NOTES FROM THE 7TH RING OF HELL

Day 1.


First of all, I apologize to everyone who has tried in vain to get together with me this magical holiday season--I am eyeball deep in the worst job I've ever had. So I promise--I'm not blowing anyone off, I'm just living a personal hell that's akin to doing Annie at a roadside dinner theater in Peoria. (no offense to anyone in Peoria).

J and I arrived in Rochester after a calm, uneventful ride from NYC to Rochester. We stopped in Ithaca along the way, to have a good dinner and so that J could meet my dear friend D. We all had dinner at our favorite restaurant (for anyone who's been to Ithaca--JUST A TASTE!!!) and met our friend S's dear baby, P. That was lovely.

We had yet to hear about where we were going to be housed in Rochester, as well as where we were supposed to go...to the apartments? To the warehouse where we are teching the clothes and set without lights and a crew? Which sweet level of hell were we to experience that evening.

I sat my palm treo on the table, sadly, as most of you know I hate having a phone out at dinner and also people who check their phones consistently during meals, but I HAD to have it there to see if they would call. There were a couple of calls, but one of which finally came from a 585 number which was what we were waiting for.

The news was--J and I were staying together in an apartment (in our own rooms--they seemed to think we could reside in the same room...Not So Much.) and we were meeting some guy to get the keys. Then he drops the bomb: The truck carrying the set which was to be loaded in that evening was broken down only an hour outside of NYC, and won't be here til 5 PM tomorrow (24 hours late.) Lesson learned: Pay for appropriate trucking company. (This was the producer's decision, to RENT A FUCKING UHAUL) so the poor 24 year old carpenter kid who was driving the truck was stuck outside in the dead of winter waiting for someone to tow the truck for five hours.

J and I are not having such a bad day comparatively. Which will probably be the new word of the week.