Thanks Meara! I'll look into it.

Meeting one down. 4 more to go.

Good luck, Scrappy!

Epic, it would be a really good idea to update your resume.

Yeah, I've already started making mental notes and I'm planning to print one out & start scribbling on it today.

Don't forget the Buffista resume whisperers, either.

Oh yeah, will definitely call on the skillset represented by folks hereabouts.

Epic, that's the longest lead time I ever heard of for a lay-off. It's good to know way in advance, though.

My last job we got what was supposed to be 3ish months, but turned into 7 months. In a way, I think that was easier, because it was a reasonable window for "update resume NOW", "start networking NOW". Although I'll still gladly take this over the ones where someone shows up at your desk with a pink slip and a box for your stuff.

I've been telling a few people here (empathizing with the departments who already knew they were on their way out, breaking it to my department that they won't have me anymore), and everyone agrees that there's NO WAY they can pull off the transition they're planning for by the end of 2014. So there's a very good chance that it will end up being more than 2 years, but I'm still planning on 2014 as a semi-hard date, just for making plans if nothing else. (And if I make plans for a trip & buy tickets and stuff and they decide they still need me, I can make them bribe me to come back after my trip!)

So, I'm having a little attitude problem today, which I've decided I'm allowed for a day or two. So I'll do my job, but I'm not knocking myself out about it. What are they gonna do, fire me? (This was also my mantra for longish lunches and wearing yoga or track pants every day at the last job, Will try to control myself - starting next week).

One good thing, I can post more and be less lurky for a while - what are they gonna do, fire me?

ETA Good luck, Scrappy! Have an awesome tryout - break a leg!

So, I'm having a little attitude problem today, which I've decided I'm allowed for a day or two. So I'll do my job, but I'm not knocking myself out about it. What are they gonna do, fire me? (This was also my mantra for longish lunches and wearing yoga or track pants every day at the last job, Will try to control myself - starting next week).

Honestly, this sounds like a perfectly fine attitude to have for right now. And reminds me of when my mom quit one secretarial job for a gruff but sweet older man to do paralegal work for a bigger muckety-muck. He wished her well and was happy she was getting the opportunity, but also a little sulky over how much he'd miss her. And every time some tiny thing happened (stapler gone awry, out of coffee, typewriter key got stuck) he would grump, "Outrageous! And I can't even fire you, you've already quit."

Heaps of shining Scrappy~ma to Scrappy!

Epic,

I think you are right to allow yourself a week or so to be in a funk and then focus on plans for the future. Disappointment is still disappointment and we should allow ourselves to feel it before suppressing it and moving on to the next thing.

I don't necessarily believe in burning bridges, but you aren't in a fun situation either - no matter how much lead time you have.

I am in academe and I 've seen faculty not get tenure and have a year to figure out WTF their next steps are and others who have exhausted their last appeal and have 8 weeks to pack up their offices and go. it is true that the lead time can help people to plan on one level, but when your employer tells you you have to go, it doesn't feel good and people treat you differently.

The best of job-seeking~ma to Scrappy and Epic, and everyone else who needs it. Tough world we live in. Having a less than ideal work situation makes it tougher.

ION I am making low-sodium barbecue rib tips to take to Daniel's mom. Her appetite is still not what it should be, and it is simply not easy to learn all the secrets of making tempting, tasty, low-sodium food on the fly. But since I learned many of those secrets years ago, these are going to be Teh Yum.

Have you played with nutritional yeast, WindSparrow? Vegetarians and vegans like it because it gives that sort of rich, meaty, umami, flavor. I keep seeing it described as "cheese-like" but I really don't think that's an accurate description.

I like it in gravys and sauces now that I make them without stock. It is pretty low in sodium and really punches up flavor.

Personally I find the name intimidating but use is simple, you can sprinkle and stir like you would with salt. Many health food stores sell it by the pound so you can just get a little to play with.

If you can't tell, I really like the stuff. [link]

Vegetarians and vegans like it because it gives that sort of rich, meaty, umami, flavor. I keep seeing it described as "cheese-like" but I really don't think that's an accurate description.

I've seen vegan recipes for mac and cheese that use nutritional yeast for the cheese flavor. (I've not tried them, so I don't know.) And I have a friend who always sprinkles it on her popcorn.

It is "cheese-like" but not to the absence of being "mushroom-like" or "meat-like" if that makes any sense.

And, imho, it acts like salt. If you have chickpeas and you just eat them out of a bowl they tase fine. If you sprinkle the nutritional yeast on them they taste AWESOME. It's not "Mmmmm! Who put cheese on these garbanzos?" so much as "I can't stop eatin these things!"