It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of the holiday season. Personally, I'd like to just skip November and December altogether, and head straight into the next year with as minimal marketing and fanfare as possible. Right now, this feeling is amplified considering I got laid off from my job Friday (and got the news AFTER I got home, mind you) for the most bullshit of reasons.

I wasn't "a good fit".

I stayed late hours, completed projects, got along well with the other developers, and really felt like I was making a positive impact with the department.

I kept my boss up to date with my projects, and provided him weekly summaries of my progress. I even suggested and implemented a workflow including version control for their internal programming environment.

But I wasn't "a good fit".

It'd be easy to pull the race card — too easy, in fact. But out of our six-member crew, two of us were Black, one was Brazilian, and another was a Dutch South African. I could pull the gay card, but one of the other developers was an out-and-proud lesbian. I could even pull the youth card, but 2/3 of the staff is under 30.

I just wasn't "a good fit". Code for…you know, I'm trying to be civil here, but I'm really pissed the fuck off, primarily because they let me know I was laid off 1) after I left work 2) before I had a chance to get my personal effects and 3) four days before Christmas.

The recruiter was the messenger, and he was just as mad as I was — the company lied to us both about what was expected and what was needed. I would get no feedback on projects after asking, and the equipment I was given to do my job was subpar and — in some cases — not even given at all. (I still never had a desk phone or extension.) So while there were some things I weren't happy about, I just chalked it up to me getting used to the place and how things work, you know? I mean, I had been there less than a month, I was still trying to fit in. And I get the can for not being "a good fit"? My foot up someone's ass for such a bitch move would be a good fit.

Anyway…this was certainly unexpected. Three weeks in working my tail off and I get a pink slip for a Christmas present. They didn't even let me attend their Christmas party, but I figured that was because I was a contractor, not because they already wanted me out of the door. When I asked the recruiter about whether nor not I would be able to go back and get my personal things, he said "Well they'll probably mail them to you, or if you want, I can go pick them up on Wednesday."

Umm…I don't think so!

Come Monday morning, I'm going in early to get my things. I mean, I've got some of my FFIV figurines there, my teacup, my mini-trombone, my mini Buddha statue, my Final Four coaster…I brought those things in, so I'll be damned if anyone but me will take them. Besides, it's Christmas Eve, half the office will be out, we don't have employee badges, and anyone in a suit and tie can walk in and mesh with the crowd. (Poor security…I know. And for a law firm at that!)

On top of that? I found out Friday after getting my debit card declined at the Graveyard Tavern that I've been the victim of identity theft to the tune of about $450. Two plane tickets from a Singaporean airline and — get this now, a mail-order bride — from some place called World Wide Kisses. Thank God Visa's fraud department caught the charges. Now to work on getting them reversed.

whew

Soooo….I guess I've got an unexpected vacation right now, searching for a new job over the Christmas holidays. In the meantime though, I guess I can play some video games.

And blog.

And maybe do some podcasts. Who knows? sigh

Merry Christmas, y'all.

UPDATE: Well, I managed to make it into the office this morning, get my things, and leave without incident. I resisted the strong urge to take a poop on my ex-boss' desk, though. Ah well….

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