aries470

This week marks a couple of special dates for Joe and me. First, Monday was the one year anniversary of us adopting Bailey. Since the Anti-Cruelty Society didn't know his birth date, we decided that his adoption date was also his birthday. Happy 4th Birthday to Bailey!!!



The other special date is our 3-year anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's been 3 years already.  I guess time really does fly when you are having fun! Happy Anniversary sweetie! 

Joe and I got up early this morning and decided to go and vote. We arrived at our local polling place at 6:40am (it opened at 6:00am) and the line was already out the door. After about an hour and twenty minute wait, we finally got to vote. Although the waiting time was long, I definitely feel good about voting.  However, I was disappointed that they did not have "I Voted" stickers. 

This past weekend was pretty relaxing. We didn't do too much but did manage to catch two movies. The first being the new Angelina Jolie movie, Changeling, on Saturday. The previews really got me interested and the movie did not disappoint.

The second movie was a selection at the Chicago International Film Festival called Were the World Mine. I had read some articles about the movie online and it's been getting a lot of buzz at the various film festivals.  The movie was directed by a local Chicago director, was shot in Chicago and had mostly local talent. The premise was a take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream with some musical dream sequences. However, I wouldn't consider the movie to be a musical - although I could see how some might. : )  Joe and I both enjoyed the movie and we even stayed after to hear the Q&A with the director.  The movie will be playing at the Music Box here in Chicago on November 21 and I would say it's worth a viewing.

After the movie we met up with friends at Calo in Andersonville for a nice dinner which was a nice way to cap off the weekend.

Well, as I suspected I was laid off on Friday. My last day of work will be November 7th. The good thing is that I get 12 weeks severance and 90 days paid Cobra coverage. Hopefully I'll be in a new job before that runs out.

On another note, we had an interesting Friday night. Joe and I took Bailey to PetsMart to get some food. As Joe was taking the cart back to the store, he somehow twisted is ankle and fell on his left arm/elbow. He was pretty shaken up and we needed to call an ambulance to take him to the ER. After running a battery of tests and X-rays, all of which came back negative, he was released and we came home.

Joe is pretty banged up, sore, has a scrapped up knee, and sporting one hell of a bruised up arm. It's amazing how that man can bruise. It looks like he was in a major accident.

The rest of our weekend was spent here at home so Joe could rest and take care of his injuries. We're both at home today, I'm working and Joe took today off to rest.

So although things are a bit crappy, I know it will get better in time. :)

Well, I find out tomorrow whether or not I have a job. It's bad enough that they dragged it out this long, but what's even worse is that I have to wait until 3:00pm to find out. I wish I was more positive about this situation. However, knowing that they are waiting until 3:00pm on a Friday to tell me, makes me think it's bad news.

Well, this is the week we find out about layoffs. Over the past three weeks our entire HR staff has had to reapply for a limited number of positions. The whole process has been quite interesting. First, we were told they are transforming the HR department across all of North America. Then, we were informed whether or not we were considered slotted for a position or available to post. My entire team was considered available. Once you knew you were available, you had 5 days to review all the new positions and apply for a maximum of three. Of course, all North American HR employees were told the same thing. So, I'm pretty much up against about 30-40 people for 8 positions in the position I am currently in.

Once all the postings were in, a committee would determine who was best in the position and there would be no interviews. Of course this committee was made up of people who, at their levels, wouldn't really know what I do on a day to day basis. So, my fate is in the hands of people who are three levels above me and probably don't even know me personally or what I am capable of.

Anyway, we were told that all decisions were to be announced no later than October 10. After we know our fate, we would then be given 30 days to try to find another position in the company. If no positions were available after 30 days, we would be laid off - probably the week of Thanksgiving. Gotta love that!

On a positive note, at least I get severance.

Joe and I have two extra tickets for tonight's Janet Jackson concert here in Chicago. The tickets are in section 103 row DD (4th row in that section).

If interested, let me know.

This morning I made a tip to the ER via ambulance. My back finally had enough and decided it was time to provide me with so much pain that I was unable to walk. I discovered this when I finally managed to work my way out of bed and onto my feet. Once on my feet I couldn't lift up either foot to actually walk and any attempt caused such excruciating pain that I thought I was being stabbed in the lower back.

Joe was still sleeping at this point so I called out to wake him. He got out of bed to help and I then informed him that we needed to go to the hospital. He guided me back to the bed and tried to get my socks and shoes on. His every attempt caused me to wince in pain. Finally I told him to call an ambulance because there was no was I could walk down the two flights of stairs to get to the car.

The ambulance showed up and the two EMS people did their thing and eventually got me down to the ambulance an d took me to the hospital. At the hospital they put me through the typical procedures, questions, etc. Eventually they shot me up with some good pain killers and something to relax me. Within a few minutes I was feeling good and tired so I took a nap. After an hour or so they got me up because they wanted to see if I was able to walk on my own. Once I did that, they would then release me with some new drugs to manage the pain until my epidural steroid injection. Originally this was scheduled on the 15th, it is now moved to the 8th due to this ER visit.

So, right now I am feeling ok. There is still pain but the meds are working for the most part. I'm just hoping that I can manage to do some of the things we have planned for the holiday weekend.