8 days a week... i love-oh-ove-oh-ove it!

My chef has me scheduled to work for eight days this week... well, it isn't exactly a week now is it? Some how miraculously though those 8 days have broken up perfectly to 3 days in one pay period and 5 in another. Definitely would have loved the OT... but on the bright side, I have Saturday & Sunday off to watch some Red Sox vs. Yankees action and some Patriots football.

Wanted to update you all on the "best bruise ever" situation. After speaking with my personal medical consultant (aka Mom) and evaluating if I could walk the next day, my bruised ass did not go to the doctor. My bumm is still sore and the colors are changing and the bruised area is getting bigger, but all in all things are good. I must say though, I find often I sleep on my stomach, but not having the option of sleeping on my back is really throwing me for a loop in the middle of the night!

shoes & bruise

The Shoes.... So about 1 year ago with the help of my former coworkers, I was able to afford an awesome pair of dansko clogs to stand around on my feet for tons of hours. I seriously couldn't be happier with them. They made it through culinary school with me and kept me tall and well supported. Since my externship and taking my job, they have been through a lot - splattered with batter, dusted with flour, coated with simple syrup, christened with strawberry sauce... but the worst offender is water... and every night they get doused with water when I'm cleaning... then, put in my locker in a humid damp locker room... and have taken to developing mold spores! Yuck! So way back when I purchased these lovely shoes I also purchased a cleaning kit as well as a waterproofing spray. Although the clogs were given a good bath of the waterproofing spray a few times, the excessive amounts of water that my feet come in contact with seem to be trying to counteract the effect. So here is a picture of my favorite shoes, one pre cleaning, one post cleaning...

The Bruise.... I've sustained some injuries in my life, but nothing nearly this, well, purple/black/maroon. Tonight while walking down the stairs, I slipped on the second to last one and while holding a tray full of random items I was bringing back to the kitchen, lost my footing and fell straight down on the same step onto my ass! It shook me, but honestly, I truly believe that if I hadn't been carrying anything, and tried to catch myself, it might have been worse. Maybe not... I guess I'll never know... But for all of you who always wished you could see, here is a nice shot of my bumm and my best bruise ever! And for all of you who are concerned, yes I have worker's comp and yes, I'm considering seeing a doctor tomorrow and yes, at 3:44am, as I post this, I have ice on my bumm!

hanging in the slope

The restaurant was closed on Sunday and Monday for Labor Day. That is definitely a nice perk. We are actually closed on a few holidays and the days surrounding those days. That is sort of nice, it means I might actually get to see some family on some holidays.

Otherwise work is going well. I'm finally getting into a nice groove. I still have to figure out how to be faster. I'm afraid that might mean cutting corners. I'm not sure I'm willing to do that. I share the station I work with another girl and I feel like sometimes she doesn't do everything I would if I was working the station. If I'm there and I'm working another position, I look over and she's making coconut tarts an hour after she arrives. I think "Damn, why am I so slow?" But then I get on the station and take a look at what has and hasn't been done and think "Could she have fit that into her schedule?" I'm not sure. All that matters at that point is how much I can get done without being totally in the shit.

Anyway... enough about work... bottom line: It is fun. I look forward to going everyday. I welcome the challenge, even if I feel like I'm having a panic attack during service. Supposedly, after Labor Day the number of covers (aka reserved diners) goes up to at least 200, usually more, every night until after Valentine's Day. Holy monkey... can't wait for that!

Otherwise... my life is chill. Today in the park was a trip. I was walking down the street and through the meadows and paths in Prospect Park and wishing all my friends and family were around me and we were having a big ass bbq and throwing frizbees around and my bro was strumming on the guitar and there was lots of good food and tons of laughs. Instead I laid out on the grass in the sun and passed the hell out! Naptime! Then I got a double scoop of ice cream on my way home (rocky road & chocolate peanut butter) from this pretty good little place called Uncle Louie G's.... and thought about the fact that his neighborhood needs a homemade ice cream place like JP Licks back in Boston.