Taking the bureaucratic stuff into account, we're hoping for a start date a week from Monday, so October 12.
The last time I was laid off was August 16, 2001 and was out of work till December 10, so a week short of 4 months. This time it will be two weeks past 4 months. Considering 9/11 happened just in time to clobber the job market after that 2001 layoff, the current depression appears to be the hands-down winner.