I’m combining two days into one here, partly because the last couple days have been busy, and partly because I forgot to write yesterday.
So this is Day 11 and 12, which feels appropriate for a blog about unemployment. The schedule is flexible.
Last night wrapped up the usual way lately, which is to say I played games with my friends. Still one of the best distractions I have. There are a lot of serious thoughts bouncing around in my head these days, and a few hours of nonsense with friends is extremely good medicine.
Tuesday was another “back to the old office” kind of day.
In the morning I sorted out health and insurance details. I worked with a rep from Sun Life to keep my life insurance policies going so my family doesn’t end up on the street if I keel over unexpectedly. Always nice to start the day with conversations about mortality.
I also applied for Non-Group coverage through Alberta Blue Cross.
For those following along with my medication saga, covering expensive drugs with a pre-existing condition is… complicated. I was basically told that nobody is interested in covering Humira for me, which is unfortunate, because it turns out I am quite fond of functioning internal organs.
Fortunately, Alberta has a province-sponsored non-group program that exists exactly for situations like this. It makes biosimilar drugs attainable even when your salary has recently dropped to zero. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, it’s worth looking into. Programs like that exist so sick people don’t go bankrupt just trying to stay healthy.
I also heard back from my lawyer about the severance negotiations.
My lawyer, Jorge Pineda from Taylor Janis Workplace Law, has been great through this. He explained how my situation compares to similar cases, what my options were, and what litigation would realistically cost.
After looking at everything, I signed the severance offer this morning.
It wasn’t perfect, and sure, it could have been more, but at some point you close the chapter and move forward. That’s where I am now.
Since then, I’ve started combing through job postings on LinkedIn and talking to people. At this point I’m keeping an open mind. I’m not desperate to jump at the first thing that comes along. I want to find something that fits like a glove.
Which is a strange expression, because I’ve owned plenty of gloves that absolutely did not fit.
As I look through postings, I’m also making a list of things I want to improve while I have this rare gift of time.
Right now the list looks like this:
CI/CD
RAG
Agents
SQL
I do know what all of those are, and I’m actually pretty good at some of them, but I want to get to the point where I’m not just competent. I want to be really good.
My trip downtown yesterday was also the first time I’ve taken the train in months. I biked to work all winter, which turned out to be way more effective than I expected. Even on cold days, if you dress properly, it’s only mildly uncomfortable.
After fifteen years of taking the train every day, you’d think I could manage it without incident.
I got off at the wrong station.
Genius.
I went downtown for physio.
As mentioned before, I wrecked my back last summer building extremely large sand castles, which in hindsight may not have been a medically recommended activity.
Kelly Barrie at Avenue Physio has been fantastic, and today she officially graduated me, which means I now have a clean bill of health and am fully cleared to injure myself again this summer.
While I was downtown I met up with a friend I used to work with. It was nice just sitting and talking in person again, even if it was in the same building that still feels a little strange to walk into.
In case this blog is being monitored by people with an agenda against me, I will avoid naming names.
After physio I came home, looked through more job postings, picked up the kids, made dinner, and later went out to meet another friend for orange juice and tea.
These conversations have meant a lot to me.
Honestly, I haven’t made enough time for friends over the last few years. I always meant to. I always thought I would. But work kept getting busier, and busier, and busier.
Last year alone I estimate I worked more than 300 hours of overtime.
That kind of pace catches up with you. Physically, mentally, emotionally.
So if you’re a friend of mine and you want to go bowling, watch a game, grab a drink, play laser tag, or do something inexpensive now that I’m technically poor, I’m in.
Last night I read to the kids, put them to bed, and then went to bed myself, which is becoming a surprisingly appealing lifestyle.
Today is a lighter day.
The only thing on my calendar before late afternoon is Toastmasters at lunch.
I’ve brought a lot of people to Toastmasters over the years. If you want to get better at public speaking, reduce the number of “ums” and “ahs,” and learn how to actually deliver an idea with impact, it’s one of the best and cheapest ways to do it.
The rest of today I want to spend building a plan for those four skills I mentioned.
CI/CD, RAG, Agents, SQL.
If anyone has good ideas for how to level up in those areas, I’m all ears. Suggestions welcome.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t say how much I appreciate the feedback I’m getting about this blog.
From quick “Great blog” comments on the escalator, to messages from people saying this is helping them deal with their own fear of layoffs, it means a lot.
The original idea was just to hold myself accountable.
But if it also gives people a window into what this experience actually looks like, without pretending everything is perfect and without pretending everything is terrible, then that feels worthwhile too.
Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to post the plan for how I’m going to tackle those new skills.
Thanks again, everyone.
I really do appreciate you all.
Brett Wiens 