Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to work as office manager for several companies here on the island. A logger, a land developer, a barge service and a land surveyor. In each case, I have been the only female in a distinctly man’s world. There can be advantages to this. For instance, no boss expects me to drive in snow. Their wives don’t, so I’m not expected to. On the other hand, my job description includes things like wrapping birthday presents and occasionally cleaning the microwave. This is not a complaint, I love my job. The atmosphere is casual, the variety is endless, and it’s seldom boring.
A while back, my company moved to a new, more spacious location. The building had previously been an animal hospital with a large lobby, and while deciding on décor, we left the reception area unchanged. It didn’t occur to any of us that this might cause some confusion.
About a week after our move, I was sitting behind the built-in front desk, the office dog at my side, when an older gentleman came in. Dressed casually in flannel shirt and work boots, I assumed he was one of the local contractors. “Hi there,” I said in greeting, “how can I help you?”
“Well,” he said, “I guess I’ll need to make an appointment.”
“Oh?” This was a bit unusual, after all here he was.
“I’m having some trouble out at my place, and I think I need someone to come out.”
Still thinking he needed survey work, I asked for his address. “Oh, he’ll know,” the man answered. “He’s been out there before.”
I was starting to feel foolish. Should I know him? “I’m sorry, remind me of your name?”
He told me…and it meant nothing. Trying to sound professional, and looking for clues, I asked “and what were we doing for you?”
“Well,” he replied, holding out a zip-lock bag of green slime. “I brought in a specimen for you to test …” He was a sheep farmer, looking for the vet.
After he left, still laughing at the misunderstanding, I posted a notice on the front door:
"Orcas Veterinary Clinic has moved. It is now located on North Beach Road across from Ace Hardware."
This is an alternative to potato salad, something Laura and I created for an impromptu barbeque. It was delicious, and well received.
Rice'n'Bean Salad
1 box Farmhouse brand brown and wild rice
1/2 cup raw white rice
1 can Mexican style diced tomatoes, drained
1 can chili beans in sauce
1 small can sliced black olives
1 tbsp. diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 tbsp. diced sweet onion
1/2 tsp. hot sauce (optional)
salt & pepper to taste
Combine the Farmhouse rice and white rice. Prepare according to package directions, using 1
cup of additional water. Fluff and allow to cool.
When cool, fold in remaining ingredients. Chill thoroughly. Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro. Serve chilled.
1 comment:
Mmmm that salad sounds delicious, I will have to try :)
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