Saturday, April 17, 2010

DID YOU MISS ME?

I haven't posted for a little more than two weeks.  You see, I have known since February 1st that my department was being closed on March 31st.  That meant my coworker and I were losing our jobs.  Truth to tell, I had been expecting this for over a year, but I wasn't sure when it was going to happen.   Our company had been sold to another owner last December.  The new owners started cutting and kept it up.  I have seen so many people come in at 8:00 AM only to be saying goodbye by 10:00 AM (this happened to my dear Luis), I really expected it would happen to me.  I am only thankful we were given warning.  It is a real relief not to have to worry about that anymore.  So I posted everything I could think of, emailed out what I could not, and started setting things up for the layoff.  Updated the resume, resigned with the employment agency that got me the job originally, took stuff home, trained some people to take over some of the duties that would remain and tried to keep my fellow coworker on the upbeat.  She'd been working for them for 34 years.  It was the only job she's ever had.  Very sad.  But, I helped her as much as I could.  She said she was going to take some time to rest.  I think, after 34 years, she deserves a rest.  I gotta call her.

I am happy to tell you that I have another job already.  I am to start on Monday morning and it is only one block away from where I was working.  Remember all the sudden layoffs?  There was an agent down the street that was snapping our people up as fast as they were laid off.  Well, they have snapped me up, too.  Of course, it helped that three people who have worked with me are also employed there.  They all put in a really good word for me and I do so appreciate it.  Things are looking up!

In the meantime, I have had a lovely two week vacation and have things to show you.  First up, I received this package the first week of April from Katie (Katiemaytoo):


Katie, I love the blocks and the chocolate was delicious.  I am saving the little keychain for something special and the little pincushion is going on my bulletin board.  Do you have any of that lovely black and white flower fabric left?  I could do so much with that, LOL!

Joanne (Canuckquilter) sent me these blocks:


All blue and white!  Love the frame on the second block.  Looks like big blue orchids!  I like these so much, I am very tempted to compose a blue and white quilt using these blocks as the center piece.

I finished the rest of my blocks, too:








I hope the colors came out clear.  My husband's screen has a yellow caste to it.  I am going to try to upload these to the Flicker group, but I don't know how well it will work.  Joanne, I will be sending out your blocks very soon.

Now, remember the Sunbonnet girl pattern I won on Ebay that I couldn't find because I put it "away'?  Well, I found it.  Is this not the cutest?



You should be hearing from me on a more regular basis now, especially since I figured out how to do all this on the home machine.  I don't know how busy I will be at my new job, but I will let you know how things work out.

Liri

12 comments:

  1. What a journey! You have been very kind to your co-worker and perhaps the loss of her job won't be as stressful thanks to your support. It's terrific that you have a new job to start on Monday. I hope it all goes very well. Your swap blocks are fantastic. What amazing fabrics you have in your stash! I'd be happy to receive any of those. Hmmmm, I wonder which two are mine? That's a really nice Sunbonnet Sue pattern. Cheers, Ann :-)

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  2. Congratulations on the new job! When I started reading, I was worried, but your story of losing your job has a pretty happy ending. I hope you like the new job even better than the old one and I hope they value you and keep you around until you're ready to be done with them!

    The blocks all look fantastic. Bright colors and beautiful fabrics. Too bad I already have mine, but I love them all so I really wouldn't trade if I had the chance.

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  3. I'm so glad your story had a happy ending! Enjoy the new job.
    Your blocks are lovely. You have so much variety in your fabrics! I can't wait to see which ones you pop in the mail my way...

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  4. How fortunate you are that the job situation seems to have worked out so well under the circumstances, when times seem so tough everywhere.
    I'm amazed by the beauty of your swap blocks, as well as everyone's! What gorgeous quilts all of you will have. And I love that Sun Bonnet Sue pattern. Looks like you are planning on staying busy! ---"Love"

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  5. Oh I'm so happy for you that you got a job!! That's such a relief in this sort of economy. That sunbonnet sue kit looks like fun. I'm loving all your blocks! The red and white is really eye catching. I need to get on the move and mail mine out!! Are you coming to the next PMQ guild meeting? :) Christine

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  6. I am so glad that you found another job so quickly. Good luck on Monday. Hope you like the job.
    You really have some beautiful swap blocks there . I have been slowed down by all the quilt show preperations but all I have to do is put the frame on and off they go.

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  7. I'm so glad to hear the job situation worked out so well and I hope you love the new one! No one needs that kind of stress. Your blocks are all beautiful and I love the Sunbonnet girls pattern. Good luck tomorrow with the new job and keep stitching!

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  8. I wanted to double check before saying something, but I have so little of the black and white flower fabric that I don't think it would be worth the effort to send it. But I did get it at JoAnn's probably less than a year ago, so check there if you really need some!

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  9. I am SO glad that the pattern you "won" on e-Bay was this one! Didn't want to mention any one in particular, but that was at the top of my list. I know you will do a wonderful job with it!

    So sorry you had to go thru such a stressful time with your job, but you may very well find that the new company is a great place to be! Sure hope all works out well.

    And your blocks are fantastic! What a great mixture of colors you've used. Looks like we will have a great assortment when all the quilts are done. Yours and Joanne's packages will be shipped out tomorrow. Looks like you made great use of your time off! Mary

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  10. what great blocks!! i love the orange one you got!

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  11. I'll be sending your blocks next week. We have been out of town. Yours look great! And the ones from Katie & JoAnne are awesome!

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  12. Okay...let me get this out...I call dibs on the sunflower blocks!!! Me! Me! Me! LOL;)
    Glad you got to find a new job so quickly. It's bad enough when you know the economy is shot, much less becoming a target.
    Your swap blocks look great. Looking forward to when it's my turn to get some;) I put yours in the mail today, along with some little extras;)
    Happy Quilting!!

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