Treasure...

Treasure..., originally uploaded by jjvannorman.

Don't know how this year will end, on a good note or not...but this day made it for a good year. Don't need to add more words, it's already been said.

Why is it...

Summer Walk in Albany Park, originally uploaded by jjvannorman.

Why is it that every apartment and condo that I've lived in, has a door and/or a gate with note, usually hand written, that says "Do Not Slam"?

I'm thinking invention opportunity must be here, No?

...as opposed to orthogonal

...as opposed to orthogonal, originally uploaded by jjvannorman.

Strangely metaphorical

What a wonderful weekend.

It hadn't started out that way. My manager called me after work on Thursday as I had begun my extended weekend. He confirmed what he had told us Tuesday and hinted at over the previous weeks, that my number was up, along with a lot of other people. Sadly it may be the tip of the proverbial iceberg of more cuts to come in December as the organization is effectively gutted.

Things may change, though I expect for the worse and the slim possibly that I may find another job elsewhere within the company, but a strange sense of comfort that the "wait was over".

Coincidentally, and fortunately for me, my weekend was filled with aspects that matter more in life.

The weekend included a long overdue family gathering at my Aunt and Uncle's home. There's no substitute for the comfort of love of family members.

Serendipitously, planned as if by some hidden architect of The Fates, I had dinner with best friend from college and finally meeting his adorable wife along with another old college friend and his wife. If I wanted to plan a means to cheer myself up, I couldn't have I capped off the last night of my long weekend any better than this. Andy and Carol's visit planned months ago, it could not have been better timed.

While I'm still numb over being fired, it was a perfectly timed reminder that there are aspects of life beyond work, beyond a career.

My friends and family of the spiritual persuasion would be cheered that my agnostic tendencies were given some pause. Just a little.

I know I am going to encounter an roller coaster of stress over the coming months, hopefully when I have the down moments I have this weekend to look back on for my "reality check".

As I was composing this, I noted I had not mentioned the kind words the kind words of friends and family with whom I shared my angst. I ought to remember this journey is not as isolated as it seems and that it's up to me to reach out for support and that friends are what matter.

Well...it could be raining....

Goodbye Lucent, originally uploaded by jjvannorman



It's been an unhappy day at work.

While not unexpected it was still unpleasant. We learned today that not only will we have another corporate purge in December, we will have an immediate purge next month as well.

The hallway buzz is this one will cut deep again - 25%. Gallows humor purports the December purge will be the remaining 75%. May not be far from the truth.

I speculated as much with my friends after last weeks announcement of Pat Russo's exit. I pondered if it may be a window to do some heavy duty "housecleaning". Why not let the lame duck do the dirty work and the incoming CEO will have the task of rebuilding the company. Sort of good CEO v. bad CEO.

My friends and family have kindly endured my lamentations of expecting to lose my job over the last 6 or 7 years. My speculations were not without merit, our Lisle-Naperville site has gone from > 10,000 people to less then 2,000.

So it's update the resume, maybe post some resumes to the more interesting jobs in the area -- I had to at some point begin the process. The wrinkle is -- can I jump to another job when I am less than 3 years away from a full pension?

More good new on the home front. We had some aftermath issues after block incident. I'll save that for another post.

Spill

Spill, originally uploaded by jjvannorman.

My first photo contest submission...woot!!!!

I didn't win, but I did. I'll explain shortly.

Flickr -- where I am posting my photos is a photographer enthusiasts Disneyland. To a novice like me, it's sometimes overwhelming. I've added more groups (virtual social places) than I could ever possibly participate in. There are easily 25 Groups with a Chicago connection.

One Group I joined was Less is More, which incidentally has been a personal philosophy that has served me well throughout the years. Better known as KISS (Keep it simple stupid). For an engineer -- that is a mantra you learn VERY quickly.

When I first came across Less is More, I was troubled that none of my photos made a good submission to the photo pool. i was intrigued with the Kitchen Contest -- to submit a photo that was related to The Kitchen. One moment it struck me what I wanted to try -- knock over a salt shaker on my cutting board.

I was delighted on the number of votes I received and also how it challenged me on how I think about photography. I received lots of good advice since I have re-embraced photography -- sometimes it's overwhelming, advice even seems occasionally conflicting, but I always can learn by listening and reading someone else's perspective.

Incidentally I've learned it's helpful to reexamine photos. I redid my salt shaker in B&W...



...I wonder if I might have won with this version ;)

My day at Jury Duty

My day at Jury Duty, originally uploaded by jjvannorman.

I have a lifetime batting average of 1000. ...

Been called 5 times so far for Jury Duty and I have not even been in a courtroom yet. Maybe my sheer aura intimidates both side to plea bargain.

I had hoped to blog through the day via "mobile blogging" but the Jury Pool area prohibited phones being connected. I did capture some notes through the day....

Jury duty

The morning Report

I discovered that my cell phone had to be turned off in the jury pool area. I wanted to make some periodic Blog updates through the day to break up the tedium. Oh well.... .

So this is my mid-day report.

This is my fifth summons and if my streak holds I will spend another day catching up on my reading. five times called, zero times served on an actual jury. I can't help recalling my first time called, during summer. Then the law was different and you had to spend a whole week. We were told ahead time that it would be likely we wouldn't be called to court since during the summer lawyers and judges like to take their vacations.

Here I am the dead of summer..

So today I am reading Hard Times by Studs Terkel. Studs is one of my favorite authors, who isn't really an author. His oral history books are such an enjoyable read.

I'm kicking myself for not taking my camera. There are some memorable buildings here. Anyone who has seen the Blues Brothers or the Fugitive should find this place familiar. I guess my camera phone will have to do when get outside:..::...

Back from Lunch

They gave us an hour and a half for lunch - I'm thinking my guess this morning was dead on. This day will continue my successful streak of not serving on a jury.

I did have a tasty lunch. I went to an Italian Bistro. Can you ever go wrong with a Chicken ceaser saiad?

Got some pics from plaza. Gotta come back over a weekend to do some photos.

Jury pool is Very quiet -- no one seems To want to talk with each other, sad really.

2 hours to go.