Running with the Ward's: November 2008

So yesterday, my friend and colleague, pinged me to ask if I had heard about the recent firings/layoffs. I had not...I never know the latest office gossip. Two fellow tax seniors were let go this week. Their cubes are two rows over from mine and they are the same position as me. Although they were both in the personal financial area while I am in corporate. But still, we are viewed as the same position for the most part since we are only slightly specialized at my level. I had to go to Waco yesterday and rode down with a partner and a staff. The partner ask us what the office buzz was and if there were any concerns among the staff. We brought up the state of the economy and how that effects us. He explained to us that the firm has no plans for a "lay-off", that we have way too much work already sold for the next year to get rid of good people. I brought up the "rumor" and he said that although they may let people go sooner in this type of ecomomy, the one-off firings, are a natural occurance when things are not working out with an individual. So basically, those were more performance and economy based firings. Even still, the thought enters my mind, that has never entered before, that could be me. So I will shut-up, put my head down and work.

I will post about California tomorrow...I promise. I have been swamped at work since I got back.

Justin and I got back from our California trip on Monday night. We had a great time and have tons of pics. I'm going to write about our trip in parts. This first part is about the Big Sur Half Marathon although it was on the last day we were in California. The race was so much fun. Amanda, Josh, and Justin walked me to the start at 7:05. They met me twice on the course, first on a bridge looking down on the runners, and then at the turn around point at mile 8. The race was beautiful going through downtown Monterey, downtown Pacific Grove, and along the Monterey peninsula coast. The weather was cloudy and drizzly for a lot of the race but that kept it cool and the sun out of my eyes. My final time was 2:31. My supporters were there at the finish line as well but they didn't make me walk home :) I got a cool finisher's medal that was designed by a local artist and a cute, orange running top. At the expo, I found the coolest thing. A lady makes charms customized for different races. I bought a Big Sur 1/2 charm and a pearl to go with it. She will make a charm for any race so I may get a few more for other races I've done. Here is a link if you want to get an idea of how it looks. It wouldn't let me me copy the picture from the site.

Here is a video Justin took of me finishing as well as some other cute pics from the race.