The day is here

After a whirlwind weekend, the last day is here. I'm still a little dazed from all the activity over the past few days, so I'm going out in a bit of a cloud.

Left the city for Kirkland on Friday afternoon, and spent the evening there with my DH. Saturday, we each took a list of items to pick up at grocery stores - he went to an Indian specialty store, and I headed over to Safeway. Then we came back to the city where he cooked and I cleaned in preparation for dinner and gaming - D&D&D. Anyway, it was great fun, and the food was fabulous. I ate too much - of course, but I don't regret a thing.

Then last night, we went to see friends who practically built their 100yo house. They took it down to the framing and built it back up into a stunning home - cozy and interesting. It's just delightful - and so are they. I ate too much there, too - pretty bad being bad 2 days in a row, but that's life. Anyway, I don't regret that, either. Sometimes you just need to let loose.

Tonight is Jazz Alley with my DH, and then tomorrow, I'm heading up to the community college to do some research on classes there. I have a benefit from work that will reimburse me for classes up to a good amount, but I want to see what I can complete. The courses I was going to take at the university here would be more than the reimbursement cap AND they wouldn't be completed soon enough to help with an immediate job search, so I may have to bag that idea and do something more practical. So hard to choose.

One more bag of junk to tote home from the office, and that's it. I'll have to get used to heading to the outplacement company instead of the office just to give myself some sort of routine. In the meantime, I need to sign up for unemployment.

Geronimo!

I'm a Statistic

Just the other day when we went to see Memphis at the 5th Avenue Theater, a friend told me that he was "a statistic". It took me a minute to catch on to what he meant - that he'd been laid off. Well, I'm a statistic, too. It's very odd to be at work every day knowing that I have 1 month to work there, and then I'm out on my fanny.

When faced with crises, I look for the metaphor. It's just the way I roll, so bear with me. I will be working from now through the end of March. Then we have plans (and, luckily, airline tickets) to head to Scottsdale, AZ for Passover. When I was praying last night, I asked for help in understanding the significance of being "freed" from a job I love in time to share a Seder with my uncle and aunt. The Jews were freed from slavery - but I'm being freed from a job I enjoy, working with people whom I love.

Then I thought about Moses leading such a large group, among whom were those complaining "We should never have left Egypt". Maybe I have something to learn from the reticent folks. Or maybe there are a number of definitions of slavery. Maybe I need to discover and free myself of something to which I've become enslaved. More prayer needed, obviously, but until I find a metaphor that works more efficiently, I think that's the track I'll follow.

Well, off to savor some free espresso...only 1 month left for that perk (no pun intended).