“Losing Faith: How the (Andy) Grove Survivors Led the Decline of Intel’s Corporate Culture” (Bob Coleman & Logan Shrine)

Tonight I went out with an old Intel friend. She’s one of those people you’re really sorry you don’t work with. She’s an amazing person and works hard. Anyway, she was telling me about this book. Apparently it’s about how Intel has fallen since Craig Barrett was the CEO. I think that’s interesting. What I also think is interesting is the fact that supposedly the “high ups” at Intel have tried to find the Bob Coleman and Logan Shrine within the company and they’re not there and there are no records of them. The story goes that those are pen names to protect the true authors of this book as it’s highly likely that those authors still work for the company. Is it urban legend or true. Humm.. I’m not sure but I’m thinking I might have to get the book and check it out.

Well, it’s been ten days since I got the notice that I’m getting laid off. It’s been an interesting ten days some good, a few bad but over all good. In the last ten days I’ve gotten a lot of projects done at home which feel really really great! I finally got the garage done mostly the way I wanted so it’s all clean and neat and I can really use it to quilt and do other projects. I’ve been cleaning the house a bit too, keeping the laundry done and I think the most fun, making dinners for Eric. It’s been really nice to take this time, take a break from everything and get some distance on the environment at work.

You know I’ve been thinking a lot about my work in the last 6 years and being shown the door, so to speak for a company that I’ve given a lot to. On some level I am upset, I mean who wants to loose their job because of “efficiency efforts”. Honestly though, I’m fine with it. I really feel like I got the better end of the deal. I have a great opportunity to expand my opportunities and work for another company and do the things I like and learn new things too. I’m not too worried about finding a job at the moment because I’ve been getting calls every day from companies wanting to interview and talk to me. A few are contracted jobs but most are permanent jobs. It’s actually exciting to look at the different options out there. I’ll keep you updated on things when I know more but right now it’s the phone interview stage and a few face-to-face interviews.

The support, kindness and offers for help have been AMAZING! I think it’s times like this that you really know who your friends are and who your support system is. I so appreciate the phone calls, emails and IM’s to see how we’re doing. Honestly, I really think we should be fine. I’ve got opportunities here in Portland and Eric’s working for a great company so things couldn’t be better. OK a full time job for me would be good but I’m sure that will come with time.

So reality is setting in and I’ve finally read the package. It is a little demoralizing getting laid off but the package I get is pretty sweet so I’ll take a little vacation for the rest of the month and then once I get my package I’ll start looking for work. The nice thing is that I don’t really have to look for work for 4 months. I think it’s going to be nice to have some time to vacation, take a little time to get some distance from all this crap and do some things I’ve been meaning to do. Today I got my food handlers card and then I’m going to take the OLCC course so I have my liquor server licence and then I can help Eric when he needs it. I’ve got a ton of pictures to scan and tag, quilts to make and other “goodies”. The scrapbook convention is in November so that should be a good break too.

What’s been so wonderful is the outpouring of support from the people that matter. You know some times you feel like you don’t make a difference or you don’t have a lot of friends but I realize in times like this that there are a lot of people out there that support and love me. Thanks to you all….

It is with sadness and …. Ok a little excitement… that I tell you all I got laid off today. Effective today I am no longer a part of my training group. As of October 26,2006 I will no longer work of Intel as they have laid me off. I still need to read the severance package and everything (it only happened a few hours ago) but yeah. I won’t be working for Intel.. And so the story goes….

I realized that it’s been a few days since I’ve blogged and figured I needed to. So the BIG NEWS… I find out on Monday if I still have a job or if I get laid off. I’m sort of trying not to think about it but then every day gets a little slower and it’s all I can think about. Work is getting harder and harder to do and I’m less and less motivated right now. I feel like once I get the green light on Monday (I hope I do) then I can forget all this garbage and get to work. If I get the red light and am “shown the door” then Eric and I have some decisions to make. OK, like I haven’t said it enough but I hate this.

In other news, I’ve been taking my allergy meds and trying to keep things cleaner around the house and more specifically in our room. It’s going OK, I think, but the Zyrtec makes me tired and every day about 2-3 pm I hit a wall and just want a couple hours sleep. It’s getting to the point that it’s annoying and so I think it’s another trip to the allergist for new drugs or, what I’m guessing is the beginning of allergy shots. Yeah! (insert sarcasm) I hate shots.. I mean I REALLY REALLY hate shots.

Eric is doing well. he got a promotion at work and a raise so that’s pretty cool. I’m really proud of him. He works for some great people. He hyper extended his knee last week playing basketball and he’s been icing it and trying to get it OK but yesterday it got swollen again so he’s going to try and get into the Dr. I’m hoping it’s just a sprain or something and he just needs to rest it or something. He loves basketball too much to have to give it up.