I just got accepted to Cardiff University's philosophy masters program!

I'm still waiting to hear from York before I make a decision, but it looks like I will be staying in the UK for the next year with this really awesome news.

Ten minutes after getting to work, unlocking my computer, and laying out my work for the day (the dreaded data entry project from Hell) I got told to come talk to my boss in a conference room.

I'm laid off, effective immediately NOT for cause, but because there's a general layoff for the department, and my number came up.

Through the shock, a few facts that help a little: I'll be getting a generous severance package, COBRA (of course), and an outplacement firm services paid for three months. And I'm also able to collect unemployment, before the severance pay ends if I want (though I think I'll hold off on it).

At least I don't have to do the stupid data entry, is my immediate reaction. I'm working on a more complex reaction, but it may be a while before it reallly sinks in.

Um, okay, guys. I think I must have stolen all the ~ma (sorry, Theo, that sucks) because when I got home I found a letter waiting for me offering me a place at York University also!

Cardiff and York were the two places I had applied, and now I have to choose between them. Erk! But still, this is the best day. I release all the ~ma back into the Buffista wilds, in hopes that it does for ya'll what it did for me.

It was a massacree! (tm Arlo Guthrie) Theo and I worked at the same place, and we got our pink slips in tandem. Unemployment for everybody!

Hard cider and Chinese have been acquired; free lunch from coworkers was committed; and if only I had not sprained my right index finger carrying my things home, I would be a much more nimble typist.

In no way should the above be meant as an indictment on SA'a excellent getting-in-to-school skills. Karma is not a zero-sum game.

Even though I got the offer a week ago, I wanted to make sure it was really going to happen before I said anything, so as to not jinx myself. But since I'm starting Monday, I imagine they would have called and said "Nevermind, you suck" by now.

So, yeah, I've got a job at the place I was really hoping for. Everyone I've talked to who knows about the place says it's a really good company, I liked the people I interviewed with, and they've got some good benefits.

I'm trading my 5-minute commute at the old job for a 30-minute commute at the new place, but they're also going to be paying me a substantial amount more, on par with what all the salary sites say I'm worth. Which is especially cool since it's more than I was even asking them for (since a lot of companies don't want to pay their techies the market standard, I didn't want to miss out on an opportunity by asking for "too much".)

The only downsides are having to get up at 6am to make it to work on time (which I know a lot of people do normally but I was spoiled by living so close to work.) and having to wear a shirt and tie, which I haven't done since my retail days. But as downsides go, those are barely significant.

Thanks for all the support, everyone. I release the job~ma back into the wild with a nudge in Theo and Nutty's direction.

Requesting kitty~ma for Teddy. We took our cats to the vet last weekend for blood tests to make sure they hadn't been caught up in the tainted pet food. Good news -- they weren't. Bad news -- Teddy lost a lot of weight, has early stage kidney disease, and goes back in for more tests on Monday to see if he has anything worse as well.

Teddy update (and am I the only one with news right now?) --

Kidney round instead of kidney-shaped. Kidney infection. Calcium deposits in kidney. Kidney function at 1/3 of normal, but blood work normal, so not bad for 13-year-old cat with kidney infection.

In Teddy's immediate future -- antibiotics and visit to specialist (on the 25th) for a sonogram.

So, not wonderful news, but not bad, considering.

Interview~ma requested for tomorrow. I need all the help I can get for a day that will go from 8:30am to 8:30pm. Of course, it can't really be worse than today, when I almost missed my plane because the airport parking lots were full and I arrived to such snow and wind that I promptly spun out on the streets of Minneapolis.

Requesting health~ma for my grandmother and coping ~ma for my mom. March got one in under the wire: my gram fell last Friday and broke her wrist badly (multiple fractures, etc.). She was in the hospital over the weekend, had surgery on Monday that went well, and was released on Tuesday.

Apart from the healing, that should have been the end of the story. Except that she apparently contracted the Robo-virus while in the hospital and is now too sick to go to the doctors. Mom is dealing with this largely on her own, and her email updates are breaking my heart. They may be heading back to the ER this evening. If it gets any worse, I may be buying a plane ticket.

Update on Gram: Mom took her to the ER and they've tested and hydrated her. She's doing better and is going home with my mom. Looks like a nasty virus on top of her recovery from the wrist surgery. And they say hospitals aren't as generous as they used to be! Sigh. Anyway, thanks for the ma. The prognosis looks pretty good for now.