Smoke 'em if you're 25 feet away from a window, vent or doorway

Since you can't smoke anywhere in Washington state except in an alley by a dumpster 25 feet away from any vents or doors, it seems hard to imagine that it was ever acceptable anywhere on the planet to smoke at work. But I'm here to tell you, that when I was a temp in London, I worked in an office where people smoked cigarettes....while they were working. *GASP*

You might think this occurred back in the 50s or something,

but nay, my friends, nay, it was 1995. The first office that I was placed in as a Kelly services temp was the Netherlands Board of Tourism. I took the tube there on my first day all dressed in office attire (I had on a skirt AND nylons...and heels!) and was assigned to answer phones and take orders for tickets to an exhibit they were promoting. It was a boring and thankless job, like most temp assignments. But, at least the people were nice. They were all Dutch, except one girl who was half Australian and half Dutch. And you know what they say, "If you ain't Dutch, ya ain't much." (Actually, the only person I've ever heard say that was this guy, Bob, that I worked with in Oak Harbor in the solid waste department - yes, that's garbage to you and me - for a summer job. But, I digress.)

As I got settled into my new place of employment, I noticed there were ashtrays curiously resting on table tops among files and paperwork. Hmmm. Odd. Was there a party here over the weekend, I wondered to myself. Then, I turned and saw the head office assistant open a pack of Marlboro Reds...and light an actual cigarette - right there in her adjustable office chair! I tried not to stare, but it was nearly impossible.

In the time that I worked there, I saw that all five of the employees that worked in my group (except one) smoked pretty much all day long while working. I felt like the little hick that just fell off the turnip truck. I had never in my life seen an office where you could smoke...at your desk!

It was a bit much for me to take in, but that job only lasted six weeks and then I was off to the Westminster City Council for a data entry temp assignment. They didn't allow employees to smoke anywhere in the building except for the smoking break rooms, which were so coverd in nicotine stains that even the hardcore smokers found them unappealing and went out to the sidewalk for smoke breaks.

That was all a long time ago now, but it's weird to think about since you can't even smoke in bars anymore here.

Sometimes when I'm sitting at my desk at work and I'm kind of bored and tired of eating salted mixed nuts (which are nearly as addictive as heroin), I think of what it would be like to light up a Kamel Red Light.

I'd probably get fired.