Next Chapter

There are some things that I don't care about.  There are other things that bother me but I can brush off in moments and keep moving.  Then there are things that fucking piss me off that I refuse to let go of and make me want to fight to the death.   

Managers bug me.  You do your job, I'll do mine and we can all be happy and get things done.  Micromanage me and we will have a problem.  I will have attitude and you can fuck off.  But accuse me of petty theft... we'll get to that.   

...

The last time I worked I informed my GM that I was pregnant, one of the managers that knew we were trying was there and I shared with her as well.   Most of the store knows I'm pregnant. 

One of the managers that I rather like(d), the same one that knew we were trying, one that I consider(ed) close to a friend, is leaving the store and transferring over to another store in the restaurant chain.  I (was) sad to hear this and it (was) even more sad because she is being replaced with a manager I worked with before and really don't like! 

I was talking to her about it and kind of teasing her, asking why would she leave us?   She defensively said: "I wouldn't leave you guys if I didn't have to!  You know I care about you all, I just can't do it here any more."   Which I understood was for her sanity.  

This restaurant is falling apart.  It doesn't run smoothly.  It's not managed properly.  No one listens to the managers.  There's no sense of team.  People quit, walk out, or stop showing up every day.  And the managers fire people at a whim, one mistake & you're out!  The place is pretty crappy.

I've thought about quitting several times and really wanted to just walk out several times.  From people not doing the jobs they were hired for, people not showing up at all or calling out everyday to shitty customers that think the world revolves around them.  The place is not worth the stress but it pays.  

Then next time I go into work, I'm ten minutes late because I fell asleep and really didn't feel like getting up for work.  I get there and clock in, per-the-usual.  I'm looking around at what needs to be done and wondering if the sections are set up yet when the GM comes over to me and asks me if I'm clocked in and if I'll go to the office.   Now, she's told me several times before that I'm one of the best servers she's got and most everyone loves me at this store.  So, I'm joking around with her asking if I'm "in trouble" with a little laugh.  When we get to the office the manager that I was talking about above is in there and the GM closes the door.  I joke again, "oh, wow!  closing the door.  I must be in big trouble!"  Honestly thinking that I'm done nothing wrong and not having a clue what is going on.

The GM hands and asks me to sign this paper:

What the actual fuck?

Sitting in the office, coming to realize what is going on, starting to swell with emotion, I couldn't quite comprehend what exactly the page was saying after reading the word "termination" checked at the top of the page.

Talk about unprofessional: after I was given this paper and asked to sign it the phone rang and that took precedence over what was happening in the office.

They didn't have much to say to me except for the few phrases that they kept repeating: "This is  the way it has to be."  "This has to happen."  The manager said that this was happening because she saw me do it.  The GM wanted to know who else was doing it.

So what? I'm supposed to rat out my co-workers?  I explained to them that when I was in training I was told by my trainer that I could take off the 10% discount if they left the money on the table.  A little extra change in my pocket.  I explained that because my trainer told me I could, I didn't think much of it, and I didn't think of it as stealing.

Straight to termination.  No: "Hey, you can't do that." While I was in the act when it could be corrected because she was watching me do that.  No understanding that, "Oh, she was trained that this was okay.  So if I say it's not she'll stop."   Nope.  No compassion for the idea that I'm pregnant and have to afford a baby.  No understanding on their part that I hadn't thought this was stealing when I was in the act.  Just: sign the paper, leave, and never come back.

When I got home and had my wits more about me, I re-read the page and realized there are a few problems with it.   I also thought of a few things I could have done differently.

First problem is that only one person left the money on the table that day, so I'm not sure how she saw me do it twice in that day?  "And another," what other discount?  When servers are on cash we can only give the senior 10% discount and coupons....?  So what, I dug through the used coupons pile and found a coupon that could be used on this particular check?  What a waste of time!  Why the hell would I do that!?!?!

Well, the manager saw me do it... I could have said that she was lying.  Been all like, no, I didn't do that.  I don't know how she would have been able to prove she did see it.  Then it would have been a case of he said, she said (so to speak.)  BTW this is the same manager that is leaving the restaurant.  The one that "cares so much for us."  Yeah.  I feel it.

I feel as though I'm too honest.  If I just said: What are you talking about; I never did that?  Then I would still be serving at that shit hole.  Just kidding, I'd quit because they accused me of being a petty thief.  That's offencive.

What if I didn't sign the paper?  I don't agree what is written is one hundred percent true and I don't agree with the action that is being taken.  What would they have done then?  I wouldn't have stayed.  You think I'm a petty thief?  Fuck off!  You're not worth it!  I should have at least written in the "Associate response" section that I was told this was okay to do and that everyone does it.  Then what?  Would they fire my trainers and all the serving staff?  You'd have to close down the restaurant.

Whatever.

Well... Now I have more time with my husband before the baby comes.
I will not be returning to serving positions if I can.  Hopefully from here on out I will fully integrate myself into my husband's business, since I have so much time to figure out how and do so now.

Thanks a lot bitches!

Big news!

So, I found out on July 11th that I'm going to be a mama!!!

This is going to be fun: a pregnant server.  A whole bunch of hormones running through my body while I'm dealing with rude customers, heavy lifting, and ... everything.  I'll let you know how this goes ...

I'm not quite sure how this is going to go down, and quite honestly, I'm a bit nervous about it.

For further news:  I found this at a table the other day:

:) I thought it was cute!

Oposite Day

Tonight was a really rough, crappy, don't-want-to-think-or-talk-about-it-I'm-so-pissed, night.  So, instead of going on and on about how horrible tonight was, I'm going to replace all of the "bad" words with "good" words.  (eg. bad becomes good, crappy guest becomes super nice guest, etc.)  I want to see how great my night could have been:

To start the night off I got to work with my favorite servers!!!  I love their attitudes about the job and their teamwork is phenomenal! One of them kept coming into the server area and telling us how great we were doing and cheering us on while it was super busy, and of course he was all on top of helping us all out and really pitching in as a team member.  Because of this we never ran out of anything!  Everything was fully stocked the whole night!!  Then my other favorite server with her wonderfully big attitude kept spitting out random compliments throughout the night, making all us servers so happy, our smiles were genuine at every table.

Oh, and the guests were wonderful tonight!!!  They were so polite and grateful for everything us servers do for them!  One table complimented me on how fast everything was coming out,  another table was so pleased with our portion sizes.  They were even nice about how I printed out the check saying it was exactly as needed.  I absolutely loved this table!!!  I wanted to stay there the whole night and just roll around in their compliments and good, smiling attitudes!

Seeing as everything was stocked through our rush, we never ran out of silverware, cups, ice, there was no stress whatsoever!!!  Communication was awesome! Oh, this shift was heavenly!!!

