A · Funny · Kind · of · So

Blah- that's annoying. Kicks me out if I leave the page and the entry's bigger than the text box. Oh well, that's about all I wanted to say anyways. Love you all, I'll prolly update more frequently with this nifty new device!

Christine

you may call me [Christy].

That's what they call me at work anyways!

So it's my birthday! It was a pretty good day. Went to the west side for the weekend, spent WAY more money than I should have! Kay bought me an iPod touch! It came today in the mail- great timing!! I'm actually typing this on it at the moment! It's Internet browser is amazing- everything looks just like it should w/o broken links, smooshed screens, or hyperlinks that take forever to load!! I'm very happy with it.

I got a snazzy case for it, that also came today. Have a ton of music I need to sort through before I feel good letting it auto-sync to my library, though. There's a lot of songs that don't need to be in my library. Very snazzy and smart piece of technology.

On the west side, there were a lot of things that I didn't need to buy, but did anyways. We went out for a nice Italian dinner in federal way. Service was amazing, as was the food!! If you ever get the chance to go to gino's, take it and run! Bit pricey, but totally worth it. The butternut squash soup is to die for, even of you hate squash like me! They actually do courses, and don't rush you through your meal like many places do. Much better experience than olive garden.

I bought some shirts from banana (of course!) as well as some buttons for my apron. I've been getting a lot of comments about my buttons, so I decided to get some new different ones. Some more eye shadow from my favourite company (I ws running low), some pretty chopsticks, cute duck magnents, and some boob pads (for those sexy dresses and shirts kn my closet that are hard to wear w/o a bra) was perhaps more than I needed... And kay's dad is taking me shopping for $100! I already spent $25 on Godiva chocolates, but I'm having issues figuring out what to buy with the remainder, not to mention my mom is sending me money, and my dad got me some cash, too! This is why I hate cash instead if gifts- I never know what to spend it on!! I'll figure something out.

Gotta go back to work tomorrow. :( At least I had most of a week off! That was nice. It's starting to get really cool over here at night. I'm going to have to start getting out my cold weather stuff!

 Serving has shown me how incredibly fucking crazy some people can be about food.

I despair for whole portions of the world population.

 I don't much enjoy my job. The only thing I enjoy about it is the money. I make very good money.

Some of the people I like are fun, and good to work with. Actually, most of the people I work with, I like. There are just a few that I can't stand.

I'm not going to get into it.

Yesterday was a very bad day at work. I don't want to get into it, because I've managed to put most of it out of my mind. But I'll talk about today!

I started work, and it seemed like it'd be okay. M was joking with me a bit, okay, that's fine, M's a cool guy. Bit abusive (haha!) but a funny and nice guy. N was working. I've been having issues with N lately. I don't know if she feels the same thing, but I know that I haven't been enjoying N's attitude lately.

It's 10pm, N gets off work at midnight. I take my first table at 10:05, and soon after, another table walks in. N wants me to take them. I tell N- my first table hasn't even ordered yet, and isn't it your turn to be sat? N is confused and says that she thought that we'd do what we had been doing previous nights-- I take all the tables, while she does her sidework and leaves early. 

The thing is- we only do this when it's SLOW and not a lot of tables. And as it's still early, and she has a whole TWO HOURS until her shift is over, she can pull her own damn weight. She makes a passing mark to me that she's really tired and can't wait to get home. Yes, I get it! I understand, believe me. It's been busy all day, I see that from the 25% labor. But your shift isn't even over yet, and I can really use the help!

N is still confused when I point out it's her turn, and asks again if I can take them "I mean, you're not really that busy, are you?".

Keep in mind, that, when serving, the worst thing for a server is being "double-sat"- having two tables sit in your section in the same small space of time. This means that one table is going to feel cheated, like they're being made to wait when they got to the restaurant at the same time as this other table. They're going to be mad, they're going to want preferential treatment, and they're going to leave a crappy tip because their service is not as good as they'd like. 

N wanted to give me two tables in a row, when all her tables had food already and didn't need anything-- just because she wanted to leave early. Servers are allowed to leave early when it's not busy. It was getting busy. At least, it wasn't slowing down.

So that started out swell.

I found out that one of the newer employees couldn't read the lable on the Fat Free Ranch, and so we were serving guests the fat free ranch instead of the full-fat ranch (which is much better- no one likes the FF Ranch). So I had to throw away a ton of that to replace it with real ranch...

I had a table of four (a double date, I think, the guys were big scary black guys) and I was as nice as you please to them, got them everything they wanted. I even had N get them alcohol, because I can't get it for them (I'm underage). I dropped off their appetizer, letting them know that their food was still on the way, and was there anything else I could get for them?

One of the guys looks up at me and points angrily at his half-full beer. Did it taste wrong? Did N bring him the wrong one? If so, he shouldn't have drunken half of it.... Maybe he wants another one??

I say, "You.... want another?" Unsure, but with a smile so he doesn't take it too personally and get mad. They laugh, at me, or him, I don't know/care. He nods.

Honestly, people, use your big boy words! Pointing is not an acceptable form of communication. Glaring will not get you far. Manners will get you everything.

I had two guys in the bar, nodding off. They had had a couple pitchers of beer, I was guessing. One of them, apparently sick of waiting, and walks up to me, and asks "Can we just refill our own pitcher?"

