It's already the middle of January but I've been thinking about this blog post for the past couple of weeks. Last year was an incredible year. Most people will probably remember it as a year full of financial meltdowns, layoffs, economic recession, and dwindling home equity. However, I will remember 2008 quite differently. Getting laid off is the beginning of the story, but it ends with two trips to California, a trip to Washington, two trips to Canada, two trips to Texas, and a honeymoon in Mexico!

It all started in March. One day, everyone at work stopped working. There were rumors in the halls: "30%", then "50%", then "they will keep some people". It ended at 100%. Just two weeks later, everything was official. The entire team of 350+ was out of a job. By the time the official announcement was made, many had already mastered the ins-and-outs of the severance program and were anxious to see what their package would look like. There was one sticky point though.

Just a few weeks prior, HR announced changes in the severance program that would take effect on June 1. Those cut after June 1 would get a parting gift of about half the size of those that were cut before June 1.

Thanks to the law in this fine country, a layoff of this size requires 60 days notice. The leadership was kind enough to align things so that everyone's last day on the payroll would be May 30th, qualifying them under the older (more generous) severance program. It was the least they could do. Looking back, I realize how fortunate we were at the time. Plus, we had two months of work left with no work to do. That made for some interesting days in the office.

Maybe it was intuition or maybe just coincidence, but I had already scheduled a job interview the first week of April. The timing could not have been better. The job seemed like a perfect fit and I was confident - maybe too confident. A week later I got a call telling me that I was not what they were looking for. What!? How could this be?

What could have amounted to a 2 month paid vacation turned out to be the most stressful part of the year for me. How could they reject me? Clearly I was awesome... right? I got pissed. I set up back-to-back interviews with all the major players - both local and out of state. During that two months I traveled to Seattle, San Jose, and San Diego for job interviews. I landed offers for 8 positions at 5 different companies.

Looking back, I don't need to say that things could not have turned out any better. It's amazing how much the job market can deteriorate in 6 months. And the cuts continue. I started my new job June 2 and I never skipped a beat.

In August, I got the opportunity to visit Canada and check out Niagara. We took the time to walk across the bridge from Canada back into the U.S. to view the falls from both sides of the border. It costs 50 cents to get out of Canada on foot. Getting out of the U.S. is free.

Also in August, Shea finished up her OT studies and graduated from Keiser U!

In October, the Texas weather was perfect. Plans that were set into motion over a year earlier finally culminated in the awesomest wedding ever. It was preceded by a dinner followed by a bonfire, and followed by two weeks of honeymoon bliss in Manzanillo Mexico. Shea and I have all our great friends and family to thank for helping us make the event a success.

Speaking of thanks, November brought a Thanksgiving trip to Ozona where Shea and I had the special privilege of hanging out in the monkey cage at the primate sanctuary!




In December, I went back to Canada. It was about 25 degrees for the entire week that I was there. I preferred the August weather.







For our first Christmas together, Shea and I decided to spend the day at home, alone with each other. We set up a Shea's first REAL Christmas tree and started our ornament collection. Although we missed the company of our families, it was a great end to an adventurous year. Although not true for those that already bought, the greatest gift from 2008 to Shea and I might be plunging home prices and a ripening buyers market.


We'll see what happens in 2009!