i have found my dream job:

factory worker.

i am not even kidding about this.  when i was going through my "what do i want to do with my life?" crisis earlier this year, i told people who asked about my future plans that i wanted to be one of the toll booth operators on the way to milan.  all i had to do was sit in my booth and be able to count out one euro ninety.  i wouldn't have to be friendly, i wouldn't have to plan lessons, i could sit on my chair and listen to my podcasts and if i was feeling charitable, i could give a friendly "buongiorno!" to the commuters.  it seemed great!

but THEN, i helped out at the welfare bakery a few weeks ago and it totally beat out the toll booth.  i wore a hairnet, gloves and an apron.  one team member (i felt we worked more efficiently when i called them team members)  slid loaves of bread down a chute and using a foot pedal, i would send it through the slicer.  i would catch it and shove it into an open bag.  the next team member would twist it and send it through the twist tie machine and load it on the conveyor belt.  yes!  a conveyor belt!  it's a real factory!  it was so great!  because it was completely mindless we were able to chat pleasantly about nothing the whole time.  although there was a bit of drama when two team members argued over the best way to sweep up the rogue bread crumbs.  yes, arguing over sweeping.  i just kept sweeping because i was having the time of my life.

and do you know what the best part is?  at the end of our shift, they gave us a free bag of bread.  whole wheat!    and then, the next week, at the dairy, i got a bottle of chocolate milk and a pound of cheese!  who needs a job!?!?!  i help out for a few hours a week and get cheese and bread!  and i don't even really like chocolate milk, but i mopped for 2 hours to earn that chocolate milk and it was the best thing i've ever had.  i might never work again and live off my cheese and bread prizes.  now, THAT'S the life.