the job search he at least needs a decent bag to tote his resume' and whatsits. We haven't replaced the laptop yet. He wants to see if we can put off the purchase. A software engineering manager with an empty lap top bag seems like a dog with neuticles. It only looks like nothing has changed.
John starts his classes with the outplacement firm on Tuesday. I think it will be good in the same way that you ache after a really strenuous day sort of way. To put things in perspective I try to remember that at one time Motorola employed 160,000 people. That means that John survived 100,000 layoffs. He is a survivor. A survivor with a nice new leather bag.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Layoffs, laid off? What's the term I am looking for?
Oh, yes "impacted."
After 19 years and one week on the job John learned Thursday that Motorola will no longer be his employer. For his part he has taken the news with stoic grace.
I find myself feeling neither stoic nor graceful. I am angry and sad. Angry for all of the late nights the kids didn't see their Dad, for the paid time off that was blown because deadlines, essentially all of the time we missed together so that John could do his job well. I am angry that because poor decisions and bad management levels above my husband thousands of people have lost their jobs. The current stock price and state of the 401 K just adds insult to injury.
I am grateful for severance, continued medical benefits and the fact that we don't carry debt aside from our mortgage. I am well aware that there are many people with fewer resources.
John has some things to finish up for Motorola over the next week or two but he is mostly trying to use up 9 days of vacation time that he won't be reimbursed for when he leaves. It was emotionally devastating to send him of to the office on Friday knowing that he had lost his job. I hope he doesn't have to go back more than one more time.
We are looking for ways to cut expenses. In considering if I should return to work I guesstimate it will cost $20,000 in child care expenses for our kids per year. I don't even want to think about how we would manage caring for Mom or what an enormous hassle that would become. At least we have that as an option if we need it.
After 19 years and one week on the job John learned Thursday that Motorola will no longer be his employer. For his part he has taken the news with stoic grace.
I find myself feeling neither stoic nor graceful. I am angry and sad. Angry for all of the late nights the kids didn't see their Dad, for the paid time off that was blown because deadlines, essentially all of the time we missed together so that John could do his job well. I am angry that because poor decisions and bad management levels above my husband thousands of people have lost their jobs. The current stock price and state of the 401 K just adds insult to injury.
I am grateful for severance, continued medical benefits and the fact that we don't carry debt aside from our mortgage. I am well aware that there are many people with fewer resources.
John has some things to finish up for Motorola over the next week or two but he is mostly trying to use up 9 days of vacation time that he won't be reimbursed for when he leaves. It was emotionally devastating to send him of to the office on Friday knowing that he had lost his job. I hope he doesn't have to go back more than one more time.
We are looking for ways to cut expenses. In considering if I should return to work I guesstimate it will cost $20,000 in child care expenses for our kids per year. I don't even want to think about how we would manage caring for Mom or what an enormous hassle that would become. At least we have that as an option if we need it.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Happy New Year!
Baby New Year!
Sorry she is sideways. I can't quite get her straightened out. I hope this isn't a sign of what lies ahead in 2009....
Sorry she is sideways. I can't quite get her straightened out. I hope this isn't a sign of what lies ahead in 2009....
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Big Girl Bed
At last, Anna has her Big Girl Bed.
It was Meg's bed. We painted it to match the trim in her room.
She seems pleased.
Woo hoo! More places to play and hide!
Thanks Aunt Laura, Uncle Ed, Eddie, and Meg! Now if she will only sleep in it....
It was Meg's bed. We painted it to match the trim in her room.
She seems pleased.
Woo hoo! More places to play and hide!
Thanks Aunt Laura, Uncle Ed, Eddie, and Meg! Now if she will only sleep in it....
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
First Day of School Part II
Ben the Kindergartner and his companion Bear, Alien Force a.k.a. "Al." 
Al was made by Aunt Marge Sonnenburg and is Ben's favorite. Aunt Marge knits a bear a day but most of her bears travel to Africa for children who need them there. Al just hangs out in northern Illinois keeping the galaxy free of evil aliens and escorting Ben to school.
Al was made by Aunt Marge Sonnenburg and is Ben's favorite. Aunt Marge knits a bear a day but most of her bears travel to Africa for children who need them there. Al just hangs out in northern Illinois keeping the galaxy free of evil aliens and escorting Ben to school.
The playground was so crowded with photo hungry parents that I didn't get any good shots there.
And Ben enters into his formal education without even a backwards glance toward his parents. I want to note that he didn't actually have a police escort- the officer pictured is a parent.
Monday, August 25, 2008
First Day of School Part I
The newly minted second grader- Jay
Meeting up with buddies!
Lining up for Miss August
Jay has a really large class- 32 students this year. Last year there were two rooms and this year they are combined.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)