when the smoke clears

Mrs Hirschman and I regularly have what we like to call "Bitch 'n wine @ 9" on Friday nights, after she and I are done our shifts at the hotel. This Friday was no exception, nor was Saturday... Saturday, being a much more aggravating evening than Friday, was a test, of skills, of temperament, and of grace. I'd like to think I passed this test, but I'm sure if anyone did a poll, I'd come out short, BUT... well, you can't change whats passed, right?
allow me to explain....
Our "book" (reservations) is generally light at 4 pm on a Fri/Sat night. By 5 pm, the Hotel is booked solid, until at least 7:30. We have a modest 21 tables, 4 waitress' and 4 sections of seating, with smoking only being available at the bar. We fill up fast and if you have no reservation, odds are good you are either going to wait or leave. Saturday was no exception to this rule. My servers come in at a staggered pace, with the "late girl" coming in the door at exactly 5pm. My job is to keep the tables seated and turned as quickly as possible, without unduly burdening any of my 4 servers and 2 bus brats (divide 21 tables by 4 servers, it aint rocket science). I don't TRY to double seat my girls, unless its a direct request by the customer (requesting specific server). I only double sat ONE girl on Saturday night, and she was never in the weeds for an instant. On the other hand, "Barbie", who didn't come in until 5:10 pm, was very PO'd with me. Why? how would I know? that would require her to bitch TO ME as opposed to bitching to the kitchen, where nothing will get rectified quietly. Barbie was in the weeds when I overheard a comment that I double sat her, which I did NOT do, but I was directly ordered to make sure Barbie's "tops" (customer count) were not less than anyone Else's. She comes in late and leaves early, how am I supposed to keep her #'s as high as the girls who were in 2 hours earlier? BY FAVORITISM! (not mine, I assure you). recently, Barbie hasn't been turning tables as well as the other servers. Here's what gets me.... I get drink orders for the clients when I seat them, I put the order in with Mrs Hirschman and I deliver said drinks all before the server gets there to the table to introduce herself. Barbie had 4 tables,and was for some reason absolutely flustered. Why? I have no idea. They (the servers) tip me NOTHING, but I don't ask them to either, and only one of those girls (NOT Barbie) has ever offered me a tip, and she worked so hard that night, I gave it back to her. Back to Barbie.... Now I have great capacity for compassion, and Barbie has had a wretched year, including the loss of her very young husband a few months back. She has two young kids and a history that is cloudy at best, but she is TRYING to make her life better, and it shows, to those of us that know the back story. but she brings a whole new meaning to moody. I didn't snap. I held my tongue.
Mrs H and I both let out a scream when we finally got in her car, very stress relieving, and the two drinks we had after that worked even better.
Mrs H and I both enjoy our jobs, as much as we might bitch about parts of them, on the whole, we really LIKE the job (s). Mrs H and I both feel that we are not part of "the family", which is most likely why we hit it off when Mrs H started there, aside from the other similarities (like we've both been out of the state more than once)...even though she was told to "not get attached because she's leaving" (meaning ME... oddly, I'm still there 8 months later).

BIG CHEESE, we like you, and like working FOR YOU, despite your jackassed approach to management. all we need is a little clarity....when the smoke clears.....

Rainbow vaccuum cleaners and other evils

The evil rainbow got me. Attacked me on the stairwell, while full of that delicious slurry. I caught the newel post in the center of my back. That felt great, wind sucked from my lungs. And did Mr Robe say anything? HELL NO! not even an "are you ok?"

Mr Robe's only pourpose in life is to watch TV , get smashed, and occassionnaly flash the Cleaning Lady, thus the name Mr Robe. Now I don't know about you guys, but when I KNOW some one is coming to my home, for almost any reason, I GET DRESSED. Not Mr Robe, he claims that I am lucky he isn't in his skivvies (gag!). He even does this when his wife is home, and laughs about it! UHG!

Mr Robe has a walking cast on his foot. he's out of work for 8 weeks for a busted TOE. A cast on a busted toe... think on that for a few. Why, you may ask? because drunk people break stuff, including their own limbs. And Robe guy is no exception. He broke his toe multiple times because his drunk ass kicked walls. How stupid can some people be? never mind... I already know!

I had to start from scratch at The Hotel this week. Nothing like a 200 year old steak house for seriouse dust bunnies clinging to every surface, with a grease demiglaze, and a side of nicotien. Tilex is my wonder cleaner, screw the bathroom uses, it cuts grease & nicotien like nothing else. I hadn't been in the Hotel in almost 3 months to clean, it was ugly. My helper was studious almost to a fault, 2 hours on one room, I'd say thats a record, considering it wasnt a kitchen. Silly me, I got yelled at for vaccuuming! What was I thinking? a Cleaning lady that doesnt sweep....hmmmm, its so new a concept that I can't yet wrap my head around it! The lights are cleaned, the fans are unsoiled, the stones walls have been swept (not with a vacuum!) and the air returns are white again. Another job well done. And the reward was the best damn cheese steak in the world, bar none (look out Pat's steaks, we may be far, but its worth the trip!).

Now if only the financing gods would smile upon the owners of The Hotel, you see, theres a long unattended building on the other side of the mountains, which would be a smash hit if only the right owners could be found. The (big) Cheese's could do that. I know they could, and whats better is THEY know it too. So God's of finance, please shine your light on them, they need a new project to bring them together again.

Peace ya'll!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, one and all!
Well, we made it through yet another strange and tangled anum, not without a few bruises and lumps to show for the fight, either.
Any of you that KNOW ME, know I'm in a wicked legal battle for my dog , Tucker, whom my family misses dreadfully. That's still ongoing, but the outlook is promising, knock wood. In summation, a shelter was notified by us of Tuck's being MIA, they lied about having him then adopted him out, ILLEGALLY. Humane my ass...
BUT ANYWAY......
I managed to not work on New Year's, but I did run ragged Friday and Saturday nights! The HOTEL was packed and when you only have 21 tables, you have to slide them in where you can, or hustle em out at the most opertune moment. I only had to turn away one group...idiots...who comes into a packed restaurant, party of 8, with NO RESERVATIONS?????? duh.... if there are no parking spots, what makes these retards think they will magicly have a table waiting just for their large unreserved party? And then their indignity... don't I know who they are? (no, I don't, nor do I care) why, they KNOW THE OWNERS!:O (yes, so do I, for all the good that will do you while standing at the door with no rezzy). Ah well, you cant win them all, right?
I was not invited to the hotel "holiday party" for employees, nor did I expect to be, as I am sort of a stand in Hostess, on call when needed. Yes, I also clean the hotel, when its not inundated with celebratory gaudies (decorations to some...), but alas, the BIG CHEESE only likes me on weekdays, not weekends or holidays... or anytime he's under duress would be more accurate! But I'm not overly worried about weather I am liked or not. I gave that up in seventh grade. So long as I do the job I was hired to do and do it well, I am at ease.
Back at the ranch.... Hubby and I had another couple over for New Years eve. It was wonderful! La & Hubby came in around 10:15, we talked and sipped for the next two hours quietly and voila! the clock ticked us into another year! No fireworks. No live band. No theatrics. No resolutions. Just a nice middle aged new years celebration :)

May your New Year be filled with joy, a minimum of pain, and a dab of humility, just to keep you human. Be well all!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!