Welcome to Shenaniganz!

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.

“insert witty ‘Independence Day’ quote here”

Sunday I had my first Fourth of July get together at my house.  Actually, aside from the three times I’ve hosted a UFC night at my house on a Saturday night (hasn’t happened in over six months) I have really never had people over to my house.  I don’t live “that” far out of the way.   Okay, I have lived out here for almost three years.  To me it is not a long drive.  To some people I can understand how they would think it is out of the way. I also have only had a love seat as my only means of furniture since my roommate of almost two years moved out last June. Honestly – good riddance to him. I don’t miss him at all. Anyway, I was finally excited to have a living room set that I could host guests in my home for that I just had to do something at my house for the Fourth of July. I knew of a few friends of mine having things at their house. I wanted to have a “thing” at mine.

Candace and her boyfriend of over two years (Brian) came over for the BBQ. Two couples who are great friends with Blondie and I came over as well. My best guy friend of almost two years now (Hecker) came over as well. Loki loves Hecker by the way. I just had to get that out of the way. One couple (Mike & Sheyenne) brought Loki’s sister Frick over to play. This was the third time they have met to have a “play date”. Frick is usually relentless on Loki. As usual I saw Loki’s adorable little kitten tongue hanging out of his mouth while he played with Frick. I have to say for the firs time in over two months I saw both kitten getting along. Growing up together is a beautiful thing. Especially for beautiful kitten siblings. HAHA. I make myself giggle.

We all pulled our weight with the barbecue, which is what needed to happen in order for me to host this thing. Blondie and I took care of the hot dog side of things. We also got boudin and baked beans. Candace and Brian got the hamburger side of things. They brought bacon burgers. We had so much left over meat I actually made meat loaf earlier tonight. After everyone left around eleven that evening I heard my next door neighbors outside shooting fireworks with their daughter. Blondie and I sat in my driveway for a while and just watched the fireworks . It was a perfect way to end the evening.

Oh yes. And I asked Blondie to move in.

Hello BP. I’d like to place my claim now

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.

Internet…meet Loki

He is 11 weeks old and is a healthy little boy kitten.  He’s perfect to be honest.  Litter box trained from the moment I brought him home.  He was free – my friend’s cat had five kittens so I had to adopt one.  I missed having a cat in the house.  The big difference between Loki and my other cats?  He will be an inside cat.  I’m not losing him to the outdoors like I did my other cats.

There you are summer!

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.

Summer, where are you?

Who’s ready for it to be summer? I have been working out as much as possible to prepare myself for Sunday Fundays. I finally used the $100 gift card my boss got all us girls at work for Christmas. Convenient too, because it is to Planet Beach. Nothing better then not having to come out of pocket for an $80 month long membership. I upped my cardio during the week so I look more toned. Of course, meeting with my trainer once a week for the past seven months helped. Anyone else doing anything in preparation for the summer?

Geaux Saints!

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?

new shoes are a girl’s best friend

Since I can remember I’ve always suffered from shin splints.  When I was a cheerleader for two years in junior high I would wake up in the middle of the night crying from the pain of always landing flat footed from my jumps.  The combination of growing pains didn’t help.  I’ve had the same pair of New Balance tennis shoes for over four years now, and they have become not only my work shoes but my gym shoes.  Since I started making exercising a part of my weekly routine I’ve noticed that when I jog on the treadmill I have horrible pains/cramps in my shins.

My trainer told me it is time to get a new pair of shoes with better support so I can possibly fix this problem.  I ended up getting these Nike Air Max shoes from Shoe Carnival for a decent price today.  I went to the gym tonight and to my disappointment I am still getting pains in my shins when I run and walk on the treadmill, but it isn’t as bad as it was before.  I can feel the extra support from the shoes.  I can’t help the way I run, but I enjoy it so much I’m trying to work through the pain.  I don’t know what else to do about the problem.  I stretch in between the spurts of jogging and walking.  I even put the pace at which I jog and walk down to one that doesn’t hurt me as badly.  I just have to stay on the machine longer.  I’m guessing I am going to have to keep it at a lower pace since that’s the only way I’m not in excruciating pain while working out.  I stay on the treadmill because I like the workout I get from it.  I’m not a big fan of the elliptical.  Does anyone happen to have any home remedies for this affliction?  I hate it!

I am still loving The Friday Five!

Read more

a new year!

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.

completing a resolution or two

This Christmas I only wanted a few things and they all pertained to decorating my house. When my roommate moved out in June I lost all furniture in the living room. I gained a love seat when my second roommate moved out without warning. He just left his here. A coffee table has been the one thing massively needed in my living room. This Christmas Blondie & I celebrated 1 1/2 years together as well as our second Christmas together. He really wanted to build me a table, but I have no idea what type of table I like. After a couple weeks of shopping we found this one at an Ashley Furniture Outlet. It was a decent price, and the oak matches with my entertainment center. I should be getting it in near the end of January. Yay for new furniture!

A couple weeks ago Blondie and his roommates had their annual Yule party. I have a whole set dedicated to the festivities on my Flickr account. I’ve also added pictures from a get together we had with friends on Christmas night. Life has been so great lately. I’ve been trying to take more pictures and document them. Blondie is still getting used to the fact that I’m so public with my life. I keep enough private to where we are able to separate the two. Especially now, since I’ve been so detached to sparkley.net for so long. I’ve just recently felt the urge/need to get back into this blogging thing.

Today made the third month I’ve been meeting with my trainer. I meet with him for an hour every Tuesday morning. I make it a point to go to the gym at least two to three more times a week. Since the holidays have kicked in I’ve been working so much more. I’ve been majorly slacking on the gym visits. Last week I asked Jeff (the trainer) to work me so hard I hated him on my way out of the gym. For the next two days I had trouble walking up and down my stairs. Good thing I have a rail to hold on to. My thighs hurt so f’ing bad. These two days happened to fall on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Getting up off of the floor was definitely a task.

I found out today that Jeff had me doing work outs off of his Navy SEAL work out cards. This morning I worked out using the kettle bell? Ball? I just know it was only ten pounds, but I got a hell of a workout. Compared to last week it was nothing. I was in pain by the night of the work0ut. To me, it is totally worth the money. I couldn’t do it on my own. I am finally toned! Looks like I finally went through with a resolution.