Thanks Sir John for setting this up...and for the "Kennedy Krash" after the party....as the dreary months of winter approach and I remain glued to my computer seeking employment, I will welcome reading comments from the PubServCrew...
yeah john, thanks for the party friday. and I have since returned your wallet- minus a ten spot, the condom, and the adorable jc penney portrait of yourself (with the image of your side profile floating above). bit surprised to find the nambla card though. I kid, I kid. Thanks buddy.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving ! I just signed up for unemployment which was relatively painless! Ben, Im am happy to hear that you will not be needing to do this! Congratulations!! And Linda I dont know where William is... Did you find him!?
Laura, isn't William on his way to Austin? Jill, did you ever have an interview with Columbus? This has been a really good holiday and I don't really feel unemployed yet. I guess it will hit on Monday when a) there is no job to go to, and b) I'll sign up for unemployment here in PA. Also, I have had trouble opening the file with everyone's e-mail address, but I have a hard copy. If anyone has a file that they have been able to open at home, please send it to me at jelkie@msn.com. Now, I'll probably get 15 files!
When I left on Wednesday, William was waiting for a call from Andy (promised for around 12 noon). I was just wondering if anyone knew what had happened.
I also tried to send Ben an e-mail using his address on our list. It was returned to me. Is he trying to tell us something?
Hello All! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I have finally completed my 'initiation' here in FL, and will now hopefully be in touch regularly. I miss you guys!! (Don't tell Guild though)Oh yeah, and I regret not being there for the Kennedy bash. Maybe next time...
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!! I have now completed my "initiation" here in FL, and will be able to keep in touch more regularly... I miss you guys!! (Don't tell Guild, though). Oh yeah, and I'm sorry I missed the Kennedy bash. Maybe next time...
Hi everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Now it's back to reality.
I have a question I need answered ASAP (I'm interviewing at a staffing angency today): What were Fran's and Tobey's exact titles at MHEPS? I'm redoing my reference list, and I've misplaced my list of titles. Anyone know? Thanks!
Oh, and one more thing -- I saw William before I left at 1:30 on Wednesday, and he accepted an offer from Columbus, so he should be there ( or going there) soon.
I have to run to a dental appointment, so real quickly...I think Tobey's title was Senior Editor and Fran's is Director of Editorial Services, however, I think she will probably be using Editorial Director since that is a more commonly used title. Either one should be fine for your purposes.
It's the Monday after Thanksgiving. Thinking that I could sleep in, I stayed up until 3:00 am watching a documentary on how Bush stole elections. I woke up at 8:00 am. I played as much videogames and watched as much trashy television as I thought would be possible and it's barely 1:00 pm. I hope there are some decent job postings to apply to. If not, my incoming Netflix better hurry up. Oh yeah, I hope everyone had a happy thanksgiving.
p.s. Did Guild ever hear back from Pearson or should I assume that they received all of the Photoshop projects that I sent of him?
Darryl, thanks for the correction. I've heard from William who has accepted a job in Columbus and is waiting for a written confirmation. I've signed up for unemployment which is quite easy to do online. I also watched the taped Thanksgiving episode of Grey's Anatomy which was really good. Talk about intense workplaces. Of course, my daughter always reminds me that it's only TV, not real life. Really?
Ok...I'm going to try this again...did it once...Max and I arrived home on Wednesday, he put his jeans and "Vote for Pedro" t-shirt--me-- jeans and my "Flppin Sweet" t-shirt...omen of things to come????I hope so...Ben brought a tear to my eye when he called to let me know about his job...as for William, I hope we hear from that guy...said he was stopping in Virginia, but that was pre-Columbus news...miss the hell out of all of you...Sir Kennedy...when is the next Krash???? and Guild, remember, you are "EdProd Man"...you rock...they better hire you! hope you all had a great Turkey Day...I can just see my Barbara rolling her eyes now... "Your post is TOO long Crandall" Love you guys...
Thanks, Darryl. All systems seem to be go with the marriage license, too--we did our application last week, and we just have to pick up the official paper this week.
Hey, Mr. Kennedy, think it's time to start a new thread? Or post some photos?
I am happy to know that William is in Columbus (or will be). I emailed Andy and Lorraine yesterday to follow up and make sure they had my home contact info...Lorraine emailed back and said she and Andy will be in Columbus next week and they will call me then. Could they be any more evasive? ETS says they hope to have an answer this week, and Victoria's Secret is supposedly getting back to me any day now. The social studies guy in Columbus has not returned any messages since the miscommunication on Wednesday. So I am still unemployed. How soon before we are supposed to get bored with being home?
Thank for the help, Jean, Darryl, and Tobey. I actually did find Tobey's title later in one of the e-mails I forwarded, but I didn't have Fran's address.
I'm really glad to hear about people getting jobs. (Was Ben's job with DC Comics?) As for me, today I took an editing test for a smallish independent publisher. Yesterday I interviewed/tested at a staffing agency called The Creative Group, and the woman I talked to, Tracy Emken (who does editorial placement), seemed very energetic and encouraging. I can give any of you her contact info if you like. One thing I learned is that people get bonuses for referring new "talent" to them, even if the "talent" only works a single day. (I will tell them that Katherine sent me when I get the chance.) So if anyone would like to say that I referred them, I would not object. :-) (To be fair, I think Maureen sent out an e-mail about the Creative Group before we left, so you can mention her name instead if you prefer.)
Ben's job offer was from Virtual Science....Jill good luck with the interview...Max has an interview tomorrow with the Creative Group... Lee Hecht work is keeping us busy...books/website...hope it works...it is only two days...feels like 2 months already...
Hey Everyone! Josh your picture is priceless! I could have written practically the same thing as you did however I have NEVER dressed up as Eyeore! Hope everyone else is doing ok. Going to NYC tomorrow to talk with GGS about some freelance for MGH. Crazy! I really wanted to take off Dec but money talks. Let you know and good luck to all that are waiting for some news!
P.S. I also tried to email Ben a congrats and got back the mail as undeliverable. Same address as Jean mentioned. Is he trying to tell us something?!! Anyone in touch with him, let him know we cant get in touch with him by email.
(Things could be worse!) We went to visit a good friend in the hospital yesterday, and after listening to a highly-explicit explanation of the removal of two feet of his lower intestine, he had this advice for us regarding our recent layoff:
"Now take time to take it easy . . . but don't take it too easy . . . 'cuz it's easy to let the time go by . . . until too much time has gone by, and then, boy, it ain't easy."
Keep in mind our friend was hooked up to a machine dripping 4 kinds of high-octane pain-killers into his veins.
We went home and uneasily took it easy for the rest of the day.
It is so good to hear from everyone. I miss you guys. I feel as if I am on an extended Thanksgiving Holiday, but I am sure this will pass. The nice weather has definitely made the time off feel quite nice for me. As most everyone knows, winter weather and I are not friends. Tobey, I forgot to ask if you and Joe are going away for a honeymoon. John, this blog is wonderful. I don't know about the rest of you, but keeping up with everyone is making this transition easier.
Wow, Max, your friend's situation really puts things in perspective. Best wishes to him, and to you best of luck at your interview tomorrow. (I had totally forgotten you were interviewing at TCG, too.) -- JB
This should probably have its own thread, but I don't think I can do that, so I'll post it here. Apparently Houghton-Mifflin has just accepted a $1.75 billion buyout from Riverdeep Holdings Plc, an Irish maker of educational software. I hope this link works:
Seems as if Wiley is one of the few independent publishers left.
I am comfortably reestablished in my home office, except for all the boxes from MHEPS still to be unpacked. I'm copyediting a college text on small group communication. Wish the authors communicated better, but what else is new?
Congratuations to Guild and Tobey...what great news! I agree with Jean...hearing from everyone helps with all of this...keep those notes coming...and best of luck to each of you as you continue your job search.
Congrats John and Tobey!!! It is great to hear all of the good news. And a belated congrats to Ben, too. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I am relieving stress by cooking up a storm. Tonight's menu was sherried beef. At this rate, I'll be 10 lbs heavier by the end of the year!
I just found this site from a google search. Congratulations Mr. Guild--Pearson's a great company and I regret in some ways that I won't be working for them.
Someone commented on the lucrativeness of McGraw-Hill in Columbus (Michelle?). The fact is that they are offering nice relocation money but I'll always wonder how it would have turned out in Austin.
