It's starting to look like less a 'new' year and more an 'old' one, since a lot seems unchanged, lol. But I'm extremely hopeful anyway. I knew 08 would be tough, but I also know that 09 is going to be very good, so I'm going to stick with that.
I don't blame you for not accepting a job that offers less than you can live on, especially when you've got the next 6 months pretty secure. By June, I think things will have picked up enough that you shouldn't have as difficult a time finding something substantial.
I'm looking for a second part-time job right now myself, but....not much around here at all these days.