In all of yesterday's writing about jobs, I somehow managed not to mention having been a summer camp counselor. I worked at two different camps, for fairly short periods of time. The pay was lousy, the living conditions were disgusting, and the kids were obnoxious and unmanageable. However, the social life (with other counselors) was great.
The first thing that Jim heard me say this morning, right after I turned on my computer and glanced at the news, was "oh, no, this is a black day, indeed." He only had to glance over my shoulder to figure out what dread event I was referring to. How could you do this to me, Johnny Damon? Abandoning all that is good and true (i.e. the Boston Red Sox) and going to play for the Source of All Evil in the Universe, merely for a whole lot of money. May the traitor discover that his source of power really is in his hair and beard, which the evil pinstriped ones will rid him of!
My only real event of the day was the holiday party at my company. There was, of course, way too much food. It was nice to see a few folks who I don't see often, since our group is rather scattered. There was also another gift exchange, to which I contributed the Jones Soda 5 pack I'd gotten at Friday's party. My group's vice president ended up with that. I did pretty well, getting a thermos and various "gourmet" coffees. Since I believe that coffee is a flavor and should, therefore, not come in flavors, the latter are for the rare times I have company. But a thermos is actually useful.
I also learned something that I'd never thought about before. Namely, one should never delegate someone else to participate in the gift exchange on their behalf. Let's just say that there is a poor trusting soul who will return to his office to learn that he is now the proud owner of the world's tackiest clock, decorated with pictures of a chicken and rooster and making appropriate sounds on the hour.
Copyright 2005 Miriam H. Nadel