Guess who got hired after Sept. 1?

As if I didn't already sell my soul to the paper for the last year, hear is another kick in the pants...


DATE: August 14, 2008
TO: All Employees
SUBJECT: Wage Freeze
*********** continues to manage through an economic downturn that is having an unprecedented negative effect on revenues, and, therefore, our financial health. While we have taken many steps to reorganize and streamline operations to respond to changing business models and these economic challenges, we need to do more to control expenses.
As an important part of that effort, we are implementing an across-the-board, one-year wage freeze effective Sept. 1, 2008.* This means that if you are scheduled to receive a merit or salary review between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009, your review will occur one year later than scheduled. For example, if your next salary review date is March 1, 2009, the salary review will be postponed until March 1, 2010. You will, however, receive regularly scheduled performance reviews during this period.
This freeze is being instituted across all of McClatchy, including at corporate and McClatchy Interactive. Employees for whom salary reviews are pending or whose scheduled salary review dates fall before the September 1, 2008 effective date remain eligible for their reviews. The freeze doesn't affect salary increases related to promotions or minimum wage adjustments.
We have avoided taking this step as long as possible. We know this freeze comes at a time when the economy is putting stress on your personal expenses and when you are working hard to adapt to our changing business model. We greatly appreciate all that you do for **********, and we hope we can continue to count on you as we manage through this very difficult period. We are confident that all of the efforts and cost control measures being made will result in a far more stable and financially healthy company in the future.

Oh the places I have gone....

So sorry that I have been away for awhile but as usual uber-busy.

This post is going to keep it lean... and I know I have many phone calls, emails, facebook requests, etc. to catch up on.

So where have I been the last couple months...well, running, cooking, bbq, working lots and just trying to get out and enjoy the gorgeous (yet too short) PNW summer.

-- Ran a few more 5ks since my last post (ShoreRun, Four on the Fourth, SummeRun) all were improved times, lengths and amazing mornings. But it is an AMAZING morning when I can get up before 9!

-- Went to my friends Liz and Scott's fab outdoor wedding at Point Defiance Park. Note to self: Garden there in July IS a perfect wedding spot.

-- Proceeded to get a bit too tipsy at said wedding and well, had a rocking good time flirting a bit too much (uh sorry Geoff!) and thanks a plenty to Rich again for dragging my sorry butt all over north Tacoma (I swear to God I had no idea I was sitting ON my keys!)

-- Had a blast cooking, and throwing a bbq reception for the new newlyweds and it gave me a chance to talk to some new peeps and showoff the ever changing Hilltop. So many coworkers told me horror stories about the area back in the day (One's wife Lisa did a double take on the address invite and said 'No Waaaaay!' and I had to giggle when she said it!)

-- Been to a few Mariners games and man, they still suck! (I'm 1-4 I think...) Had a great time meeting a really cool couple (Bill and Kim) who used to work at the TNT and now work for the Times. Kim and I have tentative plans to do dinner (she's a vegetarian who also does seafood too!) at Cafe Flora -- which I am extremely excited about since they were just featured in Vegetarian Times.

-- Had a chance to catch up with Leila, an old DMN co-worker who came to town with her friend, Ashley. Plenty of good food, and drinks and girl conversation!

-- Work has kept me super busy, in fact, I'm in the middle of 11 straight, then day off, then another 10 straight. Olympics, football sections, a baseball series, some redesigns. I'll be going, going, going at least through October.

-- And drum roll..... uh, dating. Yeah, I took that step a few weeks ago and met someone who has been super sweet, kind, attentive and pretty darn flexible with my off the wall schedule. It is still in the new, getting to know you stages but I have to say he seems to have NO baggage (never married, no kids, parents still together, making his way up the corporate ladder with hard work, ex-Army who was lucky to not have to be in harms' way). Holy crap, ladies, there are still men out there like this. WHO KNEW????? But he's also a sort-of workaholic too so he stays busy. And to cut down on travel time to do things, he...uh, lives across the street. Bought into the condo development across from me a few months before me. So since it is pretty darn new, I'm not going to jinx it by saying too much more... (I know, I know cynical me... always waiting for the other shoe to drop since well, I seem to have the crappiest dating luck in more recent years... Note to Dave: You are excluded but dude, you moved to Hong Kong so ummm... LOL....) And he even still found me cute/sexy AFTER my face completely blew up from a BAAAD allergic reaction to a new moisturizer (note to self: check all the ingredients before putting on skin!)... all I have to say is I looked like angry bees attacked my entire face.

-- In just the short time I've spent with the new boy I've seen more of the Puget Sound with him, then on my own in the previous 9 months. (Joke at work is I've been to Spain and Ireland but not south to Olympia yet!) Had a great date last week at Mt. Rainier/Paradise area -- really beautiful scenery and took tons of pics. I'll have to post later.

-- And all the farmers markets??? I've eaten my weight in fruits and veggies this summer and am loving it! Been hitting all the Tacoma ones and even a few Seattle ones here and there. I wish I could get this kind of produce all the time and have frozen so many berries my freezer is bursting at the seams!

