My Numerous and Varied Day Jobs

• Babysitting: Parents loved me. I read to the kids, fed them and put them to bed on time. I never liked to sleep on the job so would clean house to stay awake. I was able to purchase my first 35mm camera with my babysitting money. My love with photography was born.


• One day as a dishwasher at a drive-in restaurant: When I showed up to work the second day, the restaurant had burned to the ground. I had nothing to do with that, honest!


• Waitress at a drive-in restaurant by my high school: Job ended when I could no longer find someone to bring me home. It was fun though and I met a great guy named Paul. Hey, Paul! Hi!


• Cashier at a grocery store: An okay job. I saved enough money to take my first college class.


• Two days as a waitress: The customers petitioned that I quit. No, but they may have thought about it. Actually, I quit because I would go home and throw-up. I hated the job that much and it has resulted in me being loved by all waitresses, as I am a great tipper.


• Payroll clerk in an engineering firm: Enjoyed this job. Quit to attend college full time.


• Law Clerk in Law office: Loved that job. Had the best boss in the whole world, Martin B. Friend, Esq. I quit this job due to divorce and the need to work full time.


• Legal Secretary: An enjoyable job, with the right boss. And, eventually I got to work in Mr. Friend's law office again. I quit that job, after many years, because I was stupid.


• Artist: Promoting and selling my own art: Teaching art to Senior Citizens, demonstrating my techniques to art leagues and at colleges, and doing demonstrations at libraries, schools, on television and in a two-part Cable program.


• Storyteller, complete with buckskin dress and faux campfire, for Cub Scout troop.


• An over-zealous, under-cover security officer in a grocery store: Finally quit after being drug out the door by a biker who had four cartons of cigarettes in his leather jacket and was not going to give them up, but neither was I. This was a part-time job while I was attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I would be up at five am to catch a train to Chicago, then come back in the evening and work evenings pretending to shop as I watched people. I took my job very seriously. Once, I had them lock me in a back room so that I could catch an employee who was stealing. They did not let me out when they were supposed to come back and I think I was back there two hours longer than I was supposed to be. I still find myself spotting shoplifters in stores.


• Cleaning the ceramic lab at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago: I loved this job. I could get into the ceramic lab early and I liked putting it in order.


• Demonstrating my art and living at Revolutionary Rendezvous and at Native American PowWows: I love cooking over an open fire and sitting around a campfire singing with friends.


• Taught ceramics to adults and children, as well as general art classes to children at Casper Recreation Center: I met a really good friend here, Hi Cathy!, and enjoyed this job.


• Taught ceramics to children at the Nicolaysen art museum:


• Taught art to CACHE (Casper Area Christian Home Educators) Homeschoolers: three classes to cover K through 12. Exhausting but rewarding.


• Taught ceramics, 2-D art and photography and chemistry of photography at the KEY (Knowledge through Excellence for Youth) camp at Casper College, in Casper, Wyoming: Absolutely, loved this job. The children are so creative that it is inspiring and the people are great to work with. At the end of three weeks, you will need a vacation to recuperate, but look forward to it the rest of the year.


• Adjunct at Casper College: Art to non-art majors. This was one of my favorite jobs. Although, I think teaching Jr. High students can be more rewarding than college students. But, there were several students I will always remember. The nice thing was the hours it left me, each week, to do my own art.


• Opened own studio in Brown County, Indiana: This is a seven day a week, fifteen hour a day job. I love it. I play the music I want, when I want. For several years, I have taken part in three art shows a year that helped pay the bills.


• I received my BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and have spent the last twenty years selling my artwork across the country and in a few foreign nations too. It's a good living to starve by.