Make It Stop...After Monday

This is what happens when Valentine's Day falls on a Monday...people make a Mardi Gras out of it.

It started Friday night...kinda like the "Early Bird" special. Saturday night was even crazier, people all decked out in their red vests and pink sweaters. Most overheard remark at the host stand..."Table for two please".

Working in the restaurant industry requires that you take full advantage of all holidays...Gotta strike while the iron is hot! After Valentine's Day we run dry until Mother's Day.

The only problem is that it tends to be a lot of people that usually don't go out to eat and some of them don't realize we make $2.13 a hour and rely on tips to make our paycheck.

I am still a firm believer that if you "WOW" them...most will respond in kind. If you get a few bad tips and a lot of good ones the odds work out in your favor.

We have a few new servers that recently started and have been blindsided by not only the huge menu we offer but the rapid fire pace that we work during crunch hours.

Most are young (of course they are ALL young compared to me) and come into the job thinking of only one thing...money in their pocket.

I had been a server for 33 years when I started this job and it took me four months before I felt comfortable "selling" as opposed to "order taking". I knew very little about wines but busted my butt learning all I could .

Now I can sell the product, push the product, suggest modifications to certain dishes to make it more palatable to the guest and know how to send it all to the kitchen without major goof ups.

The new servers...Not so much.

Some try really hard. Others try really hard to act like they try really hard when they don't.

Some of them get ticked when you try to help them. They burr all up and shoo you away, only to come back thirty minutes later to ask you to help them figure out what went wrong.

I feel like saying "YOU went wrong, you idiot ... I tried to tell you that to begin with thirty minutes ago before you acted like I was a stupid old woman who was holding you back from making your wad of cash".

One of the newer server's had a meltdown during the brunch shift and I swear it was like seeing a toddler throw a tantrum.

You know me...I cracked up about it all day long!

He pitched a hissy fit when I told him he had taken the wrong food to his table...one of the plates was supposed to go to MY table.

He kicked a glass rack that was on the floor and said "I didn't TAKE the wrong food...anybody that says I did is wrong. TRY to fire me for it, I DARE ya" !! I started to tell him "Be careful what you ask for".

We all looked at each other and tried not to laugh until he huffed away out of earshot. It's like the saying "The guilty dog barks first".

The other night we were closing with the same guy and I told him what he needed to do before he left. Once again...his money had been made and he was ready to go. He said (quite loudly) "I'm not doing anymore side work... I don't care WHO says I have to".

I laughed at him THEN too.

Of course being the resident comedienne, that does nothing but give me more material to work with.

That's our new big saying at work (when he's not standing there). "I'm not doing it, I don't care WHO says I have to".

I went into the dish area last night to drop off an armload of dirty dishes and said to Hoke "I'm sitting these dishes right here, I don't care WHO says I can't".

Followed by "I'm having me a drink of water..I don't care WHO says I can't".

Followed later by "I'm doing my check out and leaving...I don't care WHO says I can".

If it's funny to us...we have no problem with beating a dead horse...we'll beat it until it is dog food in a small can the size of Bumble Bee Tuna.

When holidays hit and it is crazier than crazy...that's what gets us through. Laughing at things and letting troubles roll off our back.

That's what we do and "I don't care WHO thinks it is funny".

I was at work today when Hoke sent me a text asking when he worked tomorrow.

I sent him back a text saying "I'm not telling you, I don't care WHO tells me to".

I immediately sent him another text telling him he had to be there at 11Am.

Not five minutes went by and I felt my phone buzzin my pocket. I went to the women's room and checked my phone..It was Hoke.

"I'm not coming in at 11...I don't care WHO tells me to".

That's life when you work in a crazy place that for two hours a day is like "Panic Central".

You make the best of bad situations...you work your butt off and try to laugh along the way.

We laugh a lot at work. We also work really hard.

I'm not sure if the new guy is gonna make it..."I don't care WHAT he thinks, he just needs to START thinking".

When I clocked out from my brunch shift I had laughed so much I announced to the other servers "This concludes my Matinee performance, please come back at five for my evening show".