-.-

Get a real job!

I have a bachelor degree in Psychology.

This is a big accomplishment.  Now there are many job opportunities that are open to me because I have a degree.  This is huge!  A lot of companies look at a degree and see all the hard work you've done and see that you stick things through.  ... Or so my family tells me.  I'm sure they believe all this too. Their strongest belief is that I "can do so much better than a waitressing job."   They never hesitate to remind me of this either.

Of course, the economy is not taken into consideration.  Or my lack of experience.  Or even the fact that I look for jobs that require a degree, or somthing in the psychology field that I'm interested in.  Often it seems as though my feelings are not even taken into consideration.

Here's a thought: maybe I like waitressing?  Maybe I like touching peoples lives in miniscule ways and attempting to make peoples days better.  Hey, maybe I got a degree in psychology because I like people and I want to understand them, then use that knowledge to help other people.  And Maybe, just maybe that's what I feel I'm doing in my waitressing position.

No waitressing doesn't make as much money as having my own practice.  Yes, I would like to find another position at some point.  Right now, what I really want is to integrate myself into my husband's business.  Be a photographer with him and run the photo booth.  That is what I'm working towards.

When I first went into college I didn't know what degree I wanted.   My family knows that I grew up wanting to be an artist, drawing constantly.  For a while I wanted to get a degree in art, then photography.  I was told that that was just a hobby and shouldn't get a degree in it.  So then I thought I would like to be a youth minister.  When I took a psychology class for that degree psychology peeked my interest. So I ran with that and went to a university.  I was thinking that I would become a counselor... well a year before I graduated I took a counseling class, and found that was not for me.  So I graduated with a degree in psychology not knowing what I was going to do....  ***scariest time of my life*** Now I have the opportunity to go back toward my first love: being an artist, becoming a photographer!  That is what I want to do.

So thank you for your concern and want for more for me.  But this is my life.  I'm building my dream.  Let me live!!!  Stop making me feel like what I'm doing is below me.  I'm growing, learning, and enjoying my life right now.   I'm headed somewhere.  Don't push me too fast or try to hold me in the past.  I'm moving at my pace because this is my life.  And...

Today, I served....

How I see it

The schedule has been crazy!  I worked about a 13hr shift (compared to my usual 6hr shifts) then they gave me five days off, in a row.   I had a whole week off!!!  Though, they didn't give me the one day I asked for off. Ugh.

It takes a lot to work at a restaurant.  It requires a lot of patients with the guests and your co-workers!  Guests can be annoying and rude and down right crazy!  But that lasts for the time that they are there, in the restaurant, in your section, at your table.  After that you can shrug it off and hope you never see them again.  But co-workers. They're a different story.  They're the people that you know you're going to see again and again, and you could be their best friend one day and their most hated foe the next.  In a restaurant you have to share a brotherly bond with the people you work with because you're going to get close with them, physically.  You're going to share things and say things that you never meant to with them simply because they're there, you're tired and working hard, and they understand the pains you go through with guests.

Now, there's plenty of stories I could share about the guests at this restaurant, but let me tell you how I see it:

This restaurant is my restaurant.  I don't mean that I own it.  I mean that the section I'm in today is mine.  I'm (sort of) renting it from the "higher ups."

The "higher ups:"
The "higher ups" pay for me to be there, the supplies I use while I'm there, and the help I use while I'm there.  What they would give me for running this part of the store for them is quite a bit, but then they have to take some out for what they've supplied.  The stocked goods, the food, the building & maintenance of the building and grounds, the advertising, the help, etc.  So that brings their total to $4.91 an hour for me to be there running this part of the store for them.

My job:
My job is to take care of the customer the "higher ups" have provided me with through their advertising.  Take care of the section that I'm running and leave it in a suitable, clean looking section when I leave.   My real money is made through the customers: tips.  That's my real bread and butter.  The world could be in flames around the store, I could break my arm while I'm working, the worst disaster imaginable could happen and I wouldn't care.  While I'm "renting" this section, all that matters to me is that my guests are being taken care of well enough to pay me decently for doing so.  Which ends up being anywhere from $60 to $100 a shift, depending on the length of the shift and the "hot hours." ("Hot Hours:" the times when there is a good flow of people coming into the restaurant.)

Of course there are some flaws here: the guests are also paying the company for some of these goods, and the "higher ups" aren't always taking care of their end of the bargain.  The guest paying for the food they eat should return to me some of the money to my pocket from the company charging the guest for my supplies.  When there is not enough help (like when I have to be in the back making shakes and doing dishes which is not part of a server's job) or we run out of supplies (napkins, milk, ice cream, buns, ketchup, etc.) money should also be returned to my pocket for working above and beyond my job description and as compensation for the lack of tip when a guest is upset that we don't have proper supplies.

However, in the restaurant business these things happen sometimes, and I understand that! What I don't understand is how state law can agree to put us servers at below minimum wage ($7.93 right now in Florida.)  Or that companies, like the one I'm at right now, can put so many people on the schedule as to not pay for anyone to have health insurance.

I know that none of my co-workers see this job in the same light that I do (flaws aside) and it's painfully obvious when people leave without doing side work, without stocking up the service area, without saying goodbye to anyone before they leave.  When they just disappear and no one knows if they are actually gone or not you know that they know that they didn't do what needs to be done!  When I leave, I want to leave the next shift set up for success.  That includes making sure that everything in the service area is stocked and ready to go, my section is taken care of (caddies, tables cleaned, swept and mopped), the restaurant looks decent for the next guests, and the host stand is straightened up and stocked so that whatever is needed can be found easily.  That's it.  But then I have the audacity to expect that from my co-workers as well.

Story Time!

The Story of the Server with a Dirty Apron:

A server walked up to one of her tables and asked them, the usual: How are you doing today? Are you ready to order? etc.  The lady sitting at the table responds: We're good. And how are you? Dirty I see!?!?! Looking her up and down.  Referring to the (ketchup smeared, wet, spotted, stained, black) work uniform apron that was adorning her.

Yes.  I've been working hard, was the server's nice, sweet reply.


