It's a Small World

Finished my week as a server last night. It wasn't real busy but had a birthday party of ten and thankfully they took care of me. I'm always apprehensive about adding a suggested gratuity. We're allowed to but feel bad suggesting how much  someone should leave me. If I go out and they add a suggested 18%, that's all they get. I don't like people telling me what to do with MY money, however if they leave it blank and have given me great service I always tip over 20%. So I just gave the best service I could and rolled the dice. I've gotten burned doing that before but not often. The dad paid, it was his son's birthday, who looked to be around thirty years old. He left me 20% and I was grateful.

Woke up this morning as the mattress maven (that's what my sister calls me) and headed to my other job. Last week was dismal but the day started off pretty good. Lots of people seeming genuinely interested came in and before noon I had sold a mattress and box spring to a young couple who had just moved to town. I had another woman from last week come back in and feel confident she'll be back to purchase a king size set later this week.

Then a woman walked in to price some king size mattresses and we started chatting. She spent over a hour with me and I feel pretty good about her coming back. She grew up in the same town I did, albeit fifteen years later. We talked about her deadbeat ex husband and we talked about her losing a really good job a while back. She was really nice and we got along great. She talked about her kids and I talked about mine. I gave her my card and told her I would appreciate it if she came back one of the three days I was there and buy from me. I told her I had another job as a waitress (old school term) and if she wanted some good food come by  there as well. She asked me where I worked and I told her. Then she said, "I've heard of that place. Last night some friends of mine came by  my house after a birthday party there for their brother and said the food was fabulous." I asked her what their last name was and when she told me I knew it was my party from  last night. I always get out my glasses and see the name on the card so when I take it back can say, "Here Mr. So and So, this is your copy and this one is mine. I appreciate your coming in and hope everything was great."

I told my new Bestie that I had waited on them! We both got a laugh out of that and then at  the same time said "It's a small world."

I feel like I'm sowing seeds at  the mattress gig and know it takes time for them to take root but am beginning to reap some reward. Three of my customers  today were people I have seen before and gotten to somewhat know. One returning woman even gave me a hug when she left. Hugs don't pay  the bills but make you  feel like you are making a difference and that's a pretty  good feeling.

I'm established at  the restaurant and have lots of people who specifically ask for me.  Now I am beginning to establish regulars at  the mattress store as well.

I was pretty down last week after bombing out but started this week off feeling pretty  good about myself as a salesperson.

Going in again tomorrow and hope the good vibes keep flowing.

People like it when you  take time to learn and listen to  their story rather than try and shove a sale down their throat...at least I do.

Wish me luck!

Massey's coming home from the university next  weekend and bringing two buddies with her.  Zach's  doing good, working and helping me out around the house. TJ's visa in Australia will be up in January and he'll be back state side.

Massey called me at work this morning and asked if I had seen what Zach had written on his FB page? I said no and she read me a status he had posted that made my day:

"No girl I have ever met in my life has the ability to make me as happy as my mother and that's why I'm still single."

I must be doing something right! And shout out to Zach, never settle for something, wait for the RIGHT something!

I feel better about my life already... Til next  time, COTTON

Are You Listening Or Even Paying Attention?

I took my VW to have the broken hose fixed today only to discover one was broken on the other side of the engine as well.

Seems to me if MY mechanic noticed the second broken hose...the mechanic at the VW dealership would have noticed it when we purchased the first one . It was the size of a cork and cost $40. The second hose has a small nipple on it which will certainly cost at least $20 more...you know how expensive nipples are!

At least I am halfway to having my car fixed and twice as far along as I was yesterday! Gotta keep thinking positive thoughts.

Took Massey some dinner by the high school where she had 9 AM to 9 PM practice....sometimes I wonder if she is training for the Olympics?

Headed to work and my first table almost put me over the edge. They were nice enough, actually VERY nice people but with the current pressure I am under and the fact that I am fifty, menopausal and sweat like Mel Gibson at The Apollo after a cup of coffee doesn't help my patience.

It was a table of four . I took the first person's order and when I asked what type dressing they wanted on their salad they asked what kind we had? I say the dressings in the same order every time..."Italian vinaigrette, Balsamic vinaigrette, Lemon Basil, Mediterranean, Bleu cheese, Ranch and for fifty cents more a Caesar salad."

