Here it is: I was laid off on Tuesday. Technically Monday, but as I was still recooping from the weekend’s germ-fest I didn’t get the news until I went in Tuesday morning.

I was fearing this would be happening, but didn’t really think it would. But then it did. Five others were also laid off, cutting the studio staff by 20%. That’s a pretty big cut. I figured that if any of the production managers would be cut that it would be me, considering the year I’ve had.

So now what to do? I’ve been taking this week and sleeping in (except for today) and taking it easy. I’ve looked into (and when I say that, I mean I investigated some websites) receiving unemployment benefits and after advice from friends, signing up for food stamps. Which apparently are not really stamps anymore, but are issued in credit card form. I guess that will help alleviate some embarrassment at the checkout line but I’m sure the cashiers know. The unemployment place is on Rhode Island Ave in Brentwood and the food stamp place is at H St NW & North Capitol so that will be a fun day of running around on the bus system. But not today because it’s raining and cold and nasty out.

I’ll get my final paycheck at the end of the month, so that will at least pay rent thru January. I’ve already told friends that I’m not going to be going out for dinners or even one drink and I’m counting my quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. Jeff took me out to dinner at Argonaut on Tuesday which was really thoughtful. And Goldy showed up on Wednesday with some groceries which I thought was really just the sweetest thing to do. She included pastas/sauces, soups, clementines, toiletries, even a bag of Funjuns. Now I’ve got to make sure I eat all my perishables first and stretch out what’s in my cupboard as long as I can.

I also have to quit my gym membership because that’s too expensive to hold on to while I’m pinching costs elsewhere.

I’ll go in this weekend to clear out my office, which has over eight years of personal and goofy stuff that has accumulated. I’ll need to clean off my hard drive too of mp3s and photos and other stuff; this will probably take longer than cleaning out my office.