[Rick Lee]

The more I think about this and also talk with my dad, who's been in this spot and did get scooped up by a competitor, the more I think I need to wait until I'm canned before even approaching a competitor. I hate the thought of not having a plan or a job waiting for me before I lose this one. When I got laid off in 2001, I saw it coming, had been searching and was offered a much better job on the day before I was laid off. I'd like to have things that organized now, but it's unlikely.

Yes, I read about AZ being a blue pencil state last night. Obviously, I wouldn't want things to get that far. FWIW, the lawyer who I believe wrote that non-compete was canned in November. I wonder if the company will come to regret not redoing all the docs she composed.

I don't know that there's any loyalty issue once I'm unemployed. We all gotta look out for #1. I am sort of the point person on my team for how to steal business from the competition, so I'm sure I'm known to the competition and that they'd have some interested in talking with me. I think I'll just have to wait a few more weeks before approaching them. If my company gives me a severance package, I'd be surprised and overjoyed.