Friday, August 31, 2018

Saturday 9

She Works Hard for the Money

1) This song is about a woman who works hard as a waitress. What's the hardest job you've ever had? When I was a very young woman, still in my teens, I was the administrative assistant to a very particular, very difficult man. He neither liked nor valued me. The days were so long and felt so hopeless. The corporation we both worked for finally moved me to another department, where I was then much happier. It's important to note that my successor didn't last any longer than I did. He was just too-too.

2) The lyrics tell us she has worked at this job for 28 years. What's the longest you stayed with one employer? The one I'm at. It's been (gulp) 14 years. I didn't think I'd be here 5. I know this is a cliche, but as I grow older, time moves faster.


3) Donna Summer was inspired to write this song during an awards show. She ducked into the bathroom and met the elderly ladies' room attendant, whose job it was to make sure the room the spotless, the complimentary hairspray and moisturizer was abundant, and there was a hot towel for every celebrity who used the facilities. "Wow," Donna thought, "she works hard for those tips." Who is the last person you tipped? The waitress who brought my pigs in a blanket. (See post below.)

4) Early in her career, Donna was in the touring company of the musical Hair. It played in Munich for so long that she became fluent in German. What's the longest you have ever lived away from home? When I was still living with my parents, my family often went to a cottage in Wisconsin for two weeks at a time. I was miserable. I missed my girlfriends! Now, I seldom sleep away from home for more than 5 days at a time. I don't like being way from my home, my cats, or my stuff for long stretches.
 

5) Sam's dad is naturally outgoing and enjoys striking up conversations with waitresses, librarians, the checker at the supermarket, etc. Sam is always polite but more private. Are you more like father or daughter? I suppose I'm more like Dad. I make polite conversation at the counter as I'm being rung up. However, I can think of only two businesses -- the vet and my favorite coffee shop -- where they know me by name.

6) A little more than 10% of the American workforce is self-employed. Have you ever been your own boss? Briefly. I freelanced when I was between jobs. I enjoyed the freedom. I didn't enjoy having to beat the bushes myself in search of assignments.
 
7) Labor Day weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore? Like sawing wood.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue? Nope. I am cocooning this weekend.

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the fall. Will you be adding any new fall clothes to your wardrobe? Maybe. But I just picked up two pieces from ThredUp. So I have to take an assessment and see what I still need. Maybe I'm done until the snow flies.






August Happiness Challenge -- Day 31

Today’s happiness: "Breakfast served all day."  I celebrated my final early Friday -- for the last time this year I got out of work at 12:30 -- with a lovely lunch of pigs in a blanket. Sausage links, wrapped in pancakes and drenched in maple syrup. Accompanied by a bit of chick-lit escapism. All good.


via GIPHY

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.



 

Napoleon Update

He goes to work every night, 5 nights a week. Because Caleb has gone back to sleeping in his tent -- he gave up the rented room when his wife went into a recovery facility for cancer patients -- he can't leave the cat when he goes to work. So, when Caleb goes to the grocery warehouse where he drives a forklift overnights, he takes Napoleon with him.

The warehouse manager has been a very good sport about this. The boss appreciates that Caleb is one of the working poor, doing the best he can, and so allowances are made. Napoleon used to spend his shift in his carrier on the floor in the manager's office. But lately, when Caleb clocks out at the end of the night, Napoleon has been perched on the manager's shoulder, "helping" with paperwork.

Today, August 31, is Caleb's birthday. Yesterday I gave him a birthday card with a $10 bill inside. He showed me what he spent it on: a roll of Gorilla duct tape. He was excited because it's better quality than he could have afforded otherwise, and he needs it to repair the tent. While we were talking, I noticed how bad his teeth are. I don't believe they were always this discolored. His wife's illness seems to have taken a physical toll on him.