Rest in Peace

Zippy the dog AKA Zipper, Zipster, Zippy Doodles, Doodles DoodleO, Snoodle Hound, Snoodles. We lost our sweet Houndie today at 11:15 AM EDT. A true hound she fought the final sleep to the very end. I will miss her stubborn, silly, off balance nature for the rest of my life. This hound who was so difficult at times, was also sweet and loving, wanting nothing more than a pat on the head, a scratch under the chin. She will be missed by all of us, but I think most of all by her sister Abby who has not yet grasped the idea that this time Zippy isn't coming home again.
Godspeed sweet dog. May you find biscuits and fields galore and may the sun always be warm on your head.

My tribute to you and your sister:

To My Hounds -
So here's to the houndies, may they always be happy!
May their days all be sunny, and their meals served up snappy.
As they stroll round the block in the chilly Fall air
May their thoughts be of flushing fox from their lair

May they run hard in their dreams, when by day they may doze.
Swift of limb, strong of wind, the scent guiding their nose.
May they enjoy their warm place by the side of my chair,
While in their sweet dreams, wind blows through their hair.

Their pack was once large and was numbered in dozens,
May we now make up, for the lack of their cousins.
And when the time comes that we finally must part,
May their mighty hound calls, be still strong in my heart.
MaryChris

It's Not Quite Like the Weight has Lifted . . .

but it is certainly starting to feel a little lighter. I seem to be laughing a little more, smiling a little more. And of I'm trying not to focus on that big question mark out there that says - OK, smart ass - now what are you going to do? It will come in time - I just hope there is enough time before it arrives for some honest rest and not too much time for me to run a hole in my cash reserves. But I trust in a higher power that I will land on my feet once again and will muddle through to the next bend in the road without too many pitfalls and potholes.
Life never ceases to amaze me with its immense ability to remake itself reshape itself, over and over - dragging us along, sometimes kicking and screaming, other times enjoying the scenery and the ride. I'll hang on for a while and see what comes barreling down the road at me - hopefully before it hits me smack in the face!

I Just Looked at the Calendar

and at the urging of my friends I've declared a new national holiday -
October 8th - FREEDOM FROM SWISS OPPRESSION DAY!
My last day running the US division of a Swiss owned company! And best of all - this year it just happens to fall on a legit holiday for our company - Columbus Day - seems right somehow - ol'Chris set off to discover new worlds and I'll be doing somewhat the same thing. Thank God no real boats will be involved - I do have a problem with seasickness. No Dramamine required for this voyage though. I will officially set course in a whole new direction and I'm thinking a party is in order to celebrate!

It is done

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." MLK Jr
I took that first step - scary at this stage in my career, but it was something that I couldn't put off. I had done everything I could for everyone else in the company, and now I needed to take care of me. And strange as that may seem - that meant jumping off that bridge and leaping headfirst into the great unknown. Now, I'm not sure that I'm really all that afraid. I have - up to this point - always landed on my feet. Even when the odds were stacked against me. This time - I'm going out the door with a wealth of experience and good will from colleagues. Something will come. When one door closes, another opens. I do believe that. And I believe that my work is far from finished. But I do need a break. So, once I finish up all the loose ends - I will have that break. At long last.
"Take the first step in faith."

At the Crossroads - AGAIN?

Between despair, anger, sadness and more anger has come the realization that once I come through this current life trial - I will be standing once again and rather unexpectedly - right in the middle of yet another crossroad.
Although I know that for each door that closes, another opens, it does sometimes take some pushing on that door by us to get it open. And in this case there seems to be either a limitless number of doors to choose from, or a lack of doors. A sort of the glass is overflowing or empty kind of quandary.
Oh, I know where I am, I've been here before. Had hoped that I'd made my last visit to this particular little piece of real estate from hell. But it seems, I was wrong. Here I am again.
Sigh.
I'll survive this - I have before.
I'll figure it out and make my way forward again.
But man, I'm tired of coming back to this spot again.

The Verdict Is In

In my mind the worst has happened - everyone got laid off save me and one other. Never have I so envied people who have lost their jobs. The sheer size of this insurmountable task called carrying on is more than I can bear right now. I want only to sleep - to pull the covers over my head and pretend it's all just a bad dream. Unfortunately I know I'll only wake again to find that the dream is reality and the task has only gotten larger.
I can't imagine continuing on with this. Yet it will be difficult to finally lay down the yoke and say - enough - no more - find yourself a new beast of burden - this one is tired and fed up and totally discouraged.
There is nothing more distressing than suddenly watching your job lose it's future, it's luster and joy.
And so - the waiting is over - now the action must begin. . .