A tip from the bartender

Words to love by

2010-08-06T14:01:00.002-05:00

Please come see my blog. Words of my own and words that inspire me.

http://wordstoloveby.tumblr.com/

Why I avoid the bars and stick to tubing

2010-07-16T17:14:00.000-05:00

Hi all! It's been ages.

I have found myself avoiding socializing at bars because my arm does this sort of jerking motion like when you hear a song your body wants to dance to but your mind is smart enough to know you can only dance like that when you're blasting music alone in your house.

I sort of cringe when I watch the bartender start making some of our drinks and come back over and us to repeat the order, really, your memory is so bad you can't remember a jack and coke, rum and diet, and captain and sprite and three jager bombs?!??! Ok, maybe I'm being judgemental, but I want to jump across the bar and do it all myself.

Then I find myself getting defensive if someone makes a comment about the service. Like I'm allowed to think that way because I used to work behind the bar, but my friends aren't because "they just don't get it". Hahaha, so as you can see I am being judgemental from all angles and it just doesn't end well.

I've found myself doing other things to pass the time, which has been good to my body. Instead of boozing at a bar and sitting on a stool for the night, I opt to booze on a boat and tube for an hour to work it off, not really, that's just what I like to tell myself. I just discovered tubing and I have been trying to make up for the 25 years of my life that I knew not of this amazing adventure.. I spend as long as I can on the tube, or until the rest of the guys get restless and tired of watching me trail behind the boat. If you haven't tried it, though, you should. I woke up the next morning and felt like I did an hour of pushups and was slightly miserable, but still had a smile plastered on my face from it.

I miss you all. Glad to see you are still enjoying the stories. I am starting up a new blog of quotes I come across .. I'm always scribbling them down and everyone always seems to enjoy my thought-provoking facebook status updates so I want to try it out. I will post a link on here, but they won't be linked because I am going to make it personal/not anonymous. I don't mind if you all know who I am.. but I don't want my friends knowing about this :) I might get myself into trouble with some of former posts.

Moving TOMORROW!

2010-02-26T19:47:00.000-06:00

I'm moving tomorrow!!! I'm all packed and excited for the change! I miss all my blogging friends so much! I'm hoping to get my computer up and running soon after the move.

moving on

2010-02-13T20:19:00.000-06:00

I want to apologize for the past few weeks as I have been MIA. And I plan on being gone for a few more weeks after this post as well. I haven't been able to read or comment on my favorite blogs in quite some time. But I want to thank those of you who are continuing to comment on the few blogs I have been able to post.

To explain, I have just started a new job and that has taken up quite a bit of time. On top of that my computer broke again so the time I have on the internet is far and few between. What is going to take up my time in the coming weeks is my almost final decision to move in with some co-workers.

I've had to weight heavy options. The bills will be VERY tight, but I want to be living out on my own and with people my own age. It's also with three guys, which will be different since I am a girl and all.

Those are the only two cons. The house is beautiful and it's on the lake. One of the guys owns it so I know it will be kept clean and nice. It's also a good opportunity to meet people and be with people my own age, as I have turned into quite a hermit while living with my parents. Of course I would like to save money, but I think for my own sanity and indpendance I am about to take this leap.

And while it is a big decision, I know that if I don't like the accomodations I can always move back in with my parents. So that is all I have been weighing the last few days. And in attempt to prepare for that move I will not be able to be posting as much.

In good news, I am working on getting a weekend job serving again so soon I will be back in the game and on the blog to vent!

Miss you all :)

Super Bowl Sunday!

2010-02-07T14:48:00.000-06:00

LETS GO SAINTS!!!!!!

I'm so glad to be watching the Super Bowl instead of working it!!!!

No watching people ingest large amounts of hot wings and beer.

Nope, today that will be ME!!!

Carry out. Tip or no tip, you tell me!

2010-01-30T12:27:00.001-06:00

Hi all!

It's my 50th post! Sorry I have been MIA. I have been working on finding a full time job (successful - I start Monday) and my computer with all my future blogs stored on it broke! Again. So, that's my excuse. But I will be doing the best I can in the future to add to this. I am going to be looking for a weekend job at a restaurant soon, I sort of miss the atmosphere. But enough about me!

