Perks. In the last few weeks it seems that this word has come up in almost every decent length conversation that I've had. Perks.

     My mom just moved to Omaha at the beginning of September and has been looking for a new job here.  Guess what she's holding out for--the best benefits and perks. She was a preschool director in Norfolk (benefits and pay so-so, perks included free family membership at the YMCA, free fitness center membership for her and free kids programs--sweet perks) and has been looking for similar jobs here in Omaha. Although she's not quite sure that is what she wants to do still, that is where all of her experience lies. She obviously doesn't need the perk of getting her children free preschool or free childcare, so what job has the best pay, the best benefits? Everyone wants a position that they enjoy, where they feel they are working toward a rewarding purpose, have enjoyable colleagues (or no colleagues at all is a perk for some) and feel the work they are doing is meaningful/fulfilling. That's the impression I've gotten at least. I know I could not work somewhere that I hated the atmosphere, did meaningless tasks and worked with jerks.

     The perks of my job are small--free gym memberships, discounts on personal training and invites to benefit dinners and fun events. Not necessarily perks, but I do have the best job in the world. I work with several of my closest friends and members at my gym have become my Omaha family. Every day I go into work, I know I will be doing fulfilling work that I love with people I really care about. I have no benefits other than my 401k, which is great, but no insurance, which has always been fine until now that I have to have surgery on a sports hernia--$6,000 deductible! Yikes! Maybe that is where all of this talk about perks got started--too bad I'm not in any position to marry someone with good insurance.

     As I've had my cost of surgery looming over my head the last two months, I also had to fork over a bunch of cash to get my car fixed this week. $500 to fix an immediate problem, another $900 in the next year to fix another problem. I know they say more money more problems, but no money definitely does not equal no problems. This all got my mom saying we need a mechanic in the family. So true. Think of all the money you have to drop into your car, every few months there's at least the oil, if not more. Thought: start looking for possible dates at the car garage...status...thus far, highly unsuccessful although I did have to spend a considerable amount of time taking my car to different garages to get quotes on fixing the problems.

     I have a good friend named Jenny whose boyfriend works for Cox Cable. He just moved in with her--free cable, internet, DVR, all the hookups. Those are some dang awesome perks of the job. I tried to talk my mom into applying for jobs at Cox so she could get those perks, well actually, part of my thought process was that she and my aunt already pay for all of those perks so maybe she would give me her Cox perks. No such luck.

     I have a leaky facet in my condo. Last night my best friend Codie commented on how every family needs a mechanic, a doctor, a lawyer, an electrician and a plumber. I don't know where a person hangs out to attract a plumber to marry into their family. I don't know that guys my age even are plumbers. Maybe my mom will have to tackle this one.

     My last perk I think is totally amazeballs that I know friends who have is Mexican food. My friend Becky married into a Mexican family and when she talks about the food her in laws make and when her husband Robert makes us guacamole, I'm incredibly jealous. My brother was in Omaha for Fall Break last week and we went to our favorite burrito van together. Both of us could eat Mexican food every day for the rest of our lives, so I told him one of us needs to get an in with a Mexican family and learn the secrets of all their good cooking. I want nothing more than to fall in love. I want nothing more for the people I love to find true love and happiness, however, I'm going to start looking to see who's bringing in the sweet perks to the family since I'm so in tuned to perks right now. Right now I'm thinking my ideal perks involve: car work, discounts on biking equipment and maintenance work, hair/nails/massage perks, an in at a publishing company so they'll publish my book, cable and internet discounts, travel discounts including but not limited to airfare or hotels, free gas, tickets to sporting events and/or concerts, free entry into adult sports leagues and of course the wonderful family to make me real, authentic Mexican not in any particular order--that's not true, the Mexican food reigns over all.