Regulars here have probably noticed my whining about the state of the economy for the last two years at least.

I have a fair amount of income real estate which along with a lot of other folks I have been struggling to hold onto for the last two years.

My Architectural practice of over thirty years has failed completely to provide any significant income so far in 2008 as well.

So I have been selling things off to reduce debt as much as possible and exploring employment opportunities.

So in the last two weeks a couple of life changing opportunities have come my way.

First I am going to work for Purdue University in the Office of the University Architect as a project manager on July 28. I will miss the freedom to come and go as I please but will not miss the dependency of private pracitce on a healthy economy, and I will have significant benefits such as more vacation paid than I have ever been comfortable taking while self employed. The toughest thing will probably be being at work at seven am. But I'll be off by four so I can get some things done before supper.

Almost the same time I made contact with a fellow in the UK who has signed an agreement to buy my old Ferrari for enough money to pay down some significant debt. I'll miss her but won't miss the payments.

So I'll have some money to do some fun things with my autrosser but I'll be spending less time here.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.