Day 0 / 1

Yesterday was the final day at International Paper / Temple-Inland.  It was a great 14+ years and I met hundreds of great people and I hope to continue being friends with them long after.  This layoff is a great opportunity for me to have the time to do things that I really couldn't get motivated for because I just didn't have the time.  This blog is one of them.  I'm going to use this to put random thoughts about being home, my job search, and other miscellaneous topics.

Day 0 and Day 1 morning (July 1 & 2, 2013).   After I signed my papers yesterday, I left the office, came home, and changed clothes.  It seemed like a Saturday so I went and got my gas in the car and headed toward Costco to pick up some pictures for Amy.  I saw the office for Scottrade over by the Firehouse Sub shop and though I should ask about rolling over my 401k.

When I walked in the office it was quiet and about three people working at desks.  A nice young woman came and asked how she could help.  I told her that I was interested in rolling over my 401k and what options were available.  You would have thought I was from Mars.  She had no idea what to do.  She asked if I already had an account and I said "no" and she basically told me to go create an account on the Internet and then we could figure it out.  I said thanks and walked out.  I've had my 401k at TIN/IP since 1999 so it is pretty good size.  Scottrade just let me walk out the door.  The manager didn't even look up from his computer.  Oh well someone else would like my money.

After Costco, I met the crew at Chuy's for a farewell lunch.  It was nice and kind of bittersweet as I know we will all be going our separate ways.  

In my office at home, I hung a whiteboard with projects that I would like to accomplish and my schedule.  Basically learning iOS in the morning and working on my Raspberry Pi in the afternoon when the girls are playing Minecraft.  Being the afternoon I worked on the Pi for a couple of hours.  I put a new version of Raspian on a fast Class 10 card and cranked it up.  I found two things with my Raspberry Pi that were interesting.  First, the Dell USB keyboard that I was using (the one with the volume knob near the top) draws too much power and causes the Pi to lock up even when connected to a powered USB hub.  Second, I switched the power supply to a 1.1 amp 5 volt supply instead of the 700 mA one I was using and it was much more stable.  Enough geek talk for the paragraph.

This morning (July 2), I am up and ready to go.  I took a shower and put on my new corporate uniform (shorts and a t-shirt) and am getting ready to follow my schedule.  Looking for jobs, checking email, and getting ready to go.  Everyone is home so the social side of not having a job has not affected me yet.  

Day 1:  Over and Out