My daughter Aila is ecstatic that I'm going to Columbus, so that's (mostly) all that matters at this point. Her best friend, my ex-wife's best friend's daughter, is in Columbus, as are Aila's aunt and uncle, great aunt and many others. She's telling everyone at school how happy she is, so I guess I'm happy too.
Still, Austin would have been nice...
On a different note, I highly recommend that we all take some time to listen to Randy Newman. If you lack this, send me an email and I will provide.
Sorry, but I have a makeshift "high octane" feed of my own going right now, and I cannot stress the importance of this. Randy Newman that is.
On another unrelated note, I am rather afraid that the good folks in Columbus will discover that, editorially speaking, I am a charlatan. I really will miss having knowledgeable, responsible adults out there that I could ask the simple questions without getting funny looks. I still don't know how to read a production schedule and I can't even use "work flow" in a sentence.
I propose a toast to all the responsible Publishing Services adults who taught me so much this past year: you doth rocketh mightily!
A note for Jill and anyone else who may wish to stay with McGraw-Hill. I do not believe they have figured out what their staffing needs are. I called Andy yesterday and he was on a fishing boat "in the middle of the ocean." He suggested I show up for work on Monday and just take it from there.
A giant congrats to Tobey and John. Tobey, what is the company and what will you be doing? Linda, you must get the "most industrious" award since you are already hard at work editing a college book to make it sound as if the author (ha) can write all by him/herself. Is anyone watching the 2-hour James Taylor tribute on PBS tonight? It is awesome. When they re-run it, you must catch it, or buy someone you love the DVD for Christmas.
Thanks for all of your good wishes! My new employer (the aforementioned "Alice Batt's friend's company") is called Edutorial. They're kind of like VisEd pre-MH but much smaller: they're vendors that do educational publishing for grades 3-12. The office is in NYC, but I only have to go in to the office three days a week, so it's not too bad.
Wedding update: 1. Joe found a tux. 2. I scheduled the ever-important updo trial appointment. 3. We've begun the What-the-DJ-Absolutely-Should-Not-Play List. (Suggestions are welcome for this.)
Ben, Guild, Tobey, William--Congratulations on the new jobs! Hope you all have an awesome time in your new roles. William--Don't worry about Columbus. Bring your copy of South Carolina--you'll do fine. Everyone else--hang in there. Lots of luck with the interviews and applications. CG
I have to admit that I am enjoying not working this week. Since it's so warm I am getting all of my outside stuff done before the freeze hits, and I am spending time with little Nate which is pure joy for me. Paul Despins emailed this morning to tell me that Michael Comer (MMH Marketing) said that SC is totally impressed with our books. Michael is talking about 90% market share. Again, everyone who worked on SC...you are all fabulous! Of course, if you are too fabulous, MH will downsize and let you go. Oh well, a little corporate stab there. William, I will add to the advice and help that Linda and Cindy have given. Just "fake it 'til you make it" and you'll be fine. A workflow sentence for you: "K4 is a workflow program that enables InCopy and InDesign to communicate with each other." And, you can always e-mail the VisEd veterans who will be glad to help you.
It is not yet outside of the realm of possibilities that William may have a partner in Columbus who can supply some of that guidance...we had a deal that if we both went, we would secretly help each other (he'd answer silly science questions and I would answer silly editorial questions); that way we would both look completely competent in all aspects of the job.
If I could only get them on the phone, I would have something more definitive to share. The same is true of Victoria's Secret and ETS. I am sending additional scholarly writing samples to ETS today for the language arts position, but they still have no word yet on the senior editor position.
In the meantime, I am enjoying time in my jammies with my puppy. I have taken a sabatical from active job-hunting--I will just sit and wait for answers from the people on the table right now, and I will start anew if I need to later. That's my grandpa's best suggestion. I think it is very wise. It's encouraging to know that theere are others of us back in the saddle already, and it is also good to know that stuff can still happen even with the holidays approaching. Courage!
Hi Everyone ... and congrats to everyone that has found a new place to hang their hat. As for me ... I couldnt be happier being home for a long and well deserved rest. Funny how it took the layoffs to finally get one. giggle giggle. Now if I can only find that perfect job where someone will pay me to just stay home and do nothing. Hmmmmm is that what unemployment is for? I miss all of you!
Well I'm working nights and I received my part time unemployment amount (which was more than I was making at MH). Very strange. Financially things are good but I am getting bored. Still waiting on 2 different positions. On the plus side, I'm using my mountain bike again.
I don't know why, but I keep having this dream. I'm still at my desk, avoiding work, imagining a better life:
11:20 AM "With the hot Tijuana sun burning my neck, I squat in the dust and eat my breakfast. Corn flakes and tequila. Tenderly, I roll up my vomit-encrusted sleeve to admire my new tattoo. There on my raw and scabby arm, Lady Luck, entwined by a leering rattle snake, poses with a pair of dice."
I wish!
"Gray light oozes through the blinds. Gray walls, gray furniture. Who knew it would come to this? Well, I did. I admit it. But what's the difference? To a LOSER like me, it's all the same. God, what's it been, what, 20 years now since I've had an interview? The self-recriminations, the shame. Work piles up, untouched, as I wallow in my gloom."
11:30 AM "I'm startled from my morose self pity to see a pair of malevolent eyes peering at me from the corner of the copier machine. A pygmy with a blow gun! Before I can react, the bamboo tube goes to his lips, and with deadly accuracy, a poison dart sinks into my neck just behind my right ear. I writhe on the floor, searing pain coursing through my body. Desperately, I lunge for the phone, struggling with numb fingers to call the help desk . . ."
Yeah, right.
"I can't stand another day of this! Yet tomorrow, I'll sit here, enveloped in grayness. And again the day after."
On the corner of my PMP report I scribble this poem:
Like a piece of rotting fruit, I await the fall from the branch, to rupture on the hard earth, where I am consumed by vermin.
11:37 AM "A cold chill runs up my spine. I attempt to focus on my work, but I'm nagged by a sense of an all-seeing eye upon me."
Simmy, the perky temp, stops at my door.
"Hi, Simmy! Yes, you can tell New York I'll have those layouts by Thursday. Yes, Thursday morning. Bye bye!"
11:39 AM Having completed the corporate security scan of employee 168-67-366 (me), the perky temp, actually a secret cyborg spy developed by MMH security, returns to its cubicle. Cycling through its program of young American female mannerisms, the cyborg feigns a sip of diet soda. Flipping back its blond fiber-optic hair, it keys in a special code into the work station. Attaching the data link cord from its simulated navel to the USB port, the cyborg downloads the corporate protocol violations by employee 168-67-366 to Corporate Human Resources and Security. The reply: Terminate. With malice.
11:42 AM "Shit, If I don't deal with those layouts I'm gonna get fired. Still, all I can do is mindlessly surf the web. I'm an empty vessel, crying out for connections in this corporate wasteland!"
"Oh, there's Simmy's at my door again. "Yeah, Simmy, what is it?"
After washing our dog due to his "rolling around in some brown stuff" in the yard next to a local church, I've ruled out "pet groomer" as a possible career change...congratulations to folks with new jobs and new work...I'm hanging out at the Lee Hecht Harrison website, reading the books that they supplied, and like Janette, cooking up a storm... If anyone has any production questions, just send me an e-mail, and we can set up a ProdChat on the phone...Miss you all
Well guys I just thought that I would fill you in on the happenings at the office. Today I decided to go in for a visit. Still having plenty of files to work myself through, I turned the corner into my office and to my surprise I had been wiped clean. Nothing left at all. Val and I spent most of the day with our very competent (hmmmm) security team trying to figure out all that was taken from our space. Sorry Captain John, I wish I had better news but they took everything in your office too. Well, they did leave your chair. Too sum it all up. They were able to WALK? away with both Laura and my 24" Dell monitors, a brand new, never out of the box G5 with Quad processors, the new PC that sat in my office, John's laptop and docking station, and EVERYTHING that sat in all our drawers. Scissors, scotch tape, and staplers. Security is beginning the task of reviewing hours of videos. I wonder who or what they might find.
Everyone! I just got this great freelance opportunity. The job is: You sit around and watch TV, play guitar, and drink beer. And the best part is you get a paycheck every 2 weeks from some company called NJ Dept. of Labor. It's sweet! I recommend it.
