So this is how my day went. . .
I woke up an hour before I had to be at an appointment with my editor. I had to work right after so I was already in my monkey suit when we had to leave. There I was told that my caring, protective, and motherly nature is extremely destructive to my relationships. After hearing this, I could only nod in agreement for the one who said it didn't even know that half of what that statement meant to me. After a bit of a disagreement and a very long and quite ride home, I left for work, hoping that the day would improve.
It didn't. When I arrived, I was told I was in a section of the restaurant that is first to be let go when it was slow. I was so happy to hear that because I had to return to work at 6. The shift started out slow and spiraled into this awkward busyness that continued until I left. One of my coworkers started feeling sick about halfway through her shift and at first I wasn't going to take over her section but since I was still getting tables after 2 o'clock, I figured I should stay and help her. I was able to ask the managers that if I took over for her, I could come back earlier and be back in an area where I could get off work earlier.
Right before I decided to stay, I was getting drinks for one of my tables where I nearly dropped the ice scoop behind me. I lunged for it and right as I caught it, one of my coworkers walked through the door with a full try of food. You can imagine the outcome. He stumbled back, keeping his tray stead, and the door went right into my head. I quickly got out of the way, and we exchanged 'are you ok's Several jokes aside, this left a rather sore spot on my noggin and this incident has a large effect on how the rest of my night went. For the next few hours, I had this pestering headache and there was no relief to be had. This is the worst part of the whole thing, because getting my head hit was pretty much the highlight of my night.
Maybe it was the rain, but for whatever reason, it was insanely busy. Table after table, people came, ate, and left. There was a large group that came in around 3 o'clock and were finished by 4 o'clock. After 3:30, there is a shift change and I was supposed to go on break after that, but I still had a table. I was about to take a short break before I had to come back, when, without my knowing, I was given another table. A little it miffed, I took care of them like I always do. Then I was given ANOTHER table. It was at this point that I was ready to explode with frustration.
I always keep a calm and collected attitude when I'm dealing with guests, so even though I'm upset, I'll still be respectful to others. So, even though I'm irritated, I'm still going to do my job. I was almost finished helping the latest person when I was given ANOTHER table. I was supposed to be taking guests on the other side of the restaurant, and yet, I still was getting tables on that side!!! I threw a little tantrum, humorously and in good spirit, to the hosts and they reassured me that they didn't do it to be mean.
The dinner shift went much the same as the lunch shift did, very slow at the beginning, and as soon as you think it may be slow enough to be let go, it gets crazy busy. I was ready to cry. I wanted nothing more than to go home but I still had to work. I kept going, and it was almost over when I was given a few young mothers and their children to take care of. Generally, I'm a pretty understating and patient person, even when I've had a bad day. These ladies were the end of me. They were picky and rude, their kids were obnoxious, and they didn't seem to show my any respect.
Like I mentioned before, I'm pretty responsible and understanding when it comes to mistakes, especially ones made by the kitchen. If someone finds a hair in their food, I will happily replace it for them if they want it. It's not a big deal, and its an easy fix. Well, one of their kid's pizza has a hair on it. I said, no problem, we'll make a new one right away and had it out to them in less than 5 minutes. Apparently that wasn't good enough for them. I though I told a manager about it but I must have completely forgotten (that whole 'door slamming into my head' thing kinda threw me off for the day). After they paid, they went and complained saying I didn't handle it in a 'good enough' manner. What they meant to say was that they were upset that I still made them pay for the pizza and didn't give them a million free things like coupons and gift cards. I was so glad that they were my last table because I nearly 'flipped shit' as soon as I was told what happened.
This is where when I jump on my soap box.
That attitude that those ladies had, feeling that they were 'entitled' to getting something free just because there was something wrong with their food, makes me want to scream. It was because of their attitude about it that, unfortunately, makes me think that they planted the hair in the food (even though I know that it probably was an honest mistake). "Something didn't go my way because of something no one really had any control over and now I want everything for free so that I don't go and give a bad review because I'm so goddamned important."
Ok, I know that's not what they actually think, but I'm still upset about this whole thing, and I still have a lump on the top of my head.
When I got off work, I was so tired and frustrated that I didn't even want to be home, or do anything. I didn't want to relax by playing video games, I didn't want to eat, hell, I didn't even want to write a post today because it would be submitted so late. I even had a different topic in mind, one more metaphoric and beautiful, but since I couldn't get a break to even warn you all that this post would be late, I'm ranting about work.
This is only one of many posts yet to come about my job. I'll apologize in advance for them.
G'night y'all.
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