phase 1 farewell

i went to the cavite office today thinking it was just another one of those days and wondered as i was alighting at the parking lot why the night shift (7pm-7am) crew were hovering taking photos at the lobby and everywhere else.  i realized after buying something for breakfast looking at the LCD announcement screen that today was the last day of office (LDO) of Team 1 as part of the Phase 1 reduction.  i could feel an outpouring of emotions - some happily braving the future, others obviously sad to leave the company.  it dawned on me when i reached my cubicle that it also meant the last day i will be seeing friends & colleagues who i have worked with for the past eleven years and are part of phase 1.  last day i'll be seeing arlene at the office.  last time i'll be seeing ms zeny (who worked for intel for i dunno, 35+ years?).  i didn't even know some other colleagues were also leaving.  i was kind of sad that a lot of people were leaving.  that meant there'll be a lot more empty cubicles when we go back in january.

phase 2, which i've signified my intention of being part of, will probably have a LDO of April.  nothing really specific yet but i should start planning for it.  i hope i can take the next couple of weeks to get things straight in my head.  in between the merry making and the shopping and the endless get togethers, i have to make sure to sort of put some time to it.  hopefully, 2009 is going to be a great year.