Recently, I saw a blog from So you want to be a waiter about carry out orders and tipping. (You can find his link on my blog roll.. I'm not sure how to add a link to my posts. The article was about carry out food:
http://teleburst.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/why-should-i-tip-for-to-go-food-pt-1/

I agree with what he has said.. basically you should tip when you go for carry out.. at least something. I usually tip a little more than ten percent.

Carry out orders are the same as in house orders except that you don't refill their glasses. Really you take their order, put them in at the kitchen, gather the food and sauces together and make the transaction. It takes time, and most people don't like to do this job because they never get tipped out.

I will admit that before I waited tables, I didn't tip on carry out. I can imagine their scowls as I left the restaurant, annoyed that yet another customer came and left without acknowledging their hard work. But I didn't think about the work that went into it.

I'm wondering what other people do. Do you tip out carry out orders, and, if you do, how much on average? And those of you who have worked in a carry out position do you get paid minimum wage or do you get paid similar to other waiters, who rely mostly on tips for their wages. I know at my restaurant the waitresses took care of the carry out along with their other tables.

Please go and read So you want to be a waiter's blog on this topic it is much more articulate than my random rambling. He poses a much better argument than I am able to, so check it out:
http://teleburst.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/why-should-i-tip-for-to-go-food-pt-1/

read about my oh-so-personal life.

2010-01-16T14:59:00.000-06:00

I noticed that my link to my other blog has been down for some time. But I found the problem and it's back up and running. So if you have a second stop by and take a look.

I gave it a newish direction and changed it up a little bit.

It's basically about my journey into the post-college world. Right now, I am focusing on finding a full time job. But soon, hopefully, I will be searching for a new car (my first big solo purchase), deciding whether I should rent or own or pay nothing and mooch off my parents for the rest of my life, and how I should juggle all of my bills.

If anyone has any advice or want to see what I've written about thus far (not too much as it's still a baby blog) come see me: http://ohsopersonallife.blogspot.com/

You puke, you leave

2010-01-10T18:08:00.000-06:00

I for one have never gotten so drunk in a bar that I have puked. I have been to my fair share of parties as a teen that ended in my submission to the porcelain god. But by the time I was at the age of bar dwellers I was out of that stage. Since my experience was working at a college bar.. I saw plenty of the puke your guts out drunks.

There were always the ones who tried to hide it by going out to the farthest corner of our deck. And the lucky security guard who found it at the end of the night got the privilege of cleaning it up. There were the ones who actually make it to the bathroom. And then there's my favorite story:

We have one manager that is female. She is pretty tough, which is why she was promoted. Well, one night she was standing at the end of the bar with a security guard. And some guy casually walked past them with his hand covering his mouth. Nobody thought much of it until we saw chunks flying from between his fingers. He was on his way to the men's room which is right next to the bar.. genius designers.. but didn't quite make it.

The security guard is covered in puke and suddenly turns from tough guy to pansy as he makes a pukey face himself. I don't blame him.. I would have gotten sick if someone puked all down my back. So he was sent home. And the manager was left to clean up the wall he puked on.

We have a rule that makes a lot of sense. You puke, you leave- no exceptions. While our female manager is wiping up the puke covered walls someone taps her on her shoulder.

Pukey's friend: He's actually not that drunk. He just isn't feeling well. Do you think he could just stay here with us?

Female Manager: I assume your talking about the guy whose puke I am cleaning up?

Pukey's friend: Well... yeah... um...

Female Manager: No, he's out.

This is my favorite story because of the audacity of pukey's friend to ask the person who is cleaning up puke from the walls and the floor if the person who made this pukefest mess can stay. Also, the security man who practically ran out the door to go home to change and shower probably would have had something to say at pukey's friend's request.

New years highs and lows

2010-01-03T15:00:00.000-06:00

I spent my first New Years -in what seems like a lifetime- on the customer side of the bar. And I spent the first night out -in what seems like a lifetime- at a bar other than the one I worked at. The result was obviously slower service and less people to mingle with.

The martini bar offset slow service with a good attitude, which was refreshing. It's nice to be smiled at and hearing thank you after leaving a tip. I always did those things as a bartender (well not so much the smiling but I was like twenty times busier than this bar was.. but definitely the thank you. No matter how busy I was I always thanked someone for a tip.)

