So I got laid off.....

This all started back in February of this year. I was invited to the CCC (Clear Channel Communications) corporate office for a week long Finance Transformation meeting. I really didn't know what it entailed until I got there. My boss said I was elected by corporate as a "Subject Matter Expert" and that only a dozen or so were selected in all of the finance departments nationwide in a company of thousands. I considered this to be a great honor and was really proud of myself. When I got there and went through these "workshops" I realized that the Finance Transformation that was happening was basically us developing a Shared Service Center where all finance department functions would happen. When we returned my boss ensured me that my job was safe and that they would just train me in other necessary accounting functions, which would help further my career.

And then in mid-April these functions that I currently did (credit and collections) officially transitioned to the SSC in San Antonio. Again my boss (who has since been promoted to Western Regional Finance Manager) told me that I would be trained in other analytical functions and maybe even working on a special project with Marketing.

Then May 13th happened. I'm sure that they messed up with the calendar and yesterday should have been on a Friday. My new boss (the new local FM) asked me to come downstairs with him. At first I thought this was a little odd, and when we walked into the conference room and I saw our GM sitting there and our former FM (now our new regional FM) on the speakerphone. I got excited for a milli-second and thought they might actually be offering me this new fancy position with a nice big raise. But then my former boss (on the speakerphone) started to speak (and I could tell he was reading from a script the way how he sounded so matter of factly and with no pause.

I was told what I already knew, that my main functions at the company were moved out of this branch, but then he said what I didn't expect: My position at the company has been terminated. I was given the option of applying for a job at the SSC in Texas or take a severance package after a certain tranision period. I was so upset. I left for the rest of the day in tears. It makes me glad that I have a short commute and didn't have to travel far to get home and cry with my face in a pillow. Luckily it was Jason's normal day off so he was there when I got home to console me. I wailed for about 10 minutes after I got home and explained to him what happened and then I wiped up my tears got up and updated my resume.

After Jason and I (and also the rest of my family) discussed it, I decided that taking the position in TX (which was not guaranteed) was not in my best interest. It would have been a different story if I was young and single. Jason and I had already been talking seriously about leaving CA for the past few years and in fact had decided about a week ago that we were definately going to do it this summer. The two places we were considering were near Nashville (where one of Jason's brothers lives) or near Boise (where Jason's mom, stepdad, and another brother lives). After seeing the devastation that Nashville went through these past few weeks, we decided it would definately be Boise.

We visited Idaho last summer and we really enjoyed it. It wasn't at all what I had expected. It's much like the mid-west that I left over 15 years ago. I never really felt like I was meant to be in CA. The first year here was a real struggle for me. However, after a short stint in TX back in 1999 I vowed never to leave CA again. But my life is so drastically different than it was 10 years ago, that I think this will be a much more smoother transition for me.

I told Tristan about it last night and he seemed REALLY excited about it. I don't think he realizes how different things will be yet. Landon I'm sure won't notice anything different and won't even remember living in CA.

July will be a SUPER busy month for us. That's when we'll really get a crack on packing things up. And we'll have to squeeze in Landon's bday party and maybe even a going away party in there somewhere. Also, my dad is taking Tristan (just the two of them) to Walt Disney Wworld in FL for a whole week at the end of July. I was T's age the first time I went and have very fond memories. I'm so jealous.

I'm not going to look for work in CA between my last day and when we leave. Since it coincides with the boys getting out of school, I'll just spend the time packing and hanging out with my boys.

So here's the breakdown:

My last day at CCC and also the boy's last day of school - June 18th
Our garage/moving sale - June 26th
Moving day - August 7th