Friday the 13th

Sarcasm is my friend. Irony does not go unappreciated in my world. A good laugh is my best medicine.

But losing your job on Friday the 13th. Well, that's a cruel joke.

Before we get too far, let me recap.

I am a single female professional in my early 30s and have been living and working in Washington, DC and the surrounding area for the last six years. About a year and a half ago, I entered the housing market and became the proud owner of an historic 'fixer-upper'.

And then, on Friday, March 13, 2009, my rug, just like the rug of an increasing number of people, was pulled out from under me when my position was "eliminated".

I have actually been in this position before. An organization-wide layoff left me without a job a few years ago. The difference at that time was that I was a little bit younger and, more importantly, without a mortgage.

Another important difference this time is that I'm not alone. Far from it. Even before my professional world unexpectedly came to a crashing halt, I was plagued by the daily news alerts of mass layoffs, bankruptcy and other recession casualty reports.

If there is comfort in not knowing what, how or when, its the fact that I am now part of a club. Anybody who's anybody has been laid off or had their house foreclosed upon. Why not come together?

This blog is one part advice, one part voyeuristic look at my experiences and one part forget about your troubles and just laugh.

And since I certainly don't have all of the answers, I encourage you all to write in, comment and share the good, the bad and the funny about life on this side of the recession.

Although the term "Mafia" conjures up all sorts of images of crime, it also implies a sense of family. A mafia family is not necessarily related by blood, but they protect each other. Your mafia family has your back. If you have found yourself a casualty of this recession, the Pink Slip Mafia has your back.