job status (or lack of) and highway 40 (64) reopening

Well, I was all excited for the last few months knowing we were coming to an end of the construction of the shutdown of highway 40 / 64 in St. Louis. This is one of the main thoroughfares from the Mississippi West to Highway 70 in Wentzville, MO. For over 2 years it has been shut down for various parts of the construction and has made myself an MANY others change their course and time of commute each day.

The sad part is my excitement has turned to sadness that I can only enjoy the opening of this highway for the next few weeks after having traveled that route for two various jobs in West St. Louis County. I traveled from McCausland west to Highway 270 for several years and of the last 12, going on 13 years, I went to 40 and Mason. Well as of 12/31/09 I will no longer be needed for my services at my current job due to job elimination. Damn Recession, Damn Economy.

Yes, I got let go from a large insurance firm in St. Louis after 12 full years of service. I was told on November 19th that they no longer needed my position due to parts of the job going to the California "BIG BROTHER" part of the company. So the other parts of my job will go to my fellow (less seniority than me) co-workers on the help desk. I am essentially a Systems Security Administrator. I have been doing this type of job for several years, although I carried the title of Assistant to the director of I.T. I was moved over on the help desk , not by choice,(which I use to run by myself 10 years ago at the same time I was assistant to the dir.) in 2008. I molded into a newly created job, minus the title of SSA.

There were many closed door meetings in the last few months that several of us suspected jobs were going to be cut, but honestly it took me buy surprise because I was the only one in my department let go. I had the most seniority too! Sad. I applied for a job in the company, but I will not put my hopes on it to be my luck to get the job. I think I'd have a better chance at winning the lottery before I would get hired back on. I wish everyone else at the company much luck in keeping their jobs. The 4 people (including myself) that were let go this past month will figure it out. One of them actually was with the company 22 years. Can you believe that? very sad.

Meantime, I wait to train my replacement locally for parts of my job. I will then enjoy my days I can drive on the newly reconstructed highway.

Oh, in the middle of working out my days at my company, I got served with Jury Duty for the City of St. Louis. FUN. I report at noon on the 14th. I will crack up if I get pulled onto a jury for a few days when I should really be training my replacement at work. Bahahahahaha

I am so excited.. I know, it might not be a big deal to you (Highway 40/64 reopening)

Yes, I am STOKED! The stretch of Highway (Forty or Farty if you are from South St. Louis City)40/64 from Spoede and Brentwood is reopening December 15, 2008. About 2-3 months ahead of schedule. This will eliminate my drive on hwy 270 Northbound from Hwy 44 to Hwy 40/64 or as I take getting off at Manchester to Topping to Clayton to Mason to North Outer 40 Drive.

I AM SO EXCITED. I'll probably has as long of a drive to work since I can't get on 40/64 until Brentwood or McKnight, but at least I know my back streets to get to and from the highway.

Hwy 270 N has been a parking lot the last few days at 8:00 am and thus I have been late for work by about a total of 30 minutes. I had to stay late to make up that time last night and I hate that.

Also, driving a stick shift vehicle in bumper to bumper traffic is horrible. This is when I wish I had my little ford focus back again instead of the manual / stick shift tribute I now have. Yes, I bought the tribute before they announced the highway closure so I am stuck with this until the reopening of bumper to bumper .. clutch killing driving. Just ask anyone that drives a stick shift/manual transmission car. They too would tell you they hate bumper to bumper.

I often thought about asking to change my hours to 8:00 - 4:00 pm, but I have to take Julia to the sitter in the morning to dropping her off after the 7:30 opening time of the sitter works out for me to take her and DH picks her up around 3:45 pm each day. Now with the highway opening I won't need to ask to change hours. See, I drive west from home against traffic for the most part so hwy 40 drive from the City to West County was typically not bumper to bumper!!


I CAN'T WAIT .. WOOOHOOO. less than a month away.


Ok, off to snuggle with the kiddo before I tackle that danged traffic.

Happy Day to you all.