Getting pampered by the French

OK, so I didn’t really know what to expect when I shipped off my first online “Off the Mark” last week, but have to admit I was a bit surprised by the response. Three hours after I posted my first blog, I opened my Gmail to 83 replies. By noon the next day I had around 150. So, not Dave Barry numbers, but I was happy that since I’m doing this for free, I was at least getting the satisfaction of knowing that several were getting enjoyment(?) out of it. With several more responses and comments since last week, I’m confident that I’m not just doing this for my mental health…although anything that may restore my mental health would certainly be welcome.
Comments ranged from “glad you’re back,” to “yippie” to “and what a blissful 18 weeks it was! …sign me up for some more of your mindless drivel.” (From Ken in New Ulm.)
The blog may come sporadically over the next few weeks, as my evenings are spent once again at the Opera House. This summer we will present “Damn Yankees.” (I’ll be shamelessly plugging this more diligently in the coming weeks.)
I would ask once again that you spread the word. If you know of someone who might be interested in reading this “drivel,” let them know. Maybe someone could print one out and take it to your local senior center. I’d like to make it as accessible as possible. I've had lots of requests from area seniors who may not have internet access.
My siblings may or may not be interested in this new venture. Since I never call them (I HATE talking on the phone) they will at least vaguely know what I am up to…
As I mentioned last week, I’m now working at a remote location south and east of Chandler. The name of the company is enXco. The company is so big they can change the Rules of Capitalization as we know it—starting with a lowercase “e” and then have the audacity to drop a capital “X” right there in the middle.
enXco is owned by a French company, called EDF, or Électricité de France. We are housed under a subsidiary called Energies Nouvelles, which translates to “New Energies.” That and “oui” is about the extent of my French.
enXco is all about dealing with “new energies” such as wind and solar power. It also appears that they take good care of their employees.
I have been blessed with the most amazing benefits package I could have imagined. Just thinking about the days they pay me to stay home makes me dizzy, considering I spent the past 12 years as an editor. I start with two weeks of vacation my first year, with 11 paid holidays AND a paid personal day. In addition, they have some kind of weird program where you stay home if you are sick. They pay you for that too! Add that all together and I could potentially stay home for five weeks a year. In a few short years, they will up that vacation time to five weeks in addition to holidays and sick leave. Leave it to the French to only make me work 10 months a year!
They’ve issued me two computers, three flat screens, an XL-heavy duty-lard butt size chair and a desk bigger than the one I have at home. Throw in a pop machine that dispenses 20 oz. bottles of Diet Dew and one would ask why I would ever want to leave.
I wonder if I could talk them into afternoon naps. Don’t the French do that?
My commute takes me 37.1 miles from my doorstep each day. The complete round trip affords me a chance to continue to feed my addiction to audio books. I’ve blown through five or six already.
So a message to those of you who have expressed worry over my welfare, I’m doing fine. I may have been run out of Lincoln County, but the French are taking good care of me down here south of Chandler.
As a matter of fact, I pay homage to them whenever I can by ordering French fries. Maybe I'll buy myself some French’s mustard. I could even try listen to my Les Miserables soundtrack a bit more often.
Till next week…au revoir…and vive la France.
I LOVE those guys!