I must say I "WOWED" them during the evening show as well...I don't care WHO says I didn't!

Til next time...COTTON

The Cartoon World I Work In

Let me start off by saying I absolutely LOVE my new job and all of the people I work with and for. We have a little game that a few of us like to play...assign an employee to a cartoon character or TV personality that best fits their look, actions or demeanor. I'll take the first hit...I am DEFINITELY Sonic the Hedgehog. Personality wise and "Hair wise."

Next up is my dear friend who is the owner's son and a chef that can kick #@%. He is hands down "Quick Draw" with the Latino cook who is as crazy as they come as his side kick "Baba Booey."

Next up is another cook who I used to work with as a manager at my old place. He has recently left for another job but hands down was "The Brain" after a hard long shift with his shaved head and childish face.

Moving on to the servers...Leonard (I don't think he'll mind me using his name) is so dead on as "The Pink Panther" that it isn't even funny. A tall guy that is slick and sleek. He knows his job well and never seems to be in a hurry but gets everything done with seemingly no effort or panic.



Next up is our boss..the owner. He is SO Dr.Evil that Mike Meyers should pay HIM . In his chef's coat he looks the part and when he gets upset he LIVES the part. His son told me to use Mr. Magoo...I think I will stick with Dr. Evil.

Next is another cook that has the attitude and build of Patrick the starfish. He never gets upset, is always nice and congenial and is one of the most pleasant people I have ever met. I don't think Patrick has any enemies...neither does our cook.

Moving over into the dish area we have our "Mickey Mouse." A cute Latino with huge ears and an even bigger heart. Always happy and always ready to help.






Then we move back to servers and meet Irona. She is a robot. You could come up behind her with a knife and draw it back and she would politely say "Am I in your way?" Nothing rattles her and it is hard to imagine her running or being in a hurry. She just takes life as it comes and rolls with it's punches.

We covered the "Professor" in my last blog but his title is quite befitting. He is smart and has guaranteed me that he can make a battery out of a coconut if the need arises.

Back to servers..this gal recently got a bob hair cut that looks so much like Dora I feel like saying "Swiper no swiping" ever time I see her.

It's just a game...it's just a way to fill the down time. It's also one of the greatest games I've ever joined.

Think about people in your own life. Think about who they seem like and who would be a character they represent.

Maybe I'll do my family next!

Let's see...I know my father in law is Mr. Burns (from The Simpson's) and my dogs are Larry, Curly and Moe. My husband is more like Mr. Magoo than my boss except that he isn't rich and sleeps like Rip Van Winkle.

I'll have to work on this...don't get me wrong, it's already in the works...

Til next time..."Sonic."

The "Professor" Leaves Our Island

Tonight after work we had a party for one of our fellow employees who is jumping ship and moving to Miami..(am I small enough to stow away in one of his bags?)

This was the first time I have been with all my new fellow workers in a "non working situation" and I must say it was even more delightful than it is to work with them.

We all met at the bowling alley after work ... at first I thought I wouldn't go...then I got home, found three dogs waiting for me and no one else so I decided "What the hey" changed clothes and went to say farewell to a guy that I have only known a few short months but have come to genuinely love respect and admire.

I call him "The Professor' ...remember the only savvy person on Gilligan's Island? Well that's my new friend that is leaving us for the sunny beaches of Miami. He has a lot going on and is an excellent server and I consider him a dear friend. He thought about going to medical school and I am sure he would have made it but as we all do, sometimes you get sidetracked in your crazy youth and end up on a different road.

His path led him into the crazy world of serving...using his PHD in BS like I am, he has a flair for serving and can make more money in one short shift than most people can make in a twelve hour shift of gruelling corporate life.

There were about a dozen of us that showed up to send him off to a life in Miami that I secretly covet. Beautiful people, beautiful beaches and an atmosphere that I was born to live in if I hadn't married and had three kids.

I even have a picture of Peaches included (previous post.)

The people I work with are an amazing group of people, working for amazing crazy over worked and stressed beyond belief family that have opened a restaurant that is their life and livelihood.

