Dichotomies
My workplace laid people off yesterday. Once word spread about what was happening (“Seven or eight people are getting laid off!”) everyone spent a horrible half hour willing their phones not to ring and mentally tallying shell-shocked friends marching into the room that held final paperwork and HR. When my supervisor came into my workspace, I was convinced I was gone, but then he called to my coworker instead. While I’m relieved I still have a job, I feel awful for those who don’t. Those of us who remain will now have to pay for parking (a nice perk the company paid for, but will now cost me about $120/month) and pay more for our health insurance, so we’re basically taking a pay cut. I looked into taking the bus, but even that would be about $90/month. It could be worse, I know. I KNOW. But it still sucks.
Shorty loved the PetsHotel he stayed at this weekend. He went willingly with the girl who checked him in and didn’t even look back. When we picked him up, he was like a new dog: all happy and perky and outgoing, walking up to strangers to greet them. According to his “Pawgress report” (hee), he had a great time and didn’t even miss us. It was probably the best thing for him, and the next time we need to board him there, we might even spring for the dog-safe ice cream.
Tonight we have dog training and Shorty’s doing everything he needs to do in Level 2 with the exception of Lying Down. Since he’s so short, he figures, “Dudes, I’m already pretty much down. Why bother? I can easily touch the floor with my nose – see?” The only thing that’s been working is having one of us contort ourselves into a pretzel, stretching a leg out and making Shorty follow a treat under our leg (keeping it low enough so he has to lie down). As soon as he does: CLICK and TREAT. I’m hoping tonight he’ll start to associate the word “down” with the command so we can stop getting numb legs.
I have been craving glazed doughnuts forever, and Jason said we would get some this weekend. This morning I woke up and my first thought was, “Yay! It’s Saturday – time for doughnuts!” Oh, the disappointment – it was pretty significant.
What is it about knitting that brings a sleeping cat immediately to your side to bat at the needles and pounce on the yarn? I mean, the cat doesn’t even need to be in the same room, but as soon as I start working, HELLO! A large orange fuzzball is pawing at the purls and kneading the knits.
This weekend we will be putting plastic on our windows. This will 1) make things warm and toasty inside and 2) prevent Abby from licking the condensation off the windows, which is quite possibly one of the last noises you want to hear at 2:25 a.m.
I am still thinking about those doughnuts. What’s your favorite?
Eclairs for me. Custard, not cream. I also love glazed that have been popped in the microwave for 10 seconds!
Comment by Sara — November 18, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
So glad you weren’t the one to lose your job! How scary!!
(I like the chocolate frosted kind with sprinkles)
Comment by moo — November 18, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
That sucks about the layoffs. When that happens here, it’s most often in groups and I end up feeling it in the pit of my stomach for days. I’m glad you were spared, even with the pay cut.
I love Boston Cream Doughnuts best. Yumm.
Comment by LoriD — November 18, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
I hate layoffs. So stressful.
We’ve never done plastic on the windows. Maybe we should….
A bakery in NH makes (made?) little figure-eight danishes with lemon curd on one side and raspberry on the other. Perfect.
Comment by Nowheymama — November 18, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
EEEK! Glad you were spared in the layoffs.
My favorite doughnut is a chocolate covered glazed from this little hole-in-the-wall place from my hometown in Louisiana. North Carolina is the home of Krispy Kreme, but they are just not the same to me.
PS: Definitely go for the doggie ice cream next time! Kip loves it! You can also buy it at the grocery store.
Comment by LA — November 18, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
I think it is the pastry with the German Chocolate stuff on top.
I am so sorry to hear about your company, but glad you are OK. I can’t believe how many people I know (besides our company layoffs) that have lost their jobs:
My brother-in-law, my mother, my neighbor’s two sons and daughter-in-law, my best friend Georgia (after 27 years) and her brother, etc.
But ya gotta love the price of gas! (Trying to say something positive.)
Comment by Grimmie — November 18, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
We had scotch-tint put on our windows this summer … would be nice to have plastic to keep drafts out. Weird have windows a bit darker. Not sure if it really helps keep much of the heat out during the summer.
Comment by Grimmie — November 18, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
I’ve been through layoffs at a company once, and it was awful. They laid off 40 people at once. They had the room with the water and the tissues and everything. It was awful. I’m glad you still have your job, much as it sucks for other people.
Comment by Jess — November 18, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Mmmmm doughnuts! Has to be Supermom’s. Chocolate long-johns with custard. I just had doughnuts last Thursday as that is my ECFE group day and it was my turn to bring treats. There were some glazed ones in there too…you should probably have a kid. =)
I’m so sorry to hear about the lay offs, but glad you weren’t. What a relief. Scary times. My husband was telling me he would probably have to cut his employees down to a four-day week. It’s hard on the employers to do too.
