In lighter news, Susan Watkins, a graduate of the Maryland Bartending Academy I interviewed two months ago, writes that she's found a job.
As a bartender no less.
The 57-year-old took the bartending class after her marriage of 30 years ended. She hoped for a new, late-in-life career.
She had worked a few private parties since graduating in November, but hadn't landed a job until early last month, when looking at usajobs.gov, of all places, she saw an opening at a bar.
She offered to mix a margarita, and has been bartending at The Lanes of Fort Meade's lounge since Friday. The next day, she was running the bar by herself.
The bartending school didn't help her find a gig, but Watkins says it gave her a crash course on mixing. She beams in her e-mail, "I guess you never get too old for something new."
Related to the controversial bartending school: the Midnight Sun Mixer, inspired by my story, is coming up January 20.
Photo: Susan Watkins in November (Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)