Getting back into the groove

It's been too longed since I've blogged. Everything we choose to do (or not do) is a matter of priority, and I guess blogging has slipped. I've let Facebook, LinkedIn, real life (work, kids, etc.) take over.

It's also not a hopeful time, so I haven't been "in the mood" to write to the world (okay, my world of next to nobody).

Work is cutting costs. Luckily no widespread firings, but pensions have been frozen, 401Ks will no longer be matched through the end of the year, and no raises in 2009. Dividends to shareholders remain uncut and the company is doing relatively well; they say they want to keep it that way. I think that cutting dividends would send a message of concern to the shareholders and they don't want to do that...especially since all the top executives hold quite a bit of shares themselves, and so keeping share value is one of their priorities. (Am I getting cynical?)

Bonuses were first distributed before the steps were announced (well, we'll ge thtem in the next paycheck), but now they're "retention payments" and if someone voluntarily leaves before three years go by, he or she has to return the pro-rated amount. Bonuses for lower level employees like myself (and I've got to face it, that's what I am) were relatively low (although mine was the same as last year). With a new rating system in place, some people were eligible to only receive half of what they'd received last year, so I count myself lucky. Ont he other hand, others in my office received bonuses larger than my annual salary (and stocks)!

I've always wanted to move ahead, but haven't been sure the best way how. Thinking education might be the way, I began looking at obtaining a professional designation, but was told last year that the company won't pay for it if it's not relevant to my job. And it's not; I'm not a broker. Then I found out how an upper level person is having his MBA paid for--and it's not necessary for his job, or he wouldn't be in that job already, no?

Frustrating. I want to stay at the company I'm at, progress, move ahead. But my position is really dead-end and while the company speaks of "career development," I think they are giving lip service to the idea when it pertains to anyone other than brokers. I just don't think that I want to become a broker.

Given the economy, this is not the time to be frustrated, but to go to work, do my job well and just shut up.

Changing topics, let's talk about health. My mother is doing better, although adjusting to a life of Coumadin hasn't been easy, especially since she needed vascular surgery due to the way the hospital didn't put the IV in properly when she was there and she's had recurrent bloody noses and cauterizations. Over two months since the open heart surgery, and she still needs frequent Coumadin testing. Very frustrating for her too...

I need to go in and have a procedure done in a few weeks. Nothing major (outpatient), but still general anesthesia. Before then, though, I have to deal with Passover. We're up to 25 people altogether and I have a lot of cleaning and cooking to do. Can't wait until the family is all here, but not looking forward to getting everything done first!

I've scheduled a half-day spa day for my mother and me the day after the first seder. There is a school for these services which I discovered a few years back, and they charge far less than spas do, since it's students providing the services (with supervision). We did this a few years ago and it was great. My mother so loves these kinds of mother-daughter things, and I like to see her enjoying herself.

Well, after so long, I've about done it for now. Good night!