Been scrappin’ lately or just working on the knitting?
I’m reading a Photoshop book for Teens to help me learn the program.
Comment by Me Today — November 18, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Oh, I hate layoffs. I’ve only been through it once (but I was one of the laid-off), but it was horrible. The sitting and waiting, and then that god-awful phone call. I’m so glad you were spared.
Mmmm…doughnuts. Eclairs or long johns are my favorites. Custard filled, of course.
Comment by Shelly — November 18, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
That sucks about the layoffs… that is so close to “home” so to speak for you.
I want to learn to knit… adding to the million other things I wish I had time to learn but do not right now.
DOOOOOUGHNUTS. I had one yesterday (chocolate dipped) from Dunkin Doughnuts and I think it made me sick
I was so mad! I like glazed as well but only if they are still a little warm (freshly made)and kind of melt in your mouth… as I slobber on myself!
Comment by Christina — November 18, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
Ugh, that SUCKS. I am glad to hear that you still have your job but that totally blows regardless.
I like plain glazed doughnuts the best. OH! Or maybe glazed blueberry cake doughnuts…mmmmmmmmmm.
Comment by nonsoccermom — November 18, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
oh man. we had a LOT of rounds of layoffs in my usairways days. sometimes it would be a small group, so your manager would just come talk to you; sometimes they brought hundreds of us at a time into a hotel conference room and gave a speech, then had you go into different rooms. some rooms you got the “you’re fine, you’re staying talk,” and some rooms you got the “here’s your severance package” talk. and then the rest of the day was awful, with dozens of people crying and clearing out their desks. GAH. i do not miss that.
(chocolate glazed!)
Comment by Alice — November 18, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
It is a terrible thing to think it’s a Saturday when it’s an, um, Tuesday? Yikes.
There is something so determined, and slightly pathetic, about licking the condensation off windows. At least the cat doesn’t care what day it is.
Comment by Ellie — November 18, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
that is horrible about your job. There has to be a better way then to have a bunch of good people sitting there like ducks wondering who’s going to be the next one on a platter, so to speak. I’m thrilled you’re still employed but wow.
Donuts? Don’t get me started. Literally, I eat one and say goodbye to the rest of the box.
Comment by Jessica Bern — November 18, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
I work for the government so I like to think I’m layoff proof, but then one of my friends who works in a different government agency got laid off
Comment by slynnro — November 18, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
Ugh. I work for a really big company and they just told us they are downsizing by over 50%. The sad thing is they just downsized by like 40% back in March. I know my job is safe but I’m so worried about all my friends who don’t know yet. It’s scary! But I’m so glad you made it through. As for donuts…I like chocolate glazed ones…but only from Dunkin Donuts.
Comment by sarah — November 18, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
There is only one glazed doughnut and that’s a Krispy Kreme
.
Comment by deni — November 18, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
Hmmm… I’m an Old Fashioned kind of girl, but will also willingly take a cinnamon cake doughnut (the kind that are literally ROLLED and SLATHERED in cinnamon sugar). Also: I’m so glad you spell them d-o-u-g-h-n-u-t instead of the far less romantic d-o-n-u-t. I love the ou, I guess.
Also, I’m so very glad you still have your job. I’ve lived through layoffs like that before and they are AWFUL.
And one more also: how horrible is it to wake up thinking it’s SATURDAY and it’s only TUESDAY, the SECOND DAY of the workweek?
Comment by Whimsy — November 18, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
For all the years I lived in a colder climate, I never put that plastic stuff on my windows. I know it would have made things more energy-efficient and all that, but I think I was just too lazy.
Comment by My Buddy Mimi — November 19, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
Everyoe seems to be going through layoffs and it is so hard to deal with…I am glad you didn’t get laid off but sorry you’ll have to pay more..I am a glazed, old fashioned donut person…
Comment by Princess Extraordinaire — November 20, 2008 @ 4:31 am
Are you OK? No post for yesterday. Just checking – no pressure or anything, but I do enjoy my break more, if I can read about your adventures and smile at all the creative thoughts going on in your head.
Comment by Grimmie — November 20, 2008 @ 10:33 am
Just thinking that $120/month for parking is in addition to gas you are already buying; $90/month for the bus is a bigger savings than it seems because you will also be saving the gas/money.
Little Miss Practical
Comment by Heidi — November 20, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
That’s terrible about the lay-offs! I’m thankful your job is safe. I like the glazed cake donuts but I’m also a fan of apple fritters.
Comment by Julie — November 21, 2008 @ 12:28 pm