Having less people to mingle with was actually a good thing. At the college bar pretty much every person knows you from you serving them, especially after you've worked there for a few years. You don't have time to enjoy the conversations with the people you've ventured to the bar with. In fact, usually they move on with the rest of your group while your stuck back chatting with a customer. I'm not sure why the customers feel the need to stop you and talk to you. It's like .. I spend enough time dealing with you when I'm at work.. please let me enjoy my night off by talking to the people that I choose to talk to. So, it was nice being able to chat with the group I came with.

After midnight we ventured over to college bar (my previous employer) and I realized why I hate bars. I'm so used to being protected by the the rotting green tile that I forgot what it was like on the other side of a crowded bar. People think that they can touch you as you pass them. People think that they can creepily come up and talk to you like they are your new bff. Without the rotting green square of protection I felt naked and vulnerable. And I didn't like it one bit.

My best purchase

2009-12-28T22:24:00.000-06:00

I would like to start this post by stating that I am in no way being endorsed for this review. I have not contacted Aveda and they have no knowledge of this post.

About a week ago I went to the spa and had the following conversation while I was getting my eyebrows waxed. (My hair grows too fast to pluck)

Spa interrogator: So... what do you use to wash your face?

BB: Well, I guess neutrogena right now. Or whatever is on sale.

Spa interrogator: And how is that working for you?

Obviously NOT that great..

BB: Well, I've always had really oily skin and I've tried a lot of products but it never helps. And I don't have that much money to keep testing products.

The spa interrogator then gave me the sale's pitch on this aveda product called outer peace. She said she used to have oily skin and that by the end of the long day you could wipe your hand across her face and grease a tire with it. Much like mine. And when I looked at her face I noticed that it was not one bit oily. It looked perfect.

Well, I tried it. And I was surprised. So was my mom. She kept commenting on how great my face looked. She said she'd never seen it look so good. So I told her about my purchase.

I'm sharing this with you because I know what it's like to have really oily skin. It's especially irritating in the restaurant industry because of how hot you can get from running around a kitchen or bar. By the end of a shift it looked like I hadn't showered in a week. Same goes for the 9 to 5 lifestyle. By the end of a long day all I wanted to do was go home and wash my face. I would avoid going out with my friends after a long day because I needed to go wash my face and redo my makeup before feeling clean.

In a matter of two weeks my skin is recognizably different. It's amazing. I don't feel dirty five hours into my day. I don't wake up feeling gross. I just feel normal.

The product is a bit pricey.. but if you use it consertatively (once in the morning and once in the evening) you can make it last.

The best results will come from this use:

Outerpeace foaming cleanser
Botanical KineticsTM Toning Mist
outerpeace acne relief lotion

By using the toning mist (which lasts a very long time)instead of the toning pads offered in the outpeace set it will cut down on price. Also the toning pads may actually overdry your skin. So that is why I stuck the toning mist in there. It ran me about 90 dollars when I bought it through a spa. But I'm telling you it is worth it! If you've dealt with oily skin before... 90 dollars is worth it. I'm two weeks in and there is still a lot of product left. My guess is that I will go about 3 months until I need another wash and lotion. And that the mist will last a year.

Just go to aveda.com and type in outerpeace in the search section on the top right hand of the screen. Use this same process for the toning mist. Also if you are curious what other have to say there are about 250 reviews for the foaming wash and about 235 of them are positive reviews!

I'm the customer I hate

2009-12-19T22:19:00.000-06:00

Ever since I've been reading and writing these blogs I have had an intense sensation of customer anxiety. I analyze everything me and my guests do when eating out. I try to read the server's faces to see what they are thinking. It's downright dreadful. I can't even enjoy myself. I'm thinking about boycotting restaurants altogether.

Yesterday during a break in appointments at the spa, my mom and I went to a nearby restaurant. It was really nice. The menu had interesting/new meals and you could see the kitchen and cooks through plexiglass. It was also super expensive.. well for what I'm used to.

We didn't have much time so we just wanted appetizers. We had to wait for about 15 minutes and were sat at a four person table. I felt bad because it was a Friday night and there was a wait. This waiter could have had people who were drinking and ordering meals. And he got us.

I cringed as a I told him that we had an appoinment (I was trying to let the server know that we would need to be served more quickly as their place is more about presentation and enjoying the atmosphere). However, I could tell this ticked him off. I almost saw his mind click over to "oh great appetizers" mode. He was short with us after that and rather rude. I'm sure he didn't feel like working for that seven dollar tip.. as our bill only added up to about thirty bucks.

