Day 21...

Chris Says:

GOOD NEWS! A collective sigh of relief could be heard......even on the phone a couple thousand miles away in the meeting I was in today. Everyone in Health IT (I think) got information today about their role in the medical business transition plan. I now know I'm in a position with continued employment at Principal, transitioning to SBD IT at some point in the future. Unfortunately, today was not so good news for many of my friends and co-workers....and that is extremely disappointing and sad to me. For any of them reading this, I sincerely hope you find good opportunities coming your way! I know its easy in my current position to say this but one of my old coaches put it best when he said, "Tough times don't last, tough people do."

In other news today, Nate and Michelle got down here today and so far.....so good. Pupusas have been consumed, naps have been taken, birthday cake has been made and partially eaten, and Nate even went with me to poker tonight! Its good to see family in person.

Time for vacation!

Day 20...

Chris Says:

Day 20 is here, and on day 21 - I will learn what my fate is (at least currently, at PFG). The senior management folks have setup meetings to inform staff....so tomorrow around 3pm, I'll have some information......and I have a feeling it will be 'OK' news. Not wonderful: 'Chris, we're going to keep you around forever and you'll make $million/year' but not horrible either: 'Chris, sorry - you are a horrible resource and there is no way we're going to spend one more dime on you! GOODBYE, AND HAVE FUN IN HONDURAS!' I think the news will be closer to: 'Chris, we anticipate needing you in your role until 3rd quarter 2012 and after that point in time you will be transitioned to X role.' or 'Chris, we anticipate needing you in your role until 3rd quarter 2012 and after that point in time you're on your own to find another position inside or outside the company'.

I'll let you know what happens....keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed for me.

Other than PFG - we have some visitors getting in tomorrow. Michelle and Nate are coming down, hooray! I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures and stories of our coming days together.

Also on my brain this afternoon (after looking over our blog postings) is the fact that we've been down here for 4+ months now! Amazing! It does not seem like it has been that long at all....I'm impressed, as I think back, how successful this whole thing has been. It has certainly been a change and a challenge - but one that has been overall, a very good thing. The experiences we've had, people we've met, etc - all awesome stuff, I can't wait to see what new stuff comes our way in the next 4 months.

Stay tuned for the final details for this month of uncertainty!

Day 11

Chris Says:

Things are still uncertain in the month of uncertainty.....not a whole lot of news on the PFG front.

This weekend we headed to Tiger Island for some R & R with friends from Discovery, Pip even came along. It was a blast! The island is famous for its black sand beaches from the volcanic activity. It certainly wasn't the same kind of 'luxury' that the Bay Islands were, but definitely worth the 2 hour car ride along the beautiful Honduran country side. We stayed on the Donkey Beach - Playa del Burro at Hotel Veleros (sailboat). 400 Lps ($20) for a night stay at a very comfortable, air conditioned room. When I say on - I really mean we were on the beach...really, at high tide - the water was 10 feet from the stairs that took us up to our rooms.The hotel was actually a combination hotel/restaurant....and evidently one of the better restaurants on the island. Everything I had on the menu was great...fish and shrimp...yummy!

We hung out at the restaurant and went swimming at playa del burro for the first afternoon/evening. I think I got my first jelly fish stings ever, so mark that down on the experiences list. The stings were more itchy than anything....kind of like a number of mosquito bites right in a row.... Later on,  some of us headed to the 'city' Amapala, while others stayed behind to relax - hammocks are wonderful things.

Sunday we headed over to one of the white sand beaches to catch some sun and more swimming. Unfortunately, the tide was out when we got to the beach (something this 26 year old Iowan doesn't know much about) so it was a little mucky swimming.....I didn't realize how much tides can influence how large or small the beach is. I also didn't realize that the bottom of a gulf can have like more than 3 feet of 'muck', silt or sand....it was like quicksand trying to actually walk out to the ocean - a couple times  I was knee deep in bottom of the ocean 'stuff'.

By 1pm Sunday, we were headed back to Tegus so I could work today and Kristen could relax on her day off (Columbus Day). Good weekend trip. I think the guys will be going back to conquer the mountain/volcano before the end of the year - check it out: http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1403-13-