Leaving Pano for real

 After 2 years and 7 months, and endless fun and growth, it is time for me to leave Pano. I will split this post into what excited me about the new place and also how I knew it was time to leave. 

I got the call in the middle of a double fun day, with Finance and Marketing. It included a cooking and art workshop, and two yummy Italian meals. In the middle of the second half, I got the call that I am being offered the position. I had already spoken to S and Z to tell them I wasn't happy with the change, and that I was waiting to hear about a position. 

Why Leave?

• Did not feel like I was growing
• Marketing is not my career path, much more into revenue/gtm operations
• Did not like getting moved off my team
• Did not like working with new manager (he is a nice person though)
• Did not ever feel like I was satisfying his desires, didn't feel like I had job security 
• Even my area of responsibilities felt like were being taken over by manager
• Lost responsibilities that I did like when I was moved
• Felt very junior, only marketer not reporting to CMO
• Many of the tasks I was given were ones I would have given to my employees in the past
• Not invited to strategic meetings, even about things I did
• Felt like no one (besides my actual friends at company) really cared how I was doing on the new team, CMO/my boss never asked me once how the change was going for me
• Part of move was because CRO wanted to mentor me, hasn't spoken to me once
• Had a week for the first time ever at Pano last week where I wasn't motivated to do anything, was just staring at the clock
• Was just time, felt like I maxed the position out
• Got a great, rare opportunity that I am excited about

Why go to the new place?

• Big step up, much more senior and responsibility
• Really strong company, doing really well in such a short time
• New challenges I haven't faced before
• Like my manager, and Adi
• Travel to NY and London
• Salary bump
• Really nice perks
• Travel on Sundays instead of Mondays better for NFL season

Birthday fun! #28

 we had pancakes with kids

then did 2 tiyulim near modiin

then played pool

then got schwarma

then took the kids out for ice cream

then played with the kids and put them to sleep

then went to dinner at Patricks with my parents

The Dream is Dead

 That's it. It's all over. We lost in the semi finals tonight, by 3 points. We came in flying high, with intensity. We left, battered and broken.

Game started on offense, where we weren't able to score on our opening drive from the 5 yard line. 

We made the stop, then drove down for the touchdown and 2 pt conversion. Then they started scoring, I got beat 3 times for touchdowns, twice by getting boxed out by someone huge, and once by someone just running a nice route. 

We did a down out and up the scored a huge touchdown to pull us within 4, me catching it and running scross the field for the long touchdown. Then I caught an interception in our end zone, giving us the ball back. But then, the worst two minutes of our season.

We tried another down out and up but Ari overthrew it, right to the defender. They scored. Then, we got the ball back, and we immediately threw a pick six. Not a great two minutes. We did drive down and Ari threw me a very deep pass down the sideline that I jumped up and tumbled and then caught, and then Ari threw me a touchdown on the left side of the end zone. 

Then they got the ball, tried to pop a ball over me, which I caught on a dive for the interception. I then caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone, bringing the game within 3. But we would never get another chance on offense, as they were able to enter victory formation.

Hurts so bad, because I would have loved to be in that dogfight and taken the lead while down four. But it wasn't to be. And now it actually hurts so much that we aren't going to be in the championship next week that I so wanted to be. 

It was a great season, where everyone got better, which was fun to see. There were amazing moments, and it was really fun to play with Ari as my QB again, and with my dad on the team. But the lasting image for will be the entire blue team running in after Shlomo who got the pick six to basically ice the game. 

This pain will burn and fuel our offseason workouts as we work hard for next season. 

Where were you when you found out 4 hostages were rescued alive?

What a euphoric Shabbat! As we were walking on Esther Hamalka, a teenage girl asked us if we heard the news about the Hostages, which we had not. She said 4 hostaged were rescued, including Noa Argamani. To me, she has been the face of the hostages. I think her capture video was the first one I saw too. What a heroic rescue. It is our Entebbe. The difference is we still have 120 more to go. We announced it before the kickoff of the Ping Pong Tournament, which was also very fun and successful. 

Baruch Hashem and thank you IDF!!

Mummy in London, Oh My!

 I must say, I am enjoying all the time with the kids this week. Shifra flew to London on Thursday morning, and we are having a mostly great time (though we miss her).

Thursday: Pickup from Gan by friends, pasta for dinner, lots of playing and reading time, sitting with Hadar until she fell asleep. Also no babysitter, so was me and Meital all day.

Friday: Hadar came into my room and watched me sleep. Woke up with a pair of eyes staring at me. Kids went to Gan early, meaning we got to go to the park for a while, then I picked them both up at 12. From there we went to Yishpro, to get a car wash, fill up gas, fix a tire, and get a treat (Chalom Yaakov is better than Dani). The kids enjoyed all of those. Then we went to Bubi and Pops and had a super fun afternoon with the kids, I.brought pizza from across the street. Hadar went to sleep with me next to her again, rest of the kids were great. She ended up sleeping in Bubi's room from midnight though. Dinner was fun, just my parents, Nava, and me. 

Shabbat: I was able to go to teen minyan which was nice, then we had a ben n jerrys kiddush and then yummy lunch. THe kids ate an amazing amount of food. The afternoon was fun too, with lots of playing, and playing at the airplane park, and then bringing kids to Mincha. Then my parents and Nava went to the Seuda Shlishit and I stayedf home to relax and clean up after our messy selves. Saturday night we went to play football, which was fun as well. 

Sunday: started way too early, Hadar was screaming at 4 am which then woke Meital and me up. It took until 6 am on the couch to be able to go back to sleep for me and Hadar. Then Eitan came down and I told him we were not able to talk, just snuggle. But drop off was fine at Gan (though late). After Gan, Eitan and I hung out (Merav had been with Meital), and then we walked to pick Hadari up and play in the park for an hour. Was super fun. I gave the kids leftovers and put them to sleep. Bedtime was pretty goodf, though I tried to get Hadar back used to me not being there and instead kept coming in to check on her while I did things around the house. Moderate success.

Monday: The kids came in to bed for snuggles, we ate, got ready, and dropped Meital off at Bubi, and the kids at Gan. Woke up with a little headache, and took the day off. Hoping to clean this place before the ladt gets back. Wish me luck!!

Regular Season Recap

 Before we go to the playoffs (All Eyes on Playoffs!!), I wanted to recap the regular season.

Ariel was very solid at QB

Moro was a plus player on defense and offense 

Dani became the free agent signing of the century. 

Tzvi is an elite pass rusher that changes the game

Shaya had a huge game in the last game of the year, making two huge touchdown grabs

My dad's role grew as the season went along, and he got an interception plus a few extra point conversions

Yair was pretty good receiving, elite defender.

I played pretty well, I think I was more dominant at the beginning of the league before the rest of our team was catching as well as we are now. Overall here are my stats:

7 games played

15 tds

3 interceptions

Game 8 - meaningless fun football

 This game did not matter in any way for either team. But we still wanted to win. We went up 20-0 with 3 touchdowns and a safety. Then we started playing it a little too easy, giving up points, but never gave them the ball with the chance to win. 

I had two touchdowns in the game, one on a deep fly where I got behind the defense, and one where I caught the ball in traffic. 

Thank you to Mommy who babysat the kids while we went to play.