Is it a gumball machine or something else?

Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to read a blog entry that will be filled with self-affirming statements. After reading it, you may want to smack the author because she is so lucky. However, I beg your patience as I give myself a pat on the back. The picture above is of a trophy. Now I know many of you are saying "How can this be? It appears to be a gumball machine." While you would be correct, it really is a trophy. A few months ago the owners of my company decided to honor one person each month. Each month we have a company lunch and, at this lunch, one person is picked from a group of nominees to win an award for going "above and beyond the call of duty." The first month it was a quality assurance manager who spent hours on the phone working with a customer. Last month it was a member of the sales team. One guess who it was this month. That's right, dear reader, it was yours truly. Considering I nominated someone else, I was shocked but pleased to be chosen. This means that some very nice and sweet person nominated me. This gumball machine will stay at my desk. People who come to my desk can bring a quarter and buy a gumball (and people actually do because it's a nice break from work.) At then end of four weeks, or until the next company lunch, the bottom of the machine is emptied and I get to keep all the quarters from the machine. It is then passed to the next winner. (I will admit that I am considering emptying out the gumballs and filling it with M&M's.) Anyway, it really made my day and I wanted to share it with all of you because I feel so lucky to work where I do. (As an added bonus, this award comes with a gift certificate of my choosing.)