Well, once again we are reminded that a good portion of the human race are total scum. Sometimes I am embarrassed to belong to the same species. I like the DOL gig; sounds mellow, doesn't break any laws...almost downright Zen. Have a good week-end everyone. I miss all of you more than I say. Nate's coming here for a visit and a nap. That's my high point. Jean
Hey all! I've been meaning to get on this...but I've een avoiding computers since the layoff...haha...a much needed break from monitors! Anyway...yup...I got a job on that last day...suits work kids! So thanks to everyone for the nice words! my email: benjamin.bryer@gmail.com now my days have been spent trying to learn a lil' architecture, figure out Christmas gifts, bemoaning Rutgers not winning the big east...and lolling about. Congrats to Tobey! I was gonna grow a protest beard also...then i realized that i cant grow a beard. ah well....
Hey everyone! I am flippin mad about my monitor!! If anyone was going to steal it it should have been me!! Those bastards! Well since I wasnt the one to take my monitor I am now forced to do my work from GGS on a small monitor and that is driving me crazy. The meeting with GGS was basically them begging for us to take the work! But it is the same BS as before, templates dont match the proto, the proto doesnt match the tearsheets and Im left to try and figure what the hell they want! And now its going thru another person to get answers. Hey its Xmas money or at least money to pay the bills afterwards! Congrats to everyone else who secured positions. Miss you guys especially while Im working alone at home!
I have really enjoyed reading comments but couldn't bring myself to sit down and write anything. I think I needed to just wallow for a while (not that I am done with that). I must have been in complete denial of what was happening because now I'm sad or angry all the time. I don't think I realized how much I was going to miss everyone--sharing our lives each and every day. I may be keeping too busy with shopping, going to the gym, and meeting people for meals, but I miss having challenges like how to get answers from Kathy Mayer about where to put standards or where to shuffle money in a budget that had gone over.
I had lunch with Jean today and it was so nice to be with someone who understood how I felt. My friends don't get it. And Jeff thinks I'm crazy to be so upset ("It's only a job! You'll get another one.") I wish I could feel that way, but I can't. I went to the airport with a friend the other day to pick up her new dog, and I cried to think about never going to another teacher convention or focus test again. Believe me, they're not worth crying over. But it defined my life along with the crazy schedules and staffing charts and conference calls. It's going to take a long time for me to find anything I want to do without all of you in it.
I am so happy for you folks who got jobs. I guess I will eventually be able to look more than half-heartedly...
Hi Everyone, I'll be out of touch for a week or so from Wednesday, but I echo Fran's sentiments. I miss all of you and I don't consider the end of the company to be the end of our friendships. Hey, I'm not anyone's boss any more. This blog has been a living testimony to the fact that we were more than just an office or a place to work. We all did some damn fine work under tremendous pressure. Every day was not always fun, but we got through it and there was a helluva a lot of laughter, too. On a related topic, Cynthia called me tonight and tomorrow she is meeting with Darryl, Jewel (some of you won't know Jewel who left in 2002?), and Celia (Dick's wife), all of whom are volunteering for Princeton Art First! show at the hospital. VisEders (Pub Services? Veggies? Whatever...) never disappear, they just reunite in different smaller groups. We should try to plan a group trip to Art First! in the Spring and then go out somewhere in Princeton or on Route 1.
Does anyone know when John returns from Hawaii? Tough life, John.
As many of you heard over and over again, I LOVE working at home and did it for ten years before coming in to work with all of you.
Well, I still love working at home, but it is not quite the same. I, too, miss all of you very much. I knew we were a close-knit group that worked together so well (most of the time), but it's taken this separation to realize just how connected we all are.
Reading all the comments makes me sad, but it's nice that we keep in touch! Can't believe it's already been two weeks. We did finally get the Singapore offer in writing, and the numbers look good, so we should be heading over there by the end of January for a couple of years. Currently we are trying to figure out how to get the cat through 18-20 hours of flying time in the cargo hold. We still have to talk to the tax guy, but it still looks like I should be able to freelance on either side of the Pacific, so do keep me in mind. Hope everyone is having a nice, peaceful December, for once. :-)
I miss you all as well. For those of you who do not know I am working in Manasquan NJ, I am the head tech guy hear (Cindy F would be proud). I am overseeing the upgrade process of 15 workstations and 2 servers. I have a 40 mile commute every day. Its not as bad as it seems and its a pretty easy drive. As for social life right now I have none. Work is taking up alot of time. Although not enought time that i can post here..:) Ohh well... back to the grind.
Hi, All, Congratulations, Simon, on your new job. Way to go! Good luck, Jenn, with your overseas plans. I just accepted an editorial job with Mathematica Policy Research, in Princeton. Am looking forward to working on grown-up text, but it won't be the same without you guys. Keep in touch--it's great to hear from you. CG
My fledgling company, Brunswick Publishing Resources, has been contracted to assist with the project management for 61 Harcourt math ancillaries. It's mostly making phone calls and filling out spreadsheets, but what else is new? Got some other possible work on the horizon, as long as all my best editors don't get real jobs (just kidding, Cindy, congrats).
Hi everyone, it's nice to see people keeping in touch :-) so I thought I'd drop in a note too. I've been keeping very busy photo freelancing from home, with a photo company assisting on photo shoots, and doing photo research for K-6 educational stuff with a company in Boston. I also may be doing some work from home for a magazine in NY. The money is great, and and yes it is awesome working from home. I take nice walks every morning along the beach.. Life is good and I'm very happy. Happy Holidays to all!
Congratulations to Susan, Simon, Cindy and Marcel....working with Lee Hecht Harrison is turning into a job...however, I recommend it highly to folks that have the opportunity to use them...they have an amazing amount of information on their website and very informative seminars via teleconferencing...hopefully the outcome will be a job in a privately owned publishing company very much like the ole VisEd that we all knew and loved...
Well, as of yesterday I have accepted another temp position working in accounts receivable at McGraw-Hill. Same building in fact. I took it just because I'm getting really bored. So it should get me by until a "real" job opens up. Its going to be very strange going to work at that building and not having you all there. I'm sure I will be seeing "ghosts" in the hallways. Hope all is well with everyone.
I love reading about all of you and I'm happy that so many of you are already onto new things. I was in the office yesterday and it feels like Anatevka after the pogroms. Not a nice place. I have South Carolina ancillaries and TEs for anyone who wants them, so please let me know and we can arrange to meet somewhere. Like all of you, I'm still trying to get used to all the changes in my life. Nothing emotionally fits just yet. I do not miss the job however--only you guys!
Hi All, Sadly, Hawaii was not in the cards due to snowstorms across the heartland and the vagaries of airline connections. Instead I flew to LA and met Karen Friday evening. We used Newport Beach as a starting point for some explorations of Southern Cal--very cool deserts, awesome mountains, weird wildfires and Santa Ana winds, and better margaritas than we get here. In all a nice trip, but not the Aloha State. Now that the pesky Iraq Study Group Report is off my plate I'm focusing on Sunday's festivities. (Surely you haven't forgotten the much talked about Cloyd/Anteo merger?) Unlike you competent, capable folks who've landed jobs, I have little of note to report on the employment front, but a holiday season with severance and lots of free time isn't such a bad gig.
PS: I sent this link to a couple of you, but if you really can't face another day without Taj Mahal's show from 9/19/69, check out http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/home.aspx
Hey Kennedy...great to have you back...thanks again for setting this up for the gang...any ideas on who will archive our notes? Didn't attempt it myself...and Mack, hang in there....perhaps there will be good humans who work in your new department...
Kennedy's going to be a Freelance All-Purpose Authority Figure. He did an excellent job. The wedding was great--Tobey looked lovely, as you can all see.
Congrats Tobey! I wish you guys all the best. On a tangent, I had my first day at Accounts Receivable at McGraw-Hill today. What the F was I thinking? It SUCKS. I don't know how long I can deal with it. The manager is clueless and a beyatch! God Anita, I miss you. You were the best boss EVER.
Jean, you have to get to the December posts to see the pictures. This run of comments has gone on far too long. Try using these directions:
1. Go to https://beta.blogger.com/start 2. Username: jkennedy@comcast.net Password: password17 3. You will be sent to http://beta.blogger.com/home 4. Click on the Green Cross icon next to the text "New Post."
