Dad always says this means something better is coming. Something better has big shoes to fill.

Weather

Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to the next week. My plan is to stay inside as much as possible!

Bad News

Well, it's been over a week, and I guess I'm okay enough about my news to write about it without too much emotion. I found out last Wednesday that I'm being laid off. What a blow. In spite of not really enjoying my job, I was grateful to have a job, and one that allowed me to pay my bills (and save a little) without trouble. I've been looking for about 2 years, on and off, without much success. I was taking a break in hopes that the economy would improve, but now my job hunt has started again in earnest. I have to confess, I feel a little panicky-the economy has not improved since I got this job, if anything, I feel that it's worse. Talking to people has reminded me that there are options out there, but there are also a lot of other people who want to take advantage of the same opportunities.

Some days are good and some are bad. I think the strangest thing has been the reactions of some of my coworkers. The people I work with closely are sympathetic and supportive, which I greatly appreciate! There are others that I know only peripherally, that usually say hello in the hall and chat a bit. Many of them have started treating me like I've contracted leprosy. They don't make eye contact, and sometimes it seems like they're trying to avoid me. Lay-offs aren't contagious, and though they are probably as shocked as I am and scared for their jobs, it's hard to have them treat me differently. Over all, I think I'm dealing with the news pretty well. I have just over two months until my last official day of work, and I'm cautiously optimistic about finding something else. Thanks for your support so far, please keep your ears open about any opportunities!

Memories

This comic reminded me of the time I was on crutches at BYU...I was walking (crutching?) to family home evening with my roommates. One of them told me to slow down. I told her I wouldn't because the speed I was at was the resonance frequency for my body as a pendulum on the crutches. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I just have.

Temptation

I think the ad banners online are taunting me. I saw this today:

While I have some trips in the planning stages, it's hard to not want a visit to the southern hemisphere to visit friends there!

Friday is coming...

I love having something to look forward to, even if it's a little something. I have a date on Friday. A date with someone that I'm really excited to go out with! That being said, this week will probably pass slower than molasses in winter time.

Meanwhile, Matthew suggested I buy a pair of Nike Presto running shoes. I ordered them from Amazon, and picked them up from the apartment office yesterday. Unfortunately, I picked them up on my way back from my run, so I haven't officially tried them out yet. However, I did wear them to work today, and my feet are in heaven. I asked Matthew how I ever lived without these shoes-they are so comfortable. The advertisement that called them the t-shirt for your feet was not kidding. I never want to take them off-I think I could sleep in them! Now I know why he was so devastated a few years back when Nike stopped making them, and why he was so thrilled they are once again making them. I bought a second pair today, just in case they stop making them again (and because I don't think they're really making the womens Presto again-it was just lucky that some place in the UK had a couple of pairs in my size).

Good Morning

I had a very satisfying morning today. Since I haven't written in a while, I thought I'd share. A friend last night was teasing me about not inviting him to join a group of us who went dancing Friday night. While I maintain that I did invite him, he just wasn't paying attention, I asked what I could do to make it up to him. He replied "Food." So we had breakfast this morning. I made bacon (what's breakfast without bacon?) and waffles, and he brought some strawberries to top them with. We ate and chatted. When we were done with the food, he asked what I'd been studying in my Scriptures. I answered him, and got up to grab them. He pulled them up on his phone, and since they wouldn't load, used my extra set. We talked for over an hour about things we'd learned and questions we had. It was wonderful-I haven't done something like that since Australia, and I've been missing it a lot lately. What a beautiful way to start out my Sabbath!