[a day in the life of a window-washer] I've always been proud to be a window washer. It's an interesting profession, and I work on some of the most interesting buildings in the city. Older ones, but still skyscrapers. I love the architecture of the thirties and forties, tall gleaming buildings that remember what it's like to love the future. All angles and towers meant to make the building seem even taller. And not just straight drops, too, seeing how high you could stack things, but classy. Little shelves and parapets, not just steel and concrete, but a real building with its own character. You get to see some interesting things on this job, too. People get used to the fact that nobody can look in their windows in ordinary circumstances, and window-washers are just enough like the invisible janitorial staff that nobody pays us any mind. Last week, I saw a couple stealing a kiss when the boss wasn't looking -- a couple women who I don't think their coworkers have any idea are together. I certainly won't tell, not that I could from the other side of thick glass. Besides, I don't want to jeopardize my unique people-watching position. I'm happy not to draw attention. Today, it was catching one of the managers on the thirty-third floor swilling whiskey before his big client. The client was pushy, too. I'd have needed more than the one drink to steady my nerves before that kind of negotiation. You see fights, people playing games when they should be working, a few people always industrious, a handful I've never caught doing anything but work. I can stay for hours on the fifteenth floor. The wind's not bad when you're only that high up, so it's easy to take your time, and the people there are fascinating. There's a phone bank, and you can see the man in charge trying to motivate his sales force -- he'll offer a prize, writing what it is on a big board in the front of the room, and he'll yell out some number that if a salesperson meets the quota, they'll walk out richer than the rest, or get tickets to a big game. Most days, people are disappointed, not quite getting there. Sales is hard, makes me glad I'm not in the business, but it sure is fun to watch the insanity. Phone calls, excited jumping up and down when someone closes a sale.