I would go see my ex-boss' boss and tell him that we're down two people, and while I can keep things going somewhat smoothly for a few weeks, things are going t

I would go see my ex-boss' boss and tell him that we're down two people, and while I can keep things going somewhat smoothly for a few weeks, things are going to start breaking due to a lack of manpower. Then, I'd tell him that I already had the names of a few people to interview (having selecting people I already knew). If you do it right you'll a) Guarantee that you're working with staff you like b) Be able to redefine your role (for example, from Sr. Software Engineer to Software Architect or Support Analyst to Programmer). c) Create a reputation as a guy that solves problems independently and removes headaches from his superiors Fortunes, careers and reputations are made by fixing problems in times of chaos, not by staying with the status quo or coasting in a comfortable path.