 |
 |
Sue M, and "All" Hi Sue... and thanks for asking. Yup... I've been "out of Microsoft" as an employee (actually, as an independent contractor, as that's what all MSN forum managers are) since July 7th, when so many of us found our contracts not being renewed and we were told we were being "laid off." Ya know, it's actually a RELIEF, tho I miss the part of the people-contact of the job, because MSN had tried to make all forum managers into programmers (with varying degrees of success and non-success <I fell into the latter case>). I haven't a "programmer's bone" in my body, and truly found THAT part of the job an absolute nightmare! By the time I left MSN I was wrung out physically, and exhausted mentally, so plan on taking it easy for several months before even THINKING about another job. I want to PLAY for a while 'cause it's been YEARS since I've had time to myself. Unfortunately, my roomie of two years tried to commit suicide 2 days after I left MSN, and was removed from my home in handcuffs (so she couldn't injure herself) by the police, who took her to a country hospital where she was committed, since she'd let her medical plan go unrenewed. (I'm not making this up, folks!). After THAT unbelievable (and it WAS and still is)... experience, I spent the next several days locating and then contacting her family who all live out of state. NOW 2 of her family members are on their way to Los Angeles to pack up her stuff and move her to their home across country. Once I got over the shock of the actual event there was a lot of time-consuming "busy work" involved in trying to get her situated and back with her OWN family, since I'M her landlord/room mate rather than "family," I then had more time to assess my own situation. WHEW! Like I said - unbelievable! Since the above happen right on the heels of the "MSN experience," I really haven't had a great interest in List-posting (or ANY posting), tho I DO read every single message that al the rest of ya post daily. I was SOOO burned out from working 10 to 14 hours daily, 7 days a week - first, from 1992 to 1995 on my own 16 line BBS, and then the 22 months on MSN, that initially I didn't even want to LOOK at my 'puter for a few weeks! But of course, I can't stay away from this infernal machine so here I am - posting away again! <smile> Sooo... now I'm dating again, gone ballroom dancing', and have joined the occasional friend for maybe lunch, dinner and/or a movie. Doing some writing (and NO... I'm not writing the "Great American Novel!") <smile>, rejoined my former Toastmaster's group (LOVE it!), and have attended several interesting public-interest discussions. I've also been invited to become a discussion moderator once again for Parents Without Partners, and am looking forward to doing THAT again (OK....ok.. so I love a captive audience!) <giggle> Errrrr.... I think I'd better stop before I bore you all to tears! <g> And now you're up-to-date on THIS "Barb's" life, anyway. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange On Behalf Of Sue Maltais Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 1997 5:45 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Re: FW: All Them Bodacious Barbs <grin> In a message dated 97-07-28 19:25:48 EDT, you write: << YIKES!!! We have sooooo many "Barbs" on this List! Naturally, THIS Barb presumes only the flattering messages are directed at HER! <giggle> >> But of course Barb (M). ...You've been so quiet lately, how are things going? Are you out of Microsoft yet? Will you be searching for another job? Sue, daughter of Rocky