6

Killed a solid 12 hour today, first event too. Usually get the shop to myself on those days, where I nurture a near-obsessive method of organizing to keep chef happy. 200+ wedding. Back of the groom's house! Had to bring our own lighting which kept popping breakers and it was a plated event which did set the chef's mood more or less restrained in terms of savage outbursts ambiguously thrown as the evening grew; towards the owner of course, a CIA grad who is generally calm during the fire. Owner is still quite one tired bastard though.

Spent hours bouncing between random prep and slamming dishes in hose water (which kept me sharp until the green all girl waitstaff got bored - one griped about not wanting to stand around and by then it was time to shut it down) Wound up wearing an apron like a hijab to keep the mosquitoes off my neck during the dish times. First time shucking oysters today - there is a strange element I find when prying those interesting bivalves apart. Always had an odd thing about most shellfish too. I generally don't care for lobster. They eat shit. Then again so do I in a way. Steamers aren't fun for me though - that texture again! Never had an oyster but I know how to clean them with the quickness. And I respect the edges - quick, careless movements'll sure learn ya...

Great food overall though - tonight included deep fried mini reubens, pulled pork sliders, duck spring rolls (the uncooked translucent "southeast Asian" kind). Destroyed it unloading the van too at the end - back at the shop - even though when I opened the back door *WHACK!* right in the shin comes out 5 oval plastic platters trying to save em as they slide.

Tomorrow I clean the grease trap. Day before I undid the pipe that leads into the grease trap cause the 1/2" opening (from a 3" pipe) got jammed; middle and right sink barely was draining, plunger to little avail. I maintained well enough composure when I gagged as the chef was standing over me laughing and apologizing when the aroma of rotten food and grease wafted into my eager face. Sometimes when I think about making that gagging noise I want to make it louder to make myself laugh at how the sound well, sounds!