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When I started the job of doom several weeks ago, there was only one experienced employee in the entire art department, who had been with the company in different capacities for 30 year, and who is in bad health. There was another new girl who was in training on the Indigo printer and one other new prepress operator that had only been there two weeks longer than me.

Looking around the want ads today, I found this ad that is obviously for a position at the same company that dumped me out of the blue.

They are apparently replacing their entire art department, over and over again, as a way of working out problems that are probably more hardware and corporate culture related then employee related. During my time there, they were also looking for a new 2-color and 4-color pressman.

unemployed again

Just as suddenly and unexpected as it started, my job ended on Sunday night around 8:30 p.m. when the president of the company called from his mobile phone to tell me not to come in on Monday. Just like that with no explaination. I asked what was going on. I knew they were busy and I had been working 12-hour days along with everyone else to keep up, especially after a hard drive containing ALL of one client's most recent files had failed and everyone was scrambling to cobble new files together for them. He said they had made an offer to a former employee, of the company who was already trained on their procedures and very familiar with their clients, who had agreed to come back to his former job. That was all. Nothing wrong with me other than no one had time to train me and he was ready to jump in with both feet. 

All this after they had phoned me out of the blue with the job offer, were VERY insistent that I leave my then-current position without notice so I could start sooner (I didn't  - I don't believe in burning bridges so I worked out my notice.) and had me drop everything in my life with the promise of company health insurance that would have started August 1st, and long-term full-time employment. Now I'm worse off than before I took the job. 

There were problems working the part-time I had gig before this latest disappointment. I couldn't count on a predictable schedule enough to take any extra work and the pay was lower than I was used to. The hours flexed between 2 days a week or 5 days a week. It killed my film extras work and my extra freelance work but at least it was a very long-term assignment and a source of pocket cash that I would probably still have now if I didn't leave for the promise of a real job - and it was a lot closer to home. I had been spending over 2 hours on the road every day to and from work (no complaints because it seemed quite worth it to have a good job with potential). 

So now I'm back to where I was two years ago, looking for anything I can possibly get. 

I have learned a few things. Freelance is not worth the pain at tax time or getting money from a bad client. In that way, although it pays a lot less, temp work is easier at the end of the year. A temp company will always make sure they get paid as well. Part time is not worth the commitment if it kills everything else - it has to be flexible and on my schedule or it has to be full-time committed hours. 
And last: Never leave anything at the office overnight or over the weekend. The last thing I want to do is return there just to pick up my leftover stuff. They can have the Pantone coffee mug, note pad, and the half-eaten bags of chips. 

home again

It has been a long weekend. Friday and Saturday were spent in Alabama for the funeral of MonsterMustDie's mother (June 24, 1933 - July 2, 2013). We saw members of his family and a few old friends at the visitation on Friday night and the funeral on Saturday afternoon. Everyone says they must get together soon but you know the next time most of them will see each other will be at the next funeral. That's just how it goes as we get older and time grows shorter. Our lives get busier and more distant until our bodies break down to the point that we don't have the option of travel anymore. 

It is still raining constantly, every day. Alabama weather was no different and, without any break in the rain, we had all of the services at the funeral home and skipped taking the funeral party to the graveside. The pall bearers went alone to the cemetery. We waited until they had returned and everyone had left after the service to finish any business necessary and visited the grave before driving home. Both of his parents are buried side by side with his sister, Donna, who died as an infant. The traditional lamb on her marble tombstone was the closest thing to sculpture in the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Alzheimer's research. 

Today, back in Atlanta and after a night's sleep, we went out treasure-hunting in the morning and then met up with Mr & Mrs Lounge in EAV, where we had brunch and spent the rest of the afternoon drinking and shopping. I designated myself the DD and encouraged MonsterMustDie to have a few more beers, loosen up a bit, and chat about cars (mostly), people, work, and gadgets, etc. 

Now we're home again to laundry, emails, catching up with the news, and preparing to go back to work in the morning. 

departures and arrivals

MonsterMustDie was able to be with his mother last night when she passed away, around 2:15 a.m. this morning. Her passing is a sad but I am glad he was able to be with her. It always bothered him that he was on his way to visit his father  in 2005, only to arrive 10 minutes after he had passed away, alone.
Also yesterday, his cousin K's first grandchild was born.

Someone comes into town just as someone leave town.

saying goodbye to June

I just got home from work. Not long on the road, I got a phone call from MonsterMustDie. The hospice  phoned to let him know his mother's body appeared to be shutting down today. He's driving to Alabama now, straight from work. There is no time to come home first or pack an overnight bag again. Once again, there is nothing I can do to help. He said he would try to phone tonight with an update.