I have been in the service industry for over nine years now.  The typical things about working in a restaurant have always annoyed me:

- people asking for their food to come out fast because they need to catch a movie, during our dinner rush, and on a weekend night

- customers who don’t tip

- people who eat more than half their food, complain, and then want it for free

These are some things that have happened to me recently at work that have irked the hell out of me:

The Regular

We have this one regular who comes in for lunch about once a week.  At times, and it seems to be on our busier nights, he brings his family in to eat.  This group consists of himself, his wife, their son, his wife, and their baby.  He asked for a straight up martini with a touch of vermouth.  The sons wants at least six refills of tea per sitting.  After waiting on the entire family once I already know to just make a pitcher of sweet tea to give to the son.  Any way.  This guy is pretty particular about his martinis.  And the recipe is not difficult at all.  A straight up top shelf gin martini with a splash of vermouth and two olives.  I have a habit of shaking my drinks pretty hard so I can get them chilled as fast as possible.  On nights like this one I need this cheat.  The guy stopped me in the middle of my next big order to ask me if I heard him correctly when he told me he wanted his martini straight up with no ice.

I asked him if he would have liked his martini warm.  That sounds much worse in my head as I type this out then it did when I actually said it.  He did not look surprised when I said it though.  His wife actually interrupted me and told him I made it as he ordered it (thank you awesome woman).  I then looked into the martini and saw that there were several very small shards of ice in the martini.  Without thinking I explained to the man that the strainer I used let the ice through, and that I was sorry the martini did not turn out the way he had asked.

And you know what the kicker of all this is?  No matter the annoyance.  They tip fantastically.  And aside from the Dad being picky about his martinis the family is a delight.

Because I Love Repeating Myself

The first thing I do when I go to a table is introduce myself and sometimes the restaurant if I don’t recognize them as regulars.  After that I ask them what they would like to drink.  The first person to say “tea” gets asked whether they would like sweet or unsweetened tea.  I cannot tell you how many times I’ve waited on a table of six or more where I have to ask every single person what type of tea they would like.  Is it just me, or wouldn’t you think that by at least the fifth person they would know to specify which type of tea?  I guess everyone just doesn’t pay attention.

Can I See Your ID?

One thing I cannot stand is when families with kids sit at the bar on a busier than normal night while they are waiting on a table.  Not only does it stop actual bar customers from sitting down, but most people order a couple drinks, tip me a dollar, and then sit at the bar for ten minutes.  Oh!  And then the kids want to eat a bunch of crackers and make a damned mess all over the bar.  Most of the parents don’t even clean up after their kids.

That is all I’d like to say about that.

I have been in the service industry for over nine years.  I was a hostess for five years until I began bartending.  I started waiting tables March 2009.  I began working at my first seafood restaurant (and oyster bar) September 2009 and am still employed there.  My current job has been one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had, both financially and emotionally.  This has been the first job that I have also been able to separate my personal life with my work life.  I’ve made some really good friends along the way.  Blessed has been the way I have described my life since beginning this job.  I was able to make a great life for myself.

And then the oil spill happened.   I am telling any of you who are reading this right now – our lives have been turned upside down.  Shyness is not a personality trait that comes out in me often.  Especially in conversations with friends, customers, etc. about the oil spill and how it has effected my income.  I’ll be the first to tell anyone – I now make $700-$900 less a month.  I’m not embarrassed about it.  I’ve completely stopped going out.  If I do, it is usually on someone else’s dime.  Frivolous monthly bills got cut as well.  I was living quite comfortably.  Not is not the case anymore.  Monday through Wednesday I wait tables on the lunch shift.  I’m making about $30 less per shift.  I bartend Thursday and Friday nights.  Because business is slower the bar business has slowed down too.  I do wait tables on Saturday nights.  That is a sure shift.  I bought tickets to go see Tool a few weeks ago before this oil spill thing became as serious as it is now.  Not only did I pay $80 for my ticket but I missed a Saturday night shift.  No more!  My days of spending are over!  I have dedicated my nights to Blondie, Loki, and lots of WoW.

Yes, I play WoW.  On Spinebreaker too.

Tuesday morning my boss gave me a pamphlet from BP so I can make my claim.  I’m getting my check stubs from the past three months together and making my claim next week.   People ask me constantly if the seafood at work is edible.  Of course it is edible you ignoramus!  If seafood has made its way to a restaurant it has passed all the proper inspections to make its way to your plate.  These days, I’m sure seafood from the Gulf in general has to pass through more tests.  The fact that I get asked on a daily basis if our oysters are “okay” to eat baffles me.  Companies have made commercials to let the public know that the seafood is safe to eat.  Restaurant owners are pleading on local news stations to make people aware that the seafood is okay to eat.  We only have a shortage of oysters because BP is paying our fishermen to work for them instead of fishing these oyster beds.  The owner of the company we get our oysters from took his own boat into the beds over the weekend and fished his own oysters so we could have them.  They passed all the inspections.  They are more than okay to eat.  Sheesh, enjoy the seafood while you can!

On a lighter note.  Loki is 16 weeks old now.  I took him to get de-wormed & get his first round of boosters on Monday.  He had a small dot of something above his eye that I got a culture taken of as well as received some medicine for.  He goes back in three weeks for his next round of shots and for me to schedule his neutering.  He’s going to be much calmer one that happens.  I cant wait.

Sunday Fundays have officially started, which means summer for my friends and I has started. Sundays are my only days off of work, so my friends and I have been trying to have the best possible time we can have.

I’m also dealing with the end of a two year relationship. The finality of it all has my mind going in circles. In the end we just ended up bringing out the worst in each other. I knew he loved me, but I didn’t feel like he liked me very much. The entire situation and what happened towards the end saddens me, but life goes on. I’m being optimistic and looking forward to a great summer surrounded by good people.

Got any plans for the summer? Tell me in my comments! I’ll be 26 in July, so the plans are already cooking.

I have been a Saints fan since I was a kid.  I will love them whether they win or lose.  If they win today’s game, then they go to the Superbowl.  For the first time – EVER!  I’m gonna be cheering for the Saints today.  Who are you cheering for?

Did everyone have fun celebrating the coming of a new decade?  Blondie and I went out to New Orleans this year.  Last year was pretty low key for the both of us.  I made the mistake of drinking double Grey Goose & Redbulls all night.  I slept most of New Years day away.  I was very fortunate to have the day off of work.

Did any of you make a New Years resolution? If so, what was it?  Mine seems simple, but isn’t at all.  I just said I wasn’t going to eat after 9:30pm. Easier said than done!  I hate going to bed hungry.  About four months ago I joined the Snap fitness in my area and started meeting with a trainer there once a week.  The results I’ve been noticing have been fantastic.  My biggest problem was that I drank beer and I ate late.  Both habits I enjoyed, but had to give up.  I’ve been good about the not eating late thus far.  It is only a week into the New Year though.

I may drink a beer here and there, but nothing like I used to.  I noticed within the first week of me not drinking beer a difference in the flatness of my stomach and around my upper hips.  Now if I go out to drink I’ll just sip on some wine.   Blondie and I will go out and split a pitcher of Abita Amber about once a month.  I don’t feel so guilty about that since it is only every once in a while.  I’ve been so good about being healthy that sometimes I just have to cheat.  I also gave up fast food several months ago.  I miss it, but I’m eating much healthier now.  Lots of chicken, eggs, and veggies.  And cereal!  I love me some Special K Blueberry and Raisin Bran Crunch.

The weather here has been horrible as well.  It is freezing one week, then warm one day, and then cold & rainy again! My sinuses don’t know what to think.  It is rainy and freezing today.  So yucky.