If you work hard and do what they ask of you it is a cake walk. Step out of line or screw with their livelihood and you will be shown the door. I like that approach and that is why I enjoy working there so very much. I don't answer to a corporation I have never met, I answer to the owner's that I see every day working ten to twelve hours a day seven days a week.

This is a picture of one of my favorite co workers...we call him "The Pink Panther." The name SO fits and you can hear the theme song in your head as he walks towards you.

This is a picture of me and the Professor...DANG I'll miss him on our little island.

Here's the Professor with the head waitress who I also love and can crack up in an instant (I love people that think I am as funny as I do.)


Here's a video of a few of the employees...notice I always HOLD the camera so as NOT to be IN the video. One of my favorite bartenders shows up (Big Black) with his cute girlfriend(another blog altogether) and it shows a quick glimpse into the wonderful world I have been graciously welcomed into.

I will miss the Professor, but now Massey and I have someone to go visit in Miami...and don't think I won't go! Mark (AKA The Professor) has warned me if we do I might not want to come back. I'm willing to take the chance.

It is crazy how happy I am in my new home and how 'At Home' I already feel.

I looked up at work tonight to see my arch nemesis...the General Manager who fired me after 13 years at my last restaurant sitting at the bar. I felt like blowing him a kiss...at least he knows a good restaurant when he sees it.

Happy to be home alone (no kids no hubby...just three dogs that can't talk back... stereo up ... laundry washing and a cold beer by my side.)

Life is good...especially when you are in a better place ; Can look your former boss in the eye and be glad that his face is not one you have to see every day.

I will miss "The Professor" and hope to stay in touch. He will do great wherever he goes and has lived in Miami before and has lots of connections.

Massey and I are already planning another road trip...Look out Professor...Here come Mary Ann and Ginger!

Til next time...I'll be Ginger and let Massey be Mary Ann. I'll have to remember to take a slinky sparkly gown to Miami and bring Massey some Daisy Dukes and a bandana top.

BTW...why did they have all those clothes packed for "A Three Hour Tour?"

As always...click on the photos and video

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Things are looking up !! I went into work today at 2:00 for a party of 100 people and plowed right on through the dinner shift. I made almost $300.00 and couldn't be happier...I thought.

Massey sent me a text around 4:00 asking where the Christmas tree stand was. I wondered what was up with that but text back and told her where it was in the garage. This is the first time in 49 years I haven't had a tree but have decorated the downstairs with all the candles and wreaths that I had.

Last night when I left work I walked out with one of the cooks, a dear friend of mine that is hands down one of the finest men I have ever met. He made the remark that he hadn't bought a tree yet and I told him I was right there with him. I jokingly said I couldn't afford the presents so I certainly couldn't afford a tree. I told him we needed to wait til about the 23rd and go to the Farmer's market together and tell them we wanted two trees and cut us a deal. Then we could leave the tree up til the middle of January to get the max out of it. He agreed and when I left we said we'd get together on it later . He is married with two precious daughters, one just starting school and the other is a fat little bundle of joy not even a year old yet. His wife is just as good a person as him and they have been to our house many times.

When things at work slowed for a minute I called home to ask Massey why she needed the tree stand. She said Dean (the cook from work) had just come over and brought us a Christmas tree. Tears welled up in my eyes and I had to stop and fan my face with a menu so they didn't stream down my cheeks.

How awesome was it of this guy to bring us a tree.. to make our Christmas complete and thrill my daughter to death?

I didn't get off til after ten tonight and when I was driving home, the only Christmas song that I HAVEN'T heard while waiting to win my money on the radio came on for the first time. "O Christmas Tree."

How ironic is that?

How special is it to have friends like I do that give unselfishly and make me realize how truly lucky I am? On top of that, when I pulled in front of the house and saw a tree lit up through the window the tears couldn't be stopped.

Oh it wasn't a pine tree... it was a Frasier fir, my absolute favorite. They are so fragrant and the only kind of tree I ever buy. Massey had it all decorated. She hadn't put a drop of water in the stand but was so busy just getting it all ready she forgot. I watered this most beautiful tree I have ever had and was in awe just to see a tree sitting in my living room.