However, what the server wished she could say to this delightful woman to help her understand the depth of her remark was:
Yes. I have been working really hard.  You see: I've been serving tables, like the one you're sitting at now.  I've been doing dishes, the ones that you will be using in a moment. Aren't you glad they're clean for you to eat off of?!  I've been making shakes, the kind that you will probably be ordering in a moment. We have no one else back there making them right now, and yes they do tend to splatter across my chest every now and then.  That is the nature of the shake.  I will probably make yours, so be nice.  Or you might end up with some extra ingredients. I've been plating food... you do want to eat off a plate don't you!?! If you want I will bring it out to you on the tray, or better yet I will simply bring it out with my bare hands and set it on the table for you.  Less dishes for me.  I've been running from dirty mess to dirty mess, there have been several spills that you don't see now thanks to: Muah!  I've been cleaning this restaurant and keeping it together.  Running food out to tables, like yours, to make sure their food was hot, and I will do the same for you.  You do want your food hot?! I've also been bussing the tables you see around you.  Because I assume you and your fellow restaurant goers want to sit at a clean table, not have ketchup and fries waiting on the table and seats for you. But OF COURSE what I've really been waiting for is you to come in!  So you can judge how clean I've kept my apron throughout all of this and then I can serve you.  Busting my ass off for your every whim.  And you.  Well, you can just sit there and enjoy the nice atmosphere, food and drinks that I've created, or yet to create for you.
And, my managers say that you may also judge the crap out of me and how clean my apron is.  Enjoy!

Everyday work...

I just had to share this video, it's great!  

Today we had too many servers on the floor. It was surprisingly slow this morning so two of our servers got sent home.  Though one was on her way in and wasn't called to be told she was gonna be turned around and kicked out.  She was pissed about that, as I would be too!  If you're going to send someone home, fine.  However you should at least let them know if they're not there yet!

I stuck to my guns today and held onto a good section today.  Made some decent money. Only had one table mad at me!  It was completely my fault.  I forgot my section had grown because someone went home.  I had sat them at the table and told them I would get their server, then sitting other tables and attending the tables that I had.  They flagged me down and told me that no one had come and served them.  "I'm so sorry!  I'll go see what happened!"  Going back to the seating chart to find that it's my table!  "Well, I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I will be happy to serve you!" *Phew* Saved my butt!  I thought.

Someone else ran the food to that table and left part of it in the window.  So when it all got out to them I went over and appologised, once again.  The ladie's response was: "We've heard enough apologies, I just want to speak with a manager."  He ended up comping the whole table.  I guess she blamed it on the manager for not knowing what was going on in the restaurant. She told me she expected a manager to be walking around and checking all the tables to make sure they were okay and "knowing what was going on in the restaurant," what ever that was supposed to mean.  

Honestly, I don't think that any of our guests know how much work we do.  Most of that work goes toward pleasing them, and their not even grateful for it!  Making us aware of the problems I'm fine with, it's the attitude and expecting of free food that I have a problem with.  That's why they get so upset, so they can talk to a manager, put everyone down and make them feel worthless so that they can get free shit.  

Back to the managers we have at this restaurant: One of my favorites is leaving.  That's the rudest thing I've heard all week!!  When I was hired on, he gave me my first interview.  Then he got me all excited and pumped for the job because we were gonna make a difference and turn this restaurant around.  But I suppose he's found bigger and grander adventures to pursue.  I'll just have to enjoy this last week of working with him.

Ugh, and then, there was the dinner rush.  We had a full restaurant, no clean tables, a five table long wait list, and we were starting to run out of everything!  I was cut, off the floor right before they all came in.  So I was running around stocking things, writing the wait list, bussing tables, making kid packs, cashing people out for two hours after I was cut.   

During this stressful moment I went back up to the host stand where I had written the wait list and found another server up there.  I informed her that there was a wait list and she gave me this snide remark about she knew and she knew how to read.  I wanted to punch her in the face.  Instead.  I walked away, it was not easy.  What got me about it was that it was in front of all the customers waiting to be sat, and she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.  One of the guests made a comment about it.  Just frustrating.  

One last thing before I hit the sack tonight: How come I am always the last to leave?   I'm not literally because we have a twenty-four hour store so it never closes and there is always someone there (I'm surprised I don't literally live there yet!)  But what I mean is that I could be cut at the same time as two other servers, and they would both leave before me.  I don't slack on getting work done, I want to get outta there as much as the next person, but I don't want to leave anyone hanging either!  I can't walk out during a rush knowing they don't have kid's pack stocked, knowing they only have one clean rack of cups left and dish pit is a mess.  I have a really hard time leaving when i know I didn't get a chance to sweep or mop anything because there were so many people coming in.... I don't see how people can just leave when there's so much to be done?   Knowing that if it doesn't get done someone else is going to pay.   

Maybe I'm just a different brand of "server"

Yeah, that's it: I'm Special!  ;)

Cracking the whip

Mandatory meeting today! But first: Angry customer had to wait too long for meal, then it came out WRONG.  What the guest did about it.  Up next: what is expected of us servers: too much for such a little price, plus, no free food!  Then it's back to work for all you low lifes, working to pay bills. Ha!
(I said that in a news caster's voice in my head: "These are the announcements for today!")

So, first off, yesterday I had a guest get very upset with me.  I took her order, answered questions, etc. the normal with any customer.  I put her order in and brought her drinks out.  when her food came up the burger had been made wrong.  I sent it back to the kitchen to fix.

Now, the rest is partly my fault.  I was not keeping close enough tabs on time. My other table's food came out at the same time as the mistake.  I ran the food to my other table (all the other tables around them had come in after her) and stopped by her table to let her know that there had been a mistake and I sent it back to be remade.  Her response: "Okay, just bring something out."

The food to all the other tables around her came out and her food was not coming up.  The mistake food that had been put out before was gone.  I had to bug the kitchen to get it out.  One of our senior servers went back and dressed it for me, but she put everything on there that they didn't want.  I hadn't checked it because she knows what she's doing and I thought it was dressed how I wrote it, again, my fault.  When I served it and asked if everything looked like they ordered it they said yeah.  Of course it wasn't and she was not happy.  :/   Of course I would be pretty disappointed to...


On to the mandatory meeting.  Pretty much: do your job!  Us servers need to work together as a team.  We need to do our side work and keep the restaurant clean.  We need to follow the steps of service and know our mission and vision statements.  All simple things, but things we need to work on.

Also: all food must be paid for before we eat it.  That includes food from the back, shakes, and all drinks.  -.-

What really bugged me about this meeting was that it was so damn early (yes I know I was late!  I'm sorry I thought it was a 1/2 hour later.  But at least I came!)  And the there were some exempt servers and servers who did not come, not exactly what mandatory means....  

Of course the exempt servers were the ones that had been there the longest and "knew what they were doing."  However, they never do their side work.  They never wipe under the caddies.  They never put their dishes away. They never mop. They don't even sweep!  Great, they've been there for some odd years - there's always room for improvement.

Then there were the ones who simply didn't show up.  The other ones that really needed this meeting.  The other ones that don't do any of their side work, that like to tell the rest of us what to do, and really don't take this job seriously.  *sigh*


Well, tonight went pretty well, in the restaurant.  There was a crash outside that could be seen through our windows.  Flashing lights were there my whole 6/7 hour shift!  I found out later that it was a fatal crash for one and left two in the hospital.  Three cars were involved.

