Interesting Little Stories....

Well, this is my last morning off before I get back to work tomorrow, so I thought I would use this time to describe a few of the things that happened during my training. Most of the customers were pretty normal, but I've had a few experiences. Interestingly, a couple of these things happened while I was hostess training, not waiting tables. People, in general, are an odd bunch.

The other day I was cashing people out, seating the door, and getting used to the station breakdown when the phone rang. As was my duty as hostess, I answered it. This is how the conversation went, exactly.

Me: Thanks for calling The Restaurant on Main Street, this is Rose, can I help you?

Her: (deep, gritty southern accent) Yeah, are ya'all free today?

Me: Pardon me?

Her: I said are ya'all free today?

Me: Excuse me ma'am, I'm not sure I heard you correctly, there's a lot of noise in here. Did you just ask me if we were free today?

Her: (impatiently) Yes I did. Do kids eat free?

(Kids do eat free on certain nights of the week, so now her call makes a little more sense to me.)

Me: Yes ma'am, there are certain nights of the week that kids do eat for free, but it's after 4 PM.

Her: Ok, thanks.

I chuckled to myself as I hung up the phone. Why not just answer the question in the way that you mean it the first time? Am I supposed to be magical and know exactly what you mean? Come on now. What would possess someone to call a restaurant and just vaguely ask if they were "free" that day?

Also, as part of hostessing, I am the last person the customer sees before they walk out the door. Being that this is a typical, corporate, ass kissing restaurant, I have to ask the customer if everything was all right as they pay their bill and leave. Most of the time, the servers take care of this but you know how sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. 90 percent of customers are happy, and most of the remaining few who have problems usually get them fixed by their server, but there are a few that slide through to the cashier and then it becomes their problem. In this case, it was my problem.

This little old lady came up to pay her bill. I asked her, while I was taking her money, if everything was all right. "No," she snapped, "it wasn't. I came here a year ago, and the hash browns were burnt to a crisp and everything was cold. I waited a year to come back here, and now it will be a year before I'm back."

Immediately I apologized. "I'm sorry about that, ma'am. Did you get a chance to tell your server about the problems you had with your food?" Immediately after I ask, I turn around to see what her server, Annie, was doing. She was busy dropping off drinks at another table, but I happened to glimpse at the table this lady had been sitting at. Her plate was still on the table, since Annie had a full section and hadn't gotten around to bussing it yet. And wouldn't you know it, all the food was gone except for one slice of toast.

One of the managers happened to be standing there with me, and he ended up completely comping her entire bill. When she walked out, without even so much as a thank you, he shook his head, and I asked, "Why did you do that? She ate all her food, and I somehow doubt she even said anything to Annie." He just shook his head again and said, "She just wanted her food for free, and my hands are tied." Evidently, these managers are so fucking scared of a corporate office getting a call from some customer who tried to run a scam and didn't succeed that they are running around comping shit all day for people who make the smallest complaints. That sucks. Why don't they just cut off the manager's balls so he can wear them on his chin all day? It would make things go a lot faster. Remind me not to get into management, at least not in a corporate store. I don't mind kissing ass for tips, but I don't think I could live in fear for my job. I've already done that.

So, anyway, one day while I was actually learning to serve, my trainer got sat and she asked me to grab them a high chair (they had an baby with them) and to get their drink orders. I walked up to the table, greeted them warmly and introduced myself, and got their drink orders. The woman was very bitchy, barking orders at everyone. "Is the orange juice fresh? Last time I was here it wasn't. Oh, and bring me some crackers for the baby. I need lemon in my water. Junior! Give me that menu, you don't know what you're doing." Very bitchy, indeed. I gave the drink orders to my trainer, and then got the high chair out. As I sat it down next to the table, she snatched it out of my hands and barked, "Does this even work?" I politely replied, "Yes it does, ma'am," and walked away. Some people are not going to be friendly, no matter what you do. It's just a fact of life.

