Inspired by Cathy's giveaway a few weeks ago over at Acorn Hollow, among several others, I am having a giveaway, too! Yes, I am harkening back to the Glory Days of Blogging and having a little giveaway.
These are not fine things, just little items that I hope will brighten up someone's day as they wait for spring. You will recognize most of them, if you have followed this blog. The eggs are little prim wooden eggs. International bloggie friends are welcome to enter, too.
Free cat hair with every giveaway! Sorry about that!
To enter, just leave a comment on this post. I will pick (random #) and post the winner Friday.
My surprise news is that I got a full time job. I am not a hale and hearty person, and in fact I have trouble walking and standing, so I applied for a simple half-time positionbut was offered the full time position of senior legal secretary.
I worked for a law firm in the past, sandwiched between two teaching stints. I have taught, but I did many other jobs, too. I moved around a tremendous amount, and when you do that (following hubby's career), you can find yourself in places that don't have "reciprocity" for your teaching certificate from your other states. I will say here that I enjoyed the other jobs much more than teaching, except for teaching adults. That I loved. But I absolutely loved working at the law firm. It was very old, over 100 years old, and old-school in many things.
The attorneys, male and female, were courtly, somber, and kind. On Fridays, some of the partners would walk through the office, putting $100 on each desk, saying to "buy a treat for yourselves."
Probably the strangest thing they did was have their version of a "Cuss Jar." A Cuss Jar is where you have to put in a certain amount of money if you curse, or "cuss." In their version, the Cuss Jar required $10, which was a LOT of money to us, if you accidentally used the term "lawyer" in place of "attorney."
As I type that, I'm wondering...how much of that $100 each week was funded by the staff's inability to stop saying "lawyer"? Hmmmm...
Another tradition was the Jello Diorama. One of the senior partners liked to make scenes out of food items, but also incorporating dollhouse/model train miniatures, and encase them in Jello (usually lemon). Whenever he was so moved artistically, he would bring one in, and unmold it on a special raised platter reverently placed in the biggest conference room, where we would each go admire it.
If you think any of the above is weird, just wait until I post about working for a young billionaire, with a B! That came after the law firm.
So now, I am no longer a retired "lady of leisure" (and I am guessing whoever made that title up didn't count housework as work!) - but I will still be blogging and loving the blog reading.
Don't forget to enter the giveaway!
Senior legal secretary!! Wow. That's impressive.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. I'm happy that you'll still be blogging even with working.
I still don't understand why they gave me that job. I hope they don't suddenly say, "Oh, we got you mixed up with someone else, so bye!"
DeleteCongratulations on getting your new post, most impressive. Wishing you every success. A very generous giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThank you, MM!
DeleteCongratulations on your new job! I'm curious what kinds of teaching jobs you had in the past (I am on the verge of retiring from teaching, myself). Oh, and I would love to hear about your job working for a billionaire! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI have taught from K to community college level, in numerous states. I taught right out of college, then when the moving started, had many other jobs, and then finished up teaching again. I saw teaching go from something interesting to an absolute horror, in my opinion, with teachers relegated to literally having to read a script, click on a video, and move on, IEPs ignored, student needs ignored, the joy of learning removed, and student achievement dropping year after year over a 40-year span, while cooking the data reached ultra-chef level. I miss the kids - third grade was my favorite grade to teach. Teaching the incarcerated was also wonderful, as strange as that may sound. That ended two years ago when I had to move again...for this hubby...
Deletecongratulations on your new job!!! you sound excited to get back to work. But most of all I am happy to hear you will continue to blog.
ReplyDeleteCathy
I am grateful to have work...!
DeleteCongratulations on your new job! I enjoyed the stories from your former jobs :) Your giveaway items are lovely!
ReplyDeleteGreat memories!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the new position. Yesssss!!!!
How sweet to have a Give Away! Yes, I remember those days. -smile-
🍀 🍀 🍀 🍀 🍀 🍀
Congratulations on your new job, that's wonderful. Yes, when my daughter went for a teaching job, she had two or three interviews as well. I bet you're relieved you are done with the interviews. I'm so glad you will still be blogging, as I just found your charming blog. Yes, I would love to enter your giveaway! And I really miss the old days of blogging as well. Count me in!