Is there a sign, ANYWHERE, in this building that says, "Self-serve"? Why do you think someone got the first, and second, and third pitchers for you? Why would we all of a sudden change the rules for the fourth pitcher? No, you may not serve yourself, you drunk pig, I can lose my job for that, and you can go to jail! Alcohol may not be given away for free in the state of Washington. It is a drug.

Honestly. People are dumb.


( Rant about Captain Cart )

But other than that, work was okay tonight. 

Savannah is working on getting the first of her books published, and I'm so excited!! Antebellum is looking so great, and I'm so excited, now that we've put the finishing touches on it! Still need to figure out a cover idea.... But once it gets sent to the editor, and she sends back the notes, and then the final revision.... And then it's on the shelves!

And now there's a new book in progress! A realistic-futuristic novel about the environment, called A Clear and Beautiful Lie..... It's going to be good. Challenging, because there's a lot of technical stuff we're going to have to watch out for in this, lots of research, but I'm so excited-- Glad I'm not writing it! I just like contributing ideas. 

I found a new artist. He works in all genres of music, but it's all comedy. My favourites are Code Monkey, The Captain's Wife's Lament, and I Feel Fantastic.

I also found some really cool artwork online: http://www.imaginismstudios.com/ I like Bath Time and Unexpected Visitor by Kei Acedera.

I've recently been stuck on Travian.com. It's a really slow-paced strategy game. You're the ruler of a village-- develop it as you wish, and come out on top.

I need a hobby- does anyone have any ideas? Something I can do on my days off-- something to keep me from sleeping all day and night. Something fun and interesting that encourages thought/activity.

Anyways. That's all I've got for you guys. Sorry about all the work rants lately, that's all I've been doing, though!

~Christine

You may call me [Christy].

At least, that's what everyone else at work calls me!

Dear Customers:

When you come in smelling like alcohol, falling over your friends and shoes, slurring your words, and giggling manically, I will refuse to service you. No, I won't make an exception, just this once. No, you may NOT help yourself to the bar, if I ring it up for you. I can't serve you if you are intoxicated. What if you walk out of my restaurant, and choke on your own vomit, or die of alcohol poisoning? It would trace back to me, and I'd be responsible, because you're too drunk off your ass to know when you need to stop, and need me to babysit your bad habits!

To the young man who is clearly under 21, when you bring in bottles of alcohol we don't serve at Denny's, and hide it under the table for me to find after you leave, it makes me really mad. I can loose my job for that fuckery.

Yes, sir, I will place your order of extra saucy buffalo wings. Yes, sir, I will place your order of extra saucy buffalo wings. Yes. Sir. I will, INDEED place your order of extra saucy buffalo wings. Because you come in here three times a week, I KNOW you want bleu cheese and ranch to dip them in. Yes, I know. Bleu cheese. And ranch. I will get it for you, as soon as you stop asking for me to bring it to you.

No, an appetizer is not an entree. Only to an entree can you add a salad, late at night. If you want something not greasy to eat, don't eat at Denny's. Those rules are there for a reason. Servers don't like making salads at night because we have less time to do that-- there's less staff, and more unruly customers. I'm not going to make you a salad just because you ask really nicely, and smile your cutesy smile at me.

To the young man who came in with his girlfriend at 5am: Don't hit on me in front of her. And don't ask me for a drink- it's not 6am yet, you know the law, don't even try it. And like you really need it- you're drunk already.

No, I will not place an order of Bar Fries for you when you are not seated at the bar. That's why they're called Bar Fries- you eat them while you're at the BAR. 

Did the menu say you got a free refill on that drink? No. Why are you asking me if I'll bend the rules for you? The owner is stingy- don't make me lose my job.

Do not. EVER. Whistle at me like I'm a dog.

When I say to you, "Here's your check-- but please, stay as long as you like, I'll ring you up at the front. Did you need boxes for that?" what I really mean is "Here's your check, you've stayed your allotted time". The restaurant loses money when you stay for four hours.

I will not be happy with you when you and your five friends order six oreo milkshakes. We have two old-ass machines, there's only one of me, and the ice cream is rock hard. Milkshakes take forever. And my hand freezes to the tin and hurts for an hour afterwards.

To the gentleman and his wife: You are not, infact, my first and only customers of the night. In fact, you are one of seven at the moment, and the last ones to arrive, and therefore, last on my list of people to get to. I will, when it is your turn to be served, be more than happy to serve you. Until then, hold your freaking horses.

To the group of perverted men who came in and ordered a ton of food this morning. I can, infact, understand Spanish. Yes, I realize you're talking about me, and what you'd like to do with/to me. I'm not going to let on, though, because if you have the audacity to speak about that in public, you'd have the audacity to do something else, too!

I tell you I live with my brother because if I tell you I live with my significant other, you won't tip me. Just because you leave your number does not mean I will call. Stop coming in and asking why I haven't called you. 

"Uhm, do you have any burgers with bacon on them?"
"Well, there's the Bacon-Cheddar Burger"
"Oh. What does that have on it?"
".....Bacon. And cheddar."
"Oh."


"What comes on *some item*?"
"Well, if you'll read right here, the menu lists what it has in it..."
I am not an encyclopaedia. I don't memorize how things are made, just which meals I have to ask you how you want your eggs done. That's what the menu is there for.

People are really stupid sometimes.