A Pain in my Feet

My second and final day of the Feast. I am not sorry it’s over. My feet are pounding in my head. If you don’t understand that and wish to, all you have to do is stand on a tile floor for... anywhere between six and eight hours. Tonight was closing in on eight hours.

It went better tonight. In my opinion anyway. We left earlier than last night, had more guests and I think everything ran smoother... at least once I got behind the bar. I started my shift in the kitchen making dumplings. According to Helen, I make them better than professionals. I don’t know why she’s saying that... but it resulted in me making 246 dumplings in about three hours. I don’t know if that’s slow or fast, but at one point, Helen came in and told me to hurry up. I was feeling particularly defensive because I seem to recall being promised help. LIES! Anyway, I responded with the following:

“Yes Helen, I’ll try. Go-go Gadget hand!”

She didn’t hear me because she’d already left the kitchen. My other co-workers thought it was funny. Later we had regular tables coming in before the Feast. Helen was freaking out. When the tables at last arrived, she burst into the kitchen shouting: “They’re coming! They’re coming!” I of course, looked up from my dumpling-making and asked Abby if they were British. I would have responded “One if by land! Two if by sea!” but that was too long. Abby seemed to think it was funny.

After the 246 dumplings I was liberated from the kitchen. I got to make a crap load of martinis and Caesars from that point on. One of the features of the Feast was a watermelon martini. I will say, it actually looked pretty good. Another alcoholic beverage that appealed to me, the non-drinker, was Cognac. It smelled really fantastic and is also apparently really expensive. Generally speaking I seem to be attracted to rather pricey alcohol. I’ll say I like something and Helen will tell me how much it costs. Another good reason not to drink...

The night did end though. To my surprise, Abby and Alma each gave me some of their tips. I don’t usually get tips because I’m not a server. In case this doesn’t seem fair, minimum wage for servers is less than other staff because they make tips. Personally I think it’s silly. And for that reason I was touched and grateful that they thought of me.

How does one celebrate the end of a day like today? A well earned, delicious, wonderful bath. And yes, the bath was delicious. Anything that makes you go “ahhhhhhhhh!” is in fact delicious.

Lauren.