And to think some lady came in tonight and got mad that she didn't have silverware before she had her food.  She was livid! When she was sat she gave her order to the person that sat her then I came over with her drink and told her I would be her server if she needed anything (I did forget to bring silverware then.)  Someone else ran her food out, and when I came by to see how everything was she snapped at me about not being able to eat without silverware.  Who eats burgers with a fork and knife?  Apparently this lady.

Awe, but to make my night I found this cute drawing left behind on a table by a sweet little girl :)

Feeling sick

Ugh, today went by in a haze.  I felt like my head was a balloon trying to float away all day.  It was pretty slow and I got a good section though.

I hate it when people walk in already mad at you.  One of my guests walked in today bat shit crazy mad.  Every time I talked to the table she had one word answers, she had a very unfriendly demeanor, I think if she smiled her face would crack into a million peices and fall off!  I brought them drinks with a smile.  I brought out their burgers and asked then if everything looked okay when I served them.  Then when I came by to see how they liked their burgers our conversation went like this:

Me (M): How has everything turned out ladies!?

Mad woman (W): I didn't want bacon.

...

M: uh... I'm sorry. I don't believe I rang in a bacon burger for you *checking check* I certainly didn't charge you for it.

W: I will eat it.  I don't want to wait any longer.

M: You sure I can't do something for you?

W: *continues conversation with table, ignoring my presence*

I wasn't sure how I was supposed to react... did she want me to push the issue?  Did she want me to just leave and ignore the table for the rest of the time they were there?  That's what I felt like doing after that conversation, if you can call it a conversation?  

Really: "whatevs"  That is some petty angry lady.  Not worth another thought!  Haha, I'm so glad that was the biggest problem I had today!

Just one of those days...

Last night was just another night at work, nothing too exciting happened.  All my guests were nice and I had a good team to work with.

...

Aaand then the night team came in: including Two newbies.

One of these newbies just grind on my pet peeves.  This is her first job, her first serving job, and she started maybe a month ago.   Yet, she seems to think she knows it all.  (My biggest pet peeve:) she interrupts me everytime I talk to her or try to help her.  I can barely stand this when guests do this, and now I have to take it from her!?  She's got so much attitude.

I'm a horrible person for thinking this, but I just can't wait for her to fail, to be overwhelmed by the amount of tables she gets, for the guest to make her cry, or for her to be fired because she simply can't do the job.  Yes, I know, I'm a horrible person.  I can see it coming though.  She's going to get so overwhelmed that she quits or she's going to get fired because she tries to handle it all herself while she's overwhelmed.

No Bra :P

The DM came in the other day and was fucking stuff up and pissing people off.  I don't get why when the higher ups come in to change things they can't fix things that actually need fixed.  Instead they come in and rag on people unnecessarily.

The shake guy got really upset, made him put the strawberries in the freezer, which made them impossible to mix into the shakes.  Then he told a manager to tell me that I couldn't wear the bra I was wearing.  He couldn't even tell me himself.

Apparently my blue sports bra can be seen through our white uniform shirts so I have to wear a nude or white colored bra to work now.  Which I don't have.  I asked the manager if they were paying for a new bra for me?  Bras are expensive.  Of course the answer was no.  So fuck it. I don't usually wear a bra except at work anyways, so I just won't wear a bra to work either.  Then no one will be able to see my bra!

My second to last table tonight was a sweet elderly couple.  I got to make a real connection with them. I talked with them for a little while about their grandkids and future possibilities.  It was nice and something that I don't get to do a lot at this restaurant.  My last restaurant that was part of the job, almost, to sit and talk with our guests.  That's what I love about serving!


However, I don't think I want to make serving my life career.  After talking with the couple and listening to their story about their granddaughter, and every time I talk to a guest, it makes me feel like I'm in a transition period of life.  Most people who start here it's their first job, or their going to school, or it's a second job.

I would love to be a full time mom at some point, but I don't have a child, and I don't know that I want to raise a child on a server's wage.  Maybe I could land a job at a daycare?  I do have a degree in psychology after all.  Though I feel like I would get burnt out on that after a few years.  Though I could use that to transition into a position helping those with special needs. Even that I could see myself getting burnt out on though.

My husband runs his own business, he's a photographer.  It would be nice to work more with him and maybe just be business partners, but I feel like that wouldn't be very financially stable.  If for some reason, god forbid, the business went under, we would both be out of a job.  I would love to be artistic though, I've wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember.

I just don't know where I want to go from here.  I don't know what the best choice is...

$100

Last night I made a pretty penny for it being so slow.  Several servers got called up to not come in and at least three got sent home.  We got one little pop, but that was it!

One guest I cashed out said his experience was horrible.  We're supposed to ask the guest how everything was before we take the payment, when he said it was horrible I continued the conversation.  He explained that the food had come out cold, something was wrong with every meal they ordered, and the server took a while to wait on them. Their check was about $30. I looked at it and asked him to wait just a little longer so that I could see what I could do about the bill: $30 is a lot for horrible.  He told me that he would make a bigger fuss about it, but they had just waited half an hour at another restaurant just for drinks.

We comped the meals for him and he was very happy about it.  He left me (just the cashier) $5 for helping him out.

Words of Encouragement

Yesterday I got so overwhelmed.

I got sat a needy table and then a four top.  I was trying to get the four top their drinks and already gotten their order in, so time was ticking and I was feeling the time crunch.  I had a tray on the counter that I was setting up cups on and had the list of drinks I needed.  I had asked someone else to grab waters that the needy table had asked for and they forgot about them.  One of the newbies asked me where to get kids cups, I had just ran them through wash so I ran to get them.  They were gone and I was asking where they were on  the way back to get my drinks out.  The tray I was setting up was gone, I had even less time to get the drinks out, and my table was now looking around for their waters and probably wanted something else.

I started to cry.  I felt so stupid, there was no reason to cry over that stuff.  I think it was just because I got up early to see my husband off to work and didn't have enough sleep.  On of the servers brought me to the back to calm down and give me food, and went and caught me up on the tables.  The GM came back and asked me if I wanted to talk about it.  I was so surprised, she told me that I was one of the best servers she had and she was really glad that I was there.  It was nice to feel wanted.

Tonight was so slow though!  I was there for three hours and had a total of four tables.  I made almost twenty dollars only because one of the other servers paid me five to roll their silverware.

Uneventful

There are some nights that are just uneventful.  Last night was one of them.  It was slow, we had a lot of newbies, nothing happened.  It was nice.