Hey everyone, Tobey, you guys look great and so happy. Congratulations!! There needs to be a lot more pictures posted though! JohnK, who knew you were so talented!? Congrats to every one finding jobs! Im still plugging along with GGS stuff. Miss you guys!
Tobey, it was my pleasure. I'm just grateful to have been a part of such an auspicious event. I'm going to assume that there's something amiss with the time function on these comments. The alternative is that something is amiss with the honeymoon. Hope all is well in Newport. All during the ceremony I expected Rob to ride in on a wild honeymoon stallion, but no dice.
Tobey and Joe-congratulations! The photos are terrific....everyone looks just wonderful...Mack sorry to hear about your new "boss" ....all of us at VisEd were raised to be "good guys" thanks to Dick and Jean...of course we were all good guys to begin with...that is what made us so different...yes, VEG puts other companies and divisions to shame...hang in there..hope none of us have to deal with the dark side when we land new jobs....
This is my first time on the blog since we left MMH. Congratulations to Tobey. You were a beautiful bride and I enjoyed seeing the photos. I am happy to hear that some more people have gotten jobs. Congrats to Ben, John Guild (?), William, Cindy G., Laura S., and Tobey. Wow Marcel, that is great that your company has work already! I am selling new construction (real estate) on the weekends. Anyone want to buy a house in Quakertown, PA? That will keep me going until I figure out what kind of a real job I might be able to get. Oh, Michele, Happy Birthday!
I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and New Year! It's going to be a year of change and new and exciting things for so many of us. I caught the dreaded stomach virus, but I am feeling better now. I cannot even blame it on the terrible air circulation in Hightstown! This blog is great and I hope we call continue to stay connected in 2007. Best wishes to everyone, Jean
Hey where is everyone? Still laying on the couch after the big holiday meals!? Hope everyone had a happy holiday! Not much exciting news to report. I had my unemployment meeting,oh that was fun! I don't feel guilty about taking unemployment after seeing who else gets it! My favorite was the lady with the PINK hair, hair bow, shirt and jacket and pants! She was a treat! Im hoping to take a web class in Jan and then find the job of my dreams!! Have a safe New Years holiday everyone!
Working very hard getting these computers and servers up and running for this company. The fun will being in the newyear when i get to set up the servers.
My holiday was good so far.. Nice short week this week and then party on sat, diffrent one on sunday, Im so glad we have the 1st off..:) although ill probobly need at least a week to recover.. sounds like its time for a vacation again.
New year for me consists of designing business cards and web pages for my business..:) And trying to survive my last year of college... I hope.
Anyhow.. Everyone have a good and safe new years... and remember
Hello everyone! I hope this comment finds you all in good health and happy holiday spirits. I'm sorry for my prolonged absence from this blog, but things have been no less than hectic since leaving the Hill. Though the MGH familial attachments will live on as Mary (otherwise known as the Marvel) and I move into a place in Jersey City this weekend. Hooray!
So far I've really been enjoying my new job at Black Dog and Leventhal. (And since I'm moving and my commuting time will be a third of what it is now, I'm really going to start enjoying myself.) Get this, I have TWO windows and because I'm on the top floor of the building, I get to watch the sunset over the south end of Manhattan every night.
I hope all of you are finding yourselves as lucky as I have been in a post-MGH world. I miss you all very much, and I doubt I'll ever find a group of people quite as nice as all of you.
There will be a get together this Saturday morning at 9:30 at the Perkins on 571 in East Windsor. If you are intrested in going please email LauraBinBad at Lwsgraphicsnj@aol.com. She will be making reservations if she gets a lot of responses.
Happy 2007 to everyone! I just wrote two checks and did not write 2006 in error. I must be corporate material! I saw Terri Moore's new grandchild, Logan, yesterday and he is beautiful. Terri is beaming with her son, Bill back from his second (and final) tour, and a new grandson to dote on. Terri does not know how to get onto the blog. John K, could you email her and give her instructions? She is technologically challenged. Friday, our family will celebrate little Nate's first birthday. I cannot believe that it's a year! He is so much fun. The upside of not having a job is that I get to play with him and all of his toys more often. So, I am reading him a new Elmo book, and in my spare time I am reading Antonia Fraser's Marie Antoinette. It's really compelling.
Happy New Year! I hope everyone is having a great start to 2007!
Finally, finally, finally I received my student teacher placement from Rider. It will be at in a second grade class at the Dutch Neck School. The great thing is that is in the school I requested and with the teacher I requested, so I am psyched!
Does anyone have any inside scoop on the school, the principal, etc.? Any info would be appreciated.
I haven't seen a new entry since Jan. 5. Where is everyone? John, how was Florida? Marcel, I heard that you and Fiona have the Georgia science customization project. Congratulations! Let me know how it's going. And I know that a few of you are waiting for second or third interviews. Go get 'em. As for me, I've been enjoying living in this new warmer climate (although I understand that a cold front is on its way in) and my shrubs and flowers are starting to bloom which is totally crazy. I will probably start with Lee Hect Harrison soon and get the outplacement drill. I'm also looking at some courses at Bucks County Community College. They have an eclectic selection of everything from hypnotherapy (yes, I can hypnotize people who interview me!), to business courses for managers. I may take the plunge just to see if I have the patience to sit in a classroom anymore. I'm still tossing around several thoughts about what I might want to do in my next worklife. All options are on the table. Did everyone see Noelle's newest family member? She's gorgeous, as are the other 3 children. So, keep in touch, and let us know what you are all doing.
Don't know if anyone will see this by tomorrow, but here's the condensed version:
I got a job at a small publisher in northern NJ (yes, Doriann, the one you sent me -- thanks!), but tomorrow I'm going to Washington, DC, to interview at the Atlantic Monthly. (More details on that situation later; they contacted me very soon after I accepted the first job.) Any good thoughts, prayers, etc. would be greatly appreciated, especially as I'm going tomorrow on maybe 4.5 hours of sleep.
I'd write more, but time is getting short. Congrats to all who've gotten jobs, and courage to those who haven't.
118 comments:
This is very cool! Thanks for setting it up, oh great mentor.
Also, thanks to everyone for your generous gift and for the very sweet card that y'all signed for me and Joe.
Three more days!
Yeah, and a big thanks to Professor Beard and Mrs. Professor Beard for generously hosting the post-party on Friday. Twas nice.
Thankee, now make it work.
Yes - thanks to the k's for allowing us to descend upon their home. It was a very enlightening evening for me. Good times...
I don't know what this is but OK. Yeah John I took your wallet when you were drunk. I traded it to Rob for the last cocktail weenie.
Hi, All,
Just testing out this blog.
Friday's Cranbury Inn bash was a blast--thanks, Jean!
Thanks Sir John for setting this up...and for the "Kennedy Krash" after the party....as the dreary months of winter approach and I remain glued to my computer seeking employment, I will welcome reading comments from the PubServCrew...
yeah john, thanks for the party friday. and I have since returned your wallet- minus a ten spot, the condom, and the adorable jc penney portrait of yourself (with the image of your side profile floating above). bit surprised to find the nambla card though. I kid, I kid. Thanks buddy.
This is a great idea! I do have one suggestion: I don't think you should use plain "John" when posting comments. It's too confusing.
Good luck everyone. It will be fun to see where we end up.
Where in the world is William?
Happythanksgiving everyone. Remember--our house,next November 7th!
Hi Everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving despite the gloomy weather. I heard via Barbara who received a call from Anita, that Ben got the job!! Go Ben!! Congratulations.
Hey everyone,
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving ! I just signed up for unemployment which was relatively painless! Ben, Im am happy to hear that you will not be needing to do this! Congratulations!! And Linda I dont know where William is... Did you find him!?
Laura, isn't William on his way to Austin? Jill, did you ever have an interview with Columbus? This has been a really good holiday and I don't really feel unemployed yet. I guess it will hit on Monday when a) there is no job to go to, and b) I'll sign up for unemployment here in PA. Also, I have had trouble opening the file with everyone's e-mail address, but I have a hard copy. If anyone has a file that they have been able to open at home, please send it to me at jelkie@msn.com. Now, I'll probably get 15 files!
When I left on Wednesday, William was waiting for a call from Andy (promised for around 12 noon). I was just wondering if anyone knew what had happened.
I also tried to send Ben an e-mail using his address on our list. It was returned to me. Is he trying to tell us something?