I took the next person's order and when I asked what type dressing they wanted they said "What do you have?"

I said sweetly "Italian vinaigrette, Balsamic vinaigrette, Lemon basil, Mediterranean, Bleu cheese, Ranch and for fifty cents more a Caesar salad.

Guess what happened with the third person to order? I kid you not...

When the fourth person ordered and asked me the same question, I wanted to scream at them "ITALIAN , BALSAMIC, MEDITERRANEAN, LEMON BASIL, BLEU CHEESE, RANCH AND FOR FIFTY CENTS MORE A CAESAR SALAD...ARE YA DEAF OR JUST STUPID??"

I took a deep breath, felt sweat trickling down between my "A" cup bra and reminded myself this was my job...leading sheep and herding them in the right direction. Their destination was to have a wonderful meal and I was the "Go To" person for that to happen. They came to me for a great meal and I made it happen. Most people think waiting table's is a cake walk and it is if you are slacker.

I consider it my profession...BIG DIFFERENCE.

This profession has been good to me and I truly think I am good at it. It's just like any other job, sometimes you get fed up and want to scream.

That is when professionalism comes into play. I wanted to say "Did you not realize I gave you a menu with EVERYTHING in black and white to lead you through your order or did you think the hostess gave you the menu to fan me with to keep my sweat stains to a minimum?"

At least my life is on the rebound and I can take dummies with a grain of salt and still make them love me before they leave my table.

Getting my second hose (with the nipple) tomorrow and hopefully my "Check Engine" light will go off so I can get an Emissions sticker before March. My tag expired on my husband's birthday, February 12 (which I forgot...therefore forgetting my tag was expiring).

I guess I'm good to go until March... at least I hope so.

It doesn't really matter to me (but it really does.)

I discovered that I am extremely proficient and have learned to work, bend and make things happen.

In other words..."I am a Wife and Mother and have no greater love or focus than being JUST that! "

I think I'll be okay..." I gots the BIG Guy in my corner!"

Til next time...COTTON

Learning to "AGE" Mom

So my youngest child has been issued a learner's permit...when will the State of Georgia learn?

It's like every time my dog's hear you pick up their leash and they bolt toward the door. Massey hears my pick up my key and she suddenly appears out of nowhere, dressed to go and holding her wallet with her permit.

She was driving us home from the store yesterday when asked me if she was a "Goodish" driver?

 We finally settled on "Okayish".  I don't like to argue with her when she has both of our lives in her hands while they are in the proper 10 and 2 position.

I'll admit she's better than Zach was at 15. He wrecked my car the second day he had his learner's. Luckily he ran my car into the side of our garage...only damaging OUR car and OUR property. My car still has the battle scars and so does my garage door frame for that matter. I figured I had one more kid  to learn to drive, may as well get it all fixed at once.

I could say "I'm going take all three dogs to the vet to be put to be put down" and Massey would happily chirp "Can I drive"?

I can honestly say that she is a "Kinda Okayish" driver. Hey! She's only been driving a little over a week and hasn't hit anything yet (she's already beat Zach's record).

Only one more day left in this year before I leave it all behind.

 Adios 2010 and Hola 2011.

Work has been balls to the wall busy all week and I look forward to cashing in on it for at least another week or two while all the gift cards are spent.

Massey is spending the night off at her Chorus slumber party, Tim is at work and Zach is...somewhere.

Some dear friends came into work tonight to eat with me and are meeting up with Massey tomorrow to spend a little time. I am going to catch up with them on my short break between shifts and think it is an awesome way to end my year...making money and spending time with family and friends.

Working a double shift tomorrow. Hopefully it will continue to be busy and I can continue the ascent we have been slowly but steadily making.

Holidays tend to be amateur shifts...filled with people that normally don't go out to eat and generally don't know how to tip well.

These are the shifts where quantity pays more than quality and you once again hope it all works out in your favor.

Case in point...I had a couple at one of my tables. I talked them into ordering the Maryland Blue Crab dip. It is truly yummy dip and when I went back to check on them,  the man grabbed me by the arm and declared "Now that was some good crap ".

