Well, I got the notice today that I am not being cut.

I'm happy about that, of course, but there are some downsides.

First and foremost, good people that I like got cut. That's very tough. I'm going to have to work with them this week to transition off their work and I feel awful.

Which leads me to the other downside--we're expected to absorb their work. I'm grateful to have a job, don't get me wrong, but I'm not looking forward to having 50% more work for the same pay and less benefits.

I'm ready for a turnaround!

My company announced layoffs at our last company-wide meeting in early Dec. This was right after they announced they were cancelling our holiday party and right before they announced they were also eliminating our 401k match. Sigh...

They gave the date as mid-Jan and I noticed that we have a department-wide meeting on Thursday. If their previous pattern serves, it means that the cuts are going to come this week, and they'll discuss them with those who are still left on Thursday.

I honestly don't know how likely it is that I'll be cut. On the plus side, I'm not an actual full-time employee. I'm considered a "consultant" so I get paid hourly and don't get any benefits. So in a way I'm cheaper and more flexible for the company. Also, I'm good at what I do and people know it. I've got a good reputation and I'm often requested for projects.

On the down side, the project I've been working on for the past 2 years has ended. And my company is really pushing to complete our off-shoring, so onshore people are few and far between.

So I dunno. I'd be a little surprised if I got let go, but no too surprised. I have no idea what I'd do next, though. Luckily we don't depend on my income, but I'm sure we'd miss it!

It's been all over the news that mortgage rates are dropping, and I've finally been motivated to check them out.

We're about 4 years into a 30 year fixed mortgage at 5.5%, but if I can go lower, I wouldn't mind at all.

Unfortunately, the decision is becoming much more complicated that I ever intended it to be.

We don't really want to go back to a 30 year term, so we've been looking at 15 year fixed mortgages. They seem to have the lowest rates. I've seen plenty of 20 and 25 year mortgages, but the rates on those have been mediocre at best.

The trouble I'm finding lies in the closing costs. The best closing costs I've been able to find at a competitive mortgage rate is about $3000, plus points if desired.

Will we keep this house and this mortgage long enough to justify the closing costs? I don't know.

DH and I were discussing it last night, and it just seemed to get more and more complicated. All the sudden we were trying to figure out if we were going to have kids, if we want to stay in Chicago, and how long my mother will be with us (she's fighting advanced breast cancer).

It all seems to hinge on these questions. If we have kids, we'll most likely stay put and keep this house. It's of a nice size in a nice neighborhood with good schools. If we don't have kids, we'll very likely move, but probably not before my mom passes or needs to go into an LTC facility. And once we do lose her, are we even going to stay in Chicago? There's a lot to like here, but it's hard to think of what in the middle of January!!! We've talked about pulling up stakes and moving somewhere completely different.

The first time we did a refi, all we cared about was the interest rate and costs. Now it almost feels like we have to map our entire lives out and make huge decisions before we can more forward.

When did it get this complicated?

One of the heads on our DVR died, and you don't realize how dependent you get on that darn thing until you lose it. If I want to see something on TV, I actually have to sit down and watch it! Not only that, but I actually have to pay attention--no rewinding or pausing. It's very odd!

Luckily they're coming Monday with a brand new box, with a free upgrade to HD. DH is very excited about that!

Today was a reasonably frugal day. We cooked dinner in. I made banana pancakes, but the frying pan gods were not smiling down on me. I couldn't get the temperature right, and I think I made the batter a little too thin, so I wound up burning a lot of them. My DH, and I swear this is the reason I married him, volunteered to eat the worst of them. We debated whether we would call them "cajun" (as in blackened) or "caramelized" (as in brulee). They actually weren't that bad, but they sure weren't pretty.

This should be a fun weekend. It's DH's birthday and the NFL playoffs, so we've got plenty to enjoy. I'm looking forward to it!

We had our first trash day after Christmas. Normally this is huge mess with piles upon piles in front of every house.

Not so this year. If you didn't know what week it was you would have thought it was any other trash day. No giant boxes filled with other boxes. No overflowing heaps edging into the street. Just a regular pickup.

Did anyone else notice this?

DH's grandfather passed away on Dec 27th. We're sad to lose him, but he was 92 and had enjoyed a very full life and good health right up until the end. His family is very big and very close, and they all seem to be handling it well.

We went back to Ohio for the services, and after we got back from the interrement there was a luncheon put on by the "ladies of the church."

I got to thinking about this nameless, faceless band of ladies that has always inhabited every church I've ever spent any time in. They put on the Easter breakfast, they ran the kitchen for my wedding reception, and they put out a lovely spread for grandpa.

Maybe it's just the good Midwestern girl in me, but there's just nothing that soothes the soul quite like a table full of casseroles and the big urn full of coffee.

I know it's very Prairie Home Companion, but little ham sandwiches on dinner rolls, macaroni beef, that hotdish with the potatoes and cheese, corn casseroles, and jello as far as the eye can see really does heal. It's warm and comforting and makes me feel connected to something bigger than myself--years of church basements and good-hearted people sending love with a breadcrumb topping.

So, to all the church ladies out there, with their appliqued sweatshirts and labeled Tupperware, I want you to know that you are appreciated. When it's my turn, I'll be proud to join your ranks. I make a mean macaroni & cheese.