So there is that

January 31st, 2009

Monday started like most Mondays for me. I woke up, scrambled to get ready for work as fast as possible, raced through the Metro to make my transfer, and skated in the door just barely on time. Little did I know that was the last time I would have that same morning. I soon joined the 50,000 other people in the US who were laid off that day.

I have never been laid off. It feels a lot like being dumped except with the added bonus of worrying how to make the rent. Of course, I didn’t have someone assigned to watch me pack up my belongings the last time I was dumped. That was a particularly pathetic indignity. I would expect that kind of action if I still worked at a corporate job, but non-profits are supposed to be a bit more sensitive. That, and there was no similar action when a finance person was laid-off the previous week, so I struggled not to take it personally.

There was also the scramble to change passwords (makes sense, I was the IT manager), but since it was poorly communicated, I had people asking me for help. I took a perverse satisfaction in saying to one man, “Well, I was just canned, so they have to make you change your password so I don’t steal or destroy anything.” I needed someone else to have that dumbfounded and shocked look on their face.

I realize that wasn’t my finest moment, but I quickly turned to one of my (former) technicians and said that he could assist the man in changing his password and then explained to that technician why this man’s situation was different and how to handle it.

The technician mumbled on his way out the door, “Who is going to explain this shit to me when you are gone,” which gave me a small smile.

Friends helped me to carry out my sad little boxes of stuff, and we made plans to meet up later that night. One cab ride later, and I was back at home. I quickly showered and made some food because I needed to look pretty and be able to handle the wine I was preparing to drink.

It was really…rewarding to see how pissed my now former co-workers were on my behalf.

It is surprising to me how upset that I have been over losing this job. I didn’t particularly like it, especially since my beloved boss left in the summer. I have been job-searching off and on since then. The economy being what it is, I had decided to just try to stick it out. I suppose it is for the best because I get severance this way and qualify for unemployment.

I have spent this week mostly hiding out in my apartment. I have been cooking and cleaning a lot. I made lists of belongings that I had been meaning to sell but now have time to do so. It is funny when simplifying my life becomes something different then a philosophical pursuit. I filed my taxes. I applied for unemployment. I tallied up the coins that I have been rolling and stashing since I moved here. I searched for coupons on food items that I buy regularly. I found recipes to use up items I already have in the house.

I went back on Thursday to return some keys that they forgot to ask for and I forgot that I had. I got to see my co-workers again and say good-bye to one of my technicians who was moving back to California.

There was also a humorous moment when one of my vendors called. I was standing at the front desk, and the receptionist answered a call then set down the phone while he stifled laughter. He said that it was for me. I presumed it was one particular vendor, so I took the phone and explained that I was laid off and would no longer be working with him. Luckily, my replacement (a former technician) was also standing there, so I turned the phone over to him so that he and the vendor could make connections to speak another time.

I will be back on Monday too because my Roomba is set to be delivered then. I ordered it before I was laid off, and I am quite desperate for it to arrive. My old Roomba, Robbie, has finally given up the ghost, and the floors are getting nasty. I can only do so much with a broom when I have four fluffy mess-makers. Since I am spending all day in my apartment right now, the floors and their filth have greater power over me.

My assigned bouncer (the woman assigned to watch me pack up my sad boxes) suggested that I make lunch plans with co-workers regularly so that I would have an excuse to come back and make the bosses feel uncomfortable. That is just evil enough to make me smile.

View the whole Inauguration Flickr set

January 22nd, 2009

Flickr Set

I wish that I had taken more pictures as we were leaving because that was an insane crowd of people all trying to move at once. By that point, my fingers were too cold to take them out of the gloves to operate the camera. It was wall-to-wall people from when we walked from the Washington Monument then up 18th Street, over to 19th Street and up to H or I. We kept going up to Cleveland Park, but the crowds were not so bad as we got further from the Mall.

It was an amazing day, and every now and then, I just say to myself, “President Obama,” and feel like maybe there is a bit of hope.

Inaug #4

January 20th, 2009
Inaug #4


Inaug #4

Originally uploaded by marigoldmind.

View of Washington Monument as I finally got to the Mall this morning.

Inaug #3

January 20th, 2009



Inaug #3

Originally uploaded by marigoldmind.

The view behind us

Inaug #2

January 20th, 2009
Inaug #2


Inaug #2

Originally uploaded by marigoldmind.

Waiting for gates to open at 7th and E

Inauguration 2009

January 19th, 2009

I live in DC.

I live 2 blocks from the location of 5 inaugural balls.

I have tested multiple outfits for standing outside all morning on Tuesday.

I have sent pictures from my phone to my Flickr account so that I can (possibly) liveblog my experience of the inauguration.

I am giddy.

0118090031.jpg

January 17th, 2009



0118090031.jpg

Originally uploaded by marigoldmind.

Kitten

Animal Rescue Site Contest Update

October 29th, 2008

Thanks for voting! HRS has moved up from #83 in Maryland to #54. That is great progress in a short amount of time, and I hope that we can keep the momentum going. Please keep voting every day and pass the message on to friends or family.

The Animal Rescue Site

Mz Bunn and Snowflake would like to thank you all by eating roses. They explained to me how this was a present, but I don’t claim to understand bunny logic. I just keep them flush with hay and veggies and try to keep the disapproval to a minimum.

Mz Bunn eating rose

Snowflake with Rose Petal

Snowflake with Rose Petal

Support your local animal shelter

October 14th, 2008
The Animal Rescue Site

Vote for us at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and we could win $25,000 to help pets in need.

The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $25,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes — a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.

Think how many animals we could help for $25,000!

Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from September 29 through December 14, 2008. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

Vote today!
Visit: www.theanimalrescuesite.com

If you don’t have a shelter, then feel free to choose the rabbit rescue where I volunteer. It is the House Rabbit Society MD/DC/NoVA in Baltimore, MD 21211. I doubt that we could get enough votes to win the overall prize, but it would be so amazing if we could win a weekly challenge or the state challenge. I have incorporated clicking through the various “click to give” sites as part of my morning routine.

In Monday Bunday news, I took a video of Mz Bunn that I need to edit and some pictures that are fuzzy but still cute. I hope to upload them this week.

Monday Bunday

September 30th, 2008

Never mind that it is the end of Tuesday!

Welcome, Snowflake! Laurie was adopted at the last bunny match event and was bonded with another bunny, Toby. The bonding was successful and they both went home this week. I’m so happy for Laurie! She is a sweet bunny, and I’m sure will be happy to have a friend.

Snowflake is my new foster. She is relatively young (born in February, 2008) and is a Himalayan. So far, she is feisty and curious. She likes to push her x-pen around and see if she can escape. When she gets run around time, she likes to chase the cats and sniff around for food. She let me pet her for the first time last night, so I think she is warming up to my company. Her fur is super soft and stays remarkably white.

Snowflake

Snowflake

She is available for adoption!