NaBloPoMo asks today:
"Do you enjoy your current job?"
This fall I was hired by the school corporation my kids attend as a cafeteria sub. The worst part of the job is that I rarely get to work as I am a fill in. The times I have worked, I have found that there are different aspects of the job that I love and other aspects not so much. When you think about it though if a job was all fun and games it wouldn’t be called work and they wouldn’t have to pay you to do it.
My favorite part of the job is when I am asked to work in the kitchen. I love chopping up foods, preparing massive trays of food, stocking the salad bar, and serving to the kids. I even have fun washing the dishes. The school where I had the pleasure to do this had a huge sprayer that I used to spray off the trays and dishes, and a monster size dish washer that takes the dishes through on a conveyor belt. I have to admit the garbage disposal freaked me out a little as not only is it loud but it erupts like a volcano when you first turn it on. It scared the living be Je$us out of me until I got used to it! I wish I had a set up like that at home. I might actually enjoy doing the dishes.
Cleaning goes with the territory and also is part of the job. I don’t mind washing down tables or mopping. Sweeping around the chairs and tables is a pain in the a$$ but must be done. I have only had to deal with trash duty at one of the schools and I can tell you it was a nasty, disgusting business my life can go on without. Once I revealed to my doctor that I was having to heave ho full trash bags almost bigger than me up 4-5 feet over my head into a dumpster, he about had a cow. With my heart condition, he forbid it and put me on restriction. No great loss in my opinion except that it makes the times when the schools call me few and far between.
Another great aspect of the job is the flexibility it offers and the ability to work, make some extra money, and still be there for my kids when they need me to be. You just can’t get much better than that until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
A great description of the job, Kathy - but I wouldn't fancy the trash pickup either!
ReplyDeletePaula, I am so pleased you enjoyed my post! Doing the trash does suck. The bags are heavy. When I did it there were 8 huge trash barrels to keep track of as the kids lined passed. You didn't want then to get over half full because then they would be way to heavy to hurl into the air. One day the kids came through with baked beans on their trays banging their tray on every single trash can in an attempt to get the beans to come off. It was gross. I thought I was going to hurl, and the smells coming from the dumpster left a lot to be desired! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteSo glad you enjoy the job! I have given up hoping that Wareham will ever bite on my application for cafeteria duty, despite my friend telling me over and over how much help they always need. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, I know what you mean. They claim they need the help, even advertise job openings on their website and then you rarely get called to work. I like it when I get to do it. I have one school that is my favorite, but unfortunately they don't have any openings to my knowledge. So I go work whenever they give me the chance. Half the time I feel like I don't have a job at all. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥
DeleteI'm glad you enjoy it. School cafeterias can be quite noisy and chaotic.
ReplyDeletehttp://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Joyce, I didn't really mind that part much, however, I have found I enjoyed the food and preparation better than actually out with the kids dismissing, washing down tables, sweeping, and mopping. It's not so bad, but I prefer the kitchen. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥
DeleteMaybe that's what I should sub for instead of teaching. I'm quite hearing impaired so I miss a lot of what kids are trying to tell me. I don't mind preparing food and cleaning and the garbage disposal probably wouldn't seem loud enough to freak me out. Anyhow, I enjoyed your description.
ReplyDeleteBronwyngordon, you probably make more money teaching!! I am so pleased you enjoyed my description. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI always wanted to be the lunch lady at my kids school. Not for the fun or the cool dish washing aspect - wish I had one of those too! - But simply for the sheer torture it would've put my kids though! Every year I would taunt them with the idea that I was going to volunteer in the cafeteria and every year in unison they would wail, "Moooommmmm, nooooooo!" :D
ReplyDeleteMimi, my kids seem to be thrilled when I actually get to work at their schools. They come and hug and kiss me when they come to lunch and hug and kiss me goodbye when they go off to recess. It really is a highlight for me. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI used to work in a Day Centre kitchen and must admit it was quite rewarding to prep, cook and serve the food (even if at times it was so hectic that you barely had chance to breathe!).
ReplyDeleteLoki-Lou, I just love a job that is hectic though because then the time flies. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteOne of my first jobs was washing dishes in a restuarant and I remember those huge washing machine things and the time I put in too much soap and it bubbled over.
ReplyDeleteSandra, since I have worked in the cafeteria, I think I might actually enjoy working in a restaurant washing dishes. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI'd love kitchen duty but not the trash. Hey, at least it wasn't janitor duty--that has to be the worst...
ReplyDeleteMenopausal Mama, the trash duty proved to be smelly and hard work. Not my favorite aspect of the job at all! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteWhen I worked as a Sandwich Artist (fancy term for working at Subway. ha!) we had to clean everything too. This included bathrooms though and that was the WORST! Way worse than clearing trash and heaving huge bags. People would literally poop on the floor..well kids. But the moms wouldn't clean it up! It was crazy and I only got paid minimum wage. Never again!
ReplyDeleteBut thankfully, you don't have to lug anymore bags around. Although it is sad that they don't call you as often because of it. :(
Jennifer, I think it is because doing the trash is kind of the shit aspect of the job. More people stay in the positions in the kitchen because they are better. No one wants to do trash...absolutely no one. It is hard work and with it you get to wash down all the tables and chairs, sweep and mop the whole place. You have to hustle because you only have so long to do it before you have to be out of there. I absolutely LOVE Subway...just LOVE it!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteGlad you are enjoying a lot aspects of the job. It images it a lot easier I think. For me, I love meeting and greeting guests (most days, as some people are just not pleasant). But most are, so it is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteWinnie, people on the most part are nice but occasionally you will get the occasional ass that got up on the wrong side of the bed and then had someone piss on their cornflakes. I do enjoy it, just wish I worked more. The money would be really nice. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteYou know what they say-- if you love what you do for a living it isn't a job at all. I'm fortunate enough to have a job I love. I think you have a great job as you can be there for your kids too--although as you say--you wish it were a bit more steady!! Soon enough--it may happen!!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Jenn
Jenn, I hope so. It would be really nice, but until then I will continue filling my days as I do now...writing, cleaning, and taking care of my kids. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteWhat an amazing insight into your work life - sometimes it is the reflections on the bits and pieces of life that give us much to think about. I am going to enjoy your blog - thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteElspeth, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. I am amazed how much I really enjoyed it. I love being behind the scenes best. I am so pleased you found me and enjoyed what you found on my blog. I will strive to keep you entertained and coming back for more. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
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