I work for the State (yes the government, actually CA's prison system). And we are doing layoffs/bouncing people down from their
positions into lower paid positions somewhere else. I received a letter late October saying that I was a part of this process (this was only two weeks after I received a letter saying I'd officially escaped the last round of cuts).

I'm writing this in advance, currently it's mid-December.

They're mailing out the layoff/placement letters the week after Christmas.

So I might get laid off. In fact, even if I'm safe this round, they're doing layoffs twice a year for the next three years. So, I'd probably get the axe in one of the later go-rounds because I haven't been with the State very long.

Not content to just take it, I decided I was going to Grad School. I'm writing this ahead of time so at this point I've completed the application for one school and have two more apps in the works. By the time this posts, I will have applied to all three (the deadlines are all between 12/30/11 and 1/2/12) and my future is up for grabs.

This is my chance to put my money where my mouth is. I think I'm this great writer, now, if I get laid off, I'll get my chance to prove it.

I'll make writing my day job until I start school in the fall. Work on my novels and publish them myself. Then, we'll see if I make any money
while the unemployment dwindles and doesn't quite pay all the bills.

I'm terrified and excited.