Hello All!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I have finally completed my 'initiation' here in FL, and will now hopefully be in touch regularly. I miss you guys!! (Don't tell Guild though)Oh yeah, and I regret not being there for the Kennedy bash. Maybe next time...
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!! I have now completed my "initiation" here in FL, and will be able to keep in touch more regularly...
I miss you guys!! (Don't tell Guild, though). Oh yeah, and I'm sorry I missed the Kennedy bash. Maybe next time...
Hi Linda,
The address I have for Ben is Benjamin_bryer@gmail.com. I that the address that you used?
Hi everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Now it's back to reality.
I have a question I need answered ASAP (I'm interviewing at a staffing angency today): What were Fran's and Tobey's exact titles at MHEPS? I'm redoing my reference list, and I've misplaced my list of titles. Anyone know? Thanks!
Oh, and one more thing -- I saw William before I left at 1:30 on Wednesday, and he accepted an offer from Columbus, so he should be there ( or going there) soon.
Oh, by the way, the above post was by Jessica Burr and not Ms. Clarke. Not sure how to make my username clearer.
Hi Jessica,
I have to run to a dental appointment, so real quickly...I think Tobey's title was Senior Editor and Fran's is Director of Editorial Services, however, I think she will probably be using Editorial Director since that is a more commonly used title. Either one should be fine for your purposes.
It's the Monday after Thanksgiving. Thinking that I could sleep in, I stayed up until 3:00 am watching a documentary on how Bush stole elections. I woke up at 8:00 am. I played as much videogames and watched as much trashy television as I thought would be possible and it's barely 1:00 pm. I hope there are some decent job postings to apply to. If not, my incoming Netflix better hurry up. Oh yeah, I hope everyone had a happy thanksgiving.
p.s. Did Guild ever hear back from Pearson or should I assume that they received all of the Photoshop projects that I sent of him?
I've already received a complaint from the Construction folks that we left their area a mess! Aren't you ashamed?
I haven't yet heard anything from Pearson. They said they'd call me sometime this week. I'm going on a shaving strike until then.
Tobey was a Supervising Editor--and will soon be a bride (if she finally got her wedding license).
wow i was there when William recieved the last minute call from Ohio, very exciting stuff, all he could say was "alot of money"
Darryl, thanks for the correction. I've heard from William who has accepted a job in Columbus and is waiting for a written confirmation. I've signed up for unemployment which is quite easy to do online. I also watched the taped Thanksgiving episode of Grey's Anatomy which was really good. Talk about intense workplaces. Of course, my daughter always reminds me that it's only TV, not real life. Really?
Ok...I'm going to try this again...did it once...Max and I arrived home on Wednesday, he put his jeans and "Vote for Pedro" t-shirt--me-- jeans and my "Flppin Sweet" t-shirt...omen of things to come????I hope so...Ben brought a tear to my eye when he called to let me know about his job...as for William, I hope we hear from that guy...said he was stopping in Virginia, but that was pre-Columbus news...miss the hell out of all of you...Sir Kennedy...when is the next Krash???? and Guild, remember, you are "EdProd Man"...you rock...they better hire you!
hope you all had a great Turkey Day...I can just see my Barbara rolling her eyes now...
"Your post is TOO long Crandall"
Love you guys...
Thanks, Darryl. All systems seem to be go with the marriage license, too--we did our application last week, and we just have to pick up the official paper this week.
Hey, Mr. Kennedy, think it's time to start a new thread? Or post some photos?
I am happy to know that William is in Columbus (or will be). I emailed Andy and Lorraine yesterday to follow up and make sure they had my home contact info...Lorraine emailed back and said she and Andy will be in Columbus next week and they will call me then. Could they be any more evasive? ETS says they hope to have an answer this week, and Victoria's Secret is supposedly getting back to me any day now. The social studies guy in Columbus has not returned any messages since the miscommunication on Wednesday. So I am still unemployed. How soon before we are supposed to get bored with being home?
I haven't shaved for 5 days! Hope everyone is coping well.
Thank for the help, Jean, Darryl, and Tobey. I actually did find Tobey's title later in one of the e-mails I forwarded, but I didn't have Fran's address.
I'm really glad to hear about people getting jobs. (Was Ben's job with DC Comics?) As for me, today I took an editing test for a smallish independent publisher. Yesterday I interviewed/tested at a staffing agency called The Creative Group, and the woman I talked to, Tracy Emken (who does editorial placement), seemed very energetic and encouraging. I can give any of you her contact info if you like. One thing I learned is that people get bonuses for referring new "talent" to them, even if the "talent" only works a single day. (I will tell them that Katherine sent me when I get the chance.) So if anyone would like to say that I referred them, I would not object. :-) (To be fair, I think Maureen sent out an e-mail about the Creative Group before we left, so you can mention her name instead if you prefer.)
Gotta go. Catch you guys again later.
Ben's job offer was from Virtual Science....Jill good luck with the interview...Max has an interview tomorrow with the Creative Group...
Lee Hecht work is keeping us busy...books/website...hope it works...it is only two days...feels like 2 months already...
Hey Everyone!
Josh your picture is priceless! I could have written practically the same thing as you did however I have NEVER dressed up as Eyeore! Hope everyone else is doing ok. Going to NYC tomorrow to talk with GGS about some freelance for MGH. Crazy! I really wanted to take off Dec but money talks. Let you know and good luck to all that are waiting for some news!
P.S. I also tried to email Ben a congrats and got back the mail as undeliverable. Same address as Jean mentioned. Is he trying to tell us something?!! Anyone in touch with him, let him know we cant get in touch with him by email.
Max checked his e-mail for Ben. He said it is:
benjamin.bryer@gmail.com
no underscore...just a DOT...
LauraS..best of luck tomorrow...just remember how much you DO know and how much they DON'T know....
(Things could be worse!)
We went to visit a good friend in the hospital yesterday, and after listening to a highly-explicit explanation of the removal of two feet of his lower intestine, he had this advice for us regarding our recent layoff:
"Now take time to take it easy . . . but don't take it too easy . . . 'cuz it's easy to let the time go by . . . until too much time has gone by, and then, boy, it ain't easy."
Keep in mind our friend was hooked up to a machine dripping 4 kinds of high-octane pain-killers into his veins.
We went home and uneasily took it easy for the rest of the day.
It is so good to hear from everyone. I miss you guys. I feel as if I am on an extended Thanksgiving Holiday, but I am sure this will pass. The nice weather has definitely made the time off feel quite nice for me. As most everyone knows, winter weather and I are not friends. Tobey, I forgot to ask if you and Joe are going away for a honeymoon. John, this blog is wonderful. I don't know about the rest of you, but keeping up with everyone is making this transition easier.
Wow, Max, your friend's situation really puts things in perspective. Best wishes to him, and to you best of luck at your interview tomorrow. (I had totally forgotten you were interviewing at TCG, too.) -- JB
good luck to everyone interviewing...Laura, good luck in ny, i sent my resume to ggs in the highlands.
This should probably have its own thread, but I don't think I can do that, so I'll post it here. Apparently Houghton-Mifflin has just accepted a $1.75 billion buyout from Riverdeep Holdings Plc, an Irish maker of educational software. I hope this link works:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aUSmGcq2T8.s&refer=home
So I guess applying to Houghton for a job right now would be pointless, right?
Seems as if Wiley is one of the few independent publishers left.
I am comfortably reestablished in my home office, except for all the boxes from MHEPS still to be unpacked. I'm copyediting a college text on small group communication. Wish the authors communicated better, but what else is new?
Love to hear how you all are doing.
Linda
Woo-hoo! Pearson made a great offer. Language arts, here I come!
Go, Guild!
I just took a job with Alice Batt's friend's company, so the search is over for me, too.
Congrats to you both. That's great news.
Big Congrats to Guild and the Tobes!!!
Go forth and prosper with my blessings!!
Congratuations to Guild and Tobey...what great news! I agree with Jean...hearing from everyone helps with all of this...keep those notes coming...and best of luck to each of you as you continue your job search.
Congrats John and Tobey!!! It is great to hear all of the good news. And a belated congrats to Ben, too. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I am relieving stress by cooking up a storm. Tonight's menu was sherried beef. At this rate, I'll be 10 lbs heavier by the end of the year!
This is William...
