Hmm...
Now that I think about it, I could probably write about work. Just for the hell of it.
OK, like I've said to everyone (multiple times, because 1) it's my excuse for not hanging out, and 2) I can't fucking believe I got myself into this situation) that I have two jobs. This is fabulous, because I now have an excuse to get out of the house, I'm learning stuff all the time, and I like both of them.
My day job: Camp counselor at the taekwondo day camp. Lots of kids between 5 and 12, my coworkers are all under 17 years old, and I'm wiped out by the end of the day. But the activities are awesome: Every day, two half-hour classes for the kids (which means I sort of get to teach - whee) - Monday, have lunch at the park. Tuesday, either arts and crafts or "Hollywood TKD" (which means each group has to think of a plot for a short movie based on taekwondo - most of them turn out to be comedies. I love it!). Wednesday, swimming at Osceola Beach (I called in sick the first time, and we had Wednesday off the second time because of the 4th, so I still haven't done it - doesn't help I'm kinda feeling the swimsuit anxiety). Thursdays are bowling : ) !!! And Fridays are field trips (first one was the Central Park Zoo - I know I shouldn't have gone, but it happened - and the second was the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT). So, you can see why I want to stick around.
My only problem is that Master Moon sticks me with the same two kids all the time (ok, for the second week in a row)- one of them has severe ADHD (or maybe seven year olds are like that) and cannot stay in one spot for more than 5 seconds (not to mention his tendency to kiss and hug everyone and everything), and the other one cries when he doesn't get his way or he loses a game. Hopefully there will be a gradual change, but I'm one for believing in miracles, so others may be skeptical. However, I learned that almost any tactic will work on kids under eight. I just started saying, "Oh, Nathan, you're being so good waiting in line quietly - you get 15 points!" And they take it almost seriously. I know they wouldn't get it, but if those two start fighting again (because that is my main problem - according to the buddy system, they're buddies, but sometimes they REALLY don't get along), I really want to say "Ten points from Gryffindor!"
You can laugh, but I'll do it.
So, Master Moon either 1) hates me and shows it by handing me the two most difficult kids in the camp, 2) thinks I'm incompetent, so he gives me only two kids to work with, or 3) thinks I'm especially good at dealing with those two. I seriously don't know the answer.
Earlier in the year, I got excited that training was going to be free for the summer, but now that I'm here and camp has begun, I have little energy and almost no time. Sooo, I've gone to class one time in the past two weeks. I really need to start going Mondays or else I'll never get around to it.
The night job is only slightly more awesome: swagging the curtain for Westchester Broadway Theater's production of Gypsy. For all who didn't hear, I totally got the job by accident.
A few Fridays ago, my family and I went to see the show, and I heard a name that rang a bell: George Puello (backstory: I asked my friend Ray for some numbers connected to the theater in case I ever wanted to work there - Puello's was one of them. However, I never bothered). So, after the show, I approach this man in white (apparently that's the only color he wears), telling him that I know Ray's mom. Then I say that I would really like to work with them. However, I was thinking far ahead (post-graduation), and I was thinking wigs and makeup. He says they don't really have openings for that right now, but he gives me his card, and tells me to call him Monday or Tuesday. I called him Tuesday, he told me to go to the theater on Wednesday at 12, 12:30, to meet Bob D'Urso, the crew chief. My mom wanted to drive me over, and, while I figured I probably would only be there a half hour, 45 minutes most, I wasn't stupid, so I dressed in all black and sneakers. You know, in case they needed me backstage.
I got there at 12:15, talked to the man, handed him my resume, he asks me if I want to work the spotlight, but I say nooo (after seeing Chess, I don't think I could be responsible for crappy spotting). I said I had no experience, and he fires back with this: "I've been working here 13 and a half years, and I've learned that, sometimes, people can be capable of stuff they didn't know they could do." Then he tells me that the curtain swagger (who'd been there a week), was supposed to show up 50 minutes ago and the show starts in 10 and how would I like to pull a curtain? So, I told my mom she could go home and I would call her when it was over.
So, 15 minutes later, I swagged a curtain for the first time. Then some quick changes, and setting up and clearing the set. Show ended, I was fabulous, and Ron handed me a packet including a W-4 so I could get paid for this. And then said he'd see me tomorrow. Soo, apparently I got a job.
I really am a theatre whore, because now I do it for money.
A friend of mine said, "Wait, if I wasn't a theatre whore before, then what was I?"
Me: "A slut."
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Okay, my issue: I love both of them, but I work 7 days a week. I don't think I will burn out if I get enough sleep, but that's all I can do. I can't quit either of them because 1) I promised Master Moon in like MARCH that I'd be with the camp, and I signed up for 8 weeks of this torture (6 to go!), 2), I don't really trust my swagging sub, and 3) I actually like working in the theater, and 4) need all the experience I can get.
BTW, I just got my first paycheck of the summer and I'm super excited.
The camp is a test of patience, commitment, and ability to teach by example and not command. The theater is a test of upper-body strength and timing. And if I can make it through the summer doing both - then I'm going to come back to school a much stronger person, physically and psychologically. And I'm going to appreciate those empty weekends way more.