I’m so totally touched by the outpouring of support, prayers and good wishes, that I am almost at a loss for words. Once again, this community is one I’m completely surprised by (though I shouldn’t be by now, but am nonetheless) and deeply touched. I thank G-d that I found you all and you let me be part of this group. Thank you each and every one for your kind comments and emails. I’m going to answer each one individually but wanted to issue a mass thank you first.
Yes, the whole firing thing totally sucked. I could have definitely lived without it. It isn’t the first time, sadly its something like the third (2 in 2 years – talk about an ego killer!), but it has definitely been a while since the last one. I am a believer in what most of you have been telling me, that while this door has closed, a window will open. I also believe that things surely do happen for a reason. That reason might not be so clear at the time, it eventually does. My last "downsizing" (um, I’m all of 5’0", I don’t really want to be any smaller 
lead me to look elsewhere for a career. I had been in the Employee Benefits arena working for Ingersoll-Rand, doing statutory compliance (ERISA) as well as some other lawyerly things. When they fired me, I sat with the NY Times Sunday classified checking out other options. This was in ’97 right at the beginning of the DotCom boom. I had HTML skills and decided to give it a go. I tinkered with my lawyer heavy resume and qualified technically as a HTML writer for a consulting firm. My very first assignment was B&N.com, who put me on their payroll a month later. Over the years there, I developed much deeper programming skills and changed positions a number of times. So what started as heartbreak being fired resulted in a whole new career. Without the dark, there is no light.
Where am I going with this? Oh yeah. After leaving the office yesterday, I sent an IM via my cell phone (yeah, I’m a geek, wanna make something of it? 
to my former boss as a "heya fellow former b&n’er". We chatted for a bit as he sympathesized greatly with my plight having been there not so long ago himself. Anyway, last night he called me. Would I be interested in a temporary job as a programmer at his current place? Of course! He requested that I get him my resume ASAP and he’d take it from there. Once I got the twins down last night, and finished my post, I dusted off the resume and updated it for the last couple of years. Thank goodness I didn’t have to write the thing from scratch. I emailed it to him last night. This morning, I got a phone call, could I come in for an interview. No moss here baby. I was on the 10:34 train into the city, in their offices by 11:34. At 12:15, I walked out as a hired employee. I start tomorrow morning at an hourly rate that nearly doubles what I had been making. Plenty of light there baby! At a minimum, the job is 2 weeks, maybe more like 4. If they have other work come in, we might extend it if I’m still available. They know I’m looking for a permanent fulltime gig and told me that if I need to take some time for an interview, do it. They just asked that I don’t leave before finishing a 55 hour commitment. Awfully fair if you ask me. I have to report in tomorrow morning to HR to get the paperwork done.
Up for more light folks? Well after leaving the new place, I walked few avenues over to the old place to return a signed release form which activates my severance package, a pretty decent one overall, and clean out my cubicle. I ran into a friend of mine in the elevator lobby. He’s sent my contact information over to his wife, who happens to be Director of Internet Production of a company that is LOOKING TO HIRE A DEVELOPER! I got an email from her this evening and will be forwarding her my resume before the night is out. Several other former coworkers suggested I send them my resume. Networking.
Whew. So it does look like that I’m going to land on my feet, running. The stress and despair I felt yesterday, not to mention doubt of myself, are gone now. I had a lousy night sleep as everytime I tried, my mind replayed the conference room scene again and again on a loop. Though with each repeat, I thought of something that I wish I had said to my boss and/or the HR VP (never good to see him in a conference room). I know it wasn’t a lack of ability of mine, it was a failure of him as a manager to keep his people working. I can’t deliver if I have nothing to do. I’m not doubting myself in the slightest. Hell today’s interview was barely an interview. They’d read my resume, my former boss KNOWS what I can do, heck he was the one who got me into programming in the first place and taught me most of what I know. It was more of a "this is what we need you to do, are you interested?" meet and greet.
In the end it does look like bn did me a bit of a favor, pushing this baby bird out of the nest. I’d gotten comfortable there, allowed myself to be marginalized, but stuck with it out of familiarity. Well that and the wonderful coworkers who I will miss seeing daily, but hope to maintain regular contact. Hopefully I’m about to embark on something, new and exciting. I’m now looking forward to that journey. I’ll relax when I have medical benefits beyond the severance package, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Things do indeed happen for a reason.
