Is Working A Fast Food Job Beneath You?

And some even better news!

It turns out that the publisher does have some funds for my book tour. So, excuse me while I eat humble pie while also doing some damage control. And that’s all I know about that topic. Just know that the money that people did contribute in exchange for my first ever list of “Places to Eat in Puerto Rico,” is still going towards the book tour. The $1,500 y’all contributed via Venmo is just enough to buy Mami her first class flight ticket to NYC. Yeah, that’s how much they cost for two extra inches of space for my wide ass. As she’s never been to NYC, she’s pretty excited. I hope you’re excited to meet her.

Thanks for pulling up for me, as y’all always do.

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JOIN MY VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS

I’m hosting my first ever virtual cooking class. There’s bound to be some hiccups.

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A few days ago I posted on Instagram that I was applying for jobs. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to do that and things are definitely different now when it comes to how you apply. I remember when I would have to go to each store and grab a paper application. Fill it out. And return the filled out application to each of those stores! Hopefully, you were prepared and brought your pen and sometimes a stapler. Now, I’m text messaging with an automated McDonald’s application system that’s asking me how soon I can start.

The reason why I applied to fast food is because…it’s fast. It’s a job I think I’m qualified for. It’s immediate. I can have a check within two weeks. And they know most of their employees are there for the short term. I could apply for an office job or something else, but that’s weeks of back and forth, a tiered interview process and they expect their employees to be there for the long-term. Freelance writing? I’m doing it. But, most publications don’t pay until 30 days after your story has been published. Sometimes they don’t publish your story for a month. If it’s print? A year.

And I don’t know why we’re knocking fast food. Is it beneath me? It’s reminding me of a time when a few of my friends, who’ve known me since forever, told me that were surprised by my choice of husband. It went something like, “I just didn’t see you with someone like that.” It was both a weird and not weird comment. It’s nice that they saw me differently than I saw myself. And how men saw me. Basically, my friends are delusional. Well, I used to pull some baddies…but, we’ll leave that for another time.

Anywayyyy…I’m not beneath a paycheck. Steinbeck (one of my favorite writers, I know it’s cliche) worked as a construction worker in New York and then a Caretaker in Lake Tahoe while writing some of his novels?

I’ve done more ratchet things in my previous life to keep the lights on.

BACOA FOR RESY

I haven’t written anything for a publication since October 2021. And it’s not because I haven’t been pitching. It’s because unless it’s about Puerto Rican related shit, no one is interested. Which sucks because for two-years, everything I had in relation to PR went into the book.

I’m even shopping around a story about the California institution that is Thrifty Ice Cream; and I’ve been pitching that story for years! Chances are, it’ll land here in the newsletter. Which is fortunate, because it’ll see the light of day. Unfortunate, because it’s a story that deserves national attention.

On a positive note, if I want to write about something restaurant related, I can usually count on my former SF Chronicle columnist editor to let me run amok. I can count on him to edit with my voice in mind, but with his strategical touch. I wonder if editors have favorites; and if they do, do they indulge them?

When I ate at Bacoa, I knew I had to write about it. And I knew that I wanted to write about it for Resy; didn’t even bother to take this story to anyone else. And it was really hard not to mention it! It’s finally here. It’s live on the Resy site. And I’m so excited to share it with you.

This is a post for all subscribers. Everyone’s support is so appreciated, and I hope you enjoy.

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Mami Maisonet
5960 S Land Park #222
Sacramento, CA 95822