Simple Pleasantries

I’m currently working as a custodian for The Denver School of the Arts. I’ve been chronicling my experiences through social media and this blog post. I put a lot of my own complaints and frustrations down, primarily to accurately portray my true experiences. No filter. There are good days of course. One day, this could be sort of a memoir.

I refer to myself as The Teal Fairy because this is a character that I’ve created. I hope to one day write about The Teal Fairy going back to school to protect those that have the potential to grow and flourish. Schools need more fairies over firearms to ensure the safety of the youth. I also use The Teal Fairy persona as my way of expressing myself creatively outside of the written word.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Day Five Hundred & Thirty-eight: 2/3/2025

I wasn’t in a foul mood today, but I wouldn’t say I was in a good mood either. Just one of those neutral states where you show up, do what you’re supposed to, and hope nothing too ridiculous happens. I got to work with plenty of time to spare, because, shockingly, they won’t pay me if I don’t show up.

It’s going to be a full week, but at least there aren’t any scheduled events. Or so I thought.

Cue the surprise band auditions.

Apparently, an entire round of auditions was happening tonight, and somehow, that little nugget of information never reached me. It wasn’t noted anywhere, and no one thought to mention it. So there I was, just trying to sweep the hallway in peace, when suddenly a few parents decided that the perfect place to set up their check-in table was smack in the middle of my workspace. A lovely obstruction, really.

To be fair, they didn’t actually get in my way. I managed to complete my tasks without much interference. And, to my complete and utter amazement, they even broke down their own setup and put everything away. No extra work for me. No unnecessary interactions. Just a minor case of oh, so we’re doing this now?

It’s just one of those classic moments where things are happening in the building, and the people who should know about it… don’t. Okay, fine! I’ll roll with it. But seriously, a little heads-up would be so nice.

Day Five Hundred & Thirty-nine: 2/4/2024

I truly have disdain for the elementary school. It was agreed upon, agreed upon, mind you that we would alternate months working Tuesdays over here. And, lucky me, this is my month. I thoroughly enjoyed my reprieve while it lasted, but fate, or poor decision-making, has dragged me back. Now, I just have to endure these four weeks of February until April. What I don’t want is being roped into extra shifts because my coworker suddenly catches a mysterious illness or “forgets” what month it is. I’ll be sending up a prayer that he miraculously stays healthy and punctual.

Honestly, my only wish is that the staff would just leave when the students do. Some of them like to linger, as if basking in the fluorescent glow of the hallways is some kind of meditative ritual. But for me, their presence is just an obstacle between me and getting my work done efficiently. I’d love to see this place clear by 4 p.m. Is that really too much to ask? Leave, live your life, and let me do my job without unnecessary obstacles. We shall see.

I started writing this while waiting to dive into my tasks, and now, eight hours later, I can confidently say: Nope. Still hate it.

I despise the setup of the bathrooms, the layout of the classrooms, and even the cleaning tools provided to wage war against the filth these children leave behind. It’s as if this building was designed specifically to make my job more difficult. I tolerate my experience at The Denver School of the Arts, but over here? I suffer. This place is the slums of my custodial existence.

So now, I’m holding onto one last hope that I only have to endure this misery three more times before February disappears into oblivion. May this month fly by swiftly, with minimal annoyances.

Five Hundred & Forty: 2/5/2025

I’m not entirely sure what set me off, but something completely did. I didn’t walk into work in an awful mood. Just the usual mid-week meh. But minute by minute, hour by hour, my mood has snowballed from mild indifference to full-blown irritation. Now, I just want to go home, crawl back into bed, or preferably sequester myself behind my computer and work on something that actually brings me joy rather than draining my soul.

Maybe part of it stems from my own reflection. I tried out a new makeup technique today, and let’s just say it didn’t land the way I envisioned. Every time I catch a glimpse of myself, I wince. If I had the option to wipe it all off and start fresh, I would, but alas I don’t carry my eyeshadow palettes to work like some kind of emergency glam technician. Though, I have started carrying eyelash glue, because I’ve lost too many lashes mid-shift, and I refuse to be betrayed by my own falsies ever again.

And it’s only Wednesday. I still have two more days to get through. Forty-eight whole hours before I can even think about the weekend. The finish line feels so far away, and there’s still a mountain of nonsense standing between me and freedom. The one consolation? At least I get paid on Friday, so the suffering isn’t completely in vain.

To make matters worse, I think my own body is waging war against me. At first, I figured I was just worn out from going to the gym every morning. But then, tonight’s dinner decided to exact revenge, and now I’m battling some extremely unpleasant stomach issues. Apologies for the vulgarity of this post, but it’s my reality. I literally had to stop multiple times to sprint to the bathroom before disaster struck. It’s been a delicate balance between working and not ruining my underwear.

I’m trying to power through, but if I still feel this awful tomorrow, I’m not about to push myself. I have over 150 hours of sick time for a reason. If my digestive system demands a day off, then so be it.

Day Five Hundred & Forty-one: 2/6/2025

I suppose last night’s upset stomach was just a fluke. As unpleasant as it was, I’m grateful it didn’t linger. I would love a legitimate excuse to call out, but I don’t actually want to be sick. No one truly wants to feel miserable. Though it’s funny how often we wish for an acceptable reason to just not show up. Speaking of which, “under the weather” is such a strange phrase. Aren’t we always under the weather? Just a random thought. Here’s hoping my mood stays pleasant. With me, you never really know.

Now, at the end of the night, I can honestly say I’m content. I’m thrilled that tomorrow is Friday, and I’m wrapping up this shift with the sense that this was, without question, the best night of the week. Everyone was in attendance. I didn’t have to pick up extra slack, and there were no major incidents to wear me down. That’s about the best I could ask for, really.

It makes me wonder: would I feel less irritated, less bitter about this job if more nights were like this? If the work felt steady instead of stretched thin? If immaturity and carelessness didn’t make the hours drag? I suppose it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. I’m still working tirelessly to get out of here. I still have to secure my escape plan before I can walk away completely. But on nights like this, I at least feel a little less trapped.

Day Five Hundred & Forty-two: 2/7/2025

Look who had to be in charge tonight? This fabulous fairy! That’s right, moi! With my boss covering for the facility manager this morning, the responsibility of keeping this place from descending into chaos fell squarely on my delicate-yet-capable shoulders.

So what did that mean for me? Oh, just a casual checklist of everything. I had to make sure all doors were locked. Because, apparently, that’s an optional task for some, to ensure my coworkers actually completed their duties. Shocking concept, I know, make sure everyone clocked out on time. No stragglers on my watch! Of course, set the alarm. Basically, I had to be the responsible one, again, even though I don’t particularly enjoy being that person. But alas, no one asked for my opinion.

Maybe, just maybe I’d be more inclined to embrace this managerial role if I were actually paid for it. But surprise, surprise! There’s no fancy title, no bonus, no extra compensation for stepping up. Just the honor of doing more work for the same paycheck. Truly, what a privilege.

But hey, at least the week is over. I can officially wash my hands of this school’s nonsense until Monday. Until then, I’ll be basking in the glory of my unpaid leadership role.