Jim,
I was only teasing you! Just making fun of my own addiction to Starbucks!
And technically, if that is what Mr. Webster says about menial jobs, my job as a nurse certainly qualifies as menial - definitely low pay and considering what's involved sometimes, I'd rather be serving up lattes. 
Lori
Lori:
Oh, I noticed the 'grin' emoticon in your post and didn't think you were all that serious. I just wanted to clarify my use of the word 'menial' and used your comment as a vehicle to do so.
One of my wife's best friends is a nurse with over 30 years experience. She works in a hospital on a part-time basis. She says she's paid very well but doesn't get to do much patient care, anymore. She complains that she spends most of her time doing 'administrative' work because she's a 'charge' nurse. She isn't too happy about it but the money she earns is necessary and welcome.
Frankly, Lori, I think nursing is a noble profession. My limited experience with nurses (my 2006 AN surgery-hospitalization) made me realize that, aside from their technical duties, which are critical to patients in some cases, a nurse's attitude and efficiency can have a significant impact on patient satisfaction. My experience with nurses was all good. My ICU nurses were mostly young (they looked like junior high students to a 63-year-old guy), efficient and very pleasant. Of course, I was a model patient. No, really. I did whatever they asked, didn't complain (much) and almost never asked for anything. O.K., having my wife at my bedside for most of the time I was in the hospital helped. She slept in a nearby room usually used for patient-doctor consultations. My neurosurgeon secured permission for her to sleep there. Some of the nurses weren't too happy to have her around (she didn't ask them for much, either) but most thought it was charming that an 'old married couple' (old in their youthful eyes) were so devoted. At my urging, my wife finally went home at the end of my third day in ICU, satisfied that I was O.K. (I was eating again). The next day I was moved to a semi-private room and discharged late the following morning. I was anxious to go home but kind of sorry to say goodbye to those nice young nurses. We thanked them, all. I think my wife made cookies or something for them. That experience and my only other hospitalization (when I was 8 years old) solidified my positive opinion of nurses. Of course some are inept and/or have the personality of a doorknob but the majority I've come in contact with on the job, as it were, are hardworking, pleasant people, just like my wife's friend.
In any case, I hardly think nursing is 'menial' or a position of servitude, although, to their discredit, I suspect some doctors may see it that way. I hope you're at least paid enough to be able to keep buying those Starbuck's lattes.
Jim
