I guess it comes with this time of the year, but it seems like there are so many things going on. Everytime I ask Traci what we have going on, it's like a while new list! I figured I would try to organize my thoughts while I have a little time, even though it's getting pretty late and this weekend gets really busy tomorrow. So here's the haps...
First of all, the biggest issue right now is my job situation. Chevron (Global Downstream operations) is in the process of downsizing. They are currently neat the end of the seventh of eight rounds. This seventh round is the one I'm involved in. The first week of this month, I put in my request for the five positions I'm most interested in. Three of them are in El Segundo, where I currently work, and two are in Brea, which would be a very nice commute (< 30 minutes one way). This week, my (new) manager was at HQ up in San Ramon with all the other managers associated with this round, in meetings to determine who would be offered what positions. I have an appointment with him on Monday afternoon, as do the other 11 in our department that are going through this at the same time. Of the 12 of us going through this joyous process, only 7 of us will remain after this is all said and done. There are others in our department who have already gone through this process and they all ended up with jobs within our department, sot his will be the first bad news for the group and where all the changes will really take place, although we did layoff two support staff at the end of June and didn't replace one who left earlier this year. I also have other potential options within Chevron that I have been pursuing but one of those doors is now shut I learned yesterday; still several others open, although I'm not sure I should hold my breath for any of those. The good thing is that my depression has not comeback during this more-stressful-than-usual time.
Outside of work, personal life is going pretty well although starting to get really busy for all of us. Traci is in her first semester of co-leading MOPS at our church and she has already been very busy with that. Courtney starts first grade on September 1 and Skyler starts Pre-K two days earlier. At least we already have Skyler's school supplies bought and ready to go when she meets her teacher(s) next Friday.
Also, Skyler will be playing soccer in our Youth Kicks league at church and I'm the head coach of the team. I find that ironic because my only soccer experience was in PE classes in school, and I have never really liked the sport that much, I think mainly because my feet do not function well in sports. Running was always the weakest part of my baseball game. We went through some training last weekend and it just confirmed that soccer is not my sport. However, I was asked by the Sports Pastor at our church if I would be willing to coach, and I accepted. I figure there's not really a whole lot to teach since they will all pretty much be chasing the ball like a swarm of bees. Besides, I'll have a cool Assistant Coach in Traci's cousin Bryan. It should be a fun season and I'm really looking forward to it. The fact that all practices are immediately before the games on Saturdays (at 8AM) is nice too since it will still leave Saturdays very open for us. We take team pictures next weekend and the season starts September 11.
In preparation for the season, I will be spending tomorrow, most of the day, at church helping construct the new indoor soccer walls for the upcoming season. I'm excited because I may be able to use my screw gun, which doesn't get a whole lot of use, and I really enjoy using it when I do. Plus it will be good to know that I have helped get the church gym ready for the season. (Traci will be at an all-day meeting for Women's Leadership for our church, so the grandparents will enjoy some quality time with the girls.)
Sunday will be made up of church,and Sunday School BBQ/game day and then a birthday party (out in Corona). it should be a pretty fun day and I'm looking forward to all of it, but I know I'll be pretty tired at the end of the say, not to mention probably sore from Saturday's work day.
Let me back in time slightly. Last night turned out to be quite the interesting night. Since Traci was hosting a MOPS leadership meeting at our house, I needed to take the girls somewhere for a while and Disneyland was the first place we all thought of, but we didn't have enough gas in either car and we didn't have enough money to put gas in either car until I got paid today so, Disneyland was out. So off to my parents' house we went. The girls always have a good time over there and last night was no exception. Things got interesting very quickly towards the2 teeth had been knocked out: the two top front teeth. The right one was already hanging on by a thread so it didn't bleed as much as the other which was loose, but not nearly as loose as the other one. I'm assuming that was the one she was holding in her hand since there was so much blood on it. My mom and I had her sit on the couch to put pressure on her gums, with a paper towel, where the teeth had fallen out. Within about a minute, the paper towel was half red with all the blood has absorbed. Fortunately, it began clotting pretty quickly after that and after 5-10 minutes, the bleeding was done. We started looking for the other tooth but couldn't find it. (Fortunately, my parents found it as soon as we left and brought it over.) So now Courtney has a big gap in the front of her mouth since the two top teeth are no longer there and one on the bottom (immediately to her left of the middle teeth) recently also fell out. Now there is another tooth hanging on by a thread on the bottom on the other side of the middle teeth. That one could easily fall out anytime as it can already be pushed pretty far forward and back. So she has lost 5 teeth by the time she is 6 1/2 (today) with a sixth ready to go. School pictures should be classic this year!