I just found this site from a google search. Congratulations Mr. Guild--Pearson's a great company and I regret in some ways that I won't be working for them.
Someone commented on the lucrativeness of McGraw-Hill in Columbus (Michelle?). The fact is that they are offering nice relocation money but I'll always wonder how it would have turned out in Austin.
My daughter Aila is ecstatic that I'm going to Columbus, so that's (mostly) all that matters at this point. Her best friend, my ex-wife's best friend's daughter, is in Columbus, as are Aila's aunt and uncle, great aunt and many others. She's telling everyone at school how happy she is, so I guess I'm happy too.
Still, Austin would have been nice...
On a different note, I highly recommend that we all take some time to listen to Randy Newman. If you lack this, send me an email and I will provide.
Sorry, but I have a makeshift "high octane" feed of my own going right now, and I cannot stress the importance of this. Randy Newman that is.
On another unrelated note, I am rather afraid that the good folks in Columbus will discover that, editorially speaking, I am a charlatan. I really will miss having knowledgeable, responsible adults out there that I could ask the simple questions without getting funny looks. I still don't know how to read a production schedule and I can't even use "work flow" in a sentence.
I propose a toast to all the responsible Publishing Services adults who taught me so much this past year: you doth rocketh mightily!
A note for Jill and anyone else who may wish to stay with McGraw-Hill. I do not believe they have figured out what their staffing needs are. I called Andy yesterday and he was on a fishing boat "in the middle of the ocean." He suggested I show up for work on Monday and just take it from there.
These are weird times...
A giant congrats to Tobey and John. Tobey, what is the company and what will you be doing? Linda, you must get the "most industrious" award since you are already hard at work editing a college book to make it sound as if the author (ha) can write all by him/herself. Is anyone watching the 2-hour James Taylor tribute on PBS tonight? It is awesome. When they re-run it, you must catch it, or buy someone you love the DVD for Christmas.
Thanks for all of your good wishes! My new employer (the aforementioned "Alice Batt's friend's company") is called Edutorial. They're kind of like VisEd pre-MH but much smaller: they're vendors that do educational publishing for grades 3-12. The office is in NYC, but I only have to go in to the office three days a week, so it's not too bad.
Wedding update:
1. Joe found a tux.
2. I scheduled the ever-important updo trial appointment.
3. We've begun the What-the-DJ-Absolutely-Should-Not-Play List. (Suggestions are welcome for this.)
We are still here William. Hope it all works out for you.
Ben, Guild, Tobey, William--Congratulations on the new jobs! Hope you all have an awesome time in your new roles.
William--Don't worry about Columbus. Bring your copy of South Carolina--you'll do fine.
Everyone else--hang in there. Lots of luck with the interviews and applications. CG
I have to admit that I am enjoying not working this week. Since it's so warm I am getting all of my outside stuff done before the freeze hits, and I am spending time with little Nate which is pure joy for me. Paul Despins emailed this morning to tell me that Michael Comer (MMH Marketing) said that SC is totally impressed with our books. Michael is talking about 90% market share. Again, everyone who worked on SC...you are all fabulous! Of course, if you are too fabulous, MH will downsize and let you go. Oh well, a little corporate stab there. William, I will add to the advice and help that Linda and Cindy have given. Just "fake it 'til you make it" and you'll be fine. A workflow sentence for you: "K4 is a workflow program that enables InCopy and InDesign to communicate with each other." And, you can always e-mail the VisEd veterans who will be glad to help you.
It is not yet outside of the realm of possibilities that William may have a partner in Columbus who can supply some of that guidance...we had a deal that if we both went, we would secretly help each other (he'd answer silly science questions and I would answer silly editorial questions); that way we would both look completely competent in all aspects of the job.
If I could only get them on the phone, I would have something more definitive to share. The same is true of Victoria's Secret and ETS. I am sending additional scholarly writing samples to ETS today for the language arts position, but they still have no word yet on the senior editor position.
In the meantime, I am enjoying time in my jammies with my puppy. I have taken a sabatical from active job-hunting--I will just sit and wait for answers from the people on the table right now, and I will start anew if I need to later. That's my grandpa's best suggestion. I think it is very wise. It's encouraging to know that theere are others of us back in the saddle already, and it is also good to know that stuff can still happen even with the holidays approaching. Courage!
Guild and William, send me some e-mail. I could use a few insiders . . .
Hi Everyone ... and congrats to everyone that has found a new place to hang their hat. As for me ... I couldnt be happier being home for a long and well deserved rest. Funny how it took the layoffs to finally get one. giggle giggle. Now if I can only find that perfect job where someone will pay me to just stay home and do nothing. Hmmmmm is that what unemployment is for? I miss all of you!
Well I'm working nights and I received my part time unemployment amount (which was more than I was making at MH). Very strange. Financially things are good but I am getting bored. Still waiting on 2 different positions. On the plus side, I'm using my mountain bike again.
I don't know why, but I keep having this dream. I'm still at my desk, avoiding work, imagining a better life:
11:20 AM
"With the hot Tijuana sun burning my neck, I squat in the dust and eat my breakfast. Corn flakes and tequila. Tenderly, I roll up my vomit-encrusted sleeve to admire my new tattoo. There on my raw and scabby arm, Lady Luck, entwined by a leering rattle snake, poses with a pair of dice."
I wish!
"Gray light oozes through the blinds. Gray walls, gray furniture. Who knew it would come to this? Well, I did. I admit it. But what's the difference? To a LOSER like me, it's all the same. God, what's it been, what, 20 years now since I've had an interview? The self-recriminations, the shame. Work piles up, untouched, as I wallow in my gloom."
11:30 AM
"I'm startled from my morose self pity to see a pair of malevolent eyes peering at me from the corner of the copier machine. A pygmy with a blow gun! Before I can react, the bamboo tube goes to his lips, and with deadly accuracy, a poison dart sinks into my neck just behind my right ear. I writhe on the floor, searing pain coursing through my body. Desperately, I lunge for the phone, struggling with numb fingers to call the help desk . . ."
Yeah, right.
"I can't stand another day of this! Yet tomorrow, I'll sit here, enveloped in grayness. And again the day after."
On the corner of my PMP report I scribble this poem:
Like a piece of rotting fruit,
I await the fall from the branch,
to rupture on the hard earth,
where I am consumed by vermin.
11:37 AM
"A cold chill runs up my spine. I attempt to focus on my work, but I'm nagged by a sense of an all-seeing eye upon me."
Simmy, the perky temp, stops at my door.
"Hi, Simmy! Yes, you can tell New York I'll have those layouts by Thursday. Yes, Thursday morning. Bye bye!"
11:39 AM
Having completed the corporate security scan of employee 168-67-366 (me), the perky temp, actually a secret cyborg spy developed by MMH security, returns to its cubicle. Cycling through its program of young American female mannerisms, the cyborg feigns a sip of diet soda. Flipping back its blond fiber-optic hair, it keys in a special code into the work station. Attaching the data link cord from its simulated navel to the USB port, the cyborg downloads the corporate protocol violations by employee 168-67-366 to Corporate Human Resources and Security. The reply: Terminate. With malice.
11:42 AM
"Shit, If I don't deal with those layouts I'm gonna get fired. Still, all I can do is mindlessly surf the web. I'm an empty vessel, crying out for connections in this corporate wasteland!"
"Oh, there's Simmy's at my door again. "Yeah, Simmy, what is it?"
Then I wake up.
After washing our dog due to his "rolling around in some brown stuff" in the yard next to a local church, I've ruled out "pet groomer" as a possible career change...congratulations to folks with new jobs and new work...I'm hanging out at the Lee Hecht Harrison website, reading the books that they supplied, and like Janette, cooking up a storm...
If anyone has any production questions, just send me an e-mail, and we can set up a ProdChat on the phone...Miss you all
Well guys I just thought that I would fill you in on the happenings at the office. Today I decided to go in for a visit. Still having plenty of files to work myself through, I turned the corner into my office and to my surprise I had been wiped clean. Nothing left at all. Val and I spent most of the day with our very competent (hmmmm) security team trying to figure out all that was taken from our space. Sorry Captain John, I wish I had better news but they took everything in your office too. Well, they did leave your chair. Too sum it all up. They were able to WALK? away with both Laura and my 24" Dell monitors, a brand new, never out of the box G5 with Quad processors, the new PC that sat in my office, John's laptop and docking station, and EVERYTHING that sat in all our drawers. Scissors, scotch tape, and staplers. Security is beginning the task of reviewing hours of videos. I wonder who or what they might find.