Last night

So, like I said in my last post, I've been working so much that I haven't been able to keep up with the blog as much as I would like.  Therefore: second post of the day.  I have more stories to share.  Yay! :)

Last night a couple came in on their first date, they were young, in elementary school, their mothers came with them and sat in the booth next to them.  They seemed to have a lot of fun and when my manager walked by tables to make sure everything was going okay the boy said the service was great! They were so cute and polite.  The girl had gotten all dressed up and the boy brought her flowers. :)


Last night we got really busy. There was a group of ladies that came in and sat at the countertop, because we were busy with our sections, none of the servers noticed they needed help.  As I was seating the door on of the ladies yelled at me that they needed to be helped.  I apologised and told her that we would be with them as soon as we could.

I finished seating the people at the door then told my fellow servers that someone needed to help these ladies and I would get the cash register.  I went over to the cash register (also where the countertop seating is) and proceeded to cash people out.  The lady was upset and told me that I was ignoring her  when I was cashing people out.  I told her that I let the other servers know they were there and that someone would be with them in a moment, but I was not trying to ignore them.

The lady was yelling at me the whole time I was up there. There were only three people waiting to be cashed out and I could not talk to them while I was up there because this lady was yelling at me and telling me how horrible and rude I was being to her party and that I was ignoring them.

Once I finished cashing people out I looked over to the server station to see if I could catch someone's eye to get them served. (I was not going to do it because she had started our interaction by yelling at me.)  She saw me look away from them, I was still standing at the counter, when one of the younger ladies was telling her that she was embarrassing them. She said, just about yelling "How am I being embarrassing? Because I want to put in a complaint? She's being very rude! She's still ignoring us! EXCUSE ME I WANT TO TALK TO A MANAGER NOW!!!" All I said to this bitch after that was "Okay."

I went back to the office where the GM and manager was and I couldn't even get out that they were needed up front before I was balling.  I was so frustrated and a little hurt that someone could be so presumptuous and self indulgent to think that they deserve all the attention in the world. Then to try and tear someone else down to get the attention you're seeking, really?  Gah, I hate people!

The manager went to talk to her and the GM offered me candy, lol! The manager came to me later to make sure I was okay and tell me he thought the lady was crazy too.

Last night we had two newbies.  So not much was getting done, we were not on top of much of anything, and a lot of dishes got broke!  One of the newbies started picking up some broken glass with her hands and I repeatedly said "Don't pick up glass with your hand always use a broom." She ignored me and so I kept repeating myself and asking if she heard me until she said "Well it's too late now!" and held up the glass. ... Really?  Then put it down! I'm asking you to be safe and not chance cutting your hand. Don't just stand there with a piece of glass in your hand continuing to make drinks for your table.  At the very least throw it away!!!

The rest of the night she was glaring at me, giving me dirty looks, and snapping at me.  Okay it was hectic and no, I probably didn't handle it in the way I should have.  I admit that. When I asked later if she was mad or had a problem with me she told me not to yell at her, that I'm not her mother.  Dude.  I know this is her first job, and that she's still a minor, but she's going to have to toughen up and get over being yelled at.  That's childish. Plus I was yelling at her for her safety so all the attitude that came from that is bullshit.

Maybe I'm in the wrong in this situation?  I don't know.  Just, please use a broom and dust pan for broken glass, don't pick it up bear handed in a busy restaurant!


I was so grateful to get home and to have today and tomorrow off!!!

The last few days...

This job keeps me busy!  The last few days I've been scheduled 11:30a to 7p shifts that have turned into 12hr shifts just because there is so much to be done and not enough people to do it.  Now, the problem is that this place is a "part time employer" therefore I can only work 28hrs a week.  Last week I had two twelve hour shifts and was working on my third shift when the GM came to me, told me to get off the clock and took me off the schedule for the rest of the week... 28hrs is not enough to pay my bills.  Luckily enough, that has been suspended (at least at this store) until we have enough people to keep the business going.  When the GM told me it was suspended she said that another co-worker and I would be getting a lot more hours.  I was tempted to ask where I should set up my bed!

One of my guests made me a $1 ring! :)

So I have a few guest stories to share from the past few days...

First up: The Black Lady.

She was a terrible bitch.  I feel as if i will be treading on the edge of racist with this story, so let me say this before we go any farther: most black people I serve do not follow stereotypes.  Most of them tip well, have a great sense of humor, and are very nice.  Not this lady.  

This lady came in with two sweet kids during a very busy time in our restaurant.  When she came in she was on the phone, therefore we did not greet her right away, we wanted to respect the fact that she was talking on the phone.  She complained about that.  She was sat in my section. When I greeted her she immediately asked for corporates number to complain about the wait and repeatedly asked for the number throughout the time I tried to server her.  

I say tried because part way through her meal she asked for the manager, when I went to get him I just started crying.  This lady was being so mean, just impossible to please, and I told the manager that I refuse to serve her any longer.  The manager said to just stay away from her, so I did.  Someone else brought out her food, and she pulled out her phone.  She talked for 20min (yes, I timed her) then she complained that her food was cold after she hung up.  Her kids were sweet! They seemed embarrassed to be with her, they ate their food when it came out and were well behaved, perfect children.  

What really pissed me off was when she came up to the counter after she got off the phone, she demanded to talk to the manager again "seeing as my waitress is helpless and can't seem to do a thing."  I couldn't be in the same room with her after that, I wanted to throw some punches so badly.

Second: The Co-Worker Walking Away.

This pissed me off! We were slammed unexpectedly one night.  I had just been cut when we got swarmed so I jumped on to the prep line and was getting food out.  While we were in the middle of all this our grill guy disappeared into the break room to play on his phone.  We were left hanging with no one on grill. When the manager found him and asked him why he was back there when we were so swamped his response was: "So? I don't care."  Then he says he's trying to get fired, and he has been for a while, but he thinks he can do anything he wants otherwise he would have been fired by now. Gah, people suck!

Lastly: A Weeping Lady.

One of my guests got a sandwich that came up made incorrectly. She was with her family and their food came out fine. They ate while I brought her food back and bugged the kitchen to fix it.  Her family was done with their meals before the kitchen started remaking her food.  Her husband was very upset, red in the face, almost yelling at the manager for the poor service.  They kept saying that they were getting poor service but it wasn't my fault... and the lady was crying over the experience.  They got her food to go and left, but I felt so bad! There was nothing I could do/ I did all I could think of to do.

Pissed.

Tonight:

Tonight was my last night working as a single woman; the next time I work I will be married!!!

However, tonight sucked ass.  Started the night with two tables with complaints.  The first table was a group of three ladies that all ordered grilled cheese and shakes to introduce their german guest to what grilled cheese is.  They said that our restaurant makes the best grilled cheese, but tonight they were very disappointed: what they received was toast with a single slice of american cheese.... I of course took the sandwiches off their bill and had them remade, that time the lady complained that they were soggy.  (They just wanted to go on and on....)

