Hi Everyone
happy Tuesday. Quick post for you tonight.
I got the chance to play along with the Case This Sketch challenge this weekend:
I saw this sketch and immediately thought of my new layering Rooster set from hero Arts. Now… I can hear you asking why on earth was I interested in THIS set. Well… that's probably because I am a rooster in Chinese Astrology and, because it is the Year of the Rooster – and I am a Rooster – it is not a particularly auspicious year for me. So, I decided I was going to completely and utterly embrace that lack of luck and play with some Rooster samps 🙂
I began by creating a chicken wire background from a stencil and stamping a light brown ink from Altenew onto a Simon Says Stamp Kraft card stock. Once that was complete, I set about stamping the muiltiple layers of the Rooster onto a kraft cardstock and die cut the elements out. I layered the whole thing onto Simon Says Stamp Schoolhouse Red card stock. The cockscomb might look a little odd, but that's because I put some Spectrum Noir ink – and then some Crystal effects onto the cockscomb and his face. In real life it adds a little shimmer and texture 🙂
Here's my card:
I really think the wonky stitched rectangles work perfectly with this image 🙂
On a personal note:
Well… tomorrow is d-day for me. It's the day that I finally say goodbye to 30 years at my company. I am not doing this willingly. But my company is forcing me – and thousands of others like me – to resign – or move thousands of miles across country. That thousands of miles means that I would have to move me, Lou and my cats to New York City – downtown Manhattan actually – with no salary increase. We could sell our wonderful house on the wetland and buy a zero bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment in Harlem. yep…that is a 0 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment in Harlem. Now… I am a little too old to be living in a bedsit. I haven't done that since I first started work in the 70s.
Because I broke service with my company – I am not endowed with a wonderful pension that would allow us both to sit back and watch the garden grow. At this point, I have no idea what I am going to do – but I am going to take a couple of months off, celebrate my upcoming BIG birthday and then decide what this next stage of my life might bring. It's going to be a financial struggle – but I am totally ready to break free from a company that is prepared to tear families apart for some hair brained scheme to get rid of employees over 40 and replace them with employees in their 20s.
Last year I worked anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day, sitting at my desk – unable to take vacations and working weekends because my executive doesn't like their employees taking vacation. I remember being on the phone with a colleague who was celebrating the Indian equivalent of the 4th of July and having to listen to him trying to placate our manager when he was trying to celebrate with his family at 9pm.
I remember keeping the driver waiting for over 70 minutes sitting in our driveway whilst I was trying to get away from a conversation with my manager so that Lou and I could get on a plane to England. I remember having to leave a day late for our little anniversary weekend – because my manager was so emphatic that I couldn't leave without completing some meaningless set of charts that would never be seen by anyone. I remember being on a call with a colleague whose husband had suffered a heart attack and she was sitting outside his room in ICU because she had to finish up even more meaningless charts
.This last year was the toughest of my career and I take delight in telling my manager tomorrow that I have absolutely NO intention of moving to NYC. I have no idea what the future holds – but I know that it will not entail selling my soul and risking my health. So, I will take my 30 days severance pay and use that time to do the things that I love – with the people I love. because, after all….. that is what life is about.
I will be back tomorrow with another card that I made this weekend. In the meantime, warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight
Hugs
Jaydee
Card recipe:
- stamp set: layered rooster – hero arts
- cardstock: simon says stamp – kraft and schoolhouse red
- inks – hero arts
13 Responses
Good for you. Your employers don’t deserve hardworking, loyal staff and then kick them in the teeth in order to save money. Shame on them!
I’m sure something much better is around the corner for you, good luck but most of all, be happy. Life’s too short.
I’m so sorry that you finished your lengthy time with that company dealing with such a jerk. Ridiculous! I hope that you have much enjoyment and relaxation during your respite and that you find a wonderful way to spend your remaining working years. You deserve it!
I’m so sorry that you have to go thru this but remember that when one door closes another opens. You’ll find the right place to be and will be happier. Best wishes and enjoy your time off.
We are promised Shalom, peace, prosperity and wellness, thru our Lord. Greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world. I look forward to hearing the wonderful adventure you will have. God Bless and enjoy the time to re-group. BJ Green
Jaydee,
I experienced losing my job after 24 years with the same company. They moved my job out of state and rather than follow them, I resigned. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I got another job with half the pay but also half the stress. It was so worth it. I think you will find this is a good thing that happened to you. Relax, enjoy your time off. Life is too short to spend it working all the time. Good luck to you!
The old saying everything happens for a reason. I truly believe this! I was forced to
Leave my job due to on job injury. (No million $ settlement either.). Although my injuries
Left me disabled and forever in pain, God has blessed me.
My advice to you Jayden, is to enjoy each day your away from a thankless job is to make each day an
adventure. Start a new career, enjoy your time with Lou and your beautiful home.
Count your blessings and be happy.
Thoughts and prayers to you if “you need a little lift tonight”.
What a shame that corporate America does not appreciate the employees who are so dedicated.
You will be rewarded for those many years of dedication.
Your future employer will have a one of a kind very special employee.
Enjoy your time off–crafting is a wonderful way to forget the daily problems we deal with!
Thinking and praying for you.
Your attitude sounds very healthy. I admire your tenacity and ability to move on. I believe we all need to take care of ourselves and do what is best for ourselves. No one knows what the future holds but you are open to whatever that is. You will survive and be better off without this burden that has been holding you down. Enjoy your beautiful home and your time to regroup. I am proud of you. Can’t wait to hear what comes next.
My heart goes out to you, however, you sound strong. Hope you can stay that way and find peace. Know that your cyber friends care. Especially me.
I am sorry about the “cold” personnel that you are working for……..they do not realize the “asset” they have in hard working employees, such as yourself. Like many have said before……when one door closes another opens. You will find another job & hope it will be an exciting one. It is not always the money that makes a job interesting but the job itself, the people & the end result. I know you have worked way too many hours in one day lately & not have a good feeling at the end of those hours. Enjoy your respite, enjoy your darling, Lou, & your four-legged family. Time is way too short……every hour should be a blessing. Keep up the crafting…..enjoy checking in on your blog.
It amasses me when corporate lets a over 40 employee go and has to hire 2, 25 year olds to do what over 40 did. Happening to a friend now, and the kicker, they want her to train her replacement!! Good luck in your next chapter. Stay strong. Sending hugs and prayers.
Oh, Jaydee, I just read this post and feel so bad for you…but yet so happy for you! Yes, not having a job will be stressful because you’ve been a dedicated employee for 30 some years, and not having income for a time will be rough, but you will be FREE. I so hope you released a big sigh of relief after you told your manager. I finally decided to not postpone my retirement one more year because I was sick of the stress that the job brought along with that nice paycheck. I know you’re too young to retire, but follow your heart and you’ll find your place.
Stef
xx
Wonderful take on the sketch–that is one handsome rooster!
And much luck with your future endeavors