Aaaaannd ...breathe.

So, I seem to have found a job.

I can't start it full-time yet, and may find something even more suitable in the next few days -- but it's a pretty solid offer from the son of my former boss, who used to run the company next door to us. Once he gets back (at the start of January) from his own vacation, he wants my help in setting up and networking his computers, then producing artwork for his engraving business. Although we've not yet signed any papers, he's agreed in principle to my hourly rate ...but we may decide, later, to pay me on a piecework basis instead. His setup also makes it convenient (to both of us) for me to do a lot of work from home, which is something I've been trying to arrange for a few years now. And he knows I'm gonna keep sending out resumes over the next couple of weeks ...but I frankly don't expect to find a better deal, although I hope to drum up some additional small work-from-home gigs.

If I stop the clock at the moment I was offered an advance against my first paycheck, I was unemployed for about ...twenty-three hours. Perhaps I'm losing my touch :>