Big surprise. Huge corporation can't manage their assests, they lay people off to cover their losses.
HELLO O . . . .
Everyone! I just got this great freelance opportunity. The job is: You sit around and watch TV, play guitar, and drink beer. And the best part is you get a paycheck every 2 weeks from some company called NJ Dept. of Labor. It's sweet! I recommend it.
hmmm i wonder ... paula i think your monitor and chair were gone too. Yikes this is keeping me up tonight.
Well, once again we are reminded that a good portion of the human race are total scum. Sometimes I am embarrassed to belong to the same species. I like the DOL gig; sounds mellow, doesn't break any laws...almost downright Zen. Have a good week-end everyone. I miss all of you more than I say. Nate's coming here for a visit and a nap. That's my high point.
Jean
Hey all! I've been meaning to get on this...but I've een avoiding computers since the layoff...haha...a much needed break from monitors! Anyway...yup...I got a job on that last day...suits work kids! So thanks to everyone for the nice words! my email:
benjamin.bryer@gmail.com
now my days have been spent trying to learn a lil' architecture, figure out Christmas gifts, bemoaning Rutgers not winning the big east...and lolling about.
Congrats to Tobey! I was gonna grow a protest beard also...then i realized that i cant grow a beard. ah well....
Hey everyone!
I am flippin mad about my monitor!! If anyone was going to steal it it should have been me!! Those bastards! Well since I wasnt the one to take my monitor I am now forced to do my work from GGS on a small monitor and that is driving me crazy. The meeting with GGS was basically them begging for us to take the work! But it is the same BS as before, templates dont match the proto, the proto doesnt match the tearsheets and Im left to try and figure what the hell they want! And now its going thru another person to get answers. Hey its Xmas money or at least money to pay the bills afterwards! Congrats to everyone else who secured positions. Miss you guys especially while Im working alone at home!
anyone asked about severance when they registered in NJ for unemployment benefits?
Hi Everyone,
I have really enjoyed reading comments but couldn't bring myself to sit down and write anything. I think I needed to just wallow for a while (not that I am done with that). I must have been in complete denial of what was happening because now I'm sad or angry all the time. I don't think I realized how much I was going to miss everyone--sharing our lives each and every day. I may be keeping too busy with shopping, going to the gym, and meeting people for meals, but I miss having challenges like how to get answers from Kathy Mayer about where to put standards or where to shuffle money in a budget that had gone over.
I had lunch with Jean today and it was so nice to be with someone who understood how I felt. My friends don't get it. And Jeff thinks I'm crazy to be so upset ("It's only a job! You'll get another one.") I wish I could feel that way, but I can't. I went to the airport with a friend the other day to pick up her new dog, and I cried to think about never going to another teacher convention or focus test again. Believe me, they're not worth crying over. But it defined my life along with the crazy schedules and staffing charts and conference calls. It's going to take a long time for me to find anything I want to do without all of you in it.
I am so happy for you folks who got jobs. I guess I will eventually be able to look more than half-heartedly...
Hi Everyone,
I'll be out of touch for a week or so from Wednesday, but I echo Fran's sentiments. I miss all of you and I don't consider the end of the company to be the end of our friendships. Hey, I'm not anyone's boss any more. This blog has been a living testimony to the fact that we were more than just an office or a place to work. We all did some damn fine work under tremendous pressure. Every day was not always fun, but we got through it and there was a helluva a lot of laughter, too. On a related topic, Cynthia called me tonight and tomorrow she is meeting with Darryl, Jewel (some of you won't know Jewel who left in 2002?), and Celia (Dick's wife), all of whom are volunteering for Princeton Art First! show at the hospital. VisEders (Pub Services? Veggies? Whatever...) never disappear, they just reunite in different smaller groups. We should try to plan a group trip to Art First! in the Spring and then go out somewhere in Princeton or on Route 1.
Does anyone know when John returns from Hawaii? Tough life, John.
As many of you heard over and over again, I LOVE working at home and did it for ten years before coming in to work with all of you.
Well, I still love working at home, but it is not quite the same. I, too, miss all of you very much. I knew we were a close-knit group that worked together so well (most of the time), but it's taken this separation to realize just how connected we all are.
Keep in touch.
I'm ALMOST getting tired of video games
Reading all the comments makes me sad, but it's nice that we keep in touch! Can't believe it's already been two weeks. We did finally get the Singapore offer in writing, and the numbers look good, so we should be heading over there by the end of January for a couple of years. Currently we are trying to figure out how to get the cat through 18-20 hours of flying time in the cargo hold. We still have to talk to the tax guy, but it still looks like I should be able to freelance on either side of the Pacific, so do keep me in mind. Hope everyone is having a nice, peaceful December, for once. :-)
Greetings and salivations all..
I miss you all as well. For those of you who do not know I am working in Manasquan NJ, I am the head tech guy hear (Cindy F would be proud). I am overseeing the upgrade process of 15 workstations and 2 servers. I have a 40 mile commute every day. Its not as bad as it seems and its a pretty easy drive. As for social life right now I have none. Work is taking up alot of time. Although not enought time that i can post here..:) Ohh well... back to the grind.
Simon
Hi, All,
Congratulations, Simon, on your new job. Way to go! Good luck, Jenn, with your overseas plans.
I just accepted an editorial job with Mathematica Policy Research, in Princeton. Am looking forward to working on grown-up text, but it won't be the same without you guys. Keep in touch--it's great to hear from you. CG
My fledgling company, Brunswick Publishing Resources, has been contracted to assist with the project management for 61 Harcourt math ancillaries. It's mostly making phone calls and filling out spreadsheets, but what else is new? Got some other possible work on the horizon, as long as all my best editors don't get real jobs (just kidding, Cindy, congrats).
Hi everyone, it's nice to see people keeping in touch :-) so I thought I'd drop in a note too. I've been keeping very busy photo freelancing from home, with a photo company assisting on photo shoots, and doing photo research for K-6 educational stuff with a company in Boston. I also may be doing some work from home for a magazine in NY. The money is great, and and yes it is awesome working from home. I take nice walks every morning along the beach.. Life is good and I'm very happy. Happy Holidays to all!
Congratulations to Susan, Simon, Cindy and Marcel....working with Lee Hecht Harrison is turning into a job...however, I recommend it highly to folks that have the opportunity to use them...they have an amazing amount of information on their website and very informative seminars via teleconferencing...hopefully the outcome will be a job in a privately owned publishing company very much like the ole VisEd that we all knew and loved...
Well, as of yesterday I have accepted another temp position working in accounts receivable at McGraw-Hill. Same building in fact. I took it just because I'm getting really bored. So it should get me by until a "real" job opens up. Its going to be very strange going to work at that building and not having you all there. I'm sure I will be seeing "ghosts" in the hallways. Hope all is well with everyone.
I love reading about all of you and I'm happy that so many of you are already onto new things. I was in the office yesterday and it feels like Anatevka after the pogroms. Not a nice place. I have South Carolina ancillaries and TEs for anyone who wants them, so please let me know and we can arrange to meet somewhere. Like all of you, I'm still trying to get used to all the changes in my life. Nothing emotionally fits just yet. I do not miss the job however--only you guys!
Hi All,
Sadly, Hawaii was not in the cards due to snowstorms across the heartland and the vagaries of airline connections. Instead I flew to LA and met Karen Friday evening. We used Newport Beach as a starting point for some explorations of Southern Cal--very cool deserts, awesome mountains, weird wildfires and Santa Ana winds, and better margaritas than we get here. In all a nice trip, but not the Aloha State. Now that the pesky Iraq Study Group Report is off my plate I'm focusing on Sunday's festivities. (Surely you haven't forgotten the much talked about Cloyd/Anteo merger?) Unlike you competent, capable folks who've landed jobs, I have little of note to report on the employment front, but a holiday season with severance and lots of free time isn't such a bad gig.
PS: I sent this link to a couple of you, but if you really can't face another day without Taj Mahal's show from 9/19/69, check out http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/home.aspx
PPS: Wow, didn't realize I would co-opt the PubServ appellation. I'll try this under a more recognizable moniker.
And Josh, sorry to have missed the guitar hero antics. Any more on tap?
