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I slept terribly last night. I left work early to work in my home lab and other than dinner, was busy with mundane operating system upgrade until about 9:00 last night. I'm putting all the routers on higher GD code and focusing on IP since the desktop protocols won't be on my recertification. There are about 15 recertification exams to choose from right now. I picked the IP recertification not because I thought it would be easier, but because it limits the scope of what I need to refresh before the test. The CCIE R&S exam is just too damn broad for me to cover all the topic areas in a couple of weeks. I upgraded my switches to current release code as well. EL made some yummy enchiladas for dinner and we talked about wedding decorations. I never realized there was so much to do. She has some cool ideas and I'm excited about helping her. I think I'm going to end up being in charge of the cake. Oye!! There are just a few days left in the week and the weight of the air at work is suffocating. Everyone is worried about layoffs. Everyone is fearful of losing their jobs... jeopardizing their career. It's really stressful having to work in that environment. I don't think the folks that wield the axe understand that most people would rather have one deep cut and be done with it than a series of nicks and scratches over a year or so... it is unbearable. Personally, I'm ok. If they lay me off, it will be their loss. I (gladly) work my ass off for my company and feel as though there is little appreciation. I don't mind so much about the lack of pats on the back as long as I am stably employed, but if I get lumped in some chump move to save the company a few bucks, I would be disappointed in my employer. Of course, there are a few of us there that would cost them a pretty penny in contractors to take over the work load once they realize how busy we actually are... which brings up another point that I think I've mentioned before. I really feel as sorry for the schmucks that keep their job as I do the ones that pack sand. Because, given our current reduced-force workload, we wouldn't have time to sleep if we lost many more. Welcome once again to Corporate America. Anyone want to start a mountain community and live like Amish? The roads are wet this morning. It must have rained on and off last night because I don't ever remember hearing rain during the many times I woke up mid-toss-n-turn last night. I talked to the driver that was commanding my METRO bus day before yesterday and he remembers no camera. Alas. Goodbye my sweet little camera. We had some good times together. *sniff* I honestly think I'm more upset at my loss of the wonderful pictures of mine and EL's trip to Austin than I am the 450 bones worth of hardware. By the time I talk myself into getting another digital camera, I'll probably be able to get the same model for half the price. Ha! It seems that a lot of my friends these days are buying houses. I'd love to be able to afford a house right now. I like the idea of EL and I picking a house together or having one build. I think our tastes in architecture and home decor are similar in enough ways that we'd find the perfect place for a purchase. The problem is down-payment cash. Now, that's a bitch. Maybe I'll start playing the lotto? I have had this rumble in my tummy all morning. I think I'm going to find food before I find my office today. Besides, this might be "the last supper" or err... breakfast... so to speak. If these layoffs are to happen, I really hope they are over with today. I miss the days when my coworkers smiled.