Saturday, July 19, 2008

I am completely fascinated with the Hawaiian Tropic Zone as I reported before.. But since it's been a while since I had a Saturday night off, thought I'd check in again..

This time, fascinated with the lack of business on a Saturday night.. And a giant fan.


Is anyone there? Just nod if you can hear me..


And .. no one getting beer tonight!?


And what is with that giant fan!?

Saturday nights just aren't the same anymore..

Thursday, July 17, 2008

The regular crowd can be so fickle.. so two faced. So hard to deal with.

The good days they are nice as can be.. good tips.. great smiles, good conversation.

And in the split of a hair's notice, they can turn their backs on their server.. turn away in anger or protest, angry about the slightest and most meager of restaurant agitators..

The regular crowd.

They demand attention.. They feel that since "their" seat is always there at the same time on the same night, they deserve the world that the restaurant has to offer. The service has to be perfect. The beer is empty? Immediately another one is expected. Food is gone? The server should be cleaning the plate right away. A moment of lapse for the server and the regular customer will immediately and quickly rear the ugly head.

It's tough to deal with .. That regular crowd.

And you put on your fake smile ..

And you just watch for closing time. Even though at closing they expect just an extra few minutes..

And the owner lets them.

After all, they're regulars..

Sunday, July 13, 2008


There are times I truly love to observe people. Truly watch them. Study them. See their every movement..

For example, for me people dancing at weddings is like watching a Discovery Channel special about animals in their habitat. Seeing how the alcohol affects them.. what it does to their motions. Their arms flailing in the air.. By the end of the night the folks that can make it onto the speakers dancing the night away to pop hits like the Macarena or Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy.

But it reminds me, more than anything, that no matter how people seem they will be their wedding ends up being the same.. Double vision.

A few weeks ago, a mom of the bride came into my employment to set her wedding up. This was a nice dig. They rented their own table cloths from an outside company since they didn't like the color of ours.. they rented their own linen napkins.. their own chair covers. But in the end, after their Fillet Mignon and stuffed flounder, they ended up the same as the non-pretentious weddings: Drunk and dancing on speakers.

Yes, indeed, no matter the circumstances behind the party, the crowd wants the same thing: Meat and liquor. And when their primal instincts get 'sassified,' they end up acting and talking the same as every other party..

Egos, I suppose. Maybe it's the ego.

I'd be happy just sitting in a dark corner with my wife or friends drinking an ice cold Coors Light (as I am now at my computer) .. but some folks need speakers to dance [badly] on.

Chair covers or just plain chairs, your crowd will get drunk, too. The lesson to learn: Don't let your ego get the best of you. You're just like the others.. No changes, no differences. Life is short, stop trying to act better than everyone else.
The most odious of behaviors restaurant employees can possess is the potent ability to show up for work under the influence of something.. I don't know what, but something.

What about it makes it so uncomfortable?

Maybe dropping trays of food on people? Maybe buspans in the kitchen spilling all over the floor.. Maybe those awkward conversations you begin with folks .. randomly and for no apparently rhyme or reason..

Be cool. Stay in school.

Just say no.

Wait until after work. Get messed up on a cold Coors Light.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Sunday, July 6, 2008

A fellow blogger on the declining service in the service industry..

He's so right when he says,
"What about when you have this ugly guy waiter that insists on crouching down at the side of the table to "look you in the eye" when he talks to you? What the hell is this? If I wanted to look him in the eye I would stand up when I gave him my order. If he is trying to get more personal by doing this he’s right. Now I get a better wiff of his bad coffee breath!

Then when the food comes, don’t you hate it when the waiter, or food runner, has to say "Who gets the Chicken Marsala?" "You ordered the burger, right?"

How so very, very true.
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