I spent 10 years at a publishing company in Ventura and then at the beginning of this year I moved to Amgen. But, on Wednesday, October 10, 2007, I was given my freedom. I was one of the 1,500 who received ‘the package’. I celebrated and rejoiced! But, many others were devistated by the news. So much of their life, career, hopes and dreams were tied up in that company.

The day after we all got the news, Amgen held a special meeting for us in the conference room of a local hotel to discuss the details of our severance package. Can I just say, WOWOW!!!! Yeah, Amgen is amazing. But while I was rejoicing I was hearing stories of people who had home mortgages, car loans and all sorts of home, auto, and life insurance through Amgen and now that was all going to change. It was like being cut out of your parent’s will. I suddenly realized that what for me meant freedom for others meant the death of a life they had lived for so long. WOW … kinda scary to be that intertwined in one place.

The only sad thing about my leaving is the day-to-day interaction I had with my friends. Scott was my cube-mate and so we spent many hours, days, weeks, months building our friendship. We will still have it but it’s the moment to moment inside jokes and our morning eggs that Tony prepared for us everyday that I will miss. We laughed so much together—often my belly would ache from so much laughter. We became like brother and sister. We could hear some random office chatter and all we had to do is look at each other to know what we were both thinking! Oh man we had some crazy characters that sat around us. Ahhh good times.

Rich—I loved our daily interaction. But, with Rich I know we will stay close no matter what because it was Rich that got me this job. We have been friends for a long time and I know that wont change.

Dan—I will miss our random IMing though out the day.

Sheri, Tracy, Deona, Wendy—what an amazing group of people.

Here are some pictures from my goodbye/birthday lunch. Yeah, I told everyone that Amgen gave me the best birthday present ever—My FREEDOM!!

Me and Scott

Wendy and Sheri

Tracy and Me

Beth, Rich and Deona

(We are actually getting away together next weekend!! Newport Beach here we come!!)

Next: Time to tackle the backyard!!!

 To see the final bathroom, hallway and bedroom pictures click …

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Here are my results:

You are Boone Carlyle

Boone Carlyle 90% Kate Austen 70% Mr. Eko 70% Michael Dawson 68% Charlie Pace 60% Sayid Jarrah 60% Claire Littleton 60% Shannon Rutherford 56% James “Sawyer” Ford 55% Jin-Soo Kwon 55% Walt Lloyd 52% Dr. Jack Shephard 48% John Locke 40% Hugo “Hurley” Reyes 35% Ana-Lucia Cortez 32% Sun Kwon 30% You are a wealthy and good-looking person who tries to keep your friends and loved ones out of trouble.

Now all we need is some stain on the shelves and door and some paint on the walls and we are done!!

More to come …

Here is what he has done so far:

More to come ….

    

Oh and we now have a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters last twice as long, consume half the gas, and never run out of hot water. They’re good for the environment and in the end they save you money. Just one of the ways we are trying to live more green!

This is what a tankless water heater looks like:

 

  

More progress to come …