Today, my parents, sister and BIL went to a funeral in Chandler...the wife of the deceased is my dad's cousin, so not particularly close, but my parents wanted to go pay their respects and catch up with people they haven't seen in a long time. The family is actually from Queen Creek, a tiny (or used to be small) community just south of Phoenix. Growing up we used to spend a lot of time visiting relatives, who lived rural and very simple. I remember walking miles along the railroad tracks besides farmland, sometimes until the sun was well set. As we'd walk, we would tell scary stories, my cousins were good storytellers. I was/am so gullible I'd believe every word they said. Little did I realize, it was the fabrication of those stories from our aunts who just wanted us home at a decent hour. My sister and I were younger than our more mature, older cousins, maybe 2-3 years. Seeing them today with their families, made me realize that time does indeed fly by. They look so old, even those that were younger than I. I must look old to them too!
The weather here has been gorgeous!!! Absolutely beautiful...blue skies, warm days, chilly nights - but still you can do things outside. May have been 72F today for a high. Alisha and I have been walking in Sabino Canyon after work, 5:15 pm, and by the time we're done, over 2 miles, the sun is just setting. Good workout, and gives me a good night sleep. I just seem to be very hungry lately, so trying to eat healthy too.
Glen has to work tomorrow, so I'm on my own for most of the morning. Even when he's not home, I'll make a good breakfast of eggs, potatoes, toast. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and gets me off to a good start. We'll watch the game on Sunday, maybe grill some steaks and chill...Go Cards!!
Talk soon...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wages & adjustments...
My where does the time go?? I didn't realize I hadn't made an entry since the first of the year! Maybe I just don't have much to say...or I have to much to say that I can't even piece it together for an entry.
Work is still very slow business-wise. We went through another round of lay offs the second week of January, another 40 positions. Some of the part time massage therapists were asked to give up their health insurance. Many part timers were cut completely. Those of us that remain are working hard to ensure guest services are impacted as little as possible. From what I understand, house counts are picking up, but it will take us a while to make up what we've lost. Today, another round of communication was scheduled. When they say that, you know it can't be good. The admins from Executive were called into the conference room for a meeting about 3:30 pm. Basically, there will be wage adjustments, anywhere from 2% to 12%...the higher you are on the wage scale, the bigger your cut. Paid time off will also be slashed. Since I've been there for 2 years, I am losing 1 day per year. People who are 20+ years tenured will loose 3 days. The good thing is I still have a job!! Truly, I am so thankful! Back in September, when the whole banking/investment fiasco began or came to light, our Executive team put together a contingency plan in case the industry failed to make a quick rebound. It didn't, so we implemented what was to begin a major overhaul of our business model. Started with layoffs, operational and capital expenses were put on hold. This wage adjustment is the last piece to put in place so that we can ride it out. Of course, there isn't a crystal ball that will tell whether the worst is over, but at least they have thought ahead. Our health insurance plan remains intact, and though the employer match contribution in our 401K has been eliminated, at least it is still offered. After 9/11, they made a 20% across the board cut in wages, so this isn't that bad.
There was a job fair at the convention center yesterday...66 employers had representatives on hand taking resumes for open positions, and recruiters doing on-the-spot interviews. Six thousand people passed through the job fair!! They were expecting 3,000. There is another job expo planned for next month. February and March are our big months for tourists, Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, Accenture Golf Match Play, rodeo, etc., and the hotels are reporting record lows in occupancy. Another sign of the times.
Sorry to be all gloom and doom, but it is what it is (as Phil would say)...talk soon...
