Workplace Move + Layoffs / Nicole in California / PS4 Swap / Chip + Fireworks / Val in an Accident
Been a bizarre June month. For months, there's been a group of people plotting to move my software department to the basement level below the cleanroom at the factory I work at. For the last 18 months, we've been in a quiet corner of the ground floor just outside the cleanroom, which allowed us to pass equipment back and forth with ease. Sure, it was a tight cramped place, but it worked. The basement, by contrast, is noisy and dusty and far away from the cleanroom. Some were concerned this could be too great an adjustment and that it would ultimately prove to be a time-wasting move. At least we knew it wouldn't happen until later on this summer.
No such luck: The move occurred three weeks ago towards the beginning of June. The first week was a shock. We had no warning. The space we're moving into is barely able to support us. So much work needs to be done to the building to make it legitimately inhabitable. There's noise concerns, lighting concerns, electrical outlet concerns, and only half the shelving is installed. Yea; this should have waited until mid-summer but ohh well. As always, we're flexible people thankfully, so we'll make it work. If anything, right now it's kind of an interesting adventure to make this new interesting space work.
The other thing about my job that's given us some stress is that they laid off a quarter of my department's staff two weeks ago. This included my immediate coworker whom I trained and had here for just over one whole year. We've been in a weird slump the whole year and it's expected to continue through the rest of the year. I can understand why they had to cut people and knowing how important I am, I never didn't feel safe. But I put a lot of effort into my partner and I came to rely on him for the more basic stuff that needs to be done around here. He wasn't the perfect employee but it was nice to have that cushion. So now it's just me; alone again to run my little software department all alone twelve hours a day four days a week. Just another adventure to find the silver lining about.
For the last whole week, Nicole drove by herself the 600 miles to visit her family in central California. Late last year, her father suffered a heart attack and she's been meaning to visit ever since. With my workplace forcing an unpaid shutdown in July, we can't afford me taking any time off, so she went by herself. I guess the trip was pretty good! Her family is puttering along and her brother is easing into his mid-20s living at home. Her vehicle held up and there were no issues. While Nicole was gone, I was here working but in my time off I did some thrifting and prepared little gifts for her return. It's funny how fast that time went by. Coming up next: Her family is coming up our way for a visit in July! Just a few weeks away! Scarier than that will be that this will be their first time meeting my mother! The last time they were up here, my father was dying of cancer, so no one was in the mood for a visit in the least. It's funny how Nicole and I have gone our entire dating lives and approaching a year of being married without our parents ever meeting. That's like six whole years. Wow.
I've been having fun with video games lately. For the last few months, we've been tinkering with a Nintendo Wii. The latest thing I've been having fun with was a crazy exchange I went through to get an upgraded Playstation 4. There are three PS4 models: The "Launch" console (500GB), the "Slim" (1TB but same specs), and the "Pro" (1TB with upgraded specs). I got my PS4, a Launch version, several years ago; possibly three years at this point. Back then, I bought a used console online from some major retailer to save some bucks. The one they sent me had a weird crack down the side but it worked flawlessly so I didn't mind.
Fast forward to now and the PS4 Pro is a thing. It's got twice the hard drive space and upgraded specs throughout. It'd make my VR headset even better and every game would see a benefit. Plus, I'd be ready for 4K video content just as soon as I got a 4K HDTV. The problem is that it's $400 and for Nicole and me who are casual gamers, it's just not worth the new expense. And with each passing day, my current "Launch" PS4 depreciates. Ohh well, right?
Wrong! Suddenly and out of the blue, a national retailer with a local branch was running a one-week promotion a couple weeks ago where they'd give you $250 in store credit if you turned in a working Launch PS4. The catch was that you had to immediately buy a $300 Nintendo Switch by using that $250 credit and tossing in an extra $50. Now that's a smoking hot deal considering they typically only offer $115 for a working PS4. A deals website I follow had a thread on this and people were talking about how they just took that Switch and immediately returned it so they could put it towards a different console, such as the PS4 Pro, which was on sale at the time for $350. If I could get that $250 credit, put in $50 to get the Switch, then trade it back for $300, then add another $50 for the on-sale Pro, I would have an upgraded console for only $100.
It worked! I swapped my old cracked (But working) PS4 for a Switch then swapped that for a brand new PS4 Pro after putting in only a total of $100. Now I've got this fun upgrade that'll retain its value better for several years to come.
We've realized Chip hasn't experienced a Portland Fourth of July yet. In our old suburban neighborhood, people love to set off fireworks weeks in advance. This year is no different and we're learning Chip doesn't like the noises. He shakes and hides. The other dogs he's with at my mothers' house don't seem phased by the noises at all, so we're hoping that rubs off on Chip. It's going to be a rough Fourth of July and it's still a week away...