Now I must send my resume off to a few more folks before doing some much needed work around here.
WIP Wipeout updates tomorrow. I hope you all have been working on them. I have the energy to do some tonight!
Craft on and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
40 responses so far ↓
1 Nancy J // Mar 15, 2006 at 8:44 pm
You are ,of course, welcome. You can’t ‘see’ it, but there’s this happy smile for you on my face! Hope you got my email with the pic/update!
2 Rachel H // Mar 15, 2006 at 8:56 pm
FABULOUS NEWS! I knew someone with your obvious talent, intelligence and work ethic wouldn’t be down long! Great stuff!
3 Fugacity // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:04 pm
That is good news indeed. I didn’t even get a chance to type that really sucks first. So it is good.
Yeah the HR/Boss conference room thing does stink, thats what happened to me the last time.
I’m with everyone else too, screw them. I’m sure you will be able to turn this into something that is better for you and your family. On the plus side, it looks like it already is.
Marla and I hope things continue to look up for you.
4 pixie // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:07 pm
hell yes
you go girl!
5 Lola // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:10 pm
I’m glad there are prospects opening up for you so soon. Good luck getting a great job with benefits!
6 Cara // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:21 pm
Excellent news! The next job will be bigger and better for sure!
7 Carole // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:35 pm
So glad to hear things are looking up. I wasn’t worried but I’m still relieved.
8 Kathy // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:36 pm
So glad to read this post! (And, btw, I didn’t realize that you were also a lawyers — there are a lot of us knitters/lawyers in blogland). The new gig sounds great and fingers crossed for a great new permanent situation.
9 Cece // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:36 pm
Such good news! Ah the joys of networking….
10 Jill // Mar 15, 2006 at 9:41 pm
Somehow I missed yesterday’s post but today’s news sounds like this was in the bigger plan all along, just waiting to happen…I love it when things just fall into place for people I admire. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things continue to look up, be sunny and all that.
Big hugs just the same to you and the short people.
11 Donna K. // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Great news! Give the twins a big hug and knit on those WIP’s….it’s great therapy.
12 Maryellen // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:04 pm
I’m glad you found a new temp position. being without work is scary. Hope all turns out better and bigger the you’d hope. i hope you gedt a real job with a salary that allows you to buy a really big house. You know the ones over off route 17 in the other Saddle Brook. the one with the upper and river in the name.
13 Norma // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Wow! That is just such good news, and you must have some good Karma coming home to roost. Awesome! The other thing is, as much as you might wish to have said some things to them, in the long run it’s good that you didn’t.
14 Elaine // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:22 pm
:^)
15 margene // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Woohoo! That new door sure opened fast!
16 Rosa // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Fantastic! Can you send some of that good-fortune-job-hunting my way. I’ve been trying to get a job for 6 mo–I sent out 20 resumes today. I am starting to doubt myself. I am very please to have read your update because now I have some hope that something will come along. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers so that your fulltime-permanent job comes along. Continued good luck!
17 claudia // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:55 pm
YEAH!
Like a cat landing on its paws, are you.
18 Laurie // Mar 15, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Just got over here from mamacate’s, and I’m so sorry you have to deal with all this B.S. I’m not surprised that you landed on your feet, but also very impressed that it happened so quickly. Smart cookie, to move quick, and not let the despair immobilize you for any length of time.
What Claudia said.
19 Claudia // Mar 16, 2006 at 12:10 am
WELL DONE!
I am very very happy for you – that is such fanta-fabulous news!! I’m drinking a glass of wine tonight to you!
20 Marji // Mar 16, 2006 at 12:27 am
Hugs to you and good luck. Sounds like you’ll have choices, so won’t be desperate to take the first thing to land in your lap. Been there too, and even with choices, fun it is not.
21 Anne // Mar 16, 2006 at 3:29 am
Oh wow! This is wonderful news. I didn’t want to be too cliched-positive yesterday – I don’t know you, and sometimes when you’re miserable with good reason it only makes it worse when folks are relentlessly positive. But WOW!!! Congratulations!