I am home from work...Tim is at work and things are finally looking up. Not only that...

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS !!

Til next time, an overwhelmed and extremly grateful COTTON

Christmas Cookin' at The Cotton's

Worked today...got off around five and headed out in the most dismal weather you can imagine. Cold and rainy. Seems to be the norm around here as of late. It will take my back yard til Spring to completely dry out. It was just drizzling so I stopped to pump five dollars worth of gas (my husband says the gas station attendants laugh at me when I do ) but it will get me home and back to work tomorrow and back home again where I have a gas can half full in case I finally misjudge.

I stopped at Publix to pick up some groceries for dinner since the radio said more rain was coming. I came out to a deluge...I think I may have even seen some cats and dogs dropping down. I parked my cart by the building , ran to my car and pulled up next to the store to load my groceries. I called the house from a couple of blocks away to tell Zach to open the garage door for me. He said he was snug in his bed upstairs. I told him I would "Snug" him if he didn't open the garage door that HE broke the opener for. It must have all come back to him because when I pulled in the drive the garage door was open.

Had a wonderful dinner, fixing a new recipe that I found in a magazine. Shrimp with Orzo pasta, fresh baby spinach... roasted grape tomatoes and feta cheese with fresh dill. YUM YUM...

Massey had practice til 9:30 so after dinner I baked chocolate chip cookies and brownies. The kitchen smelled wonderful with all the goodies baking. Three pups laying around my work space, Christmas carols on the radio (trying to win that $5000.00 from B 98.5) and I felt pretty content.

Zach wanted to go to Blockbuster and since I had forgotten paper towels at the store I took him . He seemed to take forever so I sent him a text "I am leaving." He sent me a text back "I am deleting your blogs." I got a chuckle out of that one! We swung by the store for paper towels and came back home to the delicious aroma of Christmas baking.

He's still stewing about being in a video on my blog but I think secretly he likes it. Massey came in from practice and had some dinner and cookies. My oldest son came through for us today with some rent money and I feel pretty good about life.

If ain't perfect, but you know what? It's good.

I have customers at work that come in almost daily and are like family to me (shout out to Miss Donna and Miss Sally) they know all about my three kids and ask about them on a regular basis. My daughter knows both of these women and has eaten or sat with them many times in the restaurant. My whole family knows about both of them from either meeting them or hearing me talk about them. It's nice to have extended family. To me that only means extended love and all of us can use that.

I am going to take my camera to work and take some pictures of my favorite customers...just to put faces with the words I write. I could do about ten blogs about the people I have met and come to love while working in my store.

It may sound crazy... and that is normal coming from me but I am almost looking forward to Christmas. I realize what I don't have but also see what I DO have. A great family..crazy kids to keep me laughing... a husband that loves me (he must be crazy too) and friends that have helped me every step of the way.

The cookies and brownies smell sweet and delicious but the thought that I am loved is the sweetest thing I can think of .

Merry Christmas...mine truly is "A Wonderful Life."

PS. I only put this pic of me and Tim on the blog because I looked so young in it (a little Christmas present to myself)

Til next time...Christmas Cotton

A Couple of Updates

My father's cousin , Frances was moved to a rehab center this past week. After open heart surgery and two other major surgeries in less than a week... she is amazing! So full of life and so upbeat. The rehab is close enough to my house that I can go visit her in less than thirty minutes. My sister went the other day and took this picture. I am so glad that she has come through all that has been thrown her way. Sometimes when people are getting older they seem to give up in the face of adversity. She seems to rise to each challenge and has a positive attitude each step of the way. I certainly hope that I have a lot of her genes in me! I have been too busy with my own things to go and see her, but am going this week to see her and visit "a spell" as she would most probably say.

My young co worker that is in the Sheperd Center is going to be released on the 25th. She then begins a six month out patient therapy five days a week at the Sheperd Center. Her aunt sent out an email that broke my heart and made me say an immediate prayer to God for my three healthy kids. Although my friend is 21...Frances will most probably make a full recovery before my co worker does.

