The Week That Was

Looks like every week is gonna be different. Today is Friday, last worked on Wednesday, but let’s back up to last Friday, the first of four days of work in a row, two proofreading jobs, two catering gigs. I was back at C.B. to go over their educational calendar once again, checking to make sure all the questions and answers match, the days of the week are right, all the holidays are in the right place. It’s boring but the time somehow goes quick. Saturday I had to go up to Fordham Prep in the Bronx for some kind of alumni dinner. I was dreading this job, it was pouring outside when I was set to leave, and I was having my usual panic attack. But I sucked it up. Got there by 5 and was out of there shortly before 11, took the Metro North to Grand Central, the 4 train uptown, and then waited a full half-hour for the N train to show up at 59th Street, by the time I got home it was 1 am.

The Saturday job was at St. Bernard’s School on 98th and Madison, 2:30. I didn’t know anything about this gig, but I was hoping for an easy gig this time. It was not to be. It was a fancy sit down dinner with 10 tables, so all the tables had to be rolled out and set up, all the chairs taken out of their little sacks, then all the plates & glasses & silverware & saucers & cups & napkins put out, the water glasses have to be iced and then filled with water, there’s a lot of stuff to do before the “guests” arrive. Then you’re busy busing & filling & cleaning, and then you break it all down. There’s a lot of stuff to do. After two straight days you’re exhausted. We got out of there at a little after 9, home by around 10:30, and I had to be at College Board again by 9:30 the next day, but I was glad to be working.

I was also the beneficiary of what’s called the 24-hour rule in catering. I was set to work Tuesday, but because the party wasn’t canceled more than 24 hours ahead of time, we still got paid. So when I walked out last Sunday night, I had a check in my hand for three parties, a total of 18 hours at 20 bucks per. Not bad, although there are times when I’m working when I really can’t stand it. I’m constantly making mistakes, well, maybe not constantly, but at least two or three times per party I screw something up. I’ve never dropped a dish or broken a plate or glass, but there’s a lot to learn that I don’t know. I don’t even know what I don’t know.

At C.B. I went over the same calendar again, the same questions. It’s good money, even more than catering. C. said she may have me back later in the week. However, on Wednesday morning, I got a call from the agency saying S. Communications needs someone later that day. So I jumped at the chance and worked on about five catalogs from 2 to 6 in the afternoon. They also said there may be more work for me soon. What I need to do is find at least one more agency that can get me work in proofreading or copy editing. I looked yesterday online but couldn’t find any. I need about 3 days worth of work, and then about an average of one catering gig per week. That would do it; anything else would be a bonus.