Happy Birthday, Judy!!

Lay offs are never good but somehow happening both on your return from vacation and your birthday just seems really bad form. But like others have said, with your talent, I would hope you have something else lined up before long!

And I will make eat chonklit all week in your honor!!

Can't wait to see you!

Hi Judy - I doubt I ever told you this but one year I got fired on my birthday. I called in and took the day off because of Karl's grandmother's funeral was that day. When I called in, my very sleazy boss accused me of taking the day because it was my birthday.

At first, (In usual Regina defensive tactics) I was ready to arm myself with those little mass card things and newspaper clippings...but then - (in a fit of what I assume was defending Karl's grandmothers honor) I called him back and told him that I didnt appreciate being called a liar by a holier-than-thou pervert (OH and he WAS). - Of course I didnt say it quite that NICELY!!! (No, I have no Irish temper) and slammed down the phone. He actually called me back to tell me I was fired - CAN YOU IMAGINE??? LOL In private I will tell you how I got the last laugh.

Not much later (Im sure I took some government paid hanging out time -which I strongly suggest) I found a job where they paid me a lot more with much better bene's - including tuition reimbursement -which ended up providing me with the courses I needed to open Amadillo Services. (THE BEST JOB OF MY LIFE).

It's also one of those RARE occasions when I agree with Larry - Judy is a SURVIVOR!!! This will only turn out for the best.

If you have any bad moments - just check out the Texas queen of making Lemonade out of lemons - and you'll get a huge rush of insentive and inspiration!!!

Happy first day of the rest of your wonderful and exciting life!!! You are surrounded by love - and no one can change that!
Reg

Thanks, everyone! I've been hearing from so many people, by email, phone, you name it. Everyone at work is stunned and in a state of disbelief. I don't think much will be getting done there this week, and not just because of the layoffs. (There were many others laid off besides me). I still went out tonight and had a birthday celebration with a dear friend, courtesy of Mom, who sent a nice little piece of green paper in the mail. We both had a great dinner, including wine, finished off with a piece of chonklit lava cake ala mode, which we shared. It was delicious, and I am stuffed. Tomorrow, maybe I'll do some serious cleaning around here, which I've been wanting to do, but haven't had time to do. Maybe now I'll finally go through some of the boxes of "family" stuff assigned to me when my parents moved two years ago, which have been filling up my formerly nice finished basement. Maybe I'll pick some paint colors and paint a room or two, like I've been meaning to do. Maybe I'll get into a really healthy lifestyle and loose some weight and get in shape. So you see, some good things may come out of this right away!

Thanks again for everything, everyone! All your good wishes and vibes really help and are so appreciated! And I'm sure the chonklit industry loves us!

well, consuming mass quantities of chonklit never really needed an excuse in my household... but I'm sure that box of dark chonklits from trader joes won't mind becoming a digesting tribute to my middle half!

party on!

Judy : first of all I want to wish you a very happy birthday and let you know I am out here supporting you in all you do. Second, I just wanted to celebrate the passing of time and age with what seems to be new enthusiasm, and congratulate you on this new take on life .
Also , I wanted to tell you that I always want to stay home during the week and take care of my house, and myself , and I am going to do this really soon. Thank you for your encouraging post! Happy Birthday!!
Love,
MG

Happy Birthday Judy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sorry about your job but as Shel said it may lead to something better.
I ate a big piece of Chonklit cake for you today!

Well, here's an interesting thing which just happened, for those of you who believe in signs. I was just unpacking my suitcase from my weekend trip to PA, when I saw something fall out. It was half of an old name badge from work, from one of the first years I worked there. I could tell it was from way back when, 'cos there was no star on it--we got a star on our name badge for every 5 years we worked there. I was a 4-star employee. Anyway, it had broken in two, right across my name. I almost laughed! Almost. In time I probably will.

Happy Birthday Judy!!!!!!!

Sorry about the job thing...

Can't remember if I said Happy BD or not. So happy bd and have a good one!

I am sorry to be late. Wishing you a wonderful birthday week and I hope everything will be alright for you. There is a saying over here I strongly believe in meaning if one door closes another one will open. I am sure you will find something else fullfilling. All the best to you. Judy.

here's another sorry to be late, Judy...
sounds like you had a great birthday..... may your year ahead be just as you love it!!...
kj

Just saw on here where you you'd lost your job. Prayer & vibes sent. Hope things go better for ya...

Well, it's been a real emotional rollercoaster ride since losing my job on my birthday. I am still working on wrapping my mind around the whole concept. I never had a 22 year relationship just end before. I try to do something constructive every day, something "healthy", and something fun. I still get up around 7:00, even though I may end up sitting around for a while, sipping a second cup of tea. So many people have been wonderful to me, including people I haven't seen or heard from in months. It's like I think of them, and there they are, calling me up, treating me to lunch. No one can believe that I was laid off, so they're all trying to spoil me rotten. And help! I ran into a woman who used to work in Human Resources at my until-recently-place-of-employ, but left 7 years ago to be the Executive Director of a local neighborhood center. She wanted to know what had happened, who else was laid off, etc. She said come see me. Now this is a woman I've known for years, but not well. Since she left the museum, I've run into her about once or twice a year. So I went to see her last week, and she is trying to get a bunch of people together to help people like me and the others who have been laid off in recent months. She knows someone who knows all about dealing with Unemployment, someone who knows all about health insurance, someone who knows all about our retirement plan, someone who knows resumes, etc. I have another appointment with her this afternoon. When we said goodby last week, she hugged me and said she was going to see me through this!

So it hasn't all been rough! In fact, I've had some good times and laughs, along with the sleepless nights. Last weekend I headed down to NJ to catch up with family and friends, and was able, thanks to Regina and John, to go to the most incredible concert I've ever experienced last Sunday, Pete's 90th Birthday Bash! I'm still trying to remember it all!! And not only was the concert great--I got to experience it with dear friends, including Ceashel and Cliffite, and everyone else I knew who I ran into there. Thousands and thousands of people filled the Garden, and I kept running into people I know!!!

It really is a crazy world sometimes. Thanks again, everyone, for all your good wishes and support!

Sounds to me like your positive attitude has more to do with the way things are going for you than anything else......setbacks and challenges are code words for new opportunities for those who are aware of and open to the moment......!