Now that it's just past midnight and I need to get to bed, I'll sign off. Until next time!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Frustration, Anxiety and Patience, Oh My!
Work is as interesting as it has ever been right now. As you may or may not know, Chevron is downsizing. Well, the Global Downstream part of Chevron is downsizing. There are 8 stages to it. They refer to it as ROM (Resource Optimization Management). You know, one of those big fancy corporate terms that sounds better than downsizing.
This week is the beginning of ROM7, or the seventh round of ROM, and it happens to be the round I am in. Here's how it works. At the beginning of the week, they post all of the positions worldwide that are included in this round. In this case, that number is 1,431, of which 273 were in the US, about 20-25 in Southern California, and about 8 in El Segundo (all our department...lucky me). We each choose 5 positions we would like to apply for and then meet with our manager to discuss which four he would like to nominate us for and then one choice we nominate ourselves for.
On Monday, I reviewed the positions available and put in for three procurement positions (within my department) and two in Brea that I think I could do well. Next week, nothing happens. The week after that, all managers who oversee the position affected in this round meet in HQ in San Ramon and discuss/debate who should be placed in what position. The following week, we are told what position we have or that we have been "left standing" as they put it. So at this point in time, I basically have to wait for at least two weeks to find out my fate.
However, in wanting to head this off and not go through this whole process, I have applied for five other positions with Chevron, but in the Global Upstream part of the business (and not in Procurement). Four of the five positions have closed (no longer accepting applicants) and one closes on Monday. At this point, the four that are closed are in the process of determining who they want to interview and who they want to issue the "Thank you, but no thank you" e-mails to. I haven't received any e-mails yet, so that's a good thing, but I haven't received an invitation for an interview yet either. Being in holding position as I am now with these five, as well as the other five, is not very comfortable.
Here's how I see it. I am at a 3-way fork in the road. One direction keeps me going straight ahead with a very similar position to what I have now, one represents the unknown, and one represents BIG changes. The worst part of being at this 3-way fork is that I don't have much control over it. I'll be happy as long as I am not sent down the unknown road. That road is like the road that fades off into the fog: you know it's there, but you have no idea where it will take you.
So, that's where I'm at...very on-edge about work. I guess for now all I can do is keep doing the job I have, and pray. After all, I know God has a plan for me. I just wish I knew what it was.
This week is the beginning of ROM7, or the seventh round of ROM, and it happens to be the round I am in. Here's how it works. At the beginning of the week, they post all of the positions worldwide that are included in this round. In this case, that number is 1,431, of which 273 were in the US, about 20-25 in Southern California, and about 8 in El Segundo (all our department...lucky me). We each choose 5 positions we would like to apply for and then meet with our manager to discuss which four he would like to nominate us for and then one choice we nominate ourselves for.
On Monday, I reviewed the positions available and put in for three procurement positions (within my department) and two in Brea that I think I could do well. Next week, nothing happens. The week after that, all managers who oversee the position affected in this round meet in HQ in San Ramon and discuss/debate who should be placed in what position. The following week, we are told what position we have or that we have been "left standing" as they put it. So at this point in time, I basically have to wait for at least two weeks to find out my fate.
However, in wanting to head this off and not go through this whole process, I have applied for five other positions with Chevron, but in the Global Upstream part of the business (and not in Procurement). Four of the five positions have closed (no longer accepting applicants) and one closes on Monday. At this point, the four that are closed are in the process of determining who they want to interview and who they want to issue the "Thank you, but no thank you" e-mails to. I haven't received any e-mails yet, so that's a good thing, but I haven't received an invitation for an interview yet either. Being in holding position as I am now with these five, as well as the other five, is not very comfortable.
Here's how I see it. I am at a 3-way fork in the road. One direction keeps me going straight ahead with a very similar position to what I have now, one represents the unknown, and one represents BIG changes. The worst part of being at this 3-way fork is that I don't have much control over it. I'll be happy as long as I am not sent down the unknown road. That road is like the road that fades off into the fog: you know it's there, but you have no idea where it will take you.
So, that's where I'm at...very on-edge about work. I guess for now all I can do is keep doing the job I have, and pray. After all, I know God has a plan for me. I just wish I knew what it was.
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