Not to downplay the wonderful progress that she has made...just that people at work don't realize the extent of what a brain injury can do and how it can be a daily struggle just to get through the rigorous physical therapy when your brain is not working to it's full capacity.

Oh, people at work ask how she is and want updates. But what my FRIEND wants is to be visited. Every one has an excuse for not going. If it was any other employee that had been in a car wreck...my friend who is sitting now in a wheelchair would have been the first person to go and visit them..and not just once but most probably every day.

I think that they feel like since she has made it this far she must be "OKAY" and will just wait to give her a hug when she comes back to work. I am no doctor, but I can tell you that if you wait to give her a hug when she walks through our door at work, you will be waiting one to two years.

If you visit her once you may not notice the change so dramatically. If you visit her like I have you notice the inconsistencies and sometimes the more you visit the more your heart breaks. I have three kids that I love more than life and if any one of them were in this situation, I would be a basket case.

I know I am older and that I work with mainly youngsters...but this is a wake up call. My friend is a youngster as well and this could happen to any person at any given time. Just a random freak of events that have altered this girl's life in a huge and catastrophic way.

It's always some excuse or reason.

My own life is in a mess right now, but to go see this girl is not a chore. It is an act that makes me feel blessed, makes me see the total picture of how lucky I have been in life.

My seventeen year old son wants to go with me and Massey tomorrow to see her. That should give her brain a good workout...it does for me. My friend , in some of her wandering talk has mentioned (several times) how she just had to have a Sham Wow. I guess she was watching TV late at night in the hospital and the infomercial has just stuck with her. She has talked about the Sham Wow every time I have been to see her. Massey got her one the last time we went to Walmart and has it all wrapped up in pink and purple tissue paper with a ribbon. We are taking it to her tomorrow along with a hot dog from the Varsity .

I am printing off an email that her aunt sent and posting it on the wall at work. If that doesn't get them up there to see her...they must just be heartless, not young and unaware of the definition of friendship as I have been assuming.

Yes this girl is better.

Yes she is improving.

Yes it will be at least two years before she has made it to the point of recovery...and only then will we know how much of our old friend we will have back.

At least we still have her.

WOW!!!

Just walked in the door from work, sat down to check the email...hoping that I had some good news for my husband.

I had four different emails from friends who have either passed on Tim's resume or promised to keep their ears open.

What a tremendous feeling to be loved by not only my immediate family, but a family of friends that I just couldn't do without. I have so many people praying for us and so many people giving me encouragement that it makes the weight on my shoulders feel lighter already.

Friendship is something that I value very deeply and feel blessed that people love me and genuinely care.

I hope that I can repay all of the kindness that has been shown to me the past few weeks. Without this network of support I would already be in the "Nut" house...although some think I should have already have a room there!!

This is the first day I haven't cried at least once in quite a while.

This has been a day when I have realized just how lucky I am, how much love I have coming at me from all directions and want every person to know how deeply I am touched and that with YOUR support, I KNOW that it will all be OK.

There are so many people that are worse off than me and I could be standing in their shoes. Instead I am standing in the shoes of a woman that has been looking on the dark side when I need to realize what a bright light all my friends are throwing my way. Without that bright light I don't think that I could make it, without your friendship and support, I would be lost.

These words seem insignificant, this post seems such a small gesture...but my writing has always been a comfort to me and I want these words to be a small gift to my friends and supporters. It is an amazing thing to feel loved and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me realize how truly lucky I am.

It is a great feeling to know that when you are in despair, there are people that feel the pain with you and that they reach out to touch you...and that their touch is what makes your day.

You have ALL made my day... my life is much richer having my army of friends encouraging and helping me ...without you all, I would be lost...with you, I think that I can make it.


From the center of my soul, THANK YOU !!!

I will sleep soundly tonight for a change, I will wake up tomorrow to face the day knowing that I have the greatest network of family, friends and co workers that a person could ever dream about...I hope that I am worthy of your love, because this outpouring is making it pretty tough.

The Little Red Engine That Could...MAYBE!!

