Last Day in the Office and Aftermath

A manager asked me, "So, how does it feel [for it to be your last day today at this job]?" whilst another manager told me, "You've gotta feel relieved. I bet you that's how it's gonna to feel."

Yesterday was a whirlwind of a day. I went to work "as usual", ported my cellphone number to a different device (sadly, I turned in my schnazzy iPhone and replaced it with a cheap $10 prepaid flip phone from Best Buy), printed pertinent documents and saved some items from my corporate laptop on a flash drive, went to my final company-sponsored lunch, had my exit interview, cleared my cubicle, turned in the laptop to IT, said my round of farewells, took a million pictures, and left to meet a friend for dinner and hanging out. I didn't make it home until 11:30pm last night, at which point I was too exhausted to think about the fact that my time in Corporate America has ended.

Wow... texting with this phone after having owned an iPhone...

Today, Saturday, feels like any other Saturday. It does not feel anything monumentally different. I did wake up today with a bit of excitement; however, I had put in my resignation notice 3 whole months ago and everyone in my department was aware of my impending departure, especially yours truly, so it's not Earth-shattering. I have also been fortunate enough to have had ample time to plan my transition and have a few projects/activities lined up, which would keep me busy until school starts in September.

I think, if one is planning a career change (not a job change from one firm to another but a real career change), especially when one is going from a M-F (and some weekends) job to beginning his own venture, it's really important at least for the first couple of weeks to line something up that will keep him busy on a similar routine to build off of the momentum of the corporate schedule, feel productive, and acclimate oneself to the change. If one wants to take a few days off, that's fine, but I wouldn't take off more than a regular weekend or the regular span of a planned vacation.

It's not so much about accomplishing things right away as it is just feeling good and in control of the situation. I think unemployment, especially unforeseen unemployment, causes depression when the person goes home and has to think about "What now?" If one has a general plan with concrete but not immediate actionable steps (for example, I'm going back to school but not until September), I really think the first two or three weeks after the loss of a job should be planned for and filled with productive activities in one's chosen field as a transition rather than a time for taking a break or bumming around for a while, unless maybe if it's spent on personal development, like going on a retreat, taking a seminar, meaningful travel, the like.

So, what do I have scheduled for myself for the next two weeks? Tomorrow, I am off to Jackson/N. Conway New Hampshire, for a 10-day landscape painting workshop in the tradition of the Hudson River School (an American painting movement). I have to clean my room today and pack for the trip. I am back on July 27 and will provide updates then if there's no wifi at the place where I'm staying.

Farewell Party at Work

My engagement team management sponsored an ice cream party for me today. I was given a budget and allowed to purchase a variety of ice cream and toppings. A wonderful administrative assistant helped me to book a large conference room with a kitchen extension for it.

I went to Trader Joe's and Shaw's and procured all sorts of ice cream flavors - pistachio, coffee, chocolate, cherry with chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, banana split, maple walnut, peanut butter, french vanilla, mochi ice cream in chocolate, strawberry, green tea, mango... different ice cream bars, and even a funny-sounding/tasting lemon and ginger snap ice cream from TJ's. We had waffle cones, sugar cones, chocolate syrup, m&ms, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup. The cashier at TJ's told me, "You must be really loved."

Ice cream set-up for the party

I gave a speech afterwards - a long and irreverent one. It was a combo Oscar speech and improv comedy. I joked that when I first started, I had no notion of what was appropriate or inappropriate to say in a group setting. Everyone laughed. One of my directors commented, "And that has changed how?!!" I think I may have horrified some people who didn't know me that well, but those that knew me better were quite entertained. 

Grateful is what I feel right now for having been a part of this department. I felt accepted and appreciated by everyone. I'm far from perfect (and also far from politically correct, as my speech proved) and I have had moments at work that I am not very proud of. To still be showered with so many sincere well-wishes especially from people I trust, respect, and admire is truly wonderful. 

Afterwards, some senior people at my department as well as peers of mine went to a hot pot buffet in Chinatown. We ate so much I think we are all set for the next few months. We talked about all sorts of things, even very personal things, and I received more well-wishes and much-needed advice and moral support. I thought to myself that if I could just hold on to this feeling of everyone's energy bolstering and encouraging me, I will find it in myself to know that I will be more than fine. I know I will go through tough times ahead, but if I can just remember what I have received today, I would find the strength to keep going.

My workplace has been like a family to me for the past four years. Sure, we are all there to get some serious work done. But in the meantime I have formed really intimate friendships and relationships. We have spent so much time with one another and weathered all kinds of things together, it's inevitable that our lives have become a part of one another's in a meaningful way.

I definitely grew a lot while in this group. I learned to not take things too personally and to lighten up. I learned how to rely on others, that people do not exist in a vacuum, that they do affect one another and that little things do matter.

I learned that even though we are all co-workers, we are also all daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, and beloved friends, and it's a part of who we are and we bring that to our workplace; that our relationships outside our jobs permeate our interactions with others. Certainly, my co-workers fulfilled the roles of mentors and parents and friends and siblings to me. They are all down-to-earth and real - I couldn't have asked for a better place for my personal formation and development after college. I am definitely leaving  my workplace a better person with a better perspective, which is a real gift.

Thank you, everyone, and I will miss you!

Preparing Wood Panels for Oil Painting

Today, I prepared wood panels for an upcoming landscape painting workshop I will be participating in in New Hampshire, where I will be learning to paint in the tradition of the Hudson River School, which is a school of painting I really admire!

The materials list included a daunting recommended 15 panels!

I only know one way to prepare wood panels for oil painting (which I did for the painting below), so that's how I prepared all 20 of them.

O's copy of a painting by Hudson River School artist Albert Bierstadt called Mountain Lake III

Materials:

Pre-cut Birch panels

Shellac (amber, not clear)

Disposable bristle brushes (the ones that cost $1-$2)

220 grit sandpaper

Gloves (I had disposable latex gloves)

Newspaper or other papers to cover the floor with

Paper towel
Mask (recommended)

Notes:

- Wear painting clothes

- Don't shower before this because you'll need to afterwards (haha)

- I'm glad my guy roommate is an engineer who also does woodworking, so this sort of stuff hanging out on the kitchen floor is something he doesn't even think twice about (and I'm glad my other guy roommate is not even home and won't mind it if he were, either)
-I did not wear a mask through this project and the smell and the wood dust started bothering me after a while. I was fine in the end, but for larger volumes I would definitely recommended it.

Approximate time for whole project: 4 to 5 hours

Steps:

1) Put newspaper on floor and lay panels on the newspaper

2) Wear gloves, stir Shellac well, apply a layer to all panels

3) Go back and apply another layer of Shellac to all the panels in order (the first few ones should be sticky/almost dry). Let dry for an hour. At this point I decided to have lunch and eat kimchi straight from the jar as an appetizer (pictured).

4) Sand them down lightly until smooth (you will be able to tell the difference... the smoothness is amazing)

5) Apply another layer of Shellac and let dry for at least another hour

The results are absolutely gorgeous golden wooden panels ready for oil painting masterpieces!