The table next to them (my second table of the night) flagged me down to ask me why their food was coming out so slow.  I explained to them that we have new people in the back and we had just messed the ladies' food.  His response was something to the effect of: what? You mess up their order so I have to wait? I don't think I should have to pay for it then.  I had nothing to say to that... what would he expect me to say to that? "Oh you're absolutely right!  You had to wait an extra 3-5min for your food to come out.  So I'm going to pay for your whole meal with my tips!"  I mean, come on, really?!?!?!

I was tendered at the cash register tonight.  Went up there to cash this lady out, coming straight from one of my tables, not stopping to put their order in.  I get up there and ask, like we're supposed to: "How was everything?"  Her response, the rudest one I've ever had at this restaurant: Fine, if only someone would take my money so I can leave.  Well I guess you guys don't want my money? I should just leave!  She tells me as she's handing me her credit card... I have nothing to say but: well I have other tables too... I give her the card back and she goes: Oh, well I guess I just have to take it up with corporate huh!?  
... Yes, Ma'am. Have a nice day!

Aggravating start to what could have been such a wonderful night.

But, to make things worse (now keep in mind this has been a rather slow night so far) the manager comes around the corner and says: all you servers who are just standing around talking, can we please buss that table!?  I told her that I was not "just standing around" that I was making tea and restocking things in the server's area.  She snaps! She tells me that I'm lying to her and that I need to shut up and bus the table, which... is my table. But back to the reason I was making tea, another table needed it and we were bone dry.

I didn't bus the table.  I went and got ice, which we were also in need of.  Though another server bussed my table, I wanted to make a point but they complained that all us servers would get in trouble for it so it needed to be done.

Apparently the GM overheard her snap.... I heard this through the telephone though, another server told me that because the GM heard the manager snap she needed to cut me early to get separation between us.  The manager snapped, I get cut early because the GM hears her snap, the GM has her hands tied because she can't cut the only manager while she's trying to go home and her boss, the DM (district manager) is there.  So I'm cut early at 8:30p and told that I have to have all my side work done and be off the clock by 9p.  Well..... side work takes an hour and a half and I have open checks because of the grilled cheese incident...  I figured that stuff out- worked with the other server that was cut to only do the very important side work and got a manager's code to take off the open checks.  Only thing that is left for the manager to do is give me my charge tips!

Oh, what's that? That's a problem too? Why?  Because now the manager is so busy in the drive thru, kitchen, and trying to be a server? Oh and there are only four other people left working?  I asked nicely for her to get me my tips, and I get snapped at again!? Told to get off the clock and wait around for who knows how long until she's not busy so I can get my tips!?  Hell no.  I'm going home if I'm off the clock. That is not how it's going to work: you owe me my tips before I'm off the clock, otherwise, let me do my damn side work.

Alas: I am home an hour before I was even supposed to be cut, without my tips in hand. Yes, I'm going to talk to my GM about this.  Yes, I'm going to call corporate too.  This is not the first seriously wrong problem I've had with this manager.

...

One last good story from tonight!? Okay:

My last table was the sweetest elderly couple!  They came in knowing what they wanted, coupons in hand.  I sat them where I could, where they had room to place their walkers.  We talked and chatted a little bit.  It was just a really sweet experience :)

Tonight was awesome!

My team members tonight were awesome! There was some great teamwork going on tonight, everything was done way ahead of schedule, and everything was done with everyone getting out on time. Plus I didn't have to touch the dishes, all of my team members tonight passed kindergarten and learned their shapes!

Servers are people too...

I think the reality of this job is finally setting in. Tonight a coworker walked out without doing any side work. Another coworker got thrown in the back because someone didn't show up for a production shift. I was the bad guy when I made up the stations. A guest saw me wiping down a table so she knocked on the glass in front of my face after I was already looking at her to rudely tell me to get her bill. Another guest decided that her chocolate shake tasted funny - how can you mess up a chocolate shake?

I'm finding that many of the guests that come into my burger joint feel a lot more entitled than the ones that come into the last place I worked at. Granted, that place was a little more classier.

People do the darndest things

I've developed a love hate relationship with this job.
I love most of my coworkers, and most of my managers are amazing! I love a lot of the guests that come in and I love that the drive to work isn't as long as it used to be.
I hate one or two of my coworkers, and two of my managers are, simply put: rude. A lot of the guests that come in are rude, I could even call them presumptuous, and the drive to work is still on a busy highway where many people prove to not know how to drive.

The other day a homeless man came in and had his cart parked outside of our store.  He ordered coffee and maybe a snack to eat.  Those of us that took the time to talk to him enjoyed the conversation quite a bit, though it seemed like he had some fantasy fiction mixed in with his tales. A man came up to me while I was preparing a table's drinks.  He asked for a to go cup and then handed me a $20.  He asked me to pay for the homeless man's bill and give him what ever was left over.  When I gave the homeless man the change and explained why I was giving him the change, tears came to his eyes, he was very grateful! Then when I was helping one of my tables they offered to pay for him as well.  I love seeing people take care of each other.  This was an awesome night!

New Adventure

Well, I am going from serving in a casual dining experience to something a little more fast pace, more of a burger joint.  I am now in full costume everyday, from the bow tie to my black slacks, socks, and shoes.  

"I'm (now) a server at a burger joint established in the 1930's. These are my day to day experiences with guests, co-workers, and management. Everyday is a new adventure!"  

 "I'm (no longer) a server at a casual dining restaurant. These (have been) my day to day experiences with guests, co-workers, and management. Everyday (has been) another adventure!"

So far it has been a lot of fun! This place reminds me so often of my first job, doing everything there is to do- making food, doing dishes, taking care of the guests, cleaning every nook and cranny after the shift, and stocking everything up for the next shift.  Both places rely so heavily on teamwork and treating co-workers like family.  

Yet, it's very different at the same time.  We have a drive thru in the new place, two grills for the entire restaurant (drive thru included), one person maybe two dressing all the burgers, rarely is there someone there just doing dishes.  And this is a busy place! The new place is open 24/7 there are people coming in at all hours of the day and leaving at all hours of the day.  

Right now the new place is trying to get an all new staff, focusing on teamwork and weeding out all those employees who don't get that concept.  So right now it's a challenge and we're hearing it from our guests!  There are so many complaints about slow service and inexperienced servers.  The other day, my last day of training, I was on cash - cashing people out and wishing them a good rest of the day. Everyone (and no, I'm not exaggerating, EVERYONE) that I asked how their experience was said something about the slow service: their burgers were taking 40 to 45 min to come out because we were so busy and only had two grills/ two people making the burgers and one person dressing them (putting all the toppings on).  It was very stressful and unfortunate to see everyone struggling to keep up.  I was talking to the other servers on the shift and they told me that that's normal for that day of the week.... label me flabbergasted! 

