Sorry, couldn't think of a catchy title. I've been thinking about making a post like this for a while, but didn't always have my thoughts together.

In a nutshell, the company that I had worked for over the past six years (which sold bottled water [in three and five gallon sizes] and coffee, if you're familiar with Culligan, it's like that but much smaller) *cough* merged (that's the story for the customers, but they bought the company outright) with another local (larger) company. The negotiations went on for about three months apparently, but I knew nothing about it until about two weeks before everything was finalised. Part of the agreement was that I would keep my job, even though my (now former) boss had noooo idea how close I was to quiting on him (overworked, under-payed, stressed-out), but for now things seem to be going good, for now. The only thing that's supposed to change is that the new company is taking over all of the coffee business, except one that they consider 'too far out' for them, that'll stay on my route.

One odd thing, he offered my friend Mia a job so that she could go to work with the new company, but she turned him down because she was worried that it might interfere with her night classes. I think that he was a little butt-hurt about that, so he gave a job to a neighbour who went to work for the new company as a temp.... and lasted about three weeks.

For now I'm getting paid better and working less hours, but the new company is too used to working with large commercial customers rather than home/residential and small business customers and their idea is to condense what was two routes into one route, which will piss off a lot of customers and make things confusing for me. My former boss has started having second thoughts, but it's too late to do anything, and if he hadn't been bought out I'm sure the company would have folded eventually (whether I quit or not).

The biggest problem that I have for right now is that it's harder for me to see my friend Mia as the new location is across Wichita rather than a short walk from where she works. We did have an.... interesting texting conversation Saturday (after seven months of our phones not communicating?) so I hope to swing by and see her soon so that I can make sure that it really was her and not a prank by someone else... that's all I'm saying about that though.

So how about the rest of you? Ever been in a position in which you suddenly found out (my former boss used to keep me in the loop about things) that your business had been bought out by a much larger company? Especially a business that you weren't competing with (we stayed out of their business, but enjoyed stepping on Culligan's feet ) that promised no changes, then planned on drastic changes.