Keeping my head above water

BigFinance had layoffs this week. Again. They layoffs were primarily in my division and I personally know several good associates who were let go. This is a particularly hard time of year given the holidays.

While I am thankful to be still gainfully employed the reduction in resources has required me to take on additional tasks on top of what I picked up back in September which is also on top of my regular responsibilities. Needless to say, it's been stressful. I worked until 9 or 10 each night this week and should be working now.

I deliberately pursued BigFinance while I was in grad school because I wanted a good work/life balance. I can only hope that this situation is temporary and once my two big deadlines pass (12/6 and 1/13) my work/life balance can return to normal. In the meantime I am attempting to keep a few things top of mind and find a more zen-like state.

• Finding time for me. I got a run in yesterday and it was the first time in over a week. Considering I should be training for my 8K on Thursday (eek!! Thursday!!) that's not good. So I'm committing to myself that the computer can be shut down for an hour or two every couple of days so I can get a run in. And I refuse to feel guilty if it cuts into time with Cameron. Well, not too guilty anyway.


• Keeping the evening hours with Cameron sacred. Aside from when a run interferes I also plan on being present with the family in the evenings. Cameron goes to bed around 7:30 so there is plenty of time to get back to work after she goes down.


• Eating decently. It can be hard to keep to healthy eating habits when work becomes consuming. I plan to continue bringing a healthy breakfast and lunch to work each day with an occasional indulgence of eating out. I have, however, given myself permission to increase wine consumption.


• Embracing the holidays. Sure, I don't really have time to get any holiday shopping done but dammit, I love Christmas! So I will find time to put up the decorations, bake the cookies and wrap the presents. And also introduce Cameron to Santa and all the awesome family traditions.


• Finding the bright spots. Cameron has been so great with potty training. It's hard to believe it was just a week ago we started our quasi "boot camp" with her. She's been in underwear all week at school with only one accident there and two at home. Sure, she hasn't pooped in three days but I'm going to pass that off as a normal part of the learning process. She'll have to go at some point, right?

So that's my plan. I'll check back in and let you know if I'm succeeding. I'll also warn you that my blogging (which has already been irregular) will be even more intermittent.

Big trouble at BigFinance

Yesterday was a difficult day at BigFinance. Anyone who follows the news knows that my company (still attempting a little anonymity here) is attempting to right the ship with a combination of cost cutting and restructuring. I have been here for 4 years and in that time we've had "riffs" although they tended to impact contractors and not full time associates.

I am no stranger to layoffs. My first job out of school started in June 2000 at SmallResearch just before the Internet bubble burst. Needless to say it directly impact me given I worked for a company that covered Internet companies. I managed to survive 4 layoffs throughout 2000 and 2001. Probably because I was young and made little money. It's a good thing I did or I never would have met DH in 2002. Funny how things work out...but I digress.

So yesterday my team found out that there was an across-the-board reduction in workforce. The news was delivered well by my boss but there was a glaring absence in the audience receiving the message. One of my co-workers and key resource on my application had been let go. I feel very much for my co-worker. She is in her 50s and had just come back to BigFinance after a previous layoff. It's challenging enough to find a job in this economy but it's even harder for people who are later in life, despite a plethora of experience. It makes me think about where I will be in 20 years and if I will constantly have to worry about being on the chopping block.

For now I am safe. But that safety is a very transient feeling. I am of the opinion that you never really know you are going to get laid off until it happens. No good reviews or accolades from co-workers can save your position if money is on the line. So for now I extend my sympathies for co-workers who are no longer working with us. And I gear myself up for the next 4-5 months where I will be doing 3 people's jobs (did I mention that another resource found a new role and it was decided not to back fill? Good times.). Wish me luck.

Tiger rolls into Charlotte

Charlotte is the home of one of the PGA tour's annual events, the Quail Hollow Invitational. The event kicks off today and Tiger will be rolling into Charlotte to participate. Tiger has played in Charlotte before but this is just his second PGA event post scandal so needless to day, tickets are a hot commodity in this town.

