Saturday 9 & The Final Happiness Post

Good morning! I'm hoping to be able to get this posted before heading off to work. I'm still adjusting to my new schedule. (Can I just say how much I love not getting up at 3:45 to be at work by 5:30? Cause I really do!) I haven't had to work on a Saturday in years. I can't say I love having to work 2 weekends a month or the thought of working on holidays, but I do like the job. Working with dementia patients is proving to be very rewarding and I am learning so much about the disease.

You didn't stop by to hear about that so here's the Saturday 9. I'm linking up with Sam and the gang so if you thought this was fun, please stop over at the site and find out how to play along and see links to the other players.

She Works Hard for the Money (1983) 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a woman who works hard as a waitress. What's the hardest job you've ever had?

Physically, it was probably the summer before my senior year of high school. I spent it in the Pocono's working for the Youth Conservation Corp. We went MILES on our knees "grubbing" hiking trails (pulling every weed and blade of grass and removing any stones that were sticking up), mucking out ponds, building stone dams to create better trout fishing, picking up garbage (people throw some pretty disgusting stuff out their car windows!), and doing whatever else they found for us to do.

Mentally, it was the week I worked as a telemarketer. That's all the longer I lasted. Worst job ever.

2) The lyrics tell us she has worked at this job for 28 years. What's the longest you stayed with one employer?

That would be the 12 years I was with the bus company I just left.

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 delivery driver who brought our pizza last night.

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?

I guess it would be when I was in college. I've never gone on a world tour, run away with the circus or anything exciting like that.
  

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 am definitely more like Sam. I suck at chitchat and never know what to say to start a conversation with people I don't know. I'm not particularly good at or fond of it with people I do know, either. I find it boring most of the time.

6) A little more than 10% of the American workforce is self-employed. Have you ever been your own boss?

I suppose, if you count things like selling AVON.

7) Labor Day weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore?

My husband assures me I do.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue? 

Not that I know of, but if we do, it'd just be getting together with my mom and stepdad and our daughter and her family for a meal. I'm not imagining anyone will be wanting to do much outside, though. The temperature is supposed to be at 90 or above on Monday with very high humidity. When you consider the heat index, it's going to feel like about 100 degrees. I imagine we'll all be home in our air conditioning.

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the fall. Will you be adding any new fall clothes to your wardrobe?

Not specifically for fall or this weekend. I just had to buy a lot of clothes I can wear for my new job and I still need a few more things. Too bad my position doesn't wear scrubs. I've seen some really cute matching sets since I've been working and they're so easy to care for and they're sturdy. Of course had they told me to wear scrubs, I'd probably wish to wear regular clothes.

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And before I forget. Again. Here's my final offering for the August Happiness Challenge.

Day 31

My mom loves her great-grandchildren, but doesn't get to have much one on one time with them. My son just doesn't come around all that much and my daughter is a little nervous about leaving her son with her, because he's a toddler and she is worried he'll be more than Mom can handle. 

With me back to work, my daughter has had to start depending on Mom a little bit. She has asked Mom to babysit twice this week. Once while she was mowing everyone's grass (she has taken up mowing hers, ours, and Mom's since we all live in a little cluster) and once while she went to a doctor's appointment.

Anyway, what made me happy yesterday was seeing my grandson give my Mom a huge grin and run to hug her....and the HUGE grin that put on Mom's face.