Hey Kennedy...great to have you back...thanks again for setting this up for the gang...any ideas on who will archive our notes? Didn't attempt it myself...and Mack, hang in there....perhaps there will be good humans who work in your new department...
Hi All,
Congratulations to Tobey and Joe for an absolutely beautiful wedding and splendid reception. Be sure to check the new post for photos.
Congratulations Tobey! The pictures look great except for the ones that Guild ruined. By the way, Kennedy looks pretty good up there on stage.
Kennedy, ever do a White, Jewish/Puerto Rican, Christian wedding?
Josh, I specialize in nondenominational ceremonies--the brotherhood of man, ya know?
Kennedy's going to be a Freelance All-Purpose Authority Figure. He did an excellent job. The wedding was great--Tobey looked lovely, as you can all see.
Hi Everyone,
Congratulations Tobey and Joe. How do I access the pix?
Congrats Tobey! I wish you guys all the best. On a tangent, I had my first day at Accounts Receivable at McGraw-Hill today. What the F was I thinking? It SUCKS. I don't know how long I can deal with it. The manager is clueless and a beyatch! God Anita, I miss you. You were the best boss EVER.
Jean, you have to get to the December posts to see the pictures. This run of comments has gone on far too long. Try using these directions:
1. Go to https://beta.blogger.com/start
2. Username: jkennedy@comcast.net Password: password17
3. You will be sent to http://beta.blogger.com/home
4. Click on the Green Cross icon next to the text "New Post."
Mr. Kennedy, the ceremony was amazing. Thank you very, very much!
Mr. Kennedy, the ceremony was amazing. Thank you very, very much!
Hey everyone,
Tobey, you guys look great and so happy. Congratulations!! There needs to be a lot more pictures posted though! JohnK, who knew you were so talented!? Congrats to every one finding jobs! Im still plugging along with GGS stuff. Miss you guys!
Tobey, it was my pleasure. I'm just grateful to have been a part of such an auspicious event. I'm going to assume that there's something amiss with the time function on these comments. The alternative is that something is amiss with the honeymoon. Hope all is well in Newport. All during the ceremony I expected Rob to ride in on a wild honeymoon stallion, but no dice.
Tobey and Joe-congratulations! The photos are terrific....everyone looks just wonderful...Mack sorry to hear about your new "boss" ....all of us at VisEd were raised to be "good guys" thanks to Dick and Jean...of course we were all good guys to begin with...that is what made us so different...yes, VEG puts other companies and divisions to shame...hang in there..hope none of us have to deal with the dark side when we land new jobs....
...anyone hear from William or Jill?
wishing you all a happy holiday season...may not get back to the blog...we have a little over a week to pull Christmas together!
Hi Everyone,
This is my first time on the blog since we left MMH. Congratulations to Tobey. You were a beautiful bride and I enjoyed seeing the photos. I am happy to hear that some more people have gotten jobs. Congrats to Ben, John Guild (?), William, Cindy G., Laura S., and Tobey. Wow Marcel, that is great that your company has work already! I am selling new construction (real estate) on the weekends. Anyone want to buy a house in Quakertown, PA? That will keep me going until I figure out what kind of a real job I might be able to get. Oh, Michele, Happy Birthday!
Scored another gig. Get this, we're going to be doing the initial K4 work on Georgia Science. Ho ho ho!
Just wanted to wish everyone a great holiday. I'm off to visit friends in Cincinnati.
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and New Year! It's going to be a year of change and new and exciting things for so many of us. I caught the dreaded stomach virus, but I am feeling better now. I cannot even blame it on the terrible air circulation in Hightstown! This blog is great and I hope we call continue to stay connected in 2007. Best wishes to everyone, Jean
Has anyone heard from Noelle? Has the latest addition arrived?
Hey where is everyone? Still laying on the couch after the big holiday meals!? Hope everyone had a happy holiday! Not much exciting news to report. I had my unemployment meeting,oh that was fun! I don't feel guilty about taking unemployment after seeing who else gets it! My favorite was the lady with the PINK hair, hair bow, shirt and jacket and pants! She was a treat! Im hoping to take a web class in Jan and then find the job of my dreams!! Have a safe New Years holiday everyone!
m here.... sort of..
Working very hard getting these computers and servers up and running for this company. The fun will being in the newyear when i get to set up the servers.
My holiday was good so far.. Nice short week this week and then party on sat, diffrent one on sunday, Im so glad we have the 1st off..:) although ill probobly need at least a week to recover.. sounds like its time for a vacation again.
New year for me consists of designing business cards and web pages for my business..:) And trying to survive my last year of college... I hope.
Anyhow.. Everyone have a good and safe new years... and remember
Don't drink and drive,
You might spill the drink.
Hello everyone! I hope this comment finds you all in good health and happy holiday spirits. I'm sorry for my prolonged absence from this blog, but things have been no less than hectic since leaving the Hill. Though the MGH familial attachments will live on as Mary (otherwise known as the Marvel) and I move into a place in Jersey City this weekend. Hooray!
So far I've really been enjoying my new job at Black Dog and Leventhal. (And since I'm moving and my commuting time will be a third of what it is now, I'm really going to start enjoying myself.) Get this, I have TWO windows and because I'm on the top floor of the building, I get to watch the sunset over the south end of Manhattan every night.
I hope all of you are finding yourselves as lucky as I have been in a post-MGH world. I miss you all very much, and I doubt I'll ever find a group of people quite as nice as all of you.
Happy New Years!
Sending wishes for a Happy New Year to everyone....
Hi Everyone, Happy New Year!
There will be a get together this Saturday morning at 9:30 at the Perkins on 571 in East Windsor. If you are intrested in going please email LauraBinBad at Lwsgraphicsnj@aol.com. She will be making reservations if she gets a lot of responses.
Hope to see you there.
Happy 2007 to everyone! I just wrote two checks and did not write 2006 in error. I must be corporate material! I saw Terri Moore's new grandchild, Logan, yesterday and he is beautiful. Terri is beaming with her son, Bill back from his second (and final) tour, and a new grandson to dote on. Terri does not know how to get onto the blog. John K, could you email her and give her instructions? She is technologically challenged. Friday, our family will celebrate little Nate's first birthday. I cannot believe that it's a year! He is so much fun. The upside of not having a job is that I get to play with him and all of his toys more often. So, I am reading him a new Elmo book, and in my spare time I am reading Antonia Fraser's Marie Antoinette. It's really compelling.
Happy New Year! I hope everyone is having a great start to 2007!
Finally, finally, finally I received my student teacher placement from Rider. It will be at in a second grade class at the Dutch Neck School. The great thing is that is in the school I requested and with the teacher I requested, so I am psyched!
Does anyone have any inside scoop on the school, the principal, etc.? Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I haven't seen a new entry since Jan. 5. Where is everyone? John, how was Florida? Marcel, I heard that you and Fiona have the Georgia science customization project. Congratulations! Let me know how it's going. And I know that a few of you are waiting for second or third interviews. Go get 'em. As for me, I've been enjoying living in this new warmer climate (although I understand that a cold front is on its way in) and my shrubs and flowers are starting to bloom which is totally crazy. I will probably start with Lee Hect Harrison soon and get the outplacement drill. I'm also looking at some courses at Bucks County Community College. They have an eclectic selection of everything from hypnotherapy (yes, I can hypnotize people who interview me!), to business courses for managers. I may take the plunge just to see if I have the patience to sit in a classroom anymore. I'm still tossing around several thoughts about what I might want to do in my next worklife. All options are on the table. Did everyone see Noelle's newest family member? She's gorgeous, as are the other 3 children. So, keep in touch, and let us know what you are all doing.
Don't know if anyone will see this by tomorrow, but here's the condensed version:
I got a job at a small publisher in northern NJ (yes, Doriann, the one you sent me -- thanks!), but tomorrow I'm going to Washington, DC, to interview at the Atlantic Monthly. (More details on that situation later; they contacted me very soon after I accepted the first job.) Any good thoughts, prayers, etc. would be greatly appreciated, especially as I'm going tomorrow on maybe 4.5 hours of sleep.
I'd write more, but time is getting short. Congrats to all who've gotten jobs, and courage to those who haven't.
Hey, don't post here. There's a new thread for 2007. Try here:
http://pubservices.blogspot.com/2007/01/happy-07.html
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