He started to do things which made me think he was purposely trying to punish us. For instance, he would come to our table to check on us but wouldn't pick up the empty soup cups .. which I placed at the end of the table for easier access. He also would bring us refills but didn't take our empty glasses. And even though he knew we were trying to have dinner in a timely manner (we DID have forty five minutes so it wasn't that rushed).. and he saw our napkins were on the table.. he waited forever to bring our boxes. Then even longer to bring the check. And I realize he was busy but the servers had a team effort type of staff and helped out alot. I would see him kind of walking around not knowing what to do with himself.

This is just one experience I've had in the last few weeks. But I cringe everytime I ask for something annoying (like extra sauces) or for numerous refills (I'm quite the guzzler). If I stay and sit an extra twenty minutes and it's busy I can feel the server's stare. I'm all the things I hate in a customer. And the more I try to compensate by being nice .. I think the more it angers them.

On a funny note, I had a waitress the other day at a Chilis who talked like she was an auctioneer. I couldn't help but laugh as she was talking because it was basically impossible to understand her. And she would come by and tell me she was getting me another iced tea so quickly that I didn't even have time to say no thanks.

Any other servers or former servers have trouble being a customer?

Where are all the freaking spoons

2009-12-18T22:59:00.000-06:00

Every weekend the owner would buy about three boxes of pens. And by Sunday every single one of them would be gone.

All week bartenders and waitresses would have to scrounge up pens from whereever they were hidden, and some of us would have to share. I'd watch the customers intently as they signed their receipts and snag the pen before it disappeared. People probably thought I was nuts. And then the weekend would come and we'd get more pens. But come sunday they would disappear again.

I swear the owner spends half his profit on pens for us. It's ridiculous. I don't know if the customers are swallowing them or if they are getting up and running out of the bar.. but I've found a solution.

The other day when I was signing some paperwork I noticed the pen I was holding onto had a plastic spoon taped around it. I asked her if this was their way of making sure people didn't steal their pens and she said it was.

I thought this was a clever little way of keeping your pen supply intact because who wants a pen with a spoon stuck to it?

What to wear, what to wear...

2009-12-17T16:25:00.003-06:00

I was going to drop a resume off at a local restaurant today. It's very trendy and most of the ritzy people go there. But it's actually VERY busy. Their web site says they are hiring for all the staff positions, kitchen, serving, and banquet.

But, I didn't go in because I had jeans on. When I was at lunch, my friend told me that they have a dress policy there and that I would be way under dressed if I went in the way I was. The jeans were dark, I had on a black tee, and ugg boots.. plus I was all done up with my hair and makeup. I thought that was good enough. I've never thought that one should get dressed up when applying for labor type jobs. I mean in the normal workday you would wear comfortable clothes to work in.. so why should you get all gussied up just to turn in a resume?

I guess they work in black pants and button up tops. So I'm going to wait for my black pants to return from being hemming and go in dressed up.

I am wondering what other's experiences are with turning in resumes. If the restaurant is upscale should the applicant dress up in business attire? Anybody out there actually conduct interviews? Do you care what they wear in the food industry? I guess I'm just going by my previous restaurant.. which was VERY casual during the day. At night the bartenders dressed up.. but I would never expect someone to come in black pants to turn in their resume. I've seen people come in sweatpants.. and it didn't affect them in the hiring process.

I think I'm going to go with black pants and a white blouse. But I still feel weird getting dressed up business style.

Where is the christmas spirit?

2009-12-14T11:15:00.002-06:00

You would think that the closer to the holidays.. the friendlier the patrons.

In my experience it's the exact opposite. People spend all day shopping .. shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers fighting over a pair of shoes that are fifty percent off or a coat that is practically free .. and they are grumpy. So instead of enjoying a relaxing meal.. they take their anger out on their servers.

I think the same happens when families eat out. There is more pressure by parents to get their kids everything they want and more. I don't know how many times I've heard "Did you get me that bike, mom? I really want that bike. Christmas won't be the same without that bike." Well sorry to tell you sonny but Christmas will be exactly the same.. the snow won't melt just because your bike doesn't show up on Christmas morning. I just want to shake the kids and be tell them Christmas is about spending time with your family.. NOT about how many gifts you get.

