>Seven of us were laid off on Friday (14 Nov. 2008) at my now former wire company. I've been there for four years as the Information Systems Manager. Two other managers were also let go. We had already lost maybe 60 or 70 people a few months ago. With construction severely down, anything related to supplying construction is also down. I was calm and didn't feel worried or anything, until I drove home and thought, "What now?" There are fewer jobs with more people competing for each of those fewer remaining jobs. How will people get by in the next few years, much less the next few months?
>
>Well, anyway, and obviously, I'm looking for work, if anyone is willing to hire a young 55-year old died-in-the-wool enthusiastic Visual FoxPro programmer.
>
>My contact info:
>Cecil Champenois
>Home: (909) 527-3524
>Cell: (909) 938-5612
>E-Mail: cecilchampenois@yahoo.com
>
>Thanks,
>
>Cecil

Sorry to hear that. I hope something turns up for you quickly.

Are you using the downtime to learn some new skills? These days there are tons of free developer tools and learning materials on the internet. As you indicate, it has become tougher and tougher to find work when VFP is the only skill you are selling. Lots of the VFP hits you get on job boards turn out to be for legacy systems that are being rewritten. Light another candle or curse the darkness, as they say.

Are those wildfires anywhere near you? I thought they were in the more rural (easterly) parts of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, but haven't read about them in detail.