Yeah, I won all right.
For those who don't know my backstory, a very brief summary: I went back to university in my thirties and got an engineering degree, only to then have the manufacturing facilities in this city start closing up. Two of the major plants that I worked in are completely gone, and the other plants my classmates went to have cut back drastically so there's no work to speak of in this town for engineers. I've been out of work for almost two years now, and have had to do odd jobs on the side such as being a builder's assistant to keep things going. Needless to say, I'm a bit on the bitter side over having spent close to five years of my life, a ton of money and a lot of sweat and tears to obtain a degree that is doing fuck-all for me at the moment until I can move to another city.

I've also finally remarried, to a professor at my old university who teaches social work.

So the Professor and I went to a Christmas function being thrown by some of her students in collaboration with some charities in the area. I've gotten used to the role of faculty spouse, so I knew some of the people there and was able to chat for a bit with the Dean and so on. Typical lame Christmas bash, and I was itching to leave- but we were obligated to stay, at least through the drawing of the door prizes.

I was chatting with one of the professors when I heard my name called out to get a prize. I went up to the stage to accept it and thank the girls handing it to me, and carried it back to where I had been chatting. I opened the box.

It's a brass letter opener engraved with the school's name and the words "Alumni Association" on it.

Great. Just ducky.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 28 Apr 2011, 16:13, 6 replies)

Whose shoulders ended up framing the handle of the letter opener?

( flake has nothing against your right leg, Thu 28 Apr 2011, 16:15, closed)

I gave that some serious thought.
Unfortunately the Dean of the School of Engineering is now someone I don't know. Otherwise I know exactly whose bony shoulders it would have been, perhaps with the handle wrapped with his ropy scrotum.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 28 Apr 2011, 16:19, closed)

Look on the bright side.
You can open all those job application rejection letters and final notice bills in style.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 28 Apr 2011, 16:53, closed)

There haven't been any.
As I said, I've managed to pull along reasonably well on my own, and the only actual rejections have been on my part- turning down work out of state and the like. At this point my wife would actually prefer it if I stayed unemployed, as that means that we can have the whole summer to go traveling with our camper and bikes.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 28 Apr 2011, 20:08, closed)

And that's why I made the switch from Engineering to finance.
More money and secure future.
(The Archduke of South London I'm in your Girlfriend eating her organs, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 8:40, closed)

I'm in the process of making a shift myself.
My wife is pretty much tied down here until at least the fall after next, so I can't really go very far for work- so I'm weighing options. I'm learning to repair leaded glass windows, as well as the copper foil type, because there are a lot of those downtown that will need repairs. I have a tee shirt press that I'm learning to use. I help a friend who's a builder from time to time. I do all sorts of odd jobs to keep money trickling in.

I am, however, seriously considering going into environmental engineering as that seems to be up and coming. Also, a friend of mine and I are working on an idea for an SBIR to research making a new type of drift buoy for oceanic research.

God knows what I'll be doing six months from now...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 29 Apr 2011, 16:21, closed)