You might think that big rant has nothing to do with waiting tables or bartending. But believe me you, it does. Parents are exhausted from fighting with their kids about cutting back on presents.. and annoyed at the crowded shopping centers. They don't want to slave over the stove.. so they go out to eat. But the restaurants they can afford are just as crowded. They wait for forty five minutes and when they finally get seated they don't have a patient bone left in their bodies. Or they need a cold beer after a long day and walk into the bar and stew in their frustration. Eventually all these patrons take their anger out on the server.. in words and in minimal tips.

I wish Christmas was less about gifts and more about the spirit of Christmas and spreading that spirit around. I think everyone would be happier... well everyone but the kids.

You have to come in.. but you can't clock on.

2009-12-10T09:49:00.004-06:00

I was responding to some comments on my post today and it sort of shot off a light bulb in my head. In my attempt to explain why my paychecks were so low (low pay because customers tip our labor costs, shorter hours than average job, etc.). Well, this made me remember something that occurred in my bar and I wanted to see if it happens anywhere else.

My boss, in an attempt to lower costs has done some ridiculous things. One of them was to hire his brother to do the schedule (which has caused chaos from the start). Another was to work the daytime manager shifts to save on labor costs (which has turned into a joke- as he calls in other managers almost every morning because he wants to do stuff like go fishing or run errands).

But one of the most ridiculous things he has done was to the staff. Without coming and telling us, he gave the managers a direct order not to let anyone clock into work when they get there. WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET PUT ON. Even though, on the schedule it might tell me to come in at ten pm.. sometimes I don't get put on until midnight. So I sit for an hour or two without getting paid. I think this is illegal.. but he has gone about it by telling us we will have to go on as soon as we clock in.. when there is clearly nobody in the bar and then the other bartenders have to split money with us and get pissed off.

Basically he has pitted us against eachother. If I want to clock in and get paid I have to go to work right away. Only the bar will not need me to work and will have to split the very little money they are making with me and everyone else who wanted to clock in. Therefore, everybody just waits until it gets busy enough to work and then clocks in.

It just annoys me because A.I'm getting paid like 4.50 an hour .. suck up that extra eight bucks. B. My average weekly hours are never over fifteen.. with or without the waiting to clock in rule. C. We don't have enough employees for this to actually make a difference for him.. he maybe saves a hundred bucks an hour.. whooppddiiidddooo.. We make him about 500 bucks an hour on each register.

Anyway, this is something that has always bugged me. I wonder if any other places do that.. and if it's legal.. etc. Please feel free to respond!

What kind of tip do YOU want?

2009-12-09T11:28:00.003-06:00

One of the most uncomfortable situations I faced as a bartender was the inevitable question. "What kind of tip do you want?"

I hate this question for three reasons. One, if I tell you what I really want for a tip you will think I am A. Greedy and B. Rude. So to avoid seeing your jaw hit the floor I tell you the more reasonable response.. which is twenty percent.

Which brings up the second reason. I have to size you up in about two seconds. Are you the type of person who is the average tipper or will you be astounded if I suggest anything more than twenty percent. If are a cocky guy I will test you. I will say something like forty percent and watch your face. If your jaw hits the floor, as most do, I will say ohhh ok well how about and go for twenty percent.

Now the third reason I hate this question comes into play. I start wondering why you asked me this question. Because most of the time you don't want me to say some ridiculous number and empty your bank account. Are you assuming that I'll be a good employee and only suggest the minimum fifteen percent? Do you know that I will say twenty percent and you were planning on paying that.. so you are trying to show off how much money you have without actually spending any of it? Sometimes I misjudge the person and they are actually willing to tip more than I suggest. They say something along the lines of "Oh that's it?" Which makes me disappointed because now I'm thinking about how much I could have actually gotten you for.

What I hate more than this question is this question with a twist. "What kind of tip do you think you deserve." This is like asking someone what their best qualities are. It's uncomfortable and presumptuous to compliment yourself. If I say something that you have never seen in me then you think I am full of myself and delusional. And if I don't answer you assume I have no confidence. Well the same goes with this question.. if I assume I deserve the best tip possible then you think I'm full of myself and delusional. And you might even point that out. And if I say I don't know then you say something along the lines of "Ok then if you don't care .. I'll just give you fifteen percent".

These are not hypothetical situations. These have actually happened to me. Have you ever had this question posed to you? And if so, how do you respond? What goes through your head? Why do you think they ask this question?

The end.

2009-12-05T04:14:00.004-06:00

Tonight was my last night at work. So I didn't really give a crap.. which felt very liberating.

