Is this the line for Air and Space?

So, if you're one of the two people still reading this site, I guess you'll be the first to know...so, have you heard? There's a recession going on. I know, I know, it may come as quite a shock...I'll give you a minute to let it sink in.

In case you're still not sure, I was just given a little more proof today. Turns out MeadWestvaco has decided to eliminate 2000 positions, and while I had illusions I would survive the cuts, I was sorely mistaken. The end of February will find me unemployed for the second time in a year. But this time, it's not self-imposed. Self-imposed was so much more fun.

Didn't think I'd find myself asking this question on this here blog for the second time in 10 months...anyone in Richmond want to employ me? Or for that matter, Tracy? Or 10 of my closest friends? Again, did I mention that we're in a recession? Where are the soup lines? On a happier note, though, I spent my blissful, pre-unemployment Tuesday in Washington DC for the Inauguration! Yay glimmer of hope. Obama, please get the job done. If you didn't hear, a few people showed up for this thing: Also, if you didn't hear, it was kind of a historic day. We greeted the newest rock star...um, I mean, President, and there was something kind of monumental about it. I forget what it was.

If you can't tell, people are a little happy about this...who knew?

So weird. I thought it was just us.
So yes, Jen, Wes and I made our way to the Inauguration, thanks to my wonderful parents, who dropped us off at the metro at 5AM, then picked us up after we froze our asses off with 2 million people, but then picked us up after we celebrated...our only goal after the inauguration was to find a warm place to get nice and inebriated (what, us?). We found a great place, then met with a group of Canadians who had decided 2 days prior to spontaneously drive down for the Inauguration without a place to stay. My kind of people. By the way, in this photo, I was trying to look pensive about our new President, but instead it just looks like I'm about to pick my nose...

But the highlight really was our new friends:





The end of the night, of course, involved Wes trying to take a photo of the trash left on the street and almost missing our metro stop, but we managed to make it back to my parent's place without incident.

Thanks Jen and Wes, for actually making it out...and providing plenty of laughs, apparently it was to be the laugh before the storm (that's how the saying goes, right?).

Road trip to Toronto, anyone? Probably should go before I lose my car, my free gas, my computer, my job...my source of income. Wow, who knew? "Your position has been eliminated" is a pretty sucky thing to hear. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you funnier though, right? Don't worry, I'm sure I'll get funny about it soon.

Let's hope, at least.