22 Thorny // Mar 16, 2006 at 4:05 am
Holy cow! I came over here after hearing about the WIP Wipeout, then read your last few posts. Such drama! Such pathos! Such a fabulous ending! (Okay, I just threw the “pathos” in there because it sounded good… grin!)
So glad to hear your firing was a blessing in disguise.
Also happy to “meet” a fellow knitting twin-mom!
23 Cathi // Mar 16, 2006 at 4:07 am
Hugs to you. I knew you would land on your feet running as you say. I am so glad that things are looking up for you so soon and so good. Great job!!!!
Congratulations on all the avenues open for you now. I hope you find a great one and are happy in it. Did you think you were going to have a little time off in between? Not so! I am glad for you. Guess I sometimes have a hard time with words but you get the idea of what I am trying to say. Happy job and happy knitting.
24 Brenda O'Brien // Mar 16, 2006 at 4:24 am
Good for you!
25 Sara // Mar 16, 2006 at 6:56 am
Whooo hoo!!! That is a most excellent story. Sock some of that extra-now-pay away for COBRA health insurance in case you need it, but I’m totally betting you won’t!!!
Happy dance for you on my end
26 Chris // Mar 16, 2006 at 8:02 am
Did ya hear my joyful WhoopWhoopWhoop for you? I’m so happy for you! But then, your talents + all the good karma had to mean a nice big door or 6 opening.
27 mamacate // Mar 16, 2006 at 8:05 am
Rock on girl, that’s awesome. You know they’re all doing a happy dance that you’re available.
Let the bidding war begin!
Nice work, mama. Pat yourself on the back.
28 Purl Needlemeyer // Mar 16, 2006 at 8:05 am
Two things come to mind: everything happens for a reason, and the quote that is something like, “To discover new oceans you have to lose sight of the shore.” SOunds like you are already in a safe harbor again! Blessings!
29 Susan // Mar 16, 2006 at 8:15 am
So that old “When one door closes, another opens,” thing really is true – fantastic news!!
30 Kate // Mar 16, 2006 at 8:41 am
FABULOUS NEWS! And from now on.. I will shop Amazon.
Girl, you really bounce back on your feet!
31 Nancy // Mar 16, 2006 at 9:41 am
That’s fantastic! Good luck.
32 Judy (Your star pupil at BN.com) // Mar 16, 2006 at 10:26 am
Hi!
I heard what happened that night. I left early that day so Tanya texted me and told me the bad news. I was upset when I heard but I’m glad that this bad thing ended up turning around into something greater! I’m still working on that poncho and I aim to make you proud! Of course this means me figuring out the rest of the pattern without you but your star pupil will not let you down. I’ve looked all over this site for your email but couldn’t find it. Please email me and let me know how you’re doing. Judy.
33 Lizzy B // Mar 16, 2006 at 10:37 am
I’m so glad to hear that doors are opening for you! I guess karma really does work!
34 Just A Knit Wit // Mar 16, 2006 at 11:58 am
I followed a link and came to offer condolences, but instead I give you congratulations! Life has a way of forcing us to find better situations for ourselves, whether we like it or not. Sending good vibes to your resume, may you find the perfect job in no time flat!
35 Sue // Mar 16, 2006 at 3:59 pm
Oh wow! That was fast! Congratulations on the temp job and all the new prospects! Hooray!
36 JessaLu // Mar 16, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Yay you!!
37 beth // Mar 16, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Oh dear! I just read your previous post and I am glad things are looking up for you! Seems like you have the right attitude. Similar thing happened to me….. So I know how you feel. I guess it is a big communal hug from the knit bloggers!!!!
38 Teresa C // Mar 16, 2006 at 7:27 pm
All these positive thoughts and wishes, and look at that! We didn’t need to worry long at all.
Looking at your sidebar, I see you took my advice. It’s all good.
39 janna // Mar 16, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Hurray, hurray!
40 Precious-Stuff // Mar 19, 2006 at 5:02 pm
WOW! Congrats, didnt BN do you a huge favour!
Its so weird how things happen in some weird sort of “meant to be” way
Maybe Karma will visit BN boss too.