Saturday, February 18, 2006

When I grow up...

At various points in my childhood I pondered different career paths. Is there a woman alive who, when she was 6, didn't want to grow up and be a teacher or nurse? Probably, but I didn't know any of them. I know I sure did. In high school I was going to variously heal, lead, or inspire the world as a psychiatrist, minister, or a writer. In college, I was sure I'd leave my mark as a social worker or high school teacher. At one point I considered being a long haul trucker. Surgeon, lumberjack, or sociopath have never really come up. Politician either.

Now, I keep a mental list of the jobs I will never do.

The wolves may be huffing and puffing, but I cannot imagine I will ever, EVER be a garbageman. You know how, in August, the garbage practically takes itself out? You couldn't pay me enough to deal with that for more than the 30 seconds it takes to saturate the writhing mass of stink with RAID.

I will never be an appliance repairman. I fix my own appliances (grudgingly) because I am too :ahem: frugal to pay someone else $60/hour to do a job I am capable of doing myself. Doesn't mean I like doing it, and I'm not proud of some of the new words my kids have learned, but there it is.

And today, I added to my list. I will never work for one of those "fast-food" maid chains. I don't think I'm quite what they're looking for, anyway. First off, I have moral objections to using the same rag to wipe down someone's kitchen counter that I previously used to wipe down someone else's toilet.* Call me funny that way. And second I do not know how to clean a shower properly, while dressed. I spent an hour today with a Magic Eraser scrubber, the Barkeeper's Friend (magic in a can, BTW), a toothbrush, and the Tilex spray cleaning my shower. The grout got scrubbed, the jets in the footbath got scrubbed, the shower heads, the door seals, the hinges and handles - scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed. Is it possible to do that without getting naked, and getting in there? I can't imagine how, and I can't image McMaid service would look kindly on the practice. So, I guess they go on my list, and truly, the world is safer for it. Trust me.

*I don't know if this is ACTUALLY the case or not. A friend of mine in college, who worked for a maid chain in the summer, swore that they had as part of their cleaning kit, a single "wet" rag, and a single "dry" one. You get placed on two jobs a day, you've only got one rag? You do the math. ::shudder::

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

In Barbara Ehrenreich book Nickel and Dimed, she talked about using the same rag in the bathrooms and kitchen too. Also talked about how they claim their maids wash floors the old fashion way on their hands and knees. But the maids were told to only use a cup of water so the floor would dry quickly. And that basicly they were stiring the dirt around. yuck.

Debra Dixon said...

I have secretly wanted to be a garbage collector. Well, I have been a public garbage picker on more than several occasions. I am afraid that if I had the job, I'd have to hire someone to go behind the truck with a UHaul for the good stuff. I did think about that business of hauling off people's stuff when I got divorced but I didn't follow through with it. Garbage is fascinating--well, maybe more recycling than "actual garbage"!

cleaning--ugh. I could care less.

Dorothy said...

My uncle used to be a "sanitation engineer" and brought home all sorts of treasures for his long-suffering wife. I use the term treasures loosely... Thanks, but I'll pass.

Vicky aka Stichr said...

My MIL worked for such a place, she took her own rags!