And finally, the most interesting thing that happened to me happened on Easter, and it was one of my tables. It was a two top, just a man and a woman who appeared to be involved in a lengthy discussion. I don't like interrupting these types of people, but I had to take their order, so I gently broke in and said, "Are you guys ready to order or do you need a few minutes?" The woman said pleasantly, "Oh we're ready. I'll have two scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. He'll have the same." I said, "Okay," and glanced over at the man to make sure this was all right. He was looking at the woman with impatience, and he said, "Don't order for me. Order for yourself. Don't worry about what I'M going to eat." She said nothing and looked at the table. I paused, feeling very uncomfortable, with my pen poised over my book. He then sighed dramatically, closed his eyes as if she were really trying his patience, and said, "I'll have two scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. I'll also have a bowl of grits." He said this last part while looking right at her, as if he were making a point. I beat a hasty retreat to the computer to put their ticket in, all the while thinking to myself, Wow. Just like...wow. I didn't bother them at all while their food was being cooked, and when it was ready I dropped it off quickly and asked them if they needed anything else at the moment. He asked for another drink, rather pleasantly, so I quickly ran and got it. To my surprise, when I returned, I found them praying over their food. I just sighed to myself and thought, The southern baptist mentality strikes again. I'm used to this, living where I live.

So there are the highlights of my work days so far. Luckily, a lot of the people that come into my restaurant for breakfast are regulars, and while they may not tip fantastically, they're still low maintenance and a pleasure to work with. That kind of makes up for the subpar tips. (I hear you, Raging Server, about the standard $2 tip. I get a lot of those, especially from the older crowd.) Luckily, we don't have to share our tips, but if we did, I would probably be a little bit more irritated with them.

So tomorrow starts a whole new week for me. I am ready to go back to work. I can't believe I've had five days off in a row. I hope that doesn't happen again. I am looking forward to tomorrow. That's why I like serving so much...every day is a new day, a new opportunity to make money, and if it doesn't pan out there's always the next day. So far, I am really liking my job. I can't wait to have more stories.

Let The Fun Begin!

Well, my training period is over. According to The Restaurant, I have learned everything I will need to know about being a server there. My first day on the floor? Easter Sunday, 8AM-3PM shift.

I was very nervous but prepared, because I had spoken to the manager the day before and I asked her to put me in a small section. She assured me she would and then told me that it was going to be a ten server floor anyway, so everyone's sections would be small, and that she would put me between two people that she knew would help me.

Part of my training was to be a hostess for a couple of days, and learn the floor breakdown and how they rotate by turns. I have hostessed before, when I was a server years ago, so I wasn't at all nervous. I should have been. Every sever at The Restaurant is a table hog. They absolutely would not let me seat their tables! There's nothing wrong with wanting to work, but often times they take it upon themselves to skip rotation and hang out by the door with menus when it is slow, so that they can be the first to greet the customers and seat them in their section. On Easter Sunday, we actually had someone in to host all day so I didn't worry about getting any tables. I should have.

It was kind of slow, so this led to me not getting any tables until around 9. Then we had a little rush and it stayed busy for about an hour or so, and then it slowed right down. Everyone was getting a head start on their side work, anticipating an early cut, and hanging out by the door. So I began doing the same, and seating my own tables in my own section. Don't get me wrong...I love working with people who actually work, but it's not fair to seat yourself three times in a row while there are other people who haven't had tables for twenty minutes. The manager didn't cut anyone until 1:30, and she cut me last, which I appreciated. I didn't do too bad at all for a ten server floor on a slow day, actually, but now I know I should probably be a little bit more vigilant on seating my own tables.

Because I got hired at the beginning of the pay period, thus being put on the same schedule as my trainer, I don't work again until Saturday morning. They make the schedule on Sunday so I'm sure I'll get more shifts next time around, but I am ready to get back to work. I really enjoyed myself the other day. My customers were all pretty great, even the six top whose order I screwed up just a little. Their kids were small, but adorable, not brats, and very well behaved. They had great attitudes about waiting for their food and they tipped me well. They kind of made my day. That and bonding with co workers as an actual server. Even though some of them are table hogs, they've been very nice and helpful to me. I have realized that they do bitch a lot, mostly about each other, but they're still helpful to each other. I know I have a lot more to learn, but right now I do not regret this decision at all.

The First Day

Well, I just got done working my first shift as a server in about seven years, and I have this to say: I am exhausted!

I ran food, took orders, refilled drinks, cleaned...the whole nine yards. I even rolled a couple of trays of silverware. I really think I am going to like this job. The people I work with seem to be friendly, although I did notice that every single one of them was bitching about someone else. I have yet to find out if they're all bitching about the same person or just basically bitching about everyone. LOL. I remember how that goes. Anyway, everyone seemed to be helpful. I did notice a couple servers were really slow, and we were really busy today, so there was some snapping going on. I have thick skin, so it doesn't bother me at all. The manager, who actually manages, (imagine that!) was helping to tray up food and since a few people were in the weeds, whenever she saw me she would bark, "Run this to table 5" or "Please go see if table 23 needs more coffee." I wasn't standing around doing nothing, but it felt good to be very, very busy. I probably got more exercise today than in the last few weeks, and it feels good. Right now I'm just training, so I didn't make any tips. I can't wait to start making tips. Most everyone on the morning shift went home happy today.