I had one girl complain about me to another bartender because she said I was rude. I wish I had a video camera so I could record the encounter back to her when she was sober and show her who was rude. I again was dealing with the "EXCCCCUUUUUSE MEEE! OVER HERE!" bitches. I didn't have anyone else to serve at the time so I asked her what she would like. She made me wait there while she asked her friend what she was drinking. And then she went to into a whole list of questions about prices. By the time I got done answering her questions there were about five people waiting to order.

So when she asked me another question about prices, I did what I thought was most logical.. I walked away. I served the other five people and then I came back. She then looks at me and says "So, are you going to serve me now?" And biting my tongue I said "That depends. Are you ready now?" So she ordered a fuzzy navel. I made it, brought it back to her, and rung her up pretty quickly and then moved on. Apparently she was all pissy because she went and complained about me to the other bartender.. which did her a whole lot of nothing because I don't work there anymore.. complain about me all you want to, bitch.

I was very smug all night about all the annoying customers. Every time I served someone with attitude I smiled to myself knowing that I would never have to serve them again.

At the end of the night, I got whipped creamed.. a tradition at our bar. And I'm not kidding here.. I was covered in whip cream.. head to toe. My hair was like a giant ice cream cone. And at the end of the night everyone took a shot with me.. which of course included someone saying how I would probably be back in two weeks anyway. It was nice.. and I am going to miss the people I work with. But I have been saying for a few months how happy I would be to quit and put the drama of the bar behind me.. and I sincerely am.

dollar jager bombs.. so wait what's the total?

2009-12-04T04:09:00.003-06:00

I don't know how many times I had this exact conversation:

Customer: What are you specials?

Really because they are written on four special boards. One is neon green and lights up. Very hard to miss. And the specials have been the same all year.

BB: Dollar fifty miller cans, 6 dollar rum pitchers and dollar jager bombs.

C: Ok. Can I have 3 jager bombs.

BB: Sure.

Bring back the three jager bombs and in case they can't add I tell them the price.

BB: 3 dollars.

C: Wait. How much?

OMFG. Can you really not add 3 dollars.. three jager bombs at one dollar each. I would have brushed this off if it had been one drunkie. But even the sober people were asking me the totals. I'm dealing with morons.

Thank goodness tomorrow's my last night.

Funny story.. I quit once .. actually almost exactly a year ago.. and went home for two weeks and then came back. Everyone did the traditional last night of work shot and said nice things. I hugged people I never thought I'd miss. (The bar where I work is four hours from my original home.) Had a big going away party.. mostly just drank with all the employees at work. And then I came back. So now everyone keeps saying.. are you leaving for real.. or are you going to come back in two weeks? I'm sure that will be the joke of the night on saturday .. because it will be my SECOND going away party. But I swear I'm leaving this time.

The boss man sent out an email telling people to say goodbye to me and that I was leaving to pursue my career. That was nice of him. I'll honestly miss it.. I get this sort of high from trying to serve as many customers at once and working my ass off. I'll miss my friends that work there.. although now there aren't that many left. I'll miss my independence.. I'm so used to living on my own and answering only to myself. But I probably won't miss the college crowd very much, that is one thing I am happily moving on from.

What I've been up to..

2009-12-02T08:07:00.006-06:00

Hi all!

I am new to the blogging world (well fairly new) and I'm just loving it with every ounce of my being.

I wanted to invite you all to visit my new blog that I've started.. actually just a few hours ago. It's a bit of a baby.. but I have some good ideas for it. I will, of course, still blog on this site, but I had an epiphany today while I was... well you can read it on the new blog http://bb-myjourney.blogspot.com/

It's basically about my journey out of the rut I feel that I am in. I am 24 and I should be out enjoying my life.. instead of feeling like a hermit. This new blog has a lot to do with my moving home and starting over. I will probably be posting on it more often than this one for a bit.. since I am quitting my bartending job (I will be looking for a new part-time serving job though so I will not be disappearing). I want to document my twenties.. this will include everything from hunting for a job, trying to find financial freedom, meeting men/being single.. and everything else that I face.

I do hope that you will take a look.. and if it suits your fancy.. follow me! If not, maybe you know someone who might like reading it and I encourage you to pass it along. Anyway, that's my plug for my new blog!

http://bb-myjourney.blogspot.com/

Why won't anybody help me out?