Lastly, word came earlier this week that my sister, her husband, and a friend, were involved in a car wreck outside their home north of Portland. It looks like they slid on a gravel road and flipped their new car. Val's husband and the friend walked away, but Val herself suffered several injuries including broken ribs. She's down and out for a long period of time and the car was totaled but we're thankful everyone survived and will make full and speedy recoveries! What a week!
No such luck: The move occurred three weeks ago towards the beginning of June. The first week was a shock. We had no warning. The space we're moving into is barely able to support us. So much work needs to be done to the building to make it legitimately inhabitable. There's noise concerns, lighting concerns, electrical outlet concerns, and only half the shelving is installed. Yea; this should have waited until mid-summer but ohh well. As always, we're flexible people thankfully, so we'll make it work. If anything, right now it's kind of an interesting adventure to make this new interesting space work.
The other thing about my job that's given us some stress is that they laid off a quarter of my department's staff two weeks ago. This included my immediate coworker whom I trained and had here for just over one whole year. We've been in a weird slump the whole year and it's expected to continue through the rest of the year. I can understand why they had to cut people and knowing how important I am, I never didn't feel safe. But I put a lot of effort into my partner and I came to rely on him for the more basic stuff that needs to be done around here. He wasn't the perfect employee but it was nice to have that cushion. So now it's just me; alone again to run my little software department all alone twelve hours a day four days a week. Just another adventure to find the silver lining about.
For the last whole week, Nicole drove by herself the 600 miles to visit her family in central California. Late last year, her father suffered a heart attack and she's been meaning to visit ever since. With my workplace forcing an unpaid shutdown in July, we can't afford me taking any time off, so she went by herself. I guess the trip was pretty good! Her family is puttering along and her brother is easing into his mid-20s living at home. Her vehicle held up and there were no issues. While Nicole was gone, I was here working but in my time off I did some thrifting and prepared little gifts for her return. It's funny how fast that time went by. Coming up next: Her family is coming up our way for a visit in July! Just a few weeks away! Scarier than that will be that this will be their first time meeting my mother! The last time they were up here, my father was dying of cancer, so no one was in the mood for a visit in the least. It's funny how Nicole and I have gone our entire dating lives and approaching a year of being married without our parents ever meeting. That's like six whole years. Wow.
I've been having fun with video games lately. For the last few months, we've been tinkering with a Nintendo Wii. The latest thing I've been having fun with was a crazy exchange I went through to get an upgraded Playstation 4. There are three PS4 models: The "Launch" console (500GB), the "Slim" (1TB but same specs), and the "Pro" (1TB with upgraded specs). I got my PS4, a Launch version, several years ago; possibly three years at this point. Back then, I bought a used console online from some major retailer to save some bucks. The one they sent me had a weird crack down the side but it worked flawlessly so I didn't mind.
Fast forward to now and the PS4 Pro is a thing. It's got twice the hard drive space and upgraded specs throughout. It'd make my VR headset even better and every game would see a benefit. Plus, I'd be ready for 4K video content just as soon as I got a 4K HDTV. The problem is that it's $400 and for Nicole and me who are casual gamers, it's just not worth the new expense. And with each passing day, my current "Launch" PS4 depreciates. Ohh well, right?
Wrong! Suddenly and out of the blue, a national retailer with a local branch was running a one-week promotion a couple weeks ago where they'd give you $250 in store credit if you turned in a working Launch PS4. The catch was that you had to immediately buy a $300 Nintendo Switch by using that $250 credit and tossing in an extra $50. Now that's a smoking hot deal considering they typically only offer $115 for a working PS4. A deals website I follow had a thread on this and people were talking about how they just took that Switch and immediately returned it so they could put it towards a different console, such as the PS4 Pro, which was on sale at the time for $350. If I could get that $250 credit, put in $50 to get the Switch, then trade it back for $300, then add another $50 for the on-sale Pro, I would have an upgraded console for only $100.
It worked! I swapped my old cracked (But working) PS4 for a Switch then swapped that for a brand new PS4 Pro after putting in only a total of $100. Now I've got this fun upgrade that'll retain its value better for several years to come.
We've realized Chip hasn't experienced a Portland Fourth of July yet. In our old suburban neighborhood, people love to set off fireworks weeks in advance. This year is no different and we're learning Chip doesn't like the noises. He shakes and hides. The other dogs he's with at my mothers' house don't seem phased by the noises at all, so we're hoping that rubs off on Chip. It's going to be a rough Fourth of July and it's still a week away...
Lastly, word came earlier this week that my sister, her husband, and a friend, were involved in a car wreck outside their home north of Portland. It looks like they slid on a gravel road and flipped their new car. Val's husband and the friend walked away, but Val herself suffered several injuries including broken ribs. She's down and out for a long period of time and the car was totaled but we're thankful everyone survived and will make full and speedy recoveries! What a week!