The customers weren't too bad either. I didn't really have any assholes today, but then again, I was only following behind my trainer. She is very laid back, doesn't let the stress get to her, which is exactly the kind of attitude I need to be around because I do let myself get stressed out too much. There was one weird lady and her equally weird son that caught my attention, mostly because of the drinks they ordered. She ordered a white chocolate cappucino and a tomato juice. Cappucino and tomato juice? Gross! Her son ordered one of our signature fruit drinks. They barely talked to us or to each other and they both had dirty hair. But they left a decent tip and weren't much trouble, so I could care less how weird they are. LOL.

One more footnote. I am a Yankee, strictly Yank all the way to the bank, and living in the deep south is still a culture shock, even after a year of being here. Today, on my way to work, there was a car in front of me that had what looked like a temporary plate stuck in the back window. As I got closer, I realized it was a not a plate at all, but rather a white cardboard sign. In red crayon, someone had written Lost tag.

Lost tag? Are you kidding me? Like the police are going to read your hastily scribbled note that you wrote in red crayon and decide that nahhhh....they're not going to pull you over this time. I mean, what in the hell is that? Take your southern ass to the DMV and get replacement tags, you dummy. I just shook my head as I passed him. I mean, who does that? Sheesh.

What Have I Done?

So, check it out. I am currently a recovering corporaholic, who struggled to survive in the cut throat corporate world of business and marketing. While I managed to stay on my feet for several years, I grew quite a dislike for the industry and its players. While I am not perfect myself, I just couldn't get past the people I encountered who were not real. I understand that making money is very important to us all, but I personally cannot abide my life by that rule. To me, money takes a back seat to things such as personal happiness, health, and family. This is why I did not fit in with my colleagues. I did not base my professional life on chasing the dollar. I am not motivated by money...I am motivated by results. This mantra fell on deaf ears long enough for me to know that people are not listening to me, and furthermore, they don't care what my motivation is.

So, I resigned from my high end management position with a guaranteed salary of more than enough for me to live on, and decided to go back to college and try to get a degree in something in the medical field. We all know that the medical field is growing and job security is there. In the meantime, I need to work. I have been off of work for a few months now while trying to decide what my best course of action is, and while I have many talents, there are few jobs that I have done that I actually enjoy very much. So after much thought, and lots of reading, I decided I was going to pursue a job as a server. Again.

I waited tables for a while back when I was a bit younger, and more irresponsible, but I always have maintained that that was my favorite job. The work was not too hard, I really enjoyed working with customers, and of course, there's always the incentive of having money in your pocket every day that you work. I made some really good friends and gained a lot of knowledge in the restaurant management industry. But that was a long time ago. I have since graduated from college and entered the stuffy, dry business world. I wondered if I could even go back to serving, after spending several years telling other people what to do. Could I handle being low on the totem pole again, so to speak? Am I going to be okay with taking direction from younger, albeit more experienced servers than myself? The answer to those and other burning questions in my mind was keep it real. That's all I have to do. I intend to work hard, make an honest living, and try not to get my feathers ruffled by all the different personalities I'll be working with. Granted, you get that everywhere, but in a serving environment you have to learn how to work as a team, whether you like your co worker or not. The ambiance of the restaurant as well as your income depend on it.

Yesterday I had an interview at a family restaurant and was hired immediately. I was so excited that I sent text messages to everyone letting them know I had finally scored a job doing what I want to do. And then a few hours later, panic set in. What am I doing? I have anxiety. I'm going to freak out. I'm too old. I'm too fat. I'm going to get everything wrong and everyone will laugh at me. How could I think I could remember all there is to remember about serving? WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Well, those fears are still in my mind, but I have shoved them down into the recesses of my brain. I will not allow anything to hinder my personal success. I went to orientation today and was relieved that another server was hired and will be going through the process with me, and she is older than me. That soothed me. We talked about our age differences and how excited we were to be going back out onto the front lines again. I really felt like the ball was rolling. And then I was told to come in on Saturday for my first training shift. I am going to be working the morning shift in what is mostly a breakfast place, so I expect to be busy and I am ready to go! I am starting this blog for a few reasons. I really want to document my successes and failures. I expect feedback from others, whether it be negative or positive. I also read several "waiting tables" blogs regularly and they have inspired me to start this. I can't wait to get to work.