Art Hill

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Daily Photos 2009

One picture each day. In reverse order.
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January 23, 2009 Sacked<br /> Yesterday was not a good day. I was notified at 10:00 that I was being laid off from Microsoft where I have worked for the past 8 years. Today is my last day. It was devastating news. I got my first job in 1968 and have never been fired until yesterday.<br /> And thanks to all for the overwhelming response to my shot of Joey yesterday.<br /> <br /> Update September 22, 2009: Imagine my surprise to see comments on this 9 month old picture today. I am still unemployed but we're getting by. Had a great summer with the grandkids. Getting used to watching how much we spend on things.
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January 23, 2009 Sacked
Yesterday was not a good day. I was notified at 10:00 that I was being laid off from Microsoft where I have worked for the past 8 years. Today is my last day. It was devastating news. I got my first job in 1968 and have never been fired until yesterday.
And thanks to all for the overwhelming response to my shot of Joey yesterday.

Update September 22, 2009: Imagine my surprise to see comments on this 9 month old picture today. I am still unemployed but we're getting by. Had a great summer with the grandkids. Getting used to watching how much we spend on things.

firedlayoff

  • February 9, 2009 Our family circa 1981<br /> Not sure exactly when this picture was taken but 80-82 would be about right. We're sitting in my parents back yard in California; we visited them every year. Was looking through some old pictures and found this and a couple of other 8X10's from that time so had to scan them in.
  • February 8, 2009 What a difference a day makes<br /> We drove up to Lake Geneva Wisconsin yesterday to see the snow sculpture contest. What they didn't bargain for was a temperature of 52 degrees. It was a shame. All of these elaborate sculptures were turning into puddles right before your eyes. None of them looked good and the worst of the lot were completely unrecognizable by the time we saw them around 2PM. There's always next year. And to think that January was the coldest on record.
  • February 7, 2009 Melting Away<br /> We drove up to Lake Geneva Wisconsin today. They have a snow sculpture contest. What they didn't bargain for was a temperature of 52 degrees. It was a shame. All of these elaborate sculptures were turning into puddles right before your eyes. None of them looked good and the worst of the lot were completely unrecognizable by the time we saw them around 2PM. There's always next year.
  • February 6, 2009 Centerpiece<br /> My wife had her group over for lunch today and made up this centerpiece. I thought it turned out quite nicely.
  • February 5, 2009 Money Maker<br /> Went over to my daughter's house for lunch today. She's picked up a number of interesting signs for their family room where all the kids toys are. As many of you know I'm out of work. Looking for an opportunity to raise a little cash. So this got me to thinking. If you send me $5 via paypal I will give you my phone number and you can call and whine for 5 minutes about the weather, your camera, you car, your job, the government, smugmug, in fact anything. Each time you pause I will say something like "Gee, that's too bad" or "I know what you mean" or "There oughtta be a law". If I could only get this going I might not have to work. :-)
  • February 4, 2009 My Buddy Jake<br /> He sleeps next to me, gets me up in the morning and follows me around. We are fast friends.
  • February 3, 2009 Relaxed<br /> Jill and I went over to my daughter's house yesterday afternoon to babysit for a while. The kids were napping so I got on my daughter's computer (this is the chair). One of her cats decided to join me.
  • February 2, 2009 Playing catch<br /> Scarlett just love playing catch with her Uncle Dan yesterday at the Super Bowl party we went to.
  • February 1, 2009 Pancakes<br /> I made Mickey Mouse pancakes yesterday for Kyle and Lindsey. Lindsey like cherries for the eyes - Kyle doesn't. We had such a great time with the two kids overnight. We still keep talking about it. So many funny quotes that you can only get from 4 year olds.
  • January 31, 2009 Excited<br /> Yesterday we picked up our grandkids Kyle,4, and Lindsey,4, and brought them to our house for a movie night sleepover. The day before we had taken them to the grocery store to pick out pizzas and ice cream. When we picked up Lindsey she gave us this note. I just had to share it.<br /> We watched Cinderella.
  • January 30, 2009 Kyle and Lindsey (cousins)<br /> Two of my grandkids at the grocery store. They're getting pretty big for these carts but we offered them the option of each taking a separate cart or both squeezing into one cart and this is what they chose. They are so much fun.
  • January 29, 2009 Just Another Fish<br /> Thought I would post one more fish from the tanks at Rain Forest Cafe. Thanks for all the great comments on yesterday's fish.
  • January 28, 2009 Fish at Rain Forest Cafe<br /> I've never had very good results shooting fish in aquariums. We had lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe and they had some large well lit tanks so I took a few pictures on the way out and thought they turned out pretty good. Not cropped, this is the full frame. And there were no crowds as there ususally are at the regular aquariums. A few more fish shots over here <br /> <a href="http://arthill.smugmug.com/gallery/7035315_e7i3x/1/463416910_nRjBd">http://arthill.smugmug.com/gallery/7035315_e7i3x/1/463416910_nRjBd</a>
  • January 27, 2009 Stores I Don't Need to Shop In<br /> Saw this place in Woodfield Mall and realized that I have no need for Executive Essentials. There was a sign in the window saying they are looking for help - flexible working hours and big store discounts. So I could take a low paying job and spend what I make on stuff I don't need. :-) Think I'll wait a while.
  • January 26, 2009 I'm getting there<br /> First day of not working. I did run out to the office to turn in my laptop and I've got this new desktop in pretty good shape. The printer is working and I've even got a built-in TV Tuner so was able to watch Illinois notorious Governor Blago on TV claiming he has done nothing wrong.
  • January 25, 2009 Jake<br /> Just not able to focus mentally on photography at the moment and almost skipped POD today but decided I don't want to do THAT either so got a quick shot of our other cat Jake. He deserves equal time with Joey, who I posted a couple of days ago. I have the new computer in pretty good shape now so can do most photo stuff. And I like it that I got 8 gig of RAM :-)<br /> So tomorrow will be the first day that I don't go to work - weird but I'll get used to it.
  • January 24, 2009 First Step<br /> Not a cool picture or anything. I just posted this really to thank all of you for the wonderful words of support on yesterday's picture. It really lifted my spirits. I had to give back my Microsoft computer which was the only one I used so the first order of business today is to install the new one I bought this morning (pictured). There's an awfully lot of work to do but at least I'm connected to the internet and can get email and post pictures. No image processing software installed or anything like that but ya gotta start somewhere. And again thanks so much. Once I get this thing setup and get back in the groove I'll have LOTS of time to comment :-)
  • January 23, 2009 Sacked<br /> Yesterday was not a good day. I was notified at 10:00 that I was being laid off from Microsoft where I have worked for the past 8 years. Today is my last day. It was devastating news. I got my first job in 1968 and have never been fired until yesterday.<br /> And thanks to all for the overwhelming response to my shot of Joey yesterday.<br /> <br /> Update September 22, 2009: Imagine my surprise to see comments on this 9 month old picture today. I am still unemployed but we're getting by. Had a great summer with the grandkids. Getting used to watching how much we spend on things.
  • January 22, 2009 Joey<br /> One of our 11 year old cats. He loves to gaze out the front window.
  • January 21, 2009 Look Sharp!<br /> Neighbor's house. You don't want to walk under that.