One of my favorite people at work is a young Irish gentleman.
In his early twenties (as most of my co workers are) he is an absolute delight.
He is from a strong family and is a favorite target of mine at work.

Let me tell you the first story I remember about him and it will tell YOU a little bit about him.

He came into work one morning for a day shift. A couple of our guys were tossing a football in the parking lot. As my friend got out of his car, they tossed the football to him. He caught it, tossed it back and went inside to work his lunch shift.

After the shift, one of the servers found their car battery dead. They asked if they could get a jump from someone and of course my Irish friend said that he would be happy to do it.

As he went out to the parking lot, he noticed that his headlights were still on. He commented that he hoped his battery wasn't dead as well.

As he got closer to his vehicle, he hears a humming sound. When he reached his car, he realized the car was still running! He had gotten out of his car to catch the football and had slammed his door shut with the car running, and after his victory catch...had run into the restaurant for his shift...leaving his car idling for three hours while he worked an entire shift. He had idled his car almost out of gas, and became "Our Victim of the Day".

I bet we made fun of him for two weeks before we got tired of it.

A couple of weeks ago, he had the section of tables next to me. He IS a man, so of course his tables always have plates, dirty dishes left on them and it looks like the party just got up and left. My tables at the end of a meal generally have napkins and a fork on them when they leave. (Granted, I have been doing this for over half my life).

I couldn't resist the temptation.

I went over to his table and grabbed a cocktail napkin off the ledge and penned a note ...I wrote "Server smelled bad". I left it on the table and went to hide to watch his expression when he discovered the note.

His face was PRICELESS!!!

Only when he looked up and saw me laughing so hard that I almost wet my pants...did he find me out.

I enjoy torturing him on an almost daily basis. Of course so do most of my cronies.

This past week, my sister sent me an email about a flight attendant friend of hers that was selling "Throws"...you know that thingy that you cover yourself with to stay warm. after reading the email describing this great Christmas present, I opened the picture of the "Throw" to discover a nude picture of a marvelous specimen of the male variety spread eagle, face down (thank you ).

It was too much ammunition to waste.

I asked my "LIL" Irish friend...who happens to be over six feet tall...what he was getting his girlfriend for Christmas??

He said he just didn't know, so I told him I would email a GREAT idea for a gift that my sister had sent me...A "CHRISTMAS THROW".

He seemed really receptive, and I told him he only had two more days to order one.

I had to call him two times to remind him to open his email, and both times, he said "Thanks sweetie...I'll be sure to look".

By this time, everyone in the restaurant knew what I had done.

We waited with baited breath for him to open his email from me.

I got a text from him last night..."NO, I will NOT be getting this for her"!!


I only pick on the people I love, and I truly do love him.

He is one of the nicest most sincere people that I have ever met.

He is just still "such a boy"...of course I am 48 so he IS a boy to me.

He is so much fun to pick on, and seeing his Irish face go beet red when I get him with a zinger is priceless.

I haven't seen him since the "THROW" debacle, but be assured, his face will be beet red again and will have a few choice words for me!

Another fave of mine is for all of us older servers to tell him to go onto the patio (a banquet room that we have as an offshoot of of main dining room) and tell him that we will call him when we need him. (Just giving ourselves more tables)

He will look out at us, and one of us "OLE" farts will holler..."DID WE CALL YOU OUT HERE YET"??

He tucks back into the room, and probably thinks to himself..."I hope they call me out there soon".

He puts up with me and all the "OLE" farts and takes it pretty well...although by this point he is probably in therapy thanks to us!

He is a joy to work with, we fluster him to death, pick on him non stop...and you know what? I think deep down, he likes it!!

He'll make a GREAT husband one day!!

His actual name is RYAN. We have tagged him with "CRYAN"..."TRYAN" and probably four other names.

My hat is off to him for still loving me after all the enjoyment I have had tormenting and teasing him.

I told him that I was going to buy him a tee shirt with a bulls eye on it, because he is my favorite target.

Yes, I work with a young, eclectic and varied bunch. But you know what? THEY are keeping ME young!!! (At least I hope so).

Til next time..COTTON