Really the new place is a lot of fun. I've felt like I've been playing a game this whole time and it's made me feel really good: the GM and one of the hiring managers are really positive and that makes it a really great workplace, plus I've had multiple comments from guests about my great service and friendly demeanor.  I like it because I feel good at the end of the shift.  I feel like I've touched peoples lives, even if it is by just serving them a burger, and in my co-worker's lives by making their work experience a good one too.  Hopefully I will help encourage the family feel of the place and everyone there will start enjoying their job a little more! :)  

(I know I'm totally out there and in make believe land... but here's to dreaming!)  :D

My first note left by guests at the new place <3

Good early morning!

About to head off to an early morning shift after my first night shift on my own (not in training any more!) This place is pretty awesome, dare I say it.  Reminds me a lot of my first job that I still have fond memories of. Now if only I could instill the idea of team into these people here - like at my first job - then everything would be perfect!

Smiles!

The new place is fun! I feel like I'm in a video game, actively playing the game. Its a lot of fun! I'm glad I'm enjoying the newness of it, but I hope it doesn't wear off and get old any time soon.

First day!

First day on the new job went smooth :)  I think I'll be able to catch on to this job pretty quickly. Lots of side work and closing work, but nothing I can't handle. Plus I have an interview for a place even closer tomorrow! We'll see how everything works out....

Bow Ties are Cool!

...

There are some days when it seems the hosts don't know how to do their job... this was one of them. The random seating patterns... just do what the computer tells you and think about how long its been since you sat that server!

I walked by a man drinking his wine, from the wine glass, but with two cocktail straws. It was so cute!

Well, bitter sweet leaving this place today. Orientation for the new restaurant tomorrow! I'm excited for that!

done

Tuesday double. Usually a pretty laid back day. I started out in the bar. That got a little pop! But I only had four tables and made maybe $10. Yesterday and today I've gotten some funny men at my tables, real jokesters. Today the guy was just joshing about the lottery, he wanted me to bring him the winning ticket! Yesterday the man told me that I seemed real smart and he wanted me to help him with a problem: he was driving on one of these Florida roads when a crane flew right in front of the car. He didn't have time to stop and so he hit the bird. The bird rolled right over his car and onto the car behind him, breaking that car's front window. Well, that car was a sheriff's police car. The officer was livid, he pulled the man over and wrote him a ticket for flipping him the bird. ...

Talking about being livid, tonight sucked. I balled like a baby I was so upset we ruined a little girl's birthday. Her parents got livid after it took so long to be sat, it took forever to get the food out, they wanted all their desserts to go so that took forever. The food that came out the first time was over cooked. I felt so horrible for this family. A manager gave them a $30 gift card, which they used, but still ended up paying another $30 for this horrible birthday celebration. We ruined the poor girl's birthday!

What makes it worse is that this happened right after I got a huge complement from another guest telling my manager how awesome I was and starting an applause for me with his party of six (oh yes I was blushing!).

At the end of the night, while I was doing my side work, I heard about one of our servers leaving. He was scheduled a double today too, but he didn't come back from his break. Then I finally get to talk to the manager who does the schedules. I told him to take me off next week's schedule because I got a new job. I hate to do that to them. The last thing he said was that he lost two server in the same day, they can't hire them fast enough. That sucks! I feel horrible for the gm, she came to a crumbling restaurant and now its just falling to pieces around her. 

I feel a since of freedom now that I quit this job, and at the same time I feel really bad for not sticking to it and helping make it better. Though, I don't think I really could and I'm not giving my best service at this place, its not possible when others aren't doing their job. I think its for the best. No more driving in traffic, no more stressing out (at least not to the same intensity), and I get to start new, make new friends!

That was my last double at this restaurant!!!

My feet hurt

Today my pointless lunch shift turned into a double shift. Lunch shifts are pointless for me because its a 45 min drive to work in traffic, usually I make $40 on a lunch and that fills my gas tank. But today one of my team members forgot to ask off for a wedding and needed it covered. I don't want to be at this place any more so it took some begging and a bribe: he paid me $10 to take the shift.

There was a bunch of parties today. I was on three of them! Everyone of my guests seemed to love me today though. Except for one table this morning: I felt so bad for the kid they dragged in with them! This lady was so bitchy she didn't like the price of the meal, which I told her ahead of time, and she wanted to speak to a manager... I solved the problem myself, but when I stopped by to see how they were doing the man was lecturing the kid about going to college. Granted, the kid was probably in high school and that's the time he should be thinking about it, I wouldn't waste my money on it if I could do it again. I wanted to take him to another table to eat and just be in peace!

The way they were seating us tonight was frustrating, like they didn't know how to do the damn job. There was a party of 8 ladies celebrating a couple of birthdays that I was on and as we're getting the cake out they seat me another 8 top to take by myself! Luckily I had an awesome service partner tonight who was able to close the party out for us while I started my next one. (We were a great team tonight!) My party loved me since he did that and I was able to turn my focus to my other party. 

Apparently the gm has enlisted some of the trainers to try and bring up the the attitude at this restaurant though they've been getting some pretty harsh attitude back about it. I'm glad she's trying to do something! I still can't wait to get into my new restaurant.

Oh it was so nice to walk out those doors tonight! While warm and windy, it felt like freedom! The moon behind the palm trees was a nice visual to remind me that I moved to paradise.

I know this is horrible quality (I took it with my cell phone) but it gets the idea a cross:
palm trees with the moon shining though the clouds behind them.

Saturday double shift.

Just like it sounds: busy, chaotic, and frustrating.  The morning wasn't all that bad, busy wise. I only got a six minute break in, and the only reason I got that is because we have to be on break to order food, so I did that and then clocked right back on.

Nothing to exciting happened tonight. Just happy to be out of here soon!

New job!?

Had an interview at a new restaurant this morning! The manager I spoke to seemed to love me! He seemed to really want me on the team and wanted to set up a second interview as soon as possible. The GM is supposed to call me sometime today, and he was hoping to get that interview in tomorrow. I'm super excited just for the fact that I like feeling wanted.

It was a little odd though, when I was walking out of the restaurant a guest stopped me and asked if I was looking for a job. She told me about her gas station down the road and wanted me to apply. In my mind those are two very different jobs. I wasn't rude of course, but a... no thank you lady!

I lost it (almost)

(Written March 11, 2014)

Yesterday I got a call from one of my managers.  He left a message asking me to call him before my shift.  When I called him back he tells me there was a message left in the office saying "no more" telling him to call me, not to come in for my shifts the next couple of days (a dinner shift and a double) and that I need to talk to our general manager (GM).  When I asked him why he replied "Well, I was hoping you could tell me!?"

