How the MAD Scientist became a sahm

Why mad scientist you ask? Well, I'm a little angry right now. I was laid off at the end of March 2008--the very last day of the month, and at the very end of the workday. I was in the lunchroom when my smarmy smiling boss came in and told me to come up around 3 to hear about some changes to R&D--and to send up everyone in 15 minute increments. He walked off, and I promptly threw my lunch away, as all appetite had fled. I was hurrying to get a particularly large order out, and when I looked up at three--I noticed all my coworkers had vacated the lab. Apparently they had been given different orders than I. I walked upstairs--knowing what was coming. Smarmy boss-man told there wasn't enough work to justify my existence and then told me to give back my cell phone and laptop--neither of which had ever been granted to me, and to clear out my desk by the end of the day. It was 3 and, as I arrived at work at 7, was fairly close to the end of my work day. I went back to my desk to clear off a few photos I had stored on the computer, I got up to trash some files I didn't think they'd need, and by the time I got back to my desk, I had been locked out of my computer.

I went back downstairs to finish that order, and clean up my bench--then I trashed my notebook--a no-no in the science world, and left. As I was leaving, one of my coworkers had returned, and I explained what was going on. She was one of my favorites, and I actually felt more sorry for her for having to stay. As I drove off, I flipped that company the biggest mental bird I could. They have done through 4, count 'em, 4 R&D directors in about 3 years. I managed to hang on the longest. What really makes me mad about the entire thing was that I found out about their track record a few hours after giving my notice at my old job. It was truly unfortunate timing.

So, after giving them the mental bird, and driving off, I phoned my husband, promptly burst into tears and started shaking. I have not been unemployed in over 16 years--especially not with 2 children and a mortgage. I'm still feeling rudderless--and stressed with the economy tanking the way it is. But, I remember part way through the long drive (did I mention I drove 45 miles each way) feeling elated, and freed from the crappiest employer EVER. My kids reactions were priceless when I told them about the job. Jake said "YESSSS!" and Porter just hugged me tight. Here we are 3 months later, and I love the stay-at-home scene. I just don't know if we can make it work. We love San Diego, but, affordable it isn't.

"Luckily" a week after I lost my job, some drunk driver took out my husband's (paid for) Chevy Silverado when it was parked on the street. We were paid fairly generously for the loss. This means that we no longer have a gas guzzler and are down to one pretty old car. My husband is getting in great shape riding his bike to work, and we are learning to walk and ride bikes for our outings as well. I heard some movie director say that getting fired was "God's way of telling you to do something else." I'm looking into it--but I sure haven't been inspired by the prospects at the moment. It's a scary world out there, I just hope I can find a place in it.