All of the anxiety over whether I’d ever get a raise, all of the rants about the noise, all of the frustration over a job I couldn’t stand 80% of the time…it’s all over. It’s all over, because I’ve been laid off. Investment money has not come in. The cash flow situation is dire. I was expendable.

The good news…yes, there is good news, although everything is just a numb, surreal mess in my mind at the moment, is that I will get two weeks of severance pay, so I have two weeks to look for a job while still getting paid (although I’m pretty much broke until next pay check already). And Tom is going to use his contacts to help me find a Remedy contract gig, as much I can’t conjure much enthusiasm for a Remedy contract gig. Within DAYS or a week or two, I could find myself off in another city for three months or six months or indefinitely, cats in tow, any notions of stability here in NC shattered. And that’s almost a BEST case scenario. Worst case, I find nothing and start working at low-paying jobs to scrape by with the help of friends.

I’ll survive. I’ve been through this before. I have no time to feel sorry for myself, so perhaps I just will for tonight, although I don’t know what Depression will have to say about that.

Bam! Just like that, Tomorrow and the Future are complete mysteries to me.

F***…

Dave asked me if I could bring his wedding gift for Dave N. to NJ for him, since he isn’t going. It occurred to me that food processors have blades and might not be an allowed carryon item. I did a Google search and found this article, and I think the moral of the story is that you should not try to bring a food processor on a plane as a carryon item.

I keep seeing this everywhere, and it’s just nifty, so I grabbed it as well…

“…others who realize that the claim that the person “isn’t interested in dating people right now” is easily disproved via their constant access to dating sites…”

This is exactly what happened to me a couple of weeks ago…

More on ‘A Caller ID On Your Dating Life’

I’ve been noticing a consistent full slate of 15 listeners during peak hours lately. Right now, the 15th person has been logged on for 50 minutes, so I’ve got 10-15 LOYAL listeners now, which is forward progress. I’ve just contacted the stream hoster about getting another 2 slots to go up to 17. I am pleased. Even during the evening/late-night, when there used to be only 2-4 listeners, I’m now getting 7-10, as TR must be catching on more in Asia. Now if I could start making some money. [Yet another plug...Google links...bring Toastie money...]

For anyone with a gmail account:
Gmail learns to raise its hand

I finally returned a call from Matt Ferraguto last night, and it was great to catch up with him. He has got the coolest job of anyone I am friends with. He is the press secreatary for a congressman, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, who will run for Kerry’s Senate seat should Kerry win in November. He had previously been an assistant press secretary for Ted Kennedy.

http://congress.org/congressorg/bio/staff/?id=4040

Posting public, because doggone it (and I don’t use the word doggone too often), I’m really proud to know Matt (pledge name: Fozzie).

Only the third mix CD of 2004, but still the 180th mix CD/tape since 1990…

Meat Loaf – Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back
Enya – A Day Without Rain
Eva Cassidy – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Alanis Morissette – Thank U
Dido – White Flag
Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven
Tina Arena – I Want to Know What Love Is
Alan Menken/Robin Williams – Prince Ali (Aladdin)
Frank Sinatra – Come Fly With Me
Bon Jovi – It’s My Life
Sophie B. Hawkins – Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover
Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best that You Can Do)
Celine Dion – All By Myself
Frou Frou – Let Go
Elvis Presley – A Little Less Conversation (JXL Radio Edit Remix)
Ben Folds Five – Brick
Jewel – Intuition
Tori Amos – Somewhere Over the Rainbow