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"What was the best or worst job you ever had?"
(asked at the Kingsgate Library on 09-03-98; published in the EJ on 09-06-98)

Judy Weathers, Assistant managing librarian, Seattle

"It was in the days of bouffant hairdos and first thing in the morning, I went into the college cafeteria's steamy dishwashing room and scraped syrup off of plates. This was my worst job."

Tom Arntz, Retired, Woodinville

"I have the best job in my life right now -- I'm retired. I enjoy the flexibility and enjoy doing things I was never able to do in my professional career as an executive vice president of a group of companies. Now I play softball, travel, and invest... The worst job -- I was the core sand mixer in an iron foundry one summer. That caused me to go back to school, back to college, right away."

Rita Maki, Part-time paralegal, Kenmore

"When I was in my second year of college, I was a chambermaid at a resort. At Rainbow Lodge on Alta Lake, at what is now Whistler but it wasn't as well developed then. It was very tiring and very hard work even though I was 19. It kind of inspired me to continue my education."

Robert Griffin, Major appliance salesman, Kirkland

"My worst job was as a salesman for a carpet emulsifying shampoo/cleaner outfit. A friend called me up -- the job had the potential to "make a lot of money." During the first day, we went door-to-door selling this stuff. Without any uniforms, just our clothes. Selling a product you've never heard of. And on top of that, it didn't work. I ended up leaving the next day."

Karen Irish, Social worker, Kirkland

"I think the worst job I did, for one day, was housecleaning. It was horrible. It's hard enough cleaning my own house and then to clean someone else's was just unbearable. The best job -- being mom of Emily and Riley."

Michael Merker, Business development manager, Snohomish

"My best job ever was when I was first sales rep for a software company introducing a database product. Because it was a start-up, you got to wear a lot of hats. And we were the underdog -- and we ended up buying the company we were underdog under in four years. That was a lot of fun."

© 1998 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal (née Journal American) newspaper.

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