Seanholio
Don Quixote
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2007
- Messages
- 1,219
It's been a special week. It started last Friday. I was called into a conference room and they asked for my badge. My tenure in Hell was being terminated. At first I was concerned, but then I was relieved. I collected my stuff from my desk, hopped in the truck, and drove home. Since I was a consultant, I called my boss and let him know what was going on in a voicemail.
On Monday, he called me back. He let me know that due to the sudden nature of the contract ending, he didn't have a new contract to pay me on, and no way to keep me on the bench without a new contract, so I was being laid off. I talked things over with my wife, and she told me not to worry, since either of us makes enough to cover the household expenses without the other's paycheck. I spent the past week straightening up the house, smoking a few cigars, figuring out if I wanted a dog in the house, and generally loafing. During this time, I also reached out to a former coworker of mine who has a position open in his organization that I'm well-suited to fill, and the pay is on-par with my previous pay. Additionally, this company would give me actual benefits and I'd be a full time telecommuter. It seems this lay off was a blessing in disguise, as they often are.
On Tuesday, I got a call on my cell phone from a blocked number. I don't usually answer those, but I figured it might be a recruiter, so I made an exception. A nice lady from the Sacramento Animal Shelter said they had a dog that was registered to me via the chip in his neck. Two years ago, because I had a new baby, a neighbor who constantly complained about any little bit of poop in my backyard, and our jobs, my wife and I surrendered our dog back to the rescue organization from which we had adopted him. We've regretted that decision ever since. Recently, my two-year old son has been asking for a brown dog. Coincidentally, Dutch is a chocolate lab. We didn't even take time to discuss it. My wife, who had taken over the phone call for me, said we'd be there in two hours.
When we arrived at the shelter, we completed the paperwork, and they brought Dutch out. He recognized us immediately, and wagged his tail so hard that he made it bleed. It turns out that the couple who had adopted him divorced a year later, and the husband kept Dutch. The day before, he gave Dutch to a friend of his, who couldn't handle him for some reason, and dropped him off at the shelter. From what we can tell of the callouses on his elbows, he was kept outside and slept on concrete. From his behavior, it seems he was neglected. This makes me sad, since he's a very social dog and has always wanted to be around someone. We're very happy to have him back, and he's happy to be here.
I'll never make that mistake again.
Yesterday, my wife and I made the trip up to Geyserville to meet up with the BOTL's on The Wine Pimp Tour. While we didn't get to hang out as long as we would have liked, due to my son deciding to skip his nap and then become unmanageable, I did get to meet everyone and at least introduce myself. Next year, I will make sure I am able to do the full tour and meal setup.
It has been a great week. I escaped from hell, got my dog back, and got to meet up with a great bunch of folks. It's almost the antithesis of a blues song.
On Monday, he called me back. He let me know that due to the sudden nature of the contract ending, he didn't have a new contract to pay me on, and no way to keep me on the bench without a new contract, so I was being laid off. I talked things over with my wife, and she told me not to worry, since either of us makes enough to cover the household expenses without the other's paycheck. I spent the past week straightening up the house, smoking a few cigars, figuring out if I wanted a dog in the house, and generally loafing. During this time, I also reached out to a former coworker of mine who has a position open in his organization that I'm well-suited to fill, and the pay is on-par with my previous pay. Additionally, this company would give me actual benefits and I'd be a full time telecommuter. It seems this lay off was a blessing in disguise, as they often are.
On Tuesday, I got a call on my cell phone from a blocked number. I don't usually answer those, but I figured it might be a recruiter, so I made an exception. A nice lady from the Sacramento Animal Shelter said they had a dog that was registered to me via the chip in his neck. Two years ago, because I had a new baby, a neighbor who constantly complained about any little bit of poop in my backyard, and our jobs, my wife and I surrendered our dog back to the rescue organization from which we had adopted him. We've regretted that decision ever since. Recently, my two-year old son has been asking for a brown dog. Coincidentally, Dutch is a chocolate lab. We didn't even take time to discuss it. My wife, who had taken over the phone call for me, said we'd be there in two hours.
When we arrived at the shelter, we completed the paperwork, and they brought Dutch out. He recognized us immediately, and wagged his tail so hard that he made it bleed. It turns out that the couple who had adopted him divorced a year later, and the husband kept Dutch. The day before, he gave Dutch to a friend of his, who couldn't handle him for some reason, and dropped him off at the shelter. From what we can tell of the callouses on his elbows, he was kept outside and slept on concrete. From his behavior, it seems he was neglected. This makes me sad, since he's a very social dog and has always wanted to be around someone. We're very happy to have him back, and he's happy to be here.
I'll never make that mistake again.
Yesterday, my wife and I made the trip up to Geyserville to meet up with the BOTL's on The Wine Pimp Tour. While we didn't get to hang out as long as we would have liked, due to my son deciding to skip his nap and then become unmanageable, I did get to meet everyone and at least introduce myself. Next year, I will make sure I am able to do the full tour and meal setup.
It has been a great week. I escaped from hell, got my dog back, and got to meet up with a great bunch of folks. It's almost the antithesis of a blues song.
Thank goodness he's back in your family. 