-- Speaking of weight, all the exercise, and good food has paid off... drum roll... I've lost a total of 16 so far (1 lb. away from my 10 percent!!!) and after that last pound comes off (hopefully this week since I have another 5k Saturday) I'll set another goal (who knows maybe I will get back to close to my high school weight!) But I've given away all the larger clothing sizes to a couple of friends and can happily say I'm back in another smaller size 10... whohoo! New wardrobe and did I mention I've been doing some clothes shopping???

Well I guess I can hang up the keyboard and hit the pillows...

Hi to all and I miss talking to ya....

Another 5k, some sun and an awesome farmer's market....

Another PB for me! Whohoo.... 35:17... yeah, yeah I know slow... but for me, it was this surreal, emotional moment crossing the finish line on Saturday.

I did the Komen Race for the Cure 5K (women's only race) and watching all these women's backs with signs dedicating their runs to family, friends, so many women who have made it past breast cancer and who have not.

I silently ran for my late step-grandmother Connie, and two others I know who have made it past this disease (both were diagnosed at too young of an age.)

And this was my first big cancer race/event. What I found amazing was all the sponsorship/swag they give away and well, all that money of trinketey crap could be put to better use, in my opinion. I know sponsors want to get out there and promote their stuff since they are giving money to sponsor the event, but please....who needs another canvas bag? or magnet?

After the race, I was going to go try dresses on for an upcoming wedding but being all hot, sweaty and just not in the mood... (and I was up in Seattle so plenty of opportunities abounded) and instead I decided to head over to one of their local farmer's markets.

Which did not disappoint.. I was in foodie heaven!!!! Tons and tons of local farmers produce (cherries, strawberries -- which i regret only buying a pint of!, japanese cukes, spring garlic...)

And this creamery that locally everyone raves about -- Estrella Creamery of Montesano -- was there! She shoots, she scores after waiting in a long line with a very pushy, indecisive woman in front of me whose kid I wanted to tie up to the tree with a dog leash. And this is the same Creamery that's coming to the market near me in July! Whohoo!

I love my local markets, but the U-district one is out of this world. It is all food (no handicrafts, all local and set up perfectly). Tacoma could take note, and I hope the upcoming one on 6th is set up in somewhat the same fashion.

And I have a new favorite local bakery -- Tall Grass. Its based out of Ballard, so its going to have to be a haul occasionally up there or to this U-district market. I ended up going with their pumpernickel -- and oh, wow... the loaf is almost gone as I speak.

I've shared some of the bread and cheese with co-workers and they gave it a thumbs up.
And I was able to make my lunches for the past two days with all local produce! Whohoo (salads with local made balsalmic vinegar, smoked salmon with goat cheese and pumpernickel bread, lots of fruit -- apples, rainier cherries, these amazing sugar snap peas -- some of the best yet I've had) ... keep the weather coming...Now I need to get creative with some of my other stuff i got from the CSA I belong to.. They've been a bit slow with some of their growth and this week it was lots of kale... which i know is a superfood but haven't really ever thought of it for more than just soups.

Anyone have any ideas? I've been trolling the internet for some recipes and it looks like pesto and soup and maybe throw in some shrimp quesadilas.

Bloody Monday...

We had heard rumblings for months. And I started getting phone calls and emails at 9 a.m. this morning. And in typical Liz fashion, I slept through the first two hours of it.

Well, my newspaper announced today that they are laying off 84 people, 5 in the newsroom. And even though there are numerous openings that have recently been vacated (two in my own sports department, leaving me now as THE only woman in two weeks... sigh...) they are still going to cut people from the newsroom, either through buyouts or layoffs.

According to one boss: "The voluntary portion of the newsroom layoffs will come from defined “work groups”. Folks with similar job titles and work responsibilities regardless of department make up a work group (e.g., team leaders, copy editors, reporters, photographers, page designers). A work group has to have two or more people in it to be considered. Selected work groups in the newsroom will be offered voluntary severance. If there are enough voluntary takers to meet the required number of cuts there won’t be involuntary layoffs. If enough employees don’t take the voluntary option, then involuntary layoffs will occur based (sic) the employees in the work group with the least tenure."

Read through the lines: Last one in, first one out. But I've heard rumblings that not one page designer is going to be cut. Uh, (a very weak) yay!

As I get through another buyout/layoff situation -- again -- in less than two years, I have to wonder: Is this industry worth it anymore? The aftermath of the second round of Dallas was hard enough to sit through and left some long-ranging blows.

There has been so much debate just amongst ourselves (with managers and with fellow low-totem colleagues) these past weeks, and I can see how unhappy everyone is. While I am truly grateful to still have a job, (as I have a mortgage to pay...) I wonder if it will still be here in say 5, 10, 15 years?

Our paper wasn't the only one to get hit today... the entire McClatchy chain took a massive throat-slasher (link here)

I'm just glad I was off today (i spent it enjoying the sun!, running errands and biking around downtown) and I'm off tomorrow (spending the day hanging out with Mindi in Seattle).