   I told him "All  the crap  here is good".

It takes all kinds to make up this crazy world and it takes an even crazier kind of person to deal with them.

I can hobnob with snobs and serve them a $100 bottle of wine or can talk about how good the crap is with the simple folks. It's all sells and marketing with a little dose of psychology thrown in.

I look forward to the New Year...or  I should say I just want to "Look forward".

Hopefully I will make it through tomorrow's double shift and look "Forward" to ending my year with a Blog. Most people would say "Bang" but I would rather it be a "Blog".

Til next time and next year...COTTON

A Feeling I'm Trying to Forget

That's right...I'm the one with the brown spots, I just have spiky hair instead of spiky horns! Enough said about my feelings from the ex job.

I am over my mourning period, moved on through the denial stage and plowed my way through the anger portion of my healing.

It's true what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks. Yes I am an "old bitch" (pun for my dogs intended) and it is hard to break from habits formed over an almost 13 year period.

When I worked for Longhorn...the first thing you said to every table was "Have you eaten at Longhorn before"?

My new restaurant doesn't demand that of us (asking if you have eaten at Mama Lucia's...they like it but you won't get fired for not asking) but being an ole fart the words just WANT to come out of my mouth. I was working lunch today when I noticed an older couple that looked SO familiar to me. I went to their table and said just that. The woman said "Yes, you have waited on us for years, I believe we were sitting at THAT table over there last time."

So her memory is kind of give and take...she knew she knew me but couldn't differentiate the two stores. I told her I had only been there a month when her husband said "I know! Longhorn."

Bing bing bing...give that man a mark in the "I'm right" column. God knows men need that mark because when you are with a woman you are rarely if ever right!

My next table was a younger couple that I recognized from my old store...not by name but by face. As I greeted them the words just popped out of my mouth with no way to stop them..."Have you eaten at Longhorn before?"

The woman looked at the man...they both looked at me and finally the woman said "Well, uhmm...Yes we have."

Quick like a fox (an OLD fox) I said "Well we are certainly glad you're not there today! Let me tell you about our lunch specials..."

Dang! That was a MAJOR goof. When I came back to the table with their drinks they were both grinning. I was busted!

We all had a good laugh about it and I told them it was just a reflex response that I was currently in therapy for. (This is where my PHD in BS comes in handy.) I also told them I was banned from answering the phone at work until I got the 'all clear' from my therapist.

Am I an idiot or WHAT?

I started to tell my sister this story tonight and she stopped me..."You told me about that."

I had to tell the truth...no this is ANOTHER time.

The other night I waited on a young girl and her mother...knew they looked familiar, knew it was from Longhorn and as the words came out before I could stop them said "Have you eaten at Long..Lucia's before?"

Dang it! I thought I flubbed it over well but when I came back with their appetizer the mother said "Didn't you used to work at Longhorn"? I said "What makes you ask"? (Pretty quick on my part...I THOUGHT!)

Face it...when you have been a professional server for over 32 years on the same side of town...it all fades together for the customer. I have GOT to get a new hair cut...it is more my trademark than any service I give and is a dead give away.

The owners just laugh at me, support and encourage me...something I haven't felt for years.

I am happy again, I feel wanted and accepted... think I am doing a pretty good job, considering I am an old dog trying to learn new tricks and once again feeling like a human being that is where she needs to be.

JUST DON'T LET ME ANSWER THE PHONE !!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you muthas ( I still have two teens I am TRYING to keep up with) and enjoy your day on Sunday. I will be at work from open til close and can think of no better gift this Mother's Day!

Til next time...."Bitch learnin' new trix" AKA... COTTON

The High Cost of Self Esteem (but I'll pay it) !

My youngest is my only daughter.

A total gift in her self.

An average student, but a tremendous young person. I have never seen a girl that enjoyed a math tutoring class as much as she did (it was her very own social club) but it did greatly improve her grade.

Last year she decided to try out for the track team...went to practice every day for two weeks...gave it her all...and was cut on the last day to be replaced by three girls that came to the last two days of the tryouts.

My sore point was "Let her make the stinking team...she doesn't have to run in every meet, but if my girl wants to run...LET HER".