2009-11-28T19:13:00.003-06:00

Last week, after lots of traveling and little sleep I got a bit of a cold, that turned a bit worse. I had deemed myself bed ridden since I wasn't scheduled to work until this weekend. Well, Friday came along and I wasn't feeling any better. With all the sickness going around, I didn't want to spread any more. So for the first time in a long time I called around to try to get my shift covered.

Let me prefice this with saying that I always take shifts for people. On an average week, I take at least one shift per person... in addition to the three or four I'm already scheduled. Unless, I can't physically be there, like I am out of town, I will always help a bartender in need.

Well, nobody seemed thankful enough to return the favor last night, and it really made me angry. So for the first time ever I called my manager and said "I've tried to get my shift covered and nobody will help me out. I am sick and I'm wondering if you can help me out." Sure enough he asked one of the people that I already called --and begged-- and of course since the manager called they covered it for me.

I felt really guilty about having to call in without a replacement. But I just think with all I've done for everyone who works there someone could have picked up a shift for me.

Well, today I was supposed to work too. And instead of facing a barrage of phone calls that ended in me being pissed because nobody would get off their lazy butts to help me, I went into work. The minute I walked in and someone said hi to me and I responded in my deeply hoarse voice and intense cough, the manager told me to go home. And then he asked why I didn't call in. Someone that was working when I came in offered to take my shift right then and there and told me to get outta there. I'm thinking maybe people didn't offer because they couldn't see how hideously I looked.. and it took seeing me in my state to feel any sympathy. But nevertheless, I'm glad to be back in my bed.

the server's dream

2009-11-28T16:37:00.002-06:00

I think that most server's have had a similar dream to mine ... or maybe I'm just a nutjob. But I've been having this reoccurring dream in which a customer leaves me a really big (undeserving) tip. It started out where this customer (just your average joe-- but yes it was always a guy in a business suit) comes into the bar and runs a tab with me on a particularly slow day.

The first time I had the dream he left me a hundred dollars on his tab. In real life that would be quite a good tip. I've gotten one before but I've had to share it with my fellow bartenders.

But clearly my subconscious thought this was cheap and it got greedy because now in my dreams he leaves me a thousand dollars, which would never, ever happen at my bar.

Is this something that other servers have dreamt about...? Of course I still have the nightmares about being so busy with so many guests yelling at me that my head explodes. But this dream is different, it's kind of nice, and I wake up feeling hopeful.. hopeful of what I'm not sure, but hopeful nonetheless.

Telling me to smile will not make me smile.

2009-11-27T02:11:00.003-06:00

I'm so sick of this question. "why aren't you smiling?"

Well, asshole, because I'm serving these three guys their beers and am letting them know their total while these three girls just ordered some sugar filled crapcoctions that are going to take ten minutes to make and I'm trying to get the guy who's playing pool to pay for the drinks I just made for him. And the three girls just handed me three credit cards because god forbid they take turns paying rounds. And as I'm running to the credit card machine fifty million people are swarming around the bar exit so I can't get to it and I have to yell EXCUSE ME and push my way through because nobody listens to me unless I ask them what they want to drink.

Then when I get back I finally get the three guy's their change and get the attention of the oblivious pool player. Then I make the sugary crapcoctions and bring the girls their credit card slips to sign because they insist they only want one drink and don't need to open a tab (and they better believe when they come back up and try to use their credit cards again I will laugh in their face). Then I take the next six drink orders while I'm waiting for them to put hearts over their i's .... and surprise they don't leave tips.

And now I also have to add listening to your stupid question to my list of duties. Please, I don't have time for your question and I don't have time to smile. Here's a question. Do you smile while you punch numbers in your cubicle? Or how about when you type up a report for your boss on the computer? Yeah, didn't think so.

The power of the dollar

2009-11-25T01:27:00.003-06:00

Has anyone noticed this interesting trend?

Customer will walk in and come to the bar and order a beer. Then he will leave a dollar. Well, that was nice. And then this same customer comes up and orders a 50 dollar round for his table. Also leaves a dollar. He will then come up and order 30 dollars worth of shots. And, you guessed it, leave a dollar.

It's like the new tip at the bar has become a dollar.. no matter how much or little people order. Yes, when someone orders a beer it's a significant percentage. But not so much when we are mixing drinks and shots up.

Disclaimer: This occurrence may be more prominent in the bar setting.