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I think those old days are returning, perhaps not in all their glory, but we bloggers are making progress. Blogs are as important as prairie diaries were and serve as historical journals, I think!
DeleteTry to leave a comment.
ReplyDeleteProblem on my blog
Nice you found a job
Very nice giveaway
I am sorry Blogger is acting up!
DeleteGood luck to all who enter your giveaway!! Now, let me get this straight...was Lawyer a "cuss" word? Instead of Attorney.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new job. How exciting.
Anyone finishing law school can call themselves a lawyer, but only those who have passed the bar can call themselves an attorney and be considered a member of the "legal profession." They were very careful with the distinction!
DeleteNever heard of using jello for a diorama. Congrats on the job. I am hoping to retire next year...would love to win your giveaway! Thank you for hosting it. Janice
ReplyDeleteSenator Ted Cruz (while he was just a candidate) and a Jello diorama were both in the firm one day....talk about surreal...
DeleteCongratulations on your employment. A bit more to blog about. Carefully, of course.
ReplyDeleteIt is my fervent hope that this job will be mundane! A futile hope, probably!
DeleteCongrats on your new job. Full time? Argh. If I had to go back to that, I think it would do me in. I LOVE being retired!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved all six months of retirement, too...but...back to work I go...!
Delete
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new job. It sounds wonderful. And of course I'm thrilled that you will continue to blog.
Cat hair free. Had to laugh at that. That's why my boys are not allowed in my craft spaces. But I sure love your generosity.
I really should try to have some pet-free portions of the house, but...they are sneaky little pups and cats!
DeleteI remember the giveaways from back in the day, and in fact, I had been the benefactor of a few of them. I still have the earrings you made, and I had won a Pomander kit. Thrilled. I was. Congratulations on your new job, I have always thought you had interesting stories of life experiences. I do hope y will still blog and craft, I missed you when you left your old place, and am happy to have reconnected with you again.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you for your kind words. I do not want to exit blogging again...I truly feel blogs uplift and help unite this fragmented world! And I dearly love visiting your blog!
DeleteCongratulations for your new job! Yes, Law (Attorney) Firms can be fascinating places to work. As a CPA with my own firm (since 1975, now retired, daughter now owns the family firm) we have always had multiple attorney clients. One leads to the next, to the next, to the next and now attorneys are a large part of daughter's practice followed by physicians, small businesses, and individuals with complex accounting and tax situations. I always enjoyed working with the attorneys and ALWAYS had a referral for anyone else who needed one. Expert witness work was always fascinating, too!
ReplyDeleteGoodness! A CPA. I had no idea! That is a lofty profession for sure! I am not sure whether to congratulate your family firm on having so many attorneys as clients, or give you my sympathy LOL.
DeleteCongratulations. How exciting. I do love the stories you have shared.
ReplyDeleteI chuckled about the free cat hair.. you get that at my house too.
xx oo
Carla
I try to keep the cat hair and chiweenie hair under control, but...it persists! I ought to buy stock in those dry mop cloths and the adhesive rollers!
DeleteCongratulations (I think?) on the new job!! Like Lauren, I don't think "full-time" is something I could adjust to at this point LOL. And, ahhhh....I was an ATTORNEY at one of those "old-school" law firms for years. We were known as a "silk stocking" firm LOL. Lots of "peculiarities" there too, but never ever would anyone leave $100 bills on anyone's desk. I also taught....Legal Writing & Bibliography at University of Wisconsin Law School and Business Law at Upper Iowa University. I was disillusioned by the end of my professor days to say the least. And the good old glory days of blogging...yes, yes! I remember them well, and am so grateful for those who have persevered over the years, and the new additions to our fold. I so need to get a giveaway going on my blog, but have a tendency to "overthink" what it is to gift. I am fortunate to have a diverse readership and would like something that might appeal to everyone. Oh, well....I will have time to ponder I suppose as I am back to no internet. I didn't catch up from my last episode and now I am back to ground zero. Heeellllppp!!! ~Robin~
ReplyDeleteGood Gravy, an ATTORNEY! And a professor! We are talking High Cotton here. I am sorry to hear your firm did not have the delightful habit of leaving money on desks! And sorrier to hear that your internet is still on the fritz!
Delete