At my sort-of friend Katie's birthday party in the the 3rd grade I learned the horrible fate that would control my life. I found out the day of the week I was born on and which child that was. Here is the poem:
Mondays child is fair of face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesdays child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
Everyone wanted to be a Monday's child, or a Friday's child, but I was the only one who was a Saturday's child, working hard for a living.
The girls broke into Donna Summer's "She works hard for the money" and I, embarrassed and dismayed, went to help Katie's mom in the kitchen.
My life thus far has been a testament to the truth in the statement about Saturday's child. Listed below are most of the many jobs I've had since that fateful day in 3rd grade.
1. Teeth Brusher (first regularly paying gig)
2. Babysitter
3. Face Painter at fairs
4. Grocery Store Cashier
5. Front Desk Clerk at all Woman's Fitness Facility
6. Clerk at Laundry
7. Promotional rep for Levi's jeans
8. Animal care at Nature center
9. Aide in psychiatric hospital
10. Stage guard at music festal
11. teacher's Aide at facility for developmentally disabled adults (retarded)
12. Professional deadhead, included: sale of jewelry, apples, shirts and hair wraps
13. Tattoo painter at amusement park
14. Shot girl at Razzoo's on Bourbon St.
15. Waitress at Spa in Telluride
16. Barista at the Coffee Cowboy in Telluride, CO
17. Ski School sales
18. Natural Foods Deli clerk
19. Cocktail waitress in dance club
20. Health Food Store Cashier
21. Busboy (girl)
22. Ski Instructor, Tahoe, CA
23. Snowboard Instructor, Homewood, CA
24. Veterinary Aid for Kenyan Wildlife Services
25. Gymnastics Instructor
26. Animal rehab in Tahoe, CA
27. Sales for long distance phone carrier
28. Bloomingdales Cashier
29. Bartender Beatle Nut Grill, NY
30. Promotional postcard instillation rep, NYC
31. Cocktail Waitress,Hudson Bar and Books, NYC
32. Free movie ticket distributor, NYC
33. Promotions for restaurants.com
34. Avon calling
35. Personal Assistant to Lingerie mogul
36. Receptionist for graphic design firm
37. Dog walker
38. Cocktail waitress at strip club
39. Domina & other fetish artisan, NYC
40. House keeper, vacation rentals, Tahoe CA
41. Cookie baker (attempt at Mrs. Fields)
42. Pepsi Challenge rep
43. Event Ticket sales for Jewish Cultural Center L.A.
44. Hostess at the Ivy restaurant, L.A. and Santa Monica
45. Test patient for pharmaceutical company
46. Whip-it sales
47. Actor
48. Characters at parties, included: Snow White, Cinderella, Jasmin, Powerpuff girl
49. Shoe model
50. Stand-in on movies
51. Front desk receptionist at gym, L.A.
52. Waitress at Ivy at the Shore
53. Backround
54. Stand-up Comic
55. T.V. writer
56. Telemarketer for non-profits
57. Promotional rep for children dance and music academy
58. Focus group participant
59. Personal Trainer
60. Caterer (several companies)
61. Grounds & Maintenance for LASD
62. Paid Audience member
63. Test viewer for TV pilots
64. Guest teaching artist for at-risk youth with Unusual Suspect's Theater Company
65. Office work, National Writer's Union
66. Test patent for Dental Students
67. Clown
68. Author of sorts
69. Fitness Instructor
70. Casting Office Assistant
71. Clerk, World Store in the Galleria Mall, White Plains NY
72. Proof Reader, scripts, LA
73. Sound Tester- Cochlear Implants, LA
74. Event Party Hostess, Friar's Club NYC
75. Valet parker, Los Angeles
This is a partial list, I keep remembering more and more jobs as I write. I also tried to keep them in order, but that was impossible and I'm too lazy to re-do the numbers as I go. I made a point not to write all the different acting jobs or stand-up gigs, since those professions by definition are many jobs, each different. Some of the jobs I had for years, others I quit or was fired after a week (or a day, as with the personal assistant job). It may surprise you to know that even though I've had so many jobs, I've never stopped struggling. So sad, pathetic actually. In college i doubled majored in Biology and Dance/ Theater, that might have been a hint that I have a hard time deciding on ONE thing and just sticking to it.
I'd love to hear from you, if you have a list to share. Also I really want to hear from anyone who had just one job, or one career.
