I remember you!  I was never VERY active on the board, but have been around since the beginning.

I'm a legal assistant at a criminal defense firm.  I still have no interest in becoming a lawyer, but 18 years ago I got connected with this small firm and not only is it very interesting, I am working for wonderful attorneys and they are very good at what they do - we have been involved in cases that have made world news and several with movies and documentaries. 

I work hard.  Drive 45 mins to 1 hr there and back -lots of sitting, but I have a Vari -Desk that helps tons -- we don't close just because the courts are closed for a national/county holiday because we have work to do and clients coming in, and a lot of times, I'm the last to leave, but I think that's mainly because all of the driver license/DPS issues go to me, which is constantly a puzzle to solve.....but anytime I need to take off, I can, and very rarely work weekends.  Some law offices close early on Fridays or even are closed on Fridays - not us, though.  Most of the time I work through my lunch break, just shove food in my mouth in between phone calls, because 12-1 is ususally a time I can get the most work done, because it is a LITTLE quieter (I could leave if I wanted to, but that's the way I choose to handle my workload to not play catch-up later). I can take off whenever I want (but often I work late before I take off or work late after I come back to catch up, because nobody else does my work - that gets hard - I don't take many week long vacations).  They are high profile and very busy and the stress sometimes is hard - sitting for hours trying to meet deadlines has actually changed my teeth, because I hold my mouth so tense for so long. 

If my bosses weren't so wonderful and didn't feel like family, I would not have stayed here this long, though.  These attorneys have shut down the office to all go watch me run at a matinee performance at the Ft Worth Stock Show/Rodeo.  My car broke down one time and I called in late to work, saying that I had to get another vehicle because mine was not going to make it.  My boss called me back and gave me a raise over the phone to help with financing.  They paid for our entire honeymoon. They pay for my cell phone (yet that also means I get emails or texts on days off and after hours I sometimes must reply to). Generous Christmas bonuses. 

I was working as a CNA in nursing homes.The last one I was at refused to listen to me when I told them my anxiety was getting out of control.The last straw for me was when my blood pressure hit 170/120.Im looking in to going to Walmart.It can’t be as bad as nursing.

I have a small printing business from my home. I've been doing this for nearly 12 yrs and still love it.  I design logos, banners, barrel wraps, signs, decals and also do invitation and business card design. I print the large stuff in house.  It is always different with each order. I get to be creative, make decent money and its all on my own time. I don't think I'll ever trade it. I do have my real estate license as well but I deal in ranches and large land deals. Not much residential so hardly any headaches lol

Yes teachers are underpaid but cutting our salary $10,000 is beyond ridiculous 

It should be going UP that much