The thing that absolutely kills me is that one of his mistresses (paramours, skanks, what is the correct term?) has contracted with the Gentleman's Club to perform her, um, routine for the entire week. It is being billed as the "19th Hole." I can't remember her name, or even the names of any of his other girlfriends (fame seekers, money grubbers, what is the correct term?) but like so many others I do read the articles when they pop up in my Us Weekly. All I can think is, "poor Elin" and "they have two kids!"

I like Tiger. I can't quite bring myself to use the past tense on that verb because he is really the only reason that I watch golf. DH and I have seen quite a few amazing shots and despite a normally dour expression, there is something captivating about Tiger on the golf course. But I can't believe the quality (or lack thereof) of women he had extramarital affairs with. None of them are pretty. Most of them are blond with big boobs. And for a guy who is supposedly all class, he certainly showed me that his taste in sex partners is atrocious. It almost makes me more disappointed because of the volume and skankiness of his selected partners.

Will Tiger be able to bounce back from this personal issue? Partially, I think. He's been dumped by a lot of sponsors but given the state of the economy and his contract size I have a feeling that a lot of them were just taking advantage of the situation to save some money. Tiger is still a tremendous golfer and has the potential to play for decades more. If he and Elin end up divorcing then he will be in the tabloids even longer, not to mention if he starts dating again post hypothetical divorce. And that is what could end up destroying his career. I can only imagine how difficult it is to concentrate on your career or fixing your personal life when both are being blasted across the Internet and news outlets.

So, what do the rest of you think? Will Tiger ultimately be back, better than ever? Do you think his extramarital activities involved women of such a dubious nature that it has impacted the way you think about him as a person? Can you separate out the person from the gossip? Or the golfer from the tabloids?

Hi, my name is gullible, what's yours?

For years I have battled the gullible curse. I seem to have some kind of mental block that makes me automatically believe everything people tell me. Don't get me wrong, I love sarcasm and can usually spot it but if someone states something as fact I totally believe it.

When I was in NY recently at an off site the theme of the meeting was "flawless execution." To prove the point one of the executives showed the clip below as an example of what we should be striving for. Watch it, it's totally awesome.

I was so impressed by this video that I had to research it more. And of course, I was disappointed to learn that it was all fake. Microsoft had their dirty paws all over it which is probably why they tricked me. After all, I did download Windows XP and look where that got me...

So, am I alone in being completely gullible? Do you think women more than men are susceptible to being gullible?

Damn you, Wheel of Time!

To say that I am an avid reader is putting it mildly. My husband is a bit in awe of the number of books I've read. And re-read. I primarily read books in the Fantasy genre. Usually what that means is an author writes anywhere from 3 to 15 books in a series. And if I'm hooked then I wait eagerly for each new title in the series. Sometimes I wait for years. And I am not exaggerating.

One of my favorite series is Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. There are currently 12 books in the series: 11 and one prequel. I've read them all many times. Each book is about 600 pages so they aren't short reads. I've probably spent months of my life reading the words that Robert Jordan has written. Then three years ago he died. Yup, he died and the series hadn't been finished. However, he died of a terminal disease so he put plans in place for another author to take over the final book in the series.

Every few months over the course of the past three years I've checked in to see when the final book was coming out. I found out yesterday that it was published in late October. I was outraged. "I could have read the book weeks ago!" I told my husband. "How could I not know?" Internet fail! So while Cameron took her afternoon nap I rushed over to B&N to pick up the book. While waiting in line I read the dust jacket. The opening paragraph announced grandly that the last book is so epic that it has been split into three books. I almost starting laughing hysterically.

Argh!!!!!! So I've been laboring under the wrong assumption that the series would be concluded with this last volume. Damn you, publishers who are milking a dead man's last book! Looks like I have another 3 years before the series will actually be finished. Sigh. Good thing I can go back and re-read the other 12. That should keep me busy for a few weeks at least :-)

Random Thursday thoughts

Adam Lambert has released the album cover for his record that is dropping one week after the winner of American Idol, Kris Allen. Apparently the cover is a throw back to the 70s. Personally I think it is a little out there, but so too is Adam so I guess it fits. Regardless, my love for American Idol doesn't translate into purchasing their music so I won't be adding this to my iPod play list.

