Recently, work had a voluntary severance package, where about 10% of the workforce left my employer. Since those 60+ received particularly generous packages, we’ve lost a significant amount of experience and knowledge in the past 2 weeks ( Read more... )

Several months ago (maybe over a year), a coworker went on extended medical leave. I hadn't heard any news from her until just before Christmas, so I was surprised to hear from her. She said she was making a point to call all her friends in honor of Christmas and just to let us all know she was thinking of us. I was incredibly touched by her ( Read more... )

First one is easy. One of my very good friends in RL (unfortunately, she doesn't have a LJ) is celebrating her birthday today. I plan to call later today; she jokes she expects my phone call each year because I'm so predictable. I've known her since sixth grade and been friends since about ninth grade ( Read more... )

... at work, I mean. One of my least favorite times of year. We've changed the process (yet again!) this year, so the employee has to write almost all of it now and the manager either agrees or disagrees with the assessment (and edits, as needed). This includes setting new goals ( Read more... )

... About Raptor X.

I've been hinting about a really nifty product I've been working on for several months now, and actually for longer than that in sporadic fits and starts.

So for the curious, the main site is here for Raptor X ( Read more... )

... come Wednesday, I mean, when I get back to work. Someone's leaked a picture of our upcoming product, the one that's not announced yet. And it's a pic only a handful of people internally have even seen, let alone had access to (yours truly included), so it won't be hard to put two-and-two together ( Read more... )

... like a batch of bad food, much as it ties your stomach in knots before then ( Read more... )

Quick bit of silliness that happened at Chevy's over lunch the other day (it's a Tex-Mex chain store known for good fajitas, fresh tortilla chips, and El Machino ( Read more... )

...and it's another yummy geek toy for me to play with ( Read more... )

Yep, even though National Engineers Week is in February each year, my company usually has our annual celebration of engineering achievements about this time of year. Maybe it's because the weather is nicer (even though HQ and this division are both in California), or they like holding it close to the end of the fiscal year ( Read more... )