Homecoming party

2009-11-23T20:36:00.003-06:00

Every year all of us hard working bartenders, waitresses, and security guys miss out on Homecoming because it is so packed in our bar. We also all end up working 13 hour days and are miserably tired and angry afterwards. So every year our boss picks one day where he closes the bar and lets us loose. Free booze. Need I say more?

Well, last night was our party and I am just now getting around to writing about it, which shows just how much fun I had. We each brought a dish to pass and every single one us brought dishes that could serve all 40 of us. It was ridiculous. We had mounds of foods. Two hams, one turkey, 6 casseroles, 6 desserts, 3 kinds of potatoes, mini hot dogs, polish mistakes, and not to mention the pizza hut pasta, the subway party sub, and the KFC chicken. We had so much food left over it was almost sad. We contemplated giving it to a shelter but realized it would go bad by the time we could get it there.

After our feast we partied hard. The only liquor the boss man hid from us was the grey goose. Everything else from jager to patron to crown and jameson was ours for the taking. There was a constant flow of people behind the bar making shots and drinks. We also had a flippy cup station and a beer pong table set up. I'm happy to report back that for the second year in a row I was on the winning beer pong team, which doesn't say much since every game seemed to last a half four. Man, we all suck at beer pong.

Last year the boss's finace (he knocked her up by mistake when they were casually dating and now she has a share of his millions.. lucky girl) dropped a knife on one of the waitresses legs and sliced it open. So needles to say, this year he kept a tight leash on her. Which means she wasn't allowed to flirt with any of our managers like she always does, she wasn't allowed to take shots, and she had to stick by his side for the whole party. No knives were thrown this time.

Actually nothing really out of control happened which is the first time. Some of the coworkers were smoking pot out on the deck which I thought was ridiculous with our boss merely a few feet away. But that's as wild as it got. Usually a couple girls make out with eachother and flash all the guys, and people end up pairing off.. but not this year.

After the bar was closed we went over to a house for after hours and played cards. The manager that likes to pick on me picked the rule for circle of death. He made everyone "diss" me before they picked up a card and compliment him. Well, when it came around to my turn I took a drink of my beer and said that I would rather drink that compliment him. HAHA.

The night went pretty late and I was pretty hung over today. I actually had to drive 4 hours home because I have a second interview up here for a new job. After the party, I finally put in my two weeks notice. It was funny because in the speech the boss said "I want to thank everyone who is here for everything they've done and will do in the next year. I don't think anyone is leaving us anytime soon so..." And my friends all gave me a nudge. Well, I didn't want to get uninvited to the party because I quit, so I waited till after!

Don't worry I'll still be posting about the bar. I'm hoping to get a new weekend job as a waitress or bartender up here when I finally get settled. We will see. Happy holidays to everyone!

the bottom line.

2009-11-20T03:26:00.003-06:00

An annoying drunk girl is sitting at the bar. I ask her what she needs and she says "What can I get for free?" "Yeah, nothing."

I serve other people and out of the corner of my eye I see the other bartender approaching her. She asks him the same question. And he gives the same response.

Seriously, I'm sick of bitching about people asking for free shots, but what gives? Would you walk into the gas station and ask for free gas? Would you ask the video rental for free videos? No. So, back off. And, quite frankly our cheapest shot was on special for a dollar. If you come to a bar without a dollar, you have serious problems.

Later in the night a guy walks up to the bar and ask for a drink. There are 3 minutes left. Which in our bar, and most bars I am familiar with.. means "shots only". I told him this and he whined.. I expected nothing more. He then asked the bartender working on my side and he got the same response. He then walked to the other side of the bar and asked both of those bartenders as well.

What annoys me about this is that people will say "ohhhh but I can drink it quick before you close". Yeah, but the thing is they don't. They sit in the bar until we've exhausted our please leave the bar is closed's... and have to start taking drinks from people and pushing them out. And then they will whine about having the drink they paid for thrown away. Well, maybe you shouldn't have begged for a drink when you only had three minutes to drink it. So, I just follow the rules and say no.. because I will be the unlucky bartender who gets spotted making a drink after the call by another customer who is trying to get a drink at the last minute.. and then everyone wants special privileges.

My point is, when you ask for things like free drinks and drinks after they've called last call, all you're doing is wasting my and the other customer's time. I don't want to argue for five minutes about why I have to follow the rules. Sorry, I like my job. . and quite frankly I don't feel like risking it for you. And that, folks, is the bottom line.