Marvell announced a two week shutdown from December 22 through January 2 to cut corporate expenses and force people to use up some vacation that is stagnating on the books. So the Holsingers invited me to join them for Christmas in Boise. (They even bought my ticket — how great is that?) Since I’m going to be gone, I decided not to put up any decorations here.
Brian and Carrie went to his company holiday party last night and Nathan came to spend the night with me. When he walked in, he couldn’t believe I didn’t have one Christmas decoration up. He promptly said he was going to help me decorate. I begged off putting up the tree, but I did get out some garland, several candles, the Nativity, red and green towels, and a couple musical ornaments, which he helped place here and there. When we were done, he walked through the house “grading” every room. He counted the decorations in each room and gave me a point for each. In his bedroom, there weren’t any, and he was a bit chagrined. I tried to convince him that Spiderman was red and could count, but he wouldn’t buy that. He did give me a point for a silver bell that sits on the shelves.
When totaled, my score was 31 points. We both knew his mom would probably score about 500 points, as she puts decorations in every room and every corner of their house. Even the bathrooms have little lighted trees! (Nathan confided to me that the linen closet doesn’t have any decorations, but that’s okay.) But his mom doesn’t have a hanging bell with an electric eye that plays music whenever someone walks under it like I do! He was most fascinated with that. (I was most annoyed with it, and turned it off the minute he left. 😉 )
If you have visited Robin’s blog, you have seen what is in store for me when I get there. Her decorations more than make up for my lack of a tree, and I’ll have a whole week to enjoy them, and the kids. What fun! Fa la la la la!
That sounds very exciting! Enjoy your trip and your time off!
My company is having a 2 week shutdown too but I don’t have to go back afterwards. 😉
For those who haven’t heard I’m retiring at the end of this year(2008). I will be going back to work somewhere after a few months off but it’s time to take advantage of the free medical insurance I’ll be getting.
Congratulations and good luck! Your 401K must have done a lot better than mine this past year. What’s your secret? What are your plans?
My secret is I started a Hughes contributory pension 21 years ago. My 401K didn’t do very well but the pension is economy proof(almost).
Oh yeah, my plan is to take off a few months then go to work as a contractor. I won’t need benefits so they tend to pay you quite a bit more per hour.
Wow Don, that’s cool!
What kind of contracting work are you planning on doing? Will this be back with Hughes?
This announcement should have been made in your blog instead of Donna’s.
I’ve actually said this several times in several blogs. It seems nobody really thought I was serious though.
I remember vague hints that you wanted to retire, but I didn’t know it would be this soon.
How long does your medical insurance continue?
My medical insurance continues for both Betty and I until we each reach 65.
I would like to go back to Boeing if they can do it otherwise there are many other companies I could work for. The issue with Boeing is I can’t go back as an employee and they are cutting way back on contractors. The other big companies aren’t doing that. I could probably work for Raytheon, Northrup Grummen, or one of the other big ones around here. I’ve got a very marketable skillset.