2005-02-11
Day three without a cigarette. Happy Lent.Happy Lent. Thought I'd start my forty days and forty nights out with a bitchin' oxymoron.
Went and got my ashes on Wednesday, and the only mass that I had time to go to was the all-school mass at the Immacolata. Catholic grade school. Sitting toward the back watching all the grade schoolers shuffle in wearing the jumpers and polo shirts really brought me back to my days at St. Philomena. I couldn't help but chuckle at all the shit that the students were doing that my buddies and I did when we were kids. Q&A with the priest during the homily. The way they all sat down and immediately looked around to see who was sitting where. The way that when they heard the priest say the word "peace" more than twice in one sentence, they all perked up to see who they ended up sitting next and whose hand they are now obliged to shake. They way the altar boys sacreligiously wore Nikes under their cassocks. The way they barely genuflect before sliding into the pews: less a solumn drop to one knee than a slump brought on by sudden, overwhelming lightheadedness.
Jesus' special little lambs.
Thus far, I am doing well without the cigarettes. I made it thgrough the Hem concert and karaoke night, but I'll admit that I was a little shaky at work today when I went to grab some food. Just a wee bit tingly in my fingers. Nothing to really affect my performance at my job, which is nice because I love my job. The pay's decent, but the work is fast-paced, the staff is laid back, and there's a lot of diplomacy involved in being a waiter. Diplomacy, as you know, is fun.
Also, it's fun learning the inner workings of the kitchen. Did you know that we servers touch absolutely everything?! Everything! Do you know how your salad is prepared? We make it with our bare hands! Lettuce, cheese, onions, peppers, you name 'em, we just grab 'em and throw 'em on your plate and run 'em out to your goddamn table! Et viola!
Personally, knowing that little tidbit doesn't bother me. Mine and my coworkers hands are always cleaned to within an inch of sterility, but some people are still bothered by that.
And I'm doing well without cigs at my job, too, even though nothing beats one after a hectic lunch shift. But we'll see if I'm still singing that tune on Easter Sunday as I slide into my pew and furtively look around.
-Andy