Working is for chumps.

And I am a chump.

So, as I may or probably may not have mentioned, I registered with an agency to find some employment of a transitory nature. Because ... bah. Long story. Let's just say it's because I like and need money. That's close enough to the truth.

This morning I was woken by my phone at 9:24AM. It was my friendly ... contact guy? and he wanted to know if I wanted to go on a job THIS VERY DAY. Honestly, I should have said no. And I knew, even as I was not saying no, that not saying no would be a huge mistake. But, anyway, I said sure. And he said he'd call me right back. So I got up and got online and AOL was stupid and I had some cereal. Then I figured I'd attempt to take a shower, bringing my phone in with me just in case. (Not in the actual shower.)

So, at about 11:30, I called him back. The assignment, if I chose to accept it was from today until next Wednesday. They would like me to come in at 1PM today.

FUCK NO! I did not say that. Almost. This fellow knows that I do not have a car. And this place? Not easily accessible without a car. But I called my father and asked if he would drive me in. Which he did. But I was going to have to find alternate means of transport home. More on this later.

I went first to the agency's office to fill out some tax things and show them my driver's license. I was supposed to bring two forms of ID, but I was tired irritable and rushing and forgot to look for where my passport may be stowed. I figured the hell with it. I'm legitimate and they know it.

Anyway, then it was on to the place. Which is a steel factory. A steel mill! Down in the Ironbound section of Newark. So named because of all it's metalworking and whatnot. I eventually found my way up to the office area where all the cubicles were. It was a pleasant and dull atmosphere and except for two ladies, all the employees were middle-aged to elderly men. Lots of gray hairs and spectacles.

My job was to answer the switchboard phone and then connect callers to all these people that I did not know. For about 15 minutes, it was high-stress and nerve-wracking, but then I figured out what I was doing and started putting faces to names and buttons, and then it was mind-numbingly boring. I took one break to use the lave, and tried to call my mother. Her phone was busy. Fuck. I went back and felt utterly frustrated because I was tied to this desk and phone, so I couldn't move.

But the company seems nice enough. And then 5 o'clock rolled around and the manager asked if I would be coming in tomorrow, and I agreed to that. AT 8 IN THE FUCKING MORNING. Am I stupid? Anyway.

There is a bus station right outside the building, and I had a little bus schedule. Which was completely retarded and unhelpful. Scheduled times are listed for 5 of the stops and there are about *twenty*-five on the route. Also, the direction I wanted to go to get to my destination? Apparently I actually want the other direction, even though that would be completely backwards according to the map. So after darting across the busy street to wait twenty minutes for a bus, I was informed that I had to go to the other side. So I went back across and waited about ten more minutes.

Then, crowded unpleasant-smelling bus. Furthermore according to the map, my destination doesn't seem very far away. Also, I have no idea where the fuck I am or where I'm going. So I get off the bus when I see a sign for the Broad St. Subway Station.

But, you know how, if you're on a highway, you can be somewhere around Washington D.C. and they'll have a sign that says "North - New York"? Yeah. It was kind of like that. I looked up to the skyline to find the Prudential building where my mother works, and I just walked towards that. I was actually somewhere in a very frightening and seedy neighborhood. I walked fast over broken beers bottles and past disreputable persons hanging out around gray and half-boarded-up buildings. My heart was racing, but not because I was walking as quickly as I was able (which I was) but rather because I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE at any moment. Seriously.

On the subject of walking, I happened to be wearing my mother's shoes today. This is because when I first started looking for work, I told my mother that I need to get some nice work shoes. It is rather impossible to find shoes that fit my short square toeless feet. Someday I'll have to ask Del how she manages. Anyway, I still have not purchased any new shoes, so I wound up wearing my mother's shoes, which is the exact situation I was hoping to avoid. My mother is a size 8. I am a size 6 1/2. I was not wearing shoes or stockings.

Because I was walking parallel to a major road that had only small streets intersecting it, I managed to walk for some ten or so blocks before I came to a red light and needed to stop. And after I had stopped walked for about ten seconds, THE PAIN caught up with me. Holy shit! Motherfucking OW! It felt like someone had pressed hot pokers into the soles of my feet, like they had rugburn or something.

I should also note that it was windy and my nose was running and I had no tissues. I was in an extremely unhappy mood and I kept muttering to myself about all the various sorts of harm I would do to anyone who tried to inhibit me. All told, I walked about twenty blocks until I got to the subway station.

At this point, I called my father and told him to pick me up at the usual picking up place. It was strange. At the beginning of my journey, I kept getting gawked at, presumabley because I looked attractive. By the end, I was still getting gawked at, only I think it was because people thought I was crazy. Which I might well have been. I distinctly remember having the desire to beat something to death.

The subway was, of course, crowded so I had to stand. I toed-off the back of one of my shoes and discovered with alarm that there was blood running down my heel. Jesus.

Eventually, I got home. An hour and 45 minutes after being released from work. I cleaned my wounds and went in my room to lay down. I called my fellow at the agency. I told him that the commute was extremely difficult, and while I would attempt to finish this assignment, as it wasn't very many days, I don't think I would like to do it again. I also requested that I be given at least 24 hours of notice on any future assignments.

Then I had reheated pizza. Because they were out of my soup at the store. But my mother made me a fruit and whipped cream dessert.

I have no idea how I'm going to get there by 8 tomorrow.