To me, that sounds like I'm fired.  I can't go to work and make money to pay my bills and I have to talk to the GM...

So, to the job board.  My fiancé went online and found a position open at a closer to home restaurant. We go in, turn in my resume and score an interview. Then I head across the street to the mall where I talk to a manager who really seemed to like me.  Fill out their application online and score another interview with them. Go me (with the help of my wonderful fiancé)!

I call the GM today and she insists that I come in and talk to her.  I asked her over the phone if I was fired, and she says "Well, I don't know yet." That's very reassuring. Though I would like to know if i'm fired or not before I make the 45min drive to have a 5min conversation about me being booted out.

I get to the restaurant, having called before hand to let the GM know I'm on the way, and she has me wait in the lobby for about 25min before she finally comes up to talk to me.  That allows time for me to get further pissed off for having drove all the way out there.  I almost walked out.

Our conversation was somewhat productive.  She wanted me to stay, or rather she wants "this to work out."  I already knew we were short people in the restaurant and she shouldn't be letting go of anyone.

She wanted to talk about the night of my last post, Sunday.  She wanted my view of what happened.  I explained that I was having an off night, that happens from time to time.  And I told her that I knew I was making mistakes and I thought my biggest mistake that night was forgetting about that appetizer.  She agreed with the manager that was working that night, because that guest was having problems from the get go I should have asked my other tables to wait while I cashed her out. Though she seemed surprised to hear that the only things that I needed comped that night (food etc. given to the guests for free because the restaurant staff messed up) was a chicken dish that was undercooked and (apparently this counts) a gift card given to the lady that was extremely impatient.

I also went on to tell her about the issues I was having with management:
•The new busser that is being over paid as a manager. I understand when he is defended as a busy body, needing to do things an keep himself busy, but if that is what he's doing then why can't he help us keep things stoked? Why is he only helping bussers?  He could even help the kitchen as well, but no, he is only helping bussers. And no, I don't care that the last restaurant he managed was a buffet, that is not what this restaurant is and he needs to adjust for that.  The last straw came for me when I was actively using a tray to pre-buss tables and he walked off with the tray!
•Playing favorites.  This particular manager that I was working with Sunday night plays favorites big time.  She has her select group that she likes and protects (in a way) from warnings and write ups, then the rest of us she hangs out to dry.  I was only observing this and thinking about what side I might have been on for her, but after this, taking about $160 out of my pocket by not allowing me to work these past couple of days because she decided to write me up for having to comp an undercooked chicken and give a gift card... obviously I'm not liked.
•The stress they put on all of us, but especially one manager who wrote me up and told me (I'm paraphrasing of course, this is not what he said, but it is how he made me feel after that meeting) the next time you mess up, you're fired.
•The simple fact that this place is not managed well.  We have a new GM so I am understanding of the transition period, but the managers below her should be able to run the restaurant by now.
•And how unprofessional the management is at this restaurant!

By the end of the conversation she decided to take me off Friday nights and Saturdays, our busiest times because she thought I couldn't handle doing the job. And told me that she will talk about the good points I brought up to the appropriate people. She also said I need to be more responsible for what is happening because I have "not an excuse.... but, a... reason I guess" for everything that's going wrong.

I'm very welcome to any interviews and job openings that come my way. This place is not going to get any better like this. And having a manager out to get me fired: not interested in sticking around. Thanks though.

Not my night.

You can ask my fiancée, I've been a bitch all day, and some of my coworkers noticed. No real reason for that other than I didn't sleep well. All night I've been dropping things, forgetting everything, and just feeling over it. Most of my tables tonight weren't much help with this either. One bitch decided that she had waited for over fifteen minutes to be greeted, when I had a seven top, a four top, and then her single. She flagged me down and asked me to get her server. I was getting the soup and salads for my seven top when she was sat and my service partner said she was only there a couple of minutes before I came out. So fine, I was on top of everything and very prompt for her meal. When I picked up her check I explained that I had to get refills for my seven top and get hot food out for my four top and I will have it ready in my pocket when she sees me again.  I was dropping the hot food at my four top when she got up and found my manager. Who then got her check from me and gave it to the guest. Later my manager came to me and told me that I was in the wrong and should have asked my other tables to wait while I cashed her out. This lady left me nothing for a tip, so I got to pay for her to eat tonight. I also for got an appetizer for a table, their food came out under cooked, and they tipped me decently. They were understanding, thankfully.  Though my manager still got pissy with me for the incident.  However, my last tables were awesome! One was celebrating a birthday and another on was full of smiles and laughter. I loved it :)

This place is a joke

This place is just a bad joke, its not funny any more and I can't keep fake laughing at it.  We ran out of soup bowls. One of our primary foods we sell, comes as a side to all out dishes. And we ran out. No one was in the dish pit washing dishes. ... on a busy Saturday.

On a happier note: one of my guests stiffed me on a $70 check... they were so kind, said how great I was, then left me nothing.  That's not the happy part. The happy part was when they called in and apologized! They tried to get the manager to give me a gift card or something, but.... yeah.  It was sweet how apologetic she was and nice of her to call!

OMG

Tonight was a disaster! The oven broke, I ended up running two tables and making bread. No one had anything good to say. Ticket times for food were 40 min +! And the only manager working was bussing tables and washing dishes... no one could find him when we needed him I doubt he even knew the oven broke. I was there since 10:30a, no break, almost 11 hour shift. Nothing was getting done. ... Tonight sucked.

Plague of rude people!

What is up with the rude people lately!? I got a large party of mentally ill rude people! The old lady that said she would take the check was just determined to have a bad time. Then the next table that was sat I got this grumpy old man who was absolutely impatient. I stopped by to give them the appetizer, acknowledging that they needed some things, then I checked on my large party and on my way back to the kitchen I stopped by to make sure they liked their appetizer... he was upset that I hadn't brought a glass of water with me when I was in his line of sight the whole time, I said I hadn't made it back to the kitchen yet, so I would be right back. Ugh! I hate people sometimes!

Slow

Tonight was a slow night in the bar. I never got more than two tables. Which, yes, its a bummer that I drove 35 min to make $30, but I needed a slow night for a change. And I was able to run food and keep things stocked! As an added bonus all my tables seemed to love me and tipped me pretty well.
The only thing that miffed me today was that this new manager was grumpy and being a bit of a jerk. When they were first hired on a lot of people thought it was a bad fit, but it seemed okay to me. Though not after tonight! I ran food out for my partner and let them know they needed something because I had to get over to my table. The manager was also standing there and was all like: why can't you get it... with how much I was doing for so many other people, and this manager just standing talking to my service partner to refuse to help me when all the managers repeatedly say: if you need help ask. Agh! That ruffled my feathers.