Work, mummies and paper moons.
Alright, so yesterday wasn't as great as the first day. Lately the other intern and I have just been doing comparative reading, and since I came in when the two bosses were busy with individual projects (and one of them getting ready to get married this weekend), there hasn't been too much for me to do. There's the occasional corrections that I can do on the computer, which I like, but not much else.
Yesterday was comparative reading, and then a whole lot of nothing. I hate doing nothing because I end up feeling really useless, and I don't like doing nothing at work. Every once in a while I would pipe up with, "Anything for me to do?" and I'd just get, "Not right now really, but I might have something for you later."
I ended up rereading the Chicago Manual of Style. Or something. Basically a book on how to be an editor. And I read a manuscript that was already proofread. In a way it was good that I reread those things, because I re-familiarized myself with proofreading symbols I'd forgotten or never seen, and I learned a little more about editing (which is much more complicated and varied than you'd think). I've also been learning about the differences between British spelling and grammar and ours. I always thought the differences could be summed up in, "u's" after "o's" or reverse the "er" or add an "e," and simple stuff like that (they almost never use "z" and prefer "s"), but I figured out a few new things. There's the obvious date thing, "On 21 September 1984 this happened," which they seem to never vary on (at least in academic books). Then there's the fact that whenever someone speaks they use the single quote (') first, and then double quotes (") go within the single quote. We do the reverse. And whenever you want to end a quote and continue the rest of the sentence, you don't put the comma first and then the end-quote, you put the end-quotes and then the comma. Or end-quote and then period. So the whole time I was doing the comparative reading I thought the editor had missed a lot, until I asked and learned they just do it differently. It's little stuff, but enough to be kind of cool. To all of those who already knew this stuff about their spelling and grammar, hey, I never paid attention before. When you're trying to work in publishing, it's kind of major. I know there's more, but I'm winding down and I've forgotten for the moment. But what I'm trying to say, while I felt and looked useless, it was still time well spent.
So that was yesterday. A whole lot of feeling useless. And a whole lot of hoping it wouldn't be like that all the time. Oh, and Robert left to get married in a kilt. Damn those hot 40-somethings getting married.
Anyway.
Today the other intern took a day off because her boyfriend came in to visit and she had to pick him up from the airport. So it ended up being just me and Gretchen, which sort of made me nervous. Gretchen talks to me, but since the other intern has been here about a month longer and is also in the same intern program that Gretchen was in, I never have to make conversation alone.
But instead if it being awkward it was awesome. She gave me more to do today than ever. I got to help format a manuscript that we're printing for another publisher for a fee, which basically means I got to through and italicize what needed to be italicized (titles, words in a foreign language, etc), and format the extracts (quotes, poetry and song lyrics). Yeah, it sounds easy, but it's time-consuming as all hell, and there are always mistakes to fix and formatting questions to ask. At the end of the day (I got out at 6:30) I still wasn't done. But it was great! I loved it! I loved being a part of the process and helping to create and correct this book.
And besides that it gave me the chance to really get to know one of my bosses and talk to her. It's a small office and very laid back, and she's one of those friendly, open people who thinks out loud, so she's always pulling you into conversation. She's 26, so I was able to relax enough to get her to burn a cd for me, talk to her about music, friends (hers and mine), being in London, past interns, etc. And I think that getting a day alone with her is what will finally allow me to relax in the office and be less overeager. I feel like now I can just go to work and do my job, talk and learn, without worrying about what kind of impression I'm giving at all times. Obviously this does not mean I'm okay with showing up late, leaving early and telling my bosses about the partying that went on last night. I will always be Hispanic that way. But you guys must know what I mean. I don't have to be the annoying eager beaver to do a good job and be respected. Make sense?
Anyway, in touristy news I went to the British Museum, which was awesome. We only spent a couple of hours there, so we didn't get to see all that much, but I definitely have pictures of Roman and Greek sculptures, busts, and Egyptian mummies. God the mummy room was packed. It was like a wave of sweaty humanity was pushing me along, it definitely has to be the most popular place in the museum. What struck me is that most of us weren't there out of a genuine interest in Egyptian history and culture (I'll be honest and say I certainly wasn't), we were there out of a morbid curiosity. We wanted to see the damn mummies! And it was also strange to realize how completely disrespectful it was that we were crowding around to stare at these things and take pictures of these people, who obviously never imagined that they would be dug up and displayed for us to gawk at. And yet, even though I was slightly ashamed of myself, I was taking pictures anyway! "Wow, how creepy..." *snap*
If you look on facebook you'll find a picture of me, Kelly and Evelia with our heads together looking at the camera. We were tired from walking all day and we were sitting on the bench taking a break. We're giving really cheerful smiles, and in front of us are relatively-well-preserved dead people. Yeah. Think about that when you see it.
"I feel kind of bad about taking pictures of these people."
"Yeah, me too."
"Hey, let's take a picture of us!"
"Okay!"
Totally brings me back to those old cartoons when the mummy comes to life and walks after you like a zombie.
Anyway, enough of that. It was fun and interesting. We should probably go back and finish. Apparently Sam goes every day because she works close to it. I also need to go to the Imperial War Museum again and see the Holocaust portion.
And I need to see Les Mis. Because I saw Avenue Q for cheap and loved it!! The Rod storyline really reminded me of things friends have told me about being a gay man. Les Mis is definitely next. Maybe this weekend.
Julian arrives this Saturday. I have no idea what to take him out to do.
Oh, and I really wanted to celebrate Independence Day as an American in London, but bastards went to the Texas Embassy without me (restaurant, and then they went to a pub). And I'm too lazy to meet up with them. I might go out with the boys upstairs later. If Jazmine is willing to join me.