Carolina sports teams suck this year. Last night the Charlotte Bobcats were destroyed by the Boston Celtics. How many points did they score? 59. Pathetic. On the NFL front the Panther's quarterback, Jake Delhomme has thrown 18 interceptions in the last 6 games. But apparently that isn't bad enough for him to be removed as a first string quarterback. In this economy any other industry would have fired him weeks ago.

On another sports front, the Yankees lost last night. DH handled it pretty well but I could feel that way because I was asleep for most of the game and didn't hear him shouting or cursing out the offense for not getting any more than one run. At this point I almost want the evil Yankees to win just so that my hubby will be happy. Is this how women are drawn to become sports fans against their will? Self-defense?

How is it possible that 8 days of doing the 30 Day Shred has resulted in not a single pound lost? Jillian would be so disappointed. I'm watching what I eat and sweating my ass off with zero results so far. Very frustrating. I did try to do Level 2 last night and almost passed out. I actually had to wimp out of a couple of exercises. Looks like I need to spend more time on Level 1...

Yes, I have renamed my blog. I'm not sure I'm sticking with "Conference Call On Mute" but I appreciate the suggestion from Natalie when I was first starting up my blog. Why conference call on mute? Probably because I was supposedly on vacation while she was visiting but still had to listen in on some conference calls. I multi tasked by chatting with Natalie during the parts of the call that didn't apply to me. She was freaked out and kept asking me, "are you sure that's on mute?"

Finally! My loathing of exercise is (somewhat) justified

I have mentioned previously that I am not someone who finds exercise to be even remotely enjoyable. There are a hundred other things I would rather be doing which is why I just don't exercise. Then I saw this front page article on CNN with the headline, "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin." Awesome. Yes, I realize there are other benefits to exercising. But right now I'm taking this as justification to continued exercise abstinence.

Speaking of health concerns...what's up with this swine flu vaccine? I'm hearing that the federal government might mandate it? Is anyone else concerned about the fact that this vaccine was rushed into existence and now production? I'm not sure I want Cameron to get it if there isn't sufficient evidence that it really works and there are no side effects. Thoughts from my readers?

Ed, Farrah and Michael

DH told me that Farrah Fawcett died yesterday. He then asked me who would be next. I responded, "What do you mean?" DH told me that everything comes in threes. Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, so who would be next? I though David Carradine might apply but was DH argued he died too long ago to count.

Never in a million years did I think that Michael Jackson would be that third celebrity. We were watching the news and the anchor (Brian Williams, I think) announced that they had been planning a retrospective on Farrah Fawcett but Michael Jackson just died so they were going to focus on him. I'm sure Farrah appreciated being upstaged like that!

Ed McMahon was not unexpected. He's kind of become a tragic figure over the past few years. Apparently he spent all his money and was constantly in danger of losing his house. Ed sunk so low to earn money that he even shelled for some "money for gold" company alongside MC Hammer.

Farah Fawcett was also sad because of her anal cancer. Now that's a tough cancer to talk about given the name, don't you think? Plus her idiot son decided drugs was preferable to helping his mother during her time of need. I have to say, it was nice to see Jacklyn Smith again on TV (aside from her Bravo TV show). That woman looks just as good now as she did on Charlie's Angels!

So the only shocking death of the three was Michael Jackson. At 50 years old he died of a heart attack. My first thought was drugs. 50 isn't that old even for a very strange and plastic surgery addicted man. But no details have been released yet. Like Ed McMahon, Michael has also had money problems. Crazy for a person who owned the Beatles catalog. And of course his alleged pedophile predilections. I feel bad for his three kids and wonder if they will end of with anything of his supposed $20 million fortune. A long fall from when he was a billionaire...

Over the next few days, Farrah Fawcett's death will fall by the wayside as it has been coming for the past 3 years with her terminal diagnosis. Ed has basically already been forgotten. But the interest and reporting on Michael Jackson will continue for weeks. What do you think will come out about him? Will we learn more about his kids? His skin condition? His finances?