I was welcomed aboard Monday at the highest-paying job I’ve yet held.  I used to work in a computer center but I am not one for technology. At my new job everyone was talking about the new executive health program and how great it is, and all that.  This isn’t anything new to me.  When I was director of development at Shinestone, I had my OWN gymnasium.  All I had to do was walk down a tiny corridor and turn left.  There it was, parallel bars, balance pole, and all.  Now here I’m making $20K more than I was at Shinestone and I have to share an executive workout gym with ten other people!!!  I was quick to hide my disappointment, but Lynn, the only other woman in administration, was paying pretty close attention.  She had heard all about Shinestone and all their so-called perks.  But did I know about the embezzlement scandal?  Why don’t you just not tell me about it, I jived her.  (Of course I knew about the embezzlement.  You couldn’t work at that place and not know about it!)  Even so—no point in discussing a rather embarrassing situation with a new co-worker.  Why give away any of their secrets, for positive or negative results.  Right now, I was feeling that at Ten-to-One Companies Limited, I wasn’t getting as good a deal—except for that magical, life-affirming salary, that is.  You know, I think I’ll forego putting down toward that condominium on the riverwalk just now, wait a few months, and see what happens—maybe Shinestone will get down on their knees.