Work is still very slow business-wise. We went through another round of lay offs the second week of January, another 40 positions. Some of the part time massage therapists were asked to give up their health insurance. Many part timers were cut completely. Those of us that remain are working hard to ensure guest services are impacted as little as possible. From what I understand, house counts are picking up, but it will take us a while to make up what we've lost. Today, another round of communication was scheduled. When they say that, you know it can't be good. The admins from Executive were called into the conference room for a meeting about 3:30 pm. Basically, there will be wage adjustments, anywhere from 2% to 12%...the higher you are on the wage scale, the bigger your cut. Paid time off will also be slashed. Since I've been there for 2 years, I am losing 1 day per year. People who are 20+ years tenured will loose 3 days. The good thing is I still have a job!! Truly, I am so thankful! Back in September, when the whole banking/investment fiasco began or came to light, our Executive team put together a contingency plan in case the industry failed to make a quick rebound. It didn't, so we implemented what was to begin a major overhaul of our business model. Started with layoffs, operational and capital expenses were put on hold. This wage adjustment is the last piece to put in place so that we can ride it out. Of course, there isn't a crystal ball that will tell whether the worst is over, but at least they have thought ahead. Our health insurance plan remains intact, and though the employer match contribution in our 401K has been eliminated, at least it is still offered. After 9/11, they made a 20% across the board cut in wages, so this isn't that bad.
There was a job fair at the convention center yesterday...66 employers had representatives on hand taking resumes for open positions, and recruiters doing on-the-spot interviews. Six thousand people passed through the job fair!! They were expecting 3,000. There is another job expo planned for next month. February and March are our big months for tourists, Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, Accenture Golf Match Play, rodeo, etc., and the hotels are reporting record lows in occupancy. Another sign of the times.
Sorry to be all gloom and doom, but it is what it is (as Phil would say)...talk soon...
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
We went to my sister's house last night about 9 pm...both Glen and I worked all day. The guests at my sister's house were a mix of people we didn't know, until our other sister arrived. We stayed until about 11:30 pm then made our way home. We were definitely in bed by the stroke of midnight, when all the fireworks, guns, etc., started going off for a good half hour. I don't like to be out and about at midnight, or even be awake at that hour. My nana used to tell us it was the bewitching hour, though I've heard its closer to 3 am. When did it change?
I walked 4 miles this morning in 45F sunny weather. It was a beautiful day, and the walk felt good. The path I walk takes me downhill and back up again...my legs are a bit sore right now...a good sore :) Glen had to work today...he went in at 7 instead of the usual 5 am. I spent the day at my mom's chit chatting away until almost 4 pm when I started making my way back home.
Glen and I went to dinner at The Melting Pot - a fondue restaurant. Beth and Ken over in Nutwood had a fondue dinner yesterday. I like fondue. Glen had never been so it was an experience for him. It is a little pricey, but it is an experience for sure. By the time dessert came around, we were both stuffed, but who can pass up chocolate with a hint of chunky peanut butter; dippers included cheesecake, jumbo marshmallows, brownie, banana, strawberries, rice krispy treats. OMG...it was sooooo good!! Dinner was almost 3 hours long. I brushed my teeth as soon as I got home...lest all that sugar make my chompers fall out!
Both of us go back to work tomorrow. I'm sure Glen will work all weekend. His boss asked Glen where we wanted to go for the extra week of vacation time he will give Glen this year! Wooo hoo...
Talk soon...
I walked 4 miles this morning in 45F sunny weather. It was a beautiful day, and the walk felt good. The path I walk takes me downhill and back up again...my legs are a bit sore right now...a good sore :) Glen had to work today...he went in at 7 instead of the usual 5 am. I spent the day at my mom's chit chatting away until almost 4 pm when I started making my way back home.
Glen and I went to dinner at The Melting Pot - a fondue restaurant. Beth and Ken over in Nutwood had a fondue dinner yesterday. I like fondue. Glen had never been so it was an experience for him. It is a little pricey, but it is an experience for sure. By the time dessert came around, we were both stuffed, but who can pass up chocolate with a hint of chunky peanut butter; dippers included cheesecake, jumbo marshmallows, brownie, banana, strawberries, rice krispy treats. OMG...it was sooooo good!! Dinner was almost 3 hours long. I brushed my teeth as soon as I got home...lest all that sugar make my chompers fall out!
Both of us go back to work tomorrow. I'm sure Glen will work all weekend. His boss asked Glen where we wanted to go for the extra week of vacation time he will give Glen this year! Wooo hoo...
Talk soon...
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