It totally crushed her, mainly because they took her picture with the track team for the yearbook one day and cut her the next.

This year...half way through the year she volunteered to try out as a sub for the Winter Guards (the fancy dancy flag twirlers).

She tried out for the sub position and HOT DOG was asked to finish out the year in their remaining competitions.

The director/choreographer/leader and obviously part time teacher told me when I went to pick her up that she had caught on very quickly and even helped out some of the girls that had been on the team all year.

He told me that I looked so familiar to him and when Massey told him where I worked...that was it! He said I had waited on him several times at the restaurant and that I was a fabulous (a word I think he uses a lot) server. I thanked him and gave my standard reply "I didn't go to college for nothing"!!

He gave the me forms to fill out and some information sheets. Then he hit me square between the deposit slips with "The cost is six fifty", I knew immediately that the decimal point wasn't after the SIX. I think that I threw up in my mouth a little bit.
He quickly came back with that since she was joining halfway through the year we could work out a payment plan with a discount.

Hopefully this means $325.00

As far as a payment plan, I felt like telling him to get in line...I am already on so many payment plans that I feel like the next twenty years have been mapped out for me.

I felt like adding...since I am such a fabulous server, you'll need to be uppin those tips when I wait on you too.

I told my husband that the joy in my daughter's face and the total elation of being good at something and being encouraged was enough for me...I'LL DO IT!!

I can pick up extra shifts and work seven days a week if need be...to have a child not only WANT to be a part of something but actually excel at it is reward enough for me.

The only downside is that if she is THAT good...next year I'll be shelling out the entire $650.00.

I look at it this way...I never had to buy HER braces...both the boys cost me $3500.00 a piece. They aren't in Winter Guard...but they both have an extremely winning smile (thanks to Mom).

All that matters in the end run is that she feels wonderful and a part of something that means the world to her.

I just wonder what precious metal this flag she is twirling is made of? $650.00...

PLEEZEE...talk about inflated pricing!!

I may end up in a bail out package before it is all over...but my little girl is happy, and to me that is all that truly matters.

Can't Wait Any Longer!!

A good friend of mine from work was going to set up search engines on my blog, so that people could bounce from my blog to a site that may interest them. But she has taken too long and I HAVE to write!! I have been informed by my sister that some of my family members read my blog (Thanks Frances and Elizabeth).

It is storming here...I almost turned off the computer, but the storm has passed, and my fingers are eager to type.

My enemy from high school has decided that I am her new "BEST" friend..I think because I never responded negatively to her comments or joined her in her "I HATE KELLY" battle.
Life is a funny thing..things that are unimportant to me are so very important to others..but that is why it is called "The Game of Life". Throw the dice and just see what comes up...I was dealt a horrible hand when I was younger...I lost my mom when I was seventeen, and my dad six years ago....HEY!!! Who dealt me THAT hand?

But I am one of the fortunate ones. I have a sister that is not only my best friend, but my mentor, my rock and my saving grace.

I also have a brother that is so kind to not call me a lot, but sends GREAT presents to my kids on their birthday and at Christmas. They think their "UNCLE" is a millionaire...and by our standards he IS!!

I have another GREAT network of love in my extended family, Frances, Elizabeth and my former co worker from New York that faithfully read my blog every day. (Shout out to YOU, JoJo).

I have enjoyed writing this blog more than anyone could ever imagine...and it has made me happier than anything....for people to read my drivel, to keep coming back for more....and let me tell you...I HAVE PLENTY TO COME.

Hopefully by the next time I post I will have a lot of different options and choices on my site. I do not plan to ever quit this blog...but to enhance, add to and make it my profession. I have made myself happy, and I think a few others as well.

I have had comments from the UK and comments from a New York Times Best Selling author.

What I want MOST...is comments from YOU...the encouragement to continue, and the feeling that I am actually not only entertaining you, but have made you want to read all my ramblings, observations and "TAKES" on life.

Next time you check in, it should be a whole new website, one with tools and engines to give you even more of the "VERBAL" views on life that I have "THOUSANDS" of.

Keep reading if you enjoy, and if you DO enjoy...tell a friend. Till next time...COTTON