  • Vandana Raman

    on January 29, 2010

    sorry to hear about it, late albeit..you're so very creative, their loss.. such a neat shot of such a frustrating moment

  • Chuck Beehner

    on November 12, 2009

    Art, I was not part of the dailies back then... I have my own posting just like this, well the picture is different, but the message is the same. Feel your pain... Hopefully, we will all be back on track soon.

  • 465004AnthonyT

    on November 11, 2009

    So sorry to hear of your bad news, Great shot though, Hope things work out for you.

  • Sandizphotos-SeascapeS

    on September 23, 2009

    Nearly 9 months to the day! Sorry to hear about it (late). Perfect picture for the moment, though. At least it gave you time to stop and smell the roses. Hey - you need to post a picture of you smelling the roses!

  • fotomom

    on September 23, 2009

    Art, you have my support too. I realized at 6:30AM this morning even before my coffee that this was a January picture. I wasn't a part of the daily community then. Great picture of the day so many of us fear and have feared for years. Time with the grandkids is good!

  • Gary Esman

    on September 23, 2009

    I think all the comments below pretty well sum up all the support you have from this community. You are well liked and praying for you. Stay with it and good things will come. Take care.

  • cornfu

    on September 23, 2009

    you are in my family's prayers! my children are praying for you by name., Art! i have no words of wisdom other than nothing is in our control and we survive if we strive. having been in your situation, i wish you strength. i am here today and better off for it but it is a tough road ahead. stay strong, friend.

  • LCD

    on September 22, 2009

    Sorry for your circumstance. Just wanted to share that the time I was laid off, I thought it was the worst day of my life, but it turned out to be a good thing. Every person that I know in similar circumstances has always ended up better off. So, stay open to the opportunities, and best of luck to you.

  • 396743jordanbills

    on September 22, 2009

    Sorry to see this, Art. But you have talent. Have you thought of trying event photography? Some people do well at it. And you certainly have the qualifications. Best of luck, my friend, and may God Bless. Love the creativity shown here.

  • RunColorado

    on September 22, 2009

    I'm so sorry to hear that... very creative shot to show your feelings...someone once told this "everything is a once in a lifetime experience so remember we grow from having new challenges that force us to be uncomfortable at times". I have learned so much from this saying...take care.

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