The funny thing is I was already planning on taking a few web courses online starting Wednesday. But this announcement makes it more imperative that I refocus where my career is headed. (I overheard part of this conversation at dinner at the Harmon Pub tonight where I could only nod my head and agree: people are age can no longer expect to stay in the same job from the time they graduate to their retirement. The days of a one-place career -- as many of our parents had -- are long gone...)

Run, Forest... errr, Liz, Run!

I did my third 5k today! And yes, I had another PB! Finished in 36:07 (ok, so that's turtle slow for some... but for me that's an 11 1/2 minute mile -- down from my 12-plus!)

And I almost didn't make it as oh, I overslept. Thank god I laid out my clothes and shoes the night before. I even set my alarm early but lately have been sleeping hard and didn't hear it.

I woke out of a dead sleep at 7:52(!) The Sound to Narrows race started at 8:30 and the drive across town and parking was going to take at least 15 to 20 minutes. (Funny story: I was so out of it and in such a hurry I wore my sports bra entirely the wrong way inside out for the entire run and didn't know it until I showered later in the day. Had to laugh at my dumbass-ness on that one...)

So i ran... and ran down the hill to the starting line... making it with three minutes to start. My quads are killing me now, and I know I am going to be walking funky tomorrow but man, was it worth it. I was running with a friend, who ran into some coworkers and in typical Liz fashion, they all had to laugh at the fact that I overslept and was running late as usual....

Exercise has become a priority for me the last several weeks as i rejoined Weight Watchers after Ireland. (All that weight I worked on last year was slowly creeping up again) and I can say I've lost 10 more pounds since I rejoined. Benefits of losing a stone of weight means new clothes shopping! All my stuff is getting way to loose to stay up even with a belt and you know you need new underwear when it is falling down around your ankles as you walk...LOL...)

So needless to say... this is one area of my life I can control right now and it makes me feel better. And today's run was way smoother not carrying around that extra bowling ball of weight. (I've also been going to a chiropractor for a couple weeks to work on my hip and neck since running and sitting at a computer have been doing some damage of late... I'm already getting early arthritis in my neck -- thanks internet and technology!)

And I've found that everyone out here is into some form of biking, running, hiking, etc. so that's been an incentive. Even had my 12-year-old little commuter/mountain bike (thats oh, my size and I love it) tuned up, outfitted with a new seat and I've been taking it for a spin. So the routine of late has been eating better also since the local farmers' markets are in full swing (I hit one on Thursdays and usually walk/bike to it downtown) and the other on Saturday across town is where I pick up a veggie share that i participate in from an local, organic farm

I'm starting to finally warm up to this Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Maybe the sun will stick around more often now!

Next week: Race for the Cure 5k in seattle, and then two the following week (Sunday is another cancer 5k walk up in seattle and July 4 is a four mile race in Lakewood!)

Learn words and feed people

There are downtimes at work where I have to look away from the page and the software I'm using is driving me insane.

But I need to still be sitting there. And well I stumbled across this site from one of my many mags.

Feed others [Now edited and fixed the link as Anna pointed out (thanks!) I had it wrong]

Not only does it build word skills but you help feed people. And I'm Polish so I always love to feed people: in real life and virtually.

When in Ireland....

Drink, drink, drink....

Some thoughts on my week through the land of 40 shades of green:

-- There is no such thing as queues outside of US. Shove, push and try to make your way to the boarding area as best as you can.

-- Alcohol oversees is waaaaaay stronger. You are no longer a college kid. You can not keep up with them. Bulmer's irish cider: tastes like perfume going down, feels like sewage the next day.

-- Family is awesome. This was a great weekend getting to know cousins who are younger and have had some of the same life experience as well as different perspectives on things.

-- My grandmother can still get it on. She saw more action and flirtation than I did. You go Gram! And the girl can dance!

-- Sleep. What sleep? Jet lag and so many things to do kind of put a crimp in that one. We closed the bars a few night in a row. Who knows when I will do that again? And walking down the street at 3 a.m. giggling with everyone as we try to stay upright and not trip... priceless.

-- Europe is freaking expensive. We stayed on a somewhat budget, but still... the dollar is so weak, it made me cry to part with the money. And the locals say they are struggling because of our weak dollar. They experienced a 25 percent increase in cost of living a couple years ago, and well wages never caught up.

-- Service in restaurants... non-existant. We weren't really in a hurry, but most of the time we had to chase down servers for water and the check. At least they don't expect tips.

-- When you can talk to the locals, wow, talk about interesting conversations! We had this really awesome bartender in Cork one night who talked our ear off. He was adorable but, not my type... I was still trying to guess what team he played for.

-- You never know who you will run into. While in Dublin on this amazing tour of the Kilmainham Goal (a jail used up until 1924 and is the sight where 16 where executed for their part in the 1916 rebellion against the government), I had a CMU experience. I was being grilled by the tour guide in front of the group about how many snakes where on the front of the building and i sort of blanked. A woman behind the tour guide holds up her hand to signal five. Later as we are all waiting for the bus, we find out she is from East Lansing and a Chippewa grad. Small, small world as she graduated with people way back in the day who would later become some of my college mentors.

So all in all, a pretty whirlwind week. Hope to post some pictures soon!