It's been a good day. And I didn't come home soaked from the rain. Which is always nice. When I'm excited I sound twelve.
It's only a paper moon
Hanging over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me.
Yesterday was comparative reading, and then a whole lot of nothing. I hate doing nothing because I end up feeling really useless, and I don't like doing nothing at work. Every once in a while I would pipe up with, "Anything for me to do?" and I'd just get, "Not right now really, but I might have something for you later."
I ended up rereading the Chicago Manual of Style. Or something. Basically a book on how to be an editor. And I read a manuscript that was already proofread. In a way it was good that I reread those things, because I re-familiarized myself with proofreading symbols I'd forgotten or never seen, and I learned a little more about editing (which is much more complicated and varied than you'd think). I've also been learning about the differences between British spelling and grammar and ours. I always thought the differences could be summed up in, "u's" after "o's" or reverse the "er" or add an "e," and simple stuff like that (they almost never use "z" and prefer "s"), but I figured out a few new things. There's the obvious date thing, "On 21 September 1984 this happened," which they seem to never vary on (at least in academic books). Then there's the fact that whenever someone speaks they use the single quote (') first, and then double quotes (") go within the single quote. We do the reverse. And whenever you want to end a quote and continue the rest of the sentence, you don't put the comma first and then the end-quote, you put the end-quotes and then the comma. Or end-quote and then period. So the whole time I was doing the comparative reading I thought the editor had missed a lot, until I asked and learned they just do it differently. It's little stuff, but enough to be kind of cool. To all of those who already knew this stuff about their spelling and grammar, hey, I never paid attention before. When you're trying to work in publishing, it's kind of major. I know there's more, but I'm winding down and I've forgotten for the moment. But what I'm trying to say, while I felt and looked useless, it was still time well spent.
So that was yesterday. A whole lot of feeling useless. And a whole lot of hoping it wouldn't be like that all the time. Oh, and Robert left to get married in a kilt. Damn those hot 40-somethings getting married.
Anyway.
Today the other intern took a day off because her boyfriend came in to visit and she had to pick him up from the airport. So it ended up being just me and Gretchen, which sort of made me nervous. Gretchen talks to me, but since the other intern has been here about a month longer and is also in the same intern program that Gretchen was in, I never have to make conversation alone.
But instead if it being awkward it was awesome. She gave me more to do today than ever. I got to help format a manuscript that we're printing for another publisher for a fee, which basically means I got to through and italicize what needed to be italicized (titles, words in a foreign language, etc), and format the extracts (quotes, poetry and song lyrics). Yeah, it sounds easy, but it's time-consuming as all hell, and there are always mistakes to fix and formatting questions to ask. At the end of the day (I got out at 6:30) I still wasn't done. But it was great! I loved it! I loved being a part of the process and helping to create and correct this book.
And besides that it gave me the chance to really get to know one of my bosses and talk to her. It's a small office and very laid back, and she's one of those friendly, open people who thinks out loud, so she's always pulling you into conversation. She's 26, so I was able to relax enough to get her to burn a cd for me, talk to her about music, friends (hers and mine), being in London, past interns, etc. And I think that getting a day alone with her is what will finally allow me to relax in the office and be less overeager. I feel like now I can just go to work and do my job, talk and learn, without worrying about what kind of impression I'm giving at all times. Obviously this does not mean I'm okay with showing up late, leaving early and telling my bosses about the partying that went on last night. I will always be Hispanic that way. But you guys must know what I mean. I don't have to be the annoying eager beaver to do a good job and be respected. Make sense?
Anyway, in touristy news I went to the British Museum, which was awesome. We only spent a couple of hours there, so we didn't get to see all that much, but I definitely have pictures of Roman and Greek sculptures, busts, and Egyptian mummies. God the mummy room was packed. It was like a wave of sweaty humanity was pushing me along, it definitely has to be the most popular place in the museum. What struck me is that most of us weren't there out of a genuine interest in Egyptian history and culture (I'll be honest and say I certainly wasn't), we were there out of a morbid curiosity. We wanted to see the damn mummies! And it was also strange to realize how completely disrespectful it was that we were crowding around to stare at these things and take pictures of these people, who obviously never imagined that they would be dug up and displayed for us to gawk at. And yet, even though I was slightly ashamed of myself, I was taking pictures anyway! "Wow, how creepy..." *snap*
If you look on facebook you'll find a picture of me, Kelly and Evelia with our heads together looking at the camera. We were tired from walking all day and we were sitting on the bench taking a break. We're giving really cheerful smiles, and in front of us are relatively-well-preserved dead people. Yeah. Think about that when you see it.
"I feel kind of bad about taking pictures of these people."
"Yeah, me too."
"Hey, let's take a picture of us!"
"Okay!"
Totally brings me back to those old cartoons when the mummy comes to life and walks after you like a zombie.
Anyway, enough of that. It was fun and interesting. We should probably go back and finish. Apparently Sam goes every day because she works close to it. I also need to go to the Imperial War Museum again and see the Holocaust portion.
And I need to see Les Mis. Because I saw Avenue Q for cheap and loved it!! The Rod storyline really reminded me of things friends have told me about being a gay man. Les Mis is definitely next. Maybe this weekend.
Julian arrives this Saturday. I have no idea what to take him out to do.
Oh, and I really wanted to celebrate Independence Day as an American in London, but bastards went to the Texas Embassy without me (restaurant, and then they went to a pub). And I'm too lazy to meet up with them. I might go out with the boys upstairs later. If Jazmine is willing to join me.
It's been a good day. And I didn't come home soaked from the rain. Which is always nice. When I'm excited I sound twelve.
It's only a paper moon
Hanging over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me.