Friday Five: Labor Day Edition

Singing Owl gives us this fun Friday Five:

Here in the USA we are celebrating the last fling of the good ol' summertime. It is Labor Day weekend, and families are camping, playing in the park, swimming, grilling hotdogs in the backyard, visiting amusement parks and zoos and historical sites and outdoor concerts and whatever else they can find to help them extend summer's sun and play just a little bit longer.It is supposed to also be a celebration of the working man and woman, the backbone of the American economy, the "salt-of-the-earth neices and nephews of Uncle Sam. With apologies to those in other countries, this is a Friday Five about LABOR. All can play. Put down that hammer, that spoon, that rolling pin, that rake, that pen, that commentary, that lexicon, and let's have some fun.

1. Tell us about the worst job you ever had.

The worst job I ever had was working as a secretary in someone's at-home business. He was really nuts, and had a short fuse (with unexpected triggers).

2. Tell us about the best job you ever had.

The one I have right now. I love it. I work for a non-profit, have a fabulous boss, fun coworkers (for the most part), and I'm getting some really interesting stuff to work on.

3. Tell us what you would do if you could do absolutely anything (employment related) with no financial or other restrictions.

Well, splitting my time between college chaplaincy and parish ministry would be one option. The other? I think I could have a heck of a lot of fun in politics.

4. Did you get a break from labor this summer? If so, what was it and if not, what are you gonna do about it?

I got several breaks! We took a very belated honeymoon in June. A few weeks ago, I spent a weekend with one of my favorite girlfriends in Dayton. And this afternoon, Mr. M and I are leaving for North Carolina to visit our friend Tom, who likes to say that we went to college together, 20 miles and 50 years apart. (His college, class of '49, my college, class of '01)

This has maybe been the best summer I've ever had. I've had half days on Fridays, and I've spent a lot of mini-breaks at Longwood Gardens. Sitting in front of fountains, treehouses, waterfalls, and formal gardens with the wonderful collection of Love Poems from God has been an incredible break for me. Now that I think about it, my current blog background is from Longwood!

5. What will change regarding your work as summer morphs into fall? Are you anticipating or dreading?

Well, today is my last summer 1/2 day Friday, so that will change. I'm not sure yet what else will change, but I know that I have an either/or in front of me in terms of ministry formation, so we'll see what that holds.

This is the first year I've not dreaded fall. I love the warmth of summer, the long bright days, all the outdoor playtime. This year I feel like I'm not still hungry for the season as it ends. I'm comfortable, but full.

Bonus question: For the gals who are mothers, do you have an interesting story about labor and delivery (LOL)? If you are a guy pal, not a mom, or you choose not to answer the above, is there a song, a book, a play, that says "workplace" to you?

Well, I haven't been in labor, but my mom's story is that when she got the epidural that she didn't want in the first place (her mother insisted, and that's who the doc took orders from), all it did was numb her left leg.