Story from the beginning... when I landed in Colorado 2 weeks ago, I went shopping, like I normally do on travel days. Brandon called me while I was shopping and he told me that we got a mandatory meeting request for a conference call that was going to happen in an hour. I hadn't even checked my email that day or checked into the hotel yet, so I had to leave the store to go check my email to see what was going on. When I got to the hotel and turned on my computer, I realized that I didn't get the appointment, so I knew it was only sent to certain people. I called him back and told him that I didn't get it, and I asked him to read it to me word for word. I had a bad feeling about it from the beginning. He was the only person copied on the appointment that he could see. Bad sign. No other people were listed, but the body of the email appeared to be written to several people. The wording gave absoutely no details about what it was regarding, so I told him that I would keep my email open, and told him to email me everything that happened once the call started. Kind of like a live blog.
He sent me one email that said 15 people were on the call, and about 2 minutes later, he sent me one saying they had just laid him and the other people off. I felt like I knew that was going happen, once he got the invite, but it doensn't make it any easier to understand. Eventually, we found out that 275 people were laid off.
Of course I asked myself why him and not me? At least it wasn't both of us, I guess. I've been resourced to a study since January 2008, and it's not over until November of this year. So, they need me right now, but pretty much I'll have to worry in November. The upper management has tried to reassure the company employees over and over that it was a one time thing, but there are never any guarantees.
It was also really frustrating because I wasn't even home to be with him and give him a hug and tell him everything will be fine. When I finally got home that Thursday night, I told him that everything would work out, and it was a blessing in disguise. We spent a lot of time looking for other jobs for him and working on the house. It's not like anything I could say would make him feel better.
Anyway, we got a bunch of stuff done around the house-- from tiling the basement to painting walls to buying curtains. It looks great! Brandon is in the process of refinancing the house at a lower interest rate, so we're trying to ensure the loan is worth at least what the house is worth, so the re-fi can happen, which is the main reason for the house updating, besides the fact that the house was built in the 50s and needs a little face lift.
Anyway, Brandon also networked with some of his old co-workers, and one of our friends sent Brandon's resume to a company that interviewed him over the phone almost immediately. After that went well, they flew him out today for a face-to-face interview in Cambridge, MA. After he got out of the interview, they called him and told him the job was his if he decides to accept it. They wouldn't tell him the salary, which I think is shady, but they are sending an offer letter in the mail, so we will have that soon, and he may be employed again before we know it! He also has another phone interview with a different company tomorrow afternoon, just in case. :)
I wanted to update everyone with the major happenings in my life. Unemployment fears and home improvement have been filling my time for the past 2 weeks. There's not a lot of other stuff going on. I'll be in Austin on Sunday through Friday next week for work. I'm staying in the Hilton, if anyone wants to hang out or get pedicures in the spa.
I need some relaxation. I've had enough stress for a lifetime. Oh, and if Brandon does get another job right away, the 2 months severance pay is a nice little bonus! We should buy my company's stock with it. It's really low right now. Good investment? :) jk.
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