Big tough cops in pink shirts

I saw these police officers at the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer in San Diego this weekend. For the weekend, the "thin blue line" turned into a pink line - which I think is pretty dang cool.

One of my hobbies is scaring birds

Sorry, birds

The Layoff Chronicles: All the Children are Above Average

We had our last phone conference call with our Vice President, who was also laid off. Half the team is leaving, the others are staying.

Rachel: I had to drop off the call early to meet with a headhunter. Did anything happen after Scott spoke about [some ongoing project]?

Suebob: Well, there was a kind of tearful goodbye from Shelly, and then we got trophies. Oh, man, you missed getting your trophy.



Rachel: TROPHIES?

Suebob: Yeah, we all got trophies. Just like soccer - all the children get trophies, even the losers.

Rachel: The wha? No they didn't. SHUT UP! YOU SUCK.

Suebob: [rolling on the floor laughing at my own excellent joke].

The Layoff Chronicles: The Circle of Life

Background info: Every December at work we do an all-hands-on-deck project that has traditionally taken five of us on our team about six weeks to accomplish. Meanwhile, dozens of other people across the company are also frantically working to accomplish their pieces of the project, and a wonderful woman named Debbie stitches them all together at the end to make one magnificent finished piece.

The problem is that this year, only two out of five of us will be around to do the project.

Because it is so complex, we begin planning in November. Thus, the emails begin.

*********************

From: Person, Patty
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 1:28 PM
To:[Lots of people]

As work for the *Massive Gigantor Project (name redacted)* gets underway, we would like to have a kick-off meeting with the sponsors. More materials will be provided prior to the meeting.

Please let us know if you are unable to attend our kick-off meeting. Debbie and I will determine the best approach to follow up with you to review information.

Thank you.

Patty Person

********************

From: Person, Patty
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:10 PM
To:[Lots of people]

The attached PowerPoint presentation is for our Kick Off meeting on Monday.
[Massive Gigantor Project Kick-off - 11-16-2009 v4.ppt]

Regards,
Patty Person

******************

From: *My Director*
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:13 PM
To: Person, Patty
Cc: Suebob; New V.P., Debbie
Subject: RE: Kick off 2010 Massive Gigantor Project

Patty,

My position and Suebob’s have been eliminated. The remaining team is moving under *New VP Name*. You have appropriate representatives from the remaining team for your meeting, but we will not be participating.

New V.P. and Debbie will have to let you know how XXX team will participate with Massive Gigantor Project moving forward.

Thanks,
My Director, who rocks

***************

From: Person, Patty
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:16 PM
To: My Director; Suebob; Debbie

Director,
I am sorry to hear about you and Suebob. I wish you the best.

My position was also eliminated. I am including Debbie on this email, as she will be overseeing this work going forward and will need this information. Thanks again!

Regards,
Patty Person
Strategy Leader

****************

And with that, I started howling with bitter laughter. What else can you do? Cry? I'll bet that is what poor Debbie is doing.

In honor of Veteran's Day

And in honor of safe returns, and of love between people and their animal friends: