The Best Worst Day of My Life

Today is the one year anniversary of me starting at the restaurant. It was the best worst day of my life. I was so deeply depressed after being fired from a job I had been at for over 13 years and was totally ashamed to even HAVE to seek employment. I wallowed in pity for a week , hoping my old place would call me back to work.



It didn't happen so I sucked in my pride and went to Mama Lucia's to talk to Barb about being hired. When I walked into the restaurant she said "I was looking for you last week." I told her I was looking for myself last week too.



That conversation was the beginning of the greatest thing to ever happen to me. My old restaurant was good to me for many years but when we fell on hard times and needed understanding and support... they turned a deaf corporate ear and kicked me out.



At the time I thought it was the worst thing to ever happen to me. I now know it was a blessing in disguise.



It has shown me what a blessing it is to be loved and cared about...loved and cared about by family, friends, employers and even strangers.



We were totally carried over the raging waters of the abyss and plopped on the other side.



The gratitude we have for all the love and generosity can never be fully repaid but will be forever remembered and continually paid forward.

We are still struggling for air but breathing easier every month. It's been a tremendous strain on my marriage but the fact that I am STILL married says a lot about our commitment to each other and to this marriage.

My brother and sister became my Father and Mother. Friends turned into sisters and brothers. Strangers turned into wonderful friends. My new employers became my champions...urging me on and helping me every step of the way.

The owner's are a family that I admire tremendously. They are living the American dream. They own their own business. It takes sweat, working long hours and endless dedication, but it is THEIRS.

They have welcomed me into their restaurant family and helped me out time and time again...LITERALLY.

I came into their company a broken person with no self confidence left. They have let me believe in myself again and have always believed in me.

The Guard Massey is on has been my "Perk."

Defined ... "To make or become cheerful or lively."

Crazy ...but being a part of HER Guard world has given me much satisfaction in MY world and they have all welcomed me knowing I owe money (Who don't I owe?) but as long as I contribute my limited time treat me as an equal.

I actually paid the Guard some money last night and it felt GREAT!

Being with them is my "Happy Time."

Tim is slowly moving up in his company...I am in a great place, we are destined to make a come back!

Today is the anniversary of "The Greatest Worst Thing to Ever Happen to Me."

I call that a "WIN."

I try to not be bitter about my last employer...but am.

As I ponder and think about all that has happened and all the good things that have occurred since my life spiraled out of control a year ago...I feel like sending my old company a Thank You note.

"Dear corporate...YOUR LOSS."

Til next time...Contented Cotton

It's OVER...

It's over.

Valentine's Day is done for another year...a sentence every server "Loves" to hear.

I went into work at 10:30 this morning and the phone was ringing off the hook and never stopped.

Who calls the morning of Valentine's Day to make a reservation for dinner?

Obviously a lot of procrastinating husbands who dread going home to their wife holding a bag full of Whoppers or McRibs to impress their sweetie.

At 11:00 the phone rang and a woman asked to speak to the owner. I asked who was calling and she said she was with a local magazine calling about advertisements.

I know every person hasn't worked in the restaurant industry...but it just seems common sense to know that on Valentine's Day...right as lunch is hitting and you are preparing as well for the manic dinner that will follow, that the owner/chef of a restaurant isn't interested in talking to a sales person.

I almost told her she wasn't helping her cause...but just asked for her name and number and threw it in the trash can when I hung up the phone and continued getting the restaurant ready for the massive crunch we expected and luckily received.

Around 3 Pm it leveled out and I clocked out to my cell phone buzzing. Zach needed a ride home from the CEC where he attends classes and I had to pick Massey up from the high school. I swung by and picked Zach up and with no time to spare headed to the high school. Zach balked at going to the high school with me so I let him jump out of the car at the red light by our subdivision. Walking two blocks won't kill a boy and he could spend the time texting his buddies as he "walked twenty miles to the house barefooted uphill in the snow".

I picked Massey up and dropped her off at the house, checked my email left money for Chinese food to be delivered and headed back to work.

I worked a double shift yesterday and my feet were still aching when I woke up this morning...by now they were throbbing like I HAD walked twenty miles in the snow uphill.

I got back to work and continued eating what I had been eating all day....Massey's fund raiser candy I had taken to work. I had eaten a box of Sour Patch candy and some Twizzlers...that took care of my fruit intake. I moved on to a pot of coffee and a huge Kit Kat bar.

The bottom dropped out by 5:30.

My section of tables were in an area I like to call "Way north of nowhere". It is further from the kitchen than anywhere in the store. You have to take a tray with you because there is no where to sit dishes down, no where to make drinks or drop off dirty dishes...you have to plow back through the restaurant to the server area for any kind of plates, pitchers, cheese, pepper mills or to go boxes.

I was in Antarctica with my buddy, Hoke. After thirty minutes I hid a pepper mill grinder on the hutch that holds the computer we use when we are in Antarctica.. After thirty five minutes I hid a Parmesan cheese grater up there as well. I opened the bottom drawer of the hutch and put to go boxes and bags for us to use.

I came up to ring on our computer and Hoke had tickets and payment books spread all over it. I told him it wasn't his personal dresser...was I going to open a drawer and find it filled with his socks and whitey tighties? The hutch has three drawers...one filled with silver ware and the other with napkins.

We already had our pepper mill and cheese grater stashed there...I told Hoke we should put some bread in the bottom drawer.

I thought about putting a bus tub in one of the drawers so we could dump our dirty dishes in it but knew Barb (the owner's wife) would flip.

The new guy (Mr. Freak out) did pretty well tonight...I don't care who says he didn't.

He goofed up a few orders but didn't have a tantrum. I think he is on to me....I gotta quit laughing every time I see him.

At least he bought five candy bars from Massey's box (he's already moving up in my book).

By the time I got off work I had seen so many Valentine's Day sweaters and red shirts that I wanted to puke.

Not to mention even my TOES hurt.

My feet felt like I had been walking around with my toes curled underneath my feet. I don't know if it was stress or just old age but my dogs were barking...and I don't mean the three idiots at the house.

I clocked out right before 11Pm.

Tim leaves for work at 11:10 and is still using my car.

I limped in on my feet that feel like they have been binded by an angry old Chinese woman. Google foot binding...it ain't pretty.

I came into the house to two teens in bed, a husband walking out the door and me looking around for someone to rub my feet.

A beer later I feel better.

What a long long day.

At least it was profitable and will only be a memory when I wake up to work another double shift tomorrow.

No wonder I have so much gray hair...
Til next time...COTTON

Don't Turn The Wipers On!!

Sometimes you are the windshield...sometimes you are the bug on the windshield.

Guess my maiden name came in handy tonight...because I was DEFINITELY the bug on the windshield.

I worked this morning and it was slow as Aunt Jemimah's syrup. I didn't get off til almost four and had to be back by 5:30. I left and had to take Massey a sandwich at the high school where she was helping out with Guard stuff. She told me she was in the old gym. I went to the old gym and they told me she was in the band room. I drove to the band room and they told me she had just left to go to the old gym.

It was already getting OLD to me but I got back in my car and drove back around the school, which is the size of a small college campus. I found her there, smiling and happy to see her sandwich. It didn't occur to her I had wasted fifteen minutes just trying to find her...but as usual she was all smiles and I quickly forgot what a pain in the boo-tay she can be.

I went home with 30 minutes to spare. Swept the kitchen floor (never, NEVER own 3 dogs in Winter) loaded the dishwasher that is too complicated of a contraption for anyone to understand but a Mom. Made Zach a sandwich, just because I had Made Massey one and now he was home too.

Tim was having car issues (let's just pile it on) so I had Zach drive me back to work so Tim could drive my car to work at 10:00.

All the while I was counting on that $150.00 I make every Friday night.

Hmmm....

It started out with a bang but died early and I was cut after a frantic two hours.

I made good tips ..just not enough of them. When you are a server for a living, your shift is your pay check.

Not ten minutes after I got cut we got another pop. I had already thrown in the towel and was just helping others when the new girl at work passed me with a look in her eyes like she had Charles Manson chasing her.

She had picked up two of my tables that had been seated since I had been cut, in addition to her own set of tables.

She is cute and young (they are ALL young compared to me). I could tell from her frantic face she needed help.

I ran some food to her table and they remarked "Gee, that was fast... we haven't even had our salads yet".

They were very nice, a young couple...and I told them I would get them some bread and their salads.

This server was so overwhelmed. I know she was because even at the age of fifty I have BEEN there. In restaurant speak we call it "In the weeds". It means you are so busy that you can't seem to find your way out of the weeds. You lose sense of time and direction. It is a horrible feeling but one that EVERY server has experienced.

I helped her out a little and after ten minutes of being in the 'Server time warp' she regained her composure.

She just started a few weeks ago.

One of the first days she was there someone mentioned my blogging to her and talked about the blog where I gave everyone nicknames or characters. She asked me what HER nickname was and I told her I would have to think about it.

After all settled down and I helped everyone else make money...I went up to her and said "Well you made it. You finally earned your nickname".

She was still a little shell shocked from being thrown into the line of fire (the ONLY way to learn).

I said "We'll call you 'Weeds'."

I think it will stick.

When she went back to the young couple who I had helped her out with, they mentioned they had both been servers in college and knew she was in the weeds.

Can I call it or WHAT? It's a gift...Tim calls it my PHD in BS.

Had to bum a ride home from another server since Tim had my car.

Walked in the house tonight, already dejected about being the bug on the windshield and went into the bathroom off the kitchen to discover I was also Josephine the Plumber.

How hard is it to push a suction cup on a stick up and down a few times in rapid motion to make a problem disappear?

My kids prefer to close the toilet lid...like it's some kind of magic trick. They'll come back when they HAVE to use the restroom wearing a cape and waving a wand.

They'll tap on the lid three times with their wand and "WA LA"... "Mom came home".

If my life wasn't so funny, it would be sad.

So I didn't make much money tonight. It was more than I left the house with.

I gave a new server a new nick name...and trust me it'll stick whether she like it or not!

Yesterday Tim and I bit the bullet and decided to write a new chapter in our lives. We are beginning with Chapter 17.

I hate it but I also feel a tremendous sense of relief.

Our mortgage company has taken us on a year long trip of "What If" too many times.

Now we will keep our home, with our stopped up toilet and our muddy kitchen floor because of the pups. I can once again answer the phone hanging on the kitchen wall and know that in a few short years all will be said, done and paid for.

Yes I am fifty...but as I sat in the attorney's office yesterday looking at my husband who is two years younger than me and now completely gray I know we made the right decision.

I don't even look in the mirror anymore. I know I am skinny, but that doesn't mean I look good.

I think I will start writing my life story now ...to me it has been amazing, devastating, rewarding and eye opening.

I think I will call it "Chapter 18".

Til next...after I wake up and work the consignment sale at the high school til 3 and go into work again at 4...to make up for last night....

It could be worse...but it's gonna be better.

COTTON

Friday the 13th ? Can't Scare Me...

I have been living Friday the 13th for a year now...one "real" Friday the 13th can't scare me.

Somehow, someway I have landed somewhat on my feet. We have a long way to go and are so behind it isn't funny but we have survived. Thanks be to God, family and friends we are still in our house and we are both working again.

I lucked out in the job department. I am employed by two people that have taken me under their wing and treated me like family from the first day they hired me.

They let me "BE me" and seem to appreciate me just being an employee of theirs.

I never dread going to work, never worry about being fired and enjoy every shift. When I worked for a corporate restaurant the food was "Okay" but nothing like the product I am selling now. It's nice to be proud of the food you are selling and know how much hard work and dedication goes into each and every recipe.

All the chefs are encouraged to come up with their own recipes for nightly specials and I have tasted some of the most amazing dishes since working there. I never knew Shrimp with stone ground grits could be so delicious!

I waited on three couples at a table tonight. They were maybe ten or fifteen years older than me but were really nice and a lot of fun. One of the men joked that they didn't "Get out of the Home much" and I assured them they would all be back in time for Bingo. I offered one of the women a frozen drink and she said "I don't know, I'm driving." I retorted "I thought they sent a van to pick you up." OH...they ALL cracked up at THAT one. It is so nice to be able to once again use my sense of humor and feel relaxed. I had totally lost my confidence AND my sense of humor at my old job...I was just barely hanging on when they cut the last tiny thread holding me there. Geez, if it was one tiny thread, why'd they have to use an Atom bomb and machete to cut me loose? Talk about "Overkill."

Anyhoo...I really enjoyed waiting on these folks tonight...most all of my customers are such nice people and a huge cut above what I was used to at my last "Cookie Cutter Corporate" job.

They left me a $35.00 tip on a $140.00 tab and were an absolute pleasure to wait on. After paying they all sat talking for a few minutes at the table. I was in the back doing some cleaning and helping out. I came back into the dining area they were sitting in and casually said "The van is here to pick you up, Bingo starts in fifteen minutes." They all cracked up and it feels good to be myself again and not be worried.

The other night I had another party of six. It was the Dad's birthday and he was totally taking advantage of it being "HIS" night. He was drinking red wine . Everyone else ordered dinner but he just ordered a bowl of the Lobster Bisque for an entree. They had started out with two orders of "Baked Brie" which is AMAZING and Pops was on his third glass of wine when I cleared the salad plates. Once I had the table cleared he asked/ announced "Who wants coffee or an after dinner drink?"

His wife calmly but matter of factly said "We haven't had dinner yet." His reply was "We haven't?"

I quickly came to his defense and said "That happpens to me all the time...that hamster falls asleep in his little wheel."

After the ACTUAL dinner I brought him out a Creme Brulee with a birthday candle in it and told him I was sorry but " The Stripper is off on Wednesdays..Prayer meeting. You know how those Southern Baptist's are."

After the Creme Brulee and VSOP was cleared away and the table was bare again, I cheerfully said "So who's ready to order dinner?"

The son cracked up...

They treated me great. The son left me a 25% tip on a $300 tab. They had been gone from the table about three minutes when the birthday boy /man came back into the dining room and told me what a great time he had. I hugged his neck and told him "Happy Birthday" and he shook my hand leaving fifteen more dollars in my palm.

The relief I feel working there takes the edge off of the stress I am still under. But "This too shall pass."

As a "PS" I thought I would include a picture of one of my "Cartoon" fellow employees. This is our "John Belushi." He is an excellent chef...one of the best. He is dry witted and always quick with a come back. When I took this picture I told him not to smile. He said matter of factly, "I wasn't going to."

Thank you to Barb and Len for giving me chance to regain my confidence and be the server I know I can be. Thank you to family and friends for supporting me and rooting me on every step of the faltering way.

Thank you God, for staying by my side. You brought it to me, but you you saw me through it.

Til next time...COTTON

Back To the Grind

Back to the real world this morning...WORK.

After five days off I wasn't particularly looking forward to it but the minute I walked through the door I remembered that I had a job now that I love and that seems to love me.

Lunch was a piece of cake...slow enough that I got off by 2:30 and had a 2 hour break before I had to go back.

Came home and unloaded the dishwasher that my kids have obviously forgotten we have, sent my college room mate a birthday greeting via FB (gotta love this new high tech low effort age) and even had time to do a little weeding in my day lilies that have been taken over by a tree trying to sprout up right in the midst of them. Went to the Dollar Store (one of my fave stores) for a mop to try to help erase the fact that I have three dogs tromping in and out of my kitchen door on a revolving basis .

Wiped the sheen of sweat off my face with some toilet paper, rolled on some more deodorant and hauled back on my work clothes and returned to work.


The new Twilight movie just came out at the cinema next door to our restaurant and the people came pouring in (Thank you Jesus.)

As it usually always is in my new digs... quality over quantity. I had five tables , shared a party of ten with another server and walked with over $100.

My last table was a bit difficult. They made Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally" look like the easiest person a server has ever waited on. The husband: "I want Eggplant Parmigiana with no cheese, pasta on the side with a side of meatballs and a small Mediterranean salad with dressing mixed into the salad instead of on the side. The son wanted the Steak Alla Pizzaiola with pasta instead of potatoes with sauce on the side and a small Med salad instead of a mixed green. The wife wanted a grilled chicken breast..no pasta or side but a side of Abbabriatta (might have spelled that one wrong, there's no Italian spell check) sauce. They ate the bread like they hadn't eaten in a week. They weren't ugly or stuffy about anything...just obviously have eaten there before and know how they like their food.

It took me five minutes and help from another server who has been there quite a while just to ring in the order...but I thought I had it right. I immediately went to the kitchen as my check came in to the cook to make sure I had done it all correctly. One more trip back to the table to confirm that it was marinara not tomato sauce they wanted with their side of bow tie pasta and I was good to go...with fingers crossed.

The food came out perfect and I felt like a kid that passed the test they hadn't really studied for. I kept the bread coming and their water glasses full. By this point I was waning...first day back after a vacation, even a short one is tough on an old broad like me.

It was my last table and I was ready to go home.

The tab was $53.00 and they tipped me $35.00. Guess it pays to get it right!

BINGO!!!!

Went home and packed my husband a sandwich for work, unloaded the dishwasher (again) and hit the play button on the answering machine.

My neighbor from up the street (the vampire family...see previous post) had left me a weird drawn out message...

"Kelly, I notice that you leave your garage door open 24/7 and just wanted you to know that we saw a coyote in our front yard and want you to be careful when getting out of your car when you get home from work."

To me this translated into "My son is a werewolf and 'Eclipse' just came out today so please watch out for him because he likes skinny white women in their fifties that drive a Passat."

Number one...quit scoping out my house and garage.

Number two...if you want me to continue to cut your yard for free, because it looks like crap and is the first house in the subdivision next to the entrance that I "AM" being paid to cut...tell your son "Jacob" to leave me the hell alone and worry about your freak son not my open garage door.

Don't want to jinx myself so I stashed a silver bullet in the garage right by the kitchen door. I don't have a gun to put it in but he's a 13 year old punk and I'll just throw it at him REAL hard and let all three of my dogs out at once if I see his little freaky butt coming my way.

Sometimes I wonder about the people living in my subdivision...you know what they say "You never know what goes on behind closed doors...or catacombs or secret dungeons."

I'll keep my eye on them...obviously they are keeping an eye on us!

Til next time...going to bed with a garlic clove necklace.

COTTON

Vertical Fetch...No One Said They Were Smart

My two male dogs are more entertaining than circus clowns. There is a tree at the back of the fenced in portion of our yard with a limb that TJ and Zach have broken off but is still attached. The MINUTE my husband starts to walk to the back of the yard...the two males beat him there and sit waiting for him to pull the broken branch down so they can try to finish the job Zach and TJ started.

The bulldog gives it his best shot but obviously has lead pipe inside of him... "Literally." He probably found one in the yard and decided it looked good enough to eat. Remember, this is the dog that ate insulation that fell out of the attic when I brought down Christmas decorations. I saw a piece on the carpet and tried to get to it but his mind was saying "If SHE wants it first it must be good" and scrambled over and snorted it down.

The boxer seems to be made of springs and can easily jump over six feet without trying too hard. They will continue this vertical fetch game for thirty minutes at a time and only stop when they are panting so hard they absolutely HAVE to take a rest. The female boxer barks at them the whole time in "dog speak" seemingly telling them they are both idiots and have no sense of depth perception. I'll have to hand it to Ham (the boxer) he gets pretty close...Charlie (the bulldog) just gets an "A" for effort.

Just thought you might like to see "Dumb and Dumber" in action!

Had another great day...I could get used to this and hope I do!

Stayed up way too late blogging after picking Massey up from Prom and doing laundry ... woke up 30 minutes before work this morning. Thank the Lord for my easy hairdo and the fact that I always get a bath at night. I got to work exactly on time and worked the brunch shift. Now THAT'S some good eating... French Toast, Strawberry pancakes, Eggs Benedict, Spinach Frittata, every kind of Omelet you can imagine and homemade biscuits with gravy, grits and home fried potatoes. It wasn't too busy and I was almost glad after last night's barn burner shift. I got off by 2 and had to be back at 5:30.

I came home and put on some shorts and a bathing suit top...Mr.(slow) Lee's favorite outfit and washed my car and cleaned all the windows. My brake light has been out for months and I decided to attempt replacing it myself. Whadda know??? I'm a mechanic too! One of my driving lights was out too but once I open the hood of a car I tend to get nervous. At least I can open a hood...Tim is a lot of wonderful things but mechanical he is NOT. Remember this is the man that pushed my mower to the neighbor's years ago before I got my riding mower because it wouldn't start and my neighbor told him it was out of gas.

I pulled my car one driveway over ...not Mr. (slow) Lee's way but the other side to ask my next door husband (see previous post) to help me. He fixed me right up (after I went back to Auto Zone and got the right bulb)... I have GOT to stop asking Tim to go to Auto Zone for me. While I was there exchanging the bulb I told the man "For future reference, never listen to my husband when he comes in...I'll just send a hand written note with what I REALLY need."

Case in point: Our hot water heater went out a few years back and after my next door husband fixed it twice he said we needed to get a new one. A good friend of ours who has a handy man type company and has helped us many times, pressure washing our house, cleaning the chimney etc. told Tim to go buy a new water heater and he would come over and install it. When he got there, Tim had hauled the new one up to the third floor ready to hoist it into the attic (what idiot builder puts a hot water heater in an attic?) When our friend got there to install it.... Tim had bought an electric water heater when in fact we had a gas one. I love him anyway and he is a great dad and husband, but couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag if all he had to use was a wrench.

Luckily Tim doesn't read my blog unless I force him to. I won't bring my blog up for a while til this one gets buried by others. I don't mean to hurt his feelings but he will be the first one to tell you the extent of his knowledge about repair work is Flathead vs. Phillips Head.

Car washed, lights fixed. Headed back to work. Had a pleasant night and feel more comfortable with each shift I work.

The owners of my new restaurant know of our situation and have me scheduled for 9 shifts this week. I have people at work asking me if I want to give up shifts but will forge on and get myself ahead while I have this opportunity.

A new job. A great job . Tim starts his new job in the morning with Pepsi/Snapple.

God, family and friends...even strangers have gotten us this far, to the other side. The place I needed and wanted to be.

Enjoy the video of my dogs...I am thinking about "YouTube" for them. I have one even better where they actually sit underneath and howl at the limb above them.

Lovin' life, and for once I will sign off as..."LUCKY LEACH"

Server Overboard !!

I just walked in the door from work. Dang, it's a good feeling!

Paid forward some of the many acts of kindness I have been shown and cut my elderly neighbor's yard before work. You know, Mr. (slow)Lee. As usual he stood with his arms crossed over the bed of his huge diesel truck and chain smoked while he watched me cut his front and back yard. I'm not sure why he watches me but he seems to enjoy it so I just wave to him every few turns. I'm not much to look at but I do have a better figure than Mrs (slow)Lee but of course it is hard to see what kind of figure you have in those flowered smock house dresses that women over 80 seem to have a closet full of.

I guess when you're retired there's plenty of time for everything...including watch your neighbor cut the grass. I think he's just waiting for July when I wear my Sofee shorts and a bathing suit top. He's obviously an "A" cup man!!

My cousin's husband came over earlier this morning to service my A/C unit. He gave me a GREAT deal on the freon that has to be replaced every summer and even offered to do it for free. I finally talked him into taking $40 and still got the better end of the deal. One year when I had a Heating and Air guy come out they charged me $250. Our house is a tri level with only one unit ...a 14 year old unit and all the bedrooms are on the third floor. It makes the one unit have to work really well to cool the whole house but a shot of freon once a year does the trick.

Tim got sent for a drug screen for a new job and we are hoping that he starts this week. A drug test is usually a good sign and we are hoping that is the case with this one. He had an interview to be the guy wearing the statue of liberty suit outside of Liberty Tax service but it fell through (Totally kidding!)

Went to work at 5:30 and was disappointed it seemed slow.

Not to worry!

I had only waited on two tables by 7:00 when I got a ten top of women celebrating a birthday...ALL WAITRESSES !!

It was the first big table I had gotten by myself and with LOTS of help from the bartender...a super nice guy, I made it through my first big party . All the girls were from Longhorn. Not the one I worked for but I knew about half of them.

Of course they had heard about my dilemma.

I told one of the girls the same thing I told another former co worker today on Facebook... I should have jumped ship a long time ago but didn't really appreciate being thrown overboard. Thank the Lord I knew how to tread water!

They tipped me $75 letting me walk out of the restaurant making $90 on just three tables. GOD BLESS THE SERVER...THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN !!

Came home all smiles until I walked in the kitchen and saw that Massey had been cooking. In her words...OMG...WTF...(That's 'fudge') I was not LOL and most certainly not ROTFL. I don't feel like she is my BFFL right now. That girl is a walking train wreck. Every pan she used is still in the sink, her burned cookies are still on the stove stuck to the cookie sheet and the trail of crumbs tells me every step she took.

The kitchen will look exactly the same when she gets up for school.

All in all a great day.

The mortgage check still didn't clear but maybe the third time will be the charm! But we're getting closer and closer every day and you know what?? The stinking banks are one of the biggest reasons for the crappy economy and who exactly do they think wants to buy my house besides us? Tim gets paid this Thursday, is it gonna KILL them to wait 72 hours for a payment on a house that is almost paid for anyway? The Clark Howard side of me says it's not. It may not boost our credit rating but credit rating is way down my list of priorities right now.

In the words of ole Willie Nelson we are "On the road again."

I absolutely love my new job and will never work for a big corporation again. The sense of peace I have when I walk in the door is still there when I walk out and the money is more than I would have made being a newbie at my old job.

My new boss is a dead ringer for Mike Meyers as 'Dr. Evil" without the scar but I haven't seen him put his pinkie to his mouth yet and he has been very nice and patient with me...teaching me a lot about Italian food and teaching me how to stay away from an Italian when he is mad. His wife is a wine snob who has taught me a lot about wines and how to stay away from the wife of an Italian when she is mad.

It's a family ... a quirky family but a hard working, nose to the grindstone family who both work seven days a week and have welcomed me with open arms. Of course when they are hugging me they may be shaking their fist at someone behind my back but if I continue to work hard I'll be just fine.

It's been a long time since I have been happy at work...it is a tremendous relief to be somewhere I am wanted and somewhere I want to be.

Til next time...Signora Cotton

Advantages of a Family Owned Business

Needless to say this isn't a photo of the actual family I work for but you get the picture (small pun intended.)

It was my third night on my own. Thank the Lord is wasn't overly busy, I'm not ready to get blown away yet and the two table section I am running gives me enough time to try and learn the new system. I made a couple of goofs with the way I rang in orders but for the most part did okay. The problem is that I don't feel like a seasoned waitress starting in a new place, I feel like a new server starting in my FIRST restaurant.

Every one is tremendously helpful and nice. Tonight one of the specials was " Shrimp Madagascar" shrimp baked in a sauce of cream, green peppercorns, Pernod and green onions. Served with a side of risotto cakes.

Number one I had to ask what Pernod was (a French Anise flavored Liqueur) never heard of green peppercorns and I have never had risotto in my life. The owner went to the back and cooked me a dish of risotto that was AMAZING! Whereas rice is usually cooked with a lid on top, risotto... similar to rice is cooked with the lid off and absorbs all the liquid. With this special it was formed into cakes, fried and was delicious.

Number two another special was "Herb Encrusted Corvina." Fresh hand cut Corvina topped with a herb crust and baked in a brown butter sauce served with grilled Spring vegetables tossed in a basil garlic olive oil. My first question was "What the heck is Corvina?" Now I know it is a mild white fish from the Pacific caught off the coast of Mexico and the grilled vegetables were asparagus, yellow bell pepper, red bell pepper, zucchini, squash and red onion.

It's learning a different menu every night of the week. Like I don't have enough to learn...every server has to learn specials every night of the week, but that is part of what makes this an amazing restaurant.

I know I am worrying too much...it shows on my face. Tonight the bartender came in the kitchen and asked who I was mad at. Gotta keep that "Mom is mad" look off my face!

The support the owners give the employees is a whole new world to this former "Corporate" girl. Once I get used to everything and feel more comfortable I know that I will be so glad to have this new job. The tips I have made are far above the average I made at the old place and if we can hang in there til I start making some dough...we should be okay.

Happy Easter to every one and please continue to pray for me and my family.

Til next time... COTTON

May I take Your Order?

I thought you might all like to see a picture of me in my new uniform...the hat is my favorite part!

I studied for three hours today anticipating a test suitable for a Quantum Physics final.

I picked Zach up from school (Massey left with a friend) and he quizzed me from my index cards I made for my BIG TEST today. He massacred the Italian language but helped me out more than you could imagine. The wines were the hardest part and he had to correct me over and over again. I mean one wine has hints of black berries and plum...the next has hints of black cherries and mild tannins. The next one is crisp with pear and peach flavor and the next has a lingering finish or ends with a zing. Zach said I kept getting my adjectives mixed up and he was right. I finally nailed down all the house wines , where they were from and just had to be satisfied with that feat in itself.

The food was a bit easier. I made mental notes and ways to remember certain dishes. 'Tortellini Tricolore' has red white and green pasta...spinach, tomato and flour combined with red white and green ingredients...sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic cream sauce. Throw in the "double P's" Prosciutto and peas and THERE YA HAVE IT!

Some of the dishes are so similar that it boggles this ole brain but I have about three quarters of it down pat and can fake the other third til it all sinks in.

The owner's wife graded my test. In the words of my 17 year old son, "She knows her crap." She corrected me on a few points but said "Good enough...clock out as a trainee and clock back in as a server."

Thank goodness it was a slow shift. The weather was so nice I am sure many people grilled out or worked in their yards. It was a great night to learn how to do everything correctly and get a sense of actually waiting on customers myself.

I sold a bottle of wine to my first table. It was one couple who's tab came up to $58.00 and they left me an almost $13.oo tip.

BINGO!!

The feeling of a family owned restaurant is something new to me but is totally refreshing and uplifting. The owner let me order anything I wanted off the menu tonight and I had the most delicious Chicken Fiorentina I have ever tasted...Chicken breasts sauteed in olive oil topped with spinach and fontina cheese, served on a bed of of linguine with Alfredo sauce.

At least working there I will be back up to my fighting weight in no time!

So I had myself all worked up over this test...at least I am basically knowledgeable now about the products I am serving and can blunder through the rest learning it as I teach my customers and lead them (line by line) through the menu.

Yesterday was my day off and I met one of my regulars from my old restaurant at my NEW restaurant to have lunch (her treat...she's a sweetie.) I had a delicious pesto chicken sandwich. She had a meatball sub (homemade meatballs,YUMMY.) We had a wonderful two hour lunch and talked at length about my firing and my new hiring. She made me realize even more that this was a blessing from God and now I am in a friendly warm and loving environment where I can thrive, grow and be happy.

We have a long way to go but instead of spinning my wheels, they have finally hit the ground and with the help of my training wheels (people who have unselfishly helped us through this difficult time) I am getting traction again and moving forward with a smile and a sense of pride in my work.

BTW...did you know that our Pinot Noir has bright black cherry flavors with hints of tobacco and mint that allow a smooth silky texture? NOW YOU KNOW (and now so do I.)

I was in the kitchen at work tonight when the young Latino dishwasher came up to me and asked if I was Zachary's mom. He knows Zach from the high school and said Zach was one of the smartest kids he knew. I'm glad to know Zach is impressing someone with his knowledge...if I could just get him to share it with his teachers I'd have something going!

Back on track...moving forward and leaving yesterday behind...DANG it feels GOOD!

Til next time 100 percent COTTON

Starting to Smile Again

Just got home from work...waiting for Massey to get back from her state competition in Macon. I've got her room all neat and tidy ready for her to come home and dump all her bags in the now clean floor and start the mess all over again.

Work is amazing!

I had two different parties come in and ask about me tonight...what a boost to the ole bruised ego. The owners I work for are exactly the kind of people you would want to work for. They empower you to make decisions on your on regarding the customers and back you all the way.


It has been hard being a fifty year old newbie in a restaurant filled with servers my kid's age but they have all made me feel welcomed and my trainers seem pleased with my progress. Granted it isn't brain surgery but it is still nerve wracking just the same. They seem to all like me and that is refreshing in itself.

The new schedule came out tonight and they have me working six days next week...I was ELATED! The owner said "I didn't think you would mind me piling on the shifts" and he was OH SO RIGHT! Working six days a week at a job where it was obvious they didn't want you but wanted to have six days in which to criticize and belittle you compared to working six days at a job where they know you will work hard and feel fortunate to have you join their team is so totally mind blowing to me and just the thing I needed (financially and mentally.)

Last night I trained with a young girl that was really on the ball and showed me a lot of things I had been wondering about and let me do many things for myself just to get me more comfortable with the computer system and the menu.

Tonight I trained with a cute guy around my oldest son's age...again an on the ball server who makes every thing seem easy. I learned many new things and felt a lot more comfortable in speaking with the guests. He has feet the size of an air craft carrier and the patience of Job. I know I slowed him down quite a bit but he never complained...only prodded this ole gal along and once again I learned even more from him. When I got ready to leave he came up to me and gave me the tip from the table that had asked for me. I refused twice but on the third time stuffed it into my apron and felt like kissing him on the cheek. That's gas money for a week...if he ever needs a ride anywhere, he's GOT one! I have landed a great job with great people...who could want more? NOT ME...

I had forgotten how it felt to be happy at work.

In the words of Willie Nelson I am "On the road again." I should have made this move a year ago, before things got so negative in my professional and financial life. You can't go back though you can only move forward and finally I feel I am doing just that. If we can hang on for ONE MORE week I think everything will be okay...actually I KNOW it will.

My middle son and I went to the grocery store today with our gift cards and my clipped out coupons. With my coupons I saved almost $47 and the total bill was $87. I had $90 in gift cards and sailed out the door with a week's worth of groceries and three bucks to boot!

Food in the fridge, a job that I love and that seems to love me...friends taking care of and praying for me...what more could a person ask for?

Before you know it I will back to my old self...what a welcome relief THAT will be.

Til next time...Crackin' a smile COTTON

Yeah I'm FUNNY !

Massey had a competition this weekend and I am worn out. I didn't get to help work at the school because I worked all weekend and squeezed the Guard competition into my off time...that means before and after work.

I hate that I couldn't volunteer at the school, those parents worked their butts off this weekend. Every time I go to a competition, the food runs out and all that is left is a random Gatorade (the flavor no one likes) or a hamburger that has been sitting around for hours waiting to give you food poisoning. I'll have to hand it to OUR school. Plenty of food...pretty good food and they didn't run out of anything. All I had to eat yesterday was a burger and chips washed down with a coke after Massey's performance but it tasted like Fillet Mignon to me.

Today I went back to the school for her last performance (another blog altogether) and dashed to work only one hour late.

RACE WEEKEND...UUGGHH

Once the race was over the bright colored jackets and trucker hats descended upon our restaurant and I made some decent money. I was so tired it wasn't funny but I knew in 6 hours I would be off and knew I could struggle through one more shift.

I went to greet a new table and there sat Kyle Petty with a crew member and his girlfriend. I mostly remember his dad, Richard with his cool shades but knew who Kyle was. A few people stopped by his table to pester him but I guess that million dollars sitting in his bank account makes it worth it. I have waited on him before and the crew guy said he remembered me from their last visit.

I told Kyle "Hey, I know who you are...you're Ricky Bobby aren't you?" ( from Talladega Nights)

He didn't miss a beat and said "I certainly am."

Thank goodness he thought it was funny...at least his crew member did, he laughed for a good thirty seconds.

They left me a phat 20% tip and I got lucky with a kid who was by himself and left me a 30% percent tip (he was a server too.)

So I got to make a funny joke with Kyle Petty, got to see my girl perform and walked out the door with almost two "Bills."

Laundry is washing, dogs are by my feet and I am headed back to work in the morning .

NASCAR....I just don't get it.

They are all headed THAT a way hanging a continuous left.

Different boats for different folks.

Glad this weekend is over...unfortunately I picked up my only day off so I am back to a 13 day stretch.

Til next time... COMIC COTTON

Home Sweet Home

AAHHH...

Back in my house, surrounded by people and pets that love me.

Trying to shake off yesterday...the past is a done deal, you can only change today or tomorrow.

Work was uneventful (that's a GOOD thing when you're me.) I started out quiet and reserved... didn't feel much like 'chatting' but working with my two best friends always makes Tuesday my favorite day so around noon I decided to shuck off my cloak of "pissedness" and enjoy what short time I may have left clocking in and working with them.

Lisa is like a mother figure to me. Granted she is younger than me AND Republican...two things my own mother was not, but she gets on to me almost as much as my Mom did and lucky for me she can't ground me or take away my car.

Teresa is simply a delightful friend. Loving and compassionate...and a wide open target for my daily barbs and pranks. When she follows me to my tables helping me take out plates of food...I always tell my customers "Just don't look at her or say anything and she'll wander off in a minute." They always look at me like I'm crazy but look at her like she may be CRAZIER.

Today one of the servers I work with had two tables beside each other with women who hadn't seen eighty in at least a couple of years. I told the young server that the second woman on the left was Teresa's college room mate. I told her Teresa was a senior when this woman was a freshman but they were really close as classmates and enjoyed the weekend nights at the Speakeasy's.

It felt good to be funny again.

Teresa said she hadn't been to go see who I was talking about, was she still there and which woman was it? I told her it was the woman sitting in the 'Rascal' at the end of the table. My good friend cracked up (like she always does at my jokes) and we kept on working.

Five minutes later she asked if the lady had left? I told her she had plenty of time to go see her because she had 'fallen and couldn't get up.'

So I'm back in my groove...working with my two closest buddies. One I keep thinking is going to take a switch to me for working too much and another I poke fun at every chance I get.

Good friends are a good thing to have ANYTIME...but to have them by your side when the chips are down and you are feeling at your lowest is remarkable.

Came home and my daughter even had her room clean (by her standards) HEY!! At least the THOUGHT was there.

Made a big pot of Jumbalaya and curled up at the kitchen table with a book and three dogs snuggled beside me.

My younger son had all the laundry caught up and my older son was at work...making money he can donate to his rent.

Life could be better but it could ALWAYS be worse.

I've decided to commit myself to not getting fired before Tim lands a great job...and once he does to commit myself to trying to make something...anything out of my writing.

I would love nothing more than to just write and write and write. Thanks to my 'pseudo' mom I have found problogging.net and will venture into finding a paying spot on the web. It's a site where you contribute to companies looking for a specific Web content.

Wish me luck.

Wish me success before I get fired.

I have two large kettles of water on the stove boiling to go take the hottest bath of my life.

I have slept a total of five hours in the last two nights. The stress is killing me...That USED to be my three kid's job.

I am determined to not put THEM out of work!!

Going to soak in a tub filled with 'Sweet Pea' bubbles and wake up tomorrow determined to find a way to not only succeed ...but be happy!

Til next time...Cleansing the Cotton

Something to Smile About...

Finally over the holidays and stress. Finally over the terrible flu that rampaged through the house. After taking two days off just to sleep sleep sleep, I feel better.

Back to work (yuck.)

The corporate axe has fallen once again...this time on a dear friend and co worker. She got a bad shop from a secret shopper and they fired her on the spot. You know, in these bad economic times...write her up...suspend her for a week or make her go through training again. To fire someone that is ALWAYS early, always ready to do anything you ask is a slap in the face. Unfortunately it is corporate doing the slapping and "Big Brother" always has the last word.

As servers we are SO over this take over of our company. What used to be a great store is now part of a tremendously large corporation that could give a "Rat's ass" about us...our life or our problems.

The managers are under such immense pressure from the higher ups and the pressure comes right down on our underling heads. I hate it that she is gone, I hate it that she is fired (Happy New Year) but once the corporate axe falls the heads have rolled.

I went into work today, lucky to still have a job but still full of venom for the oblivious "A" holes we work for.

There is one manager (the ONLY one I haven't blogged about) that is kind of like a cartoon character. If "Pepe LePew" was a person this would be him. The only manager with a full head of hair left...jet black with a stripe of white right in front. He 's a chubby sort..if you watch "Curb Your Enthusiasm" he IS Jeff Green. A happy go lucky guy that seems to avoid the heavy corporate thumb...probably because he is a kitchen manager and comes in at 5 AM when the trucks roll in with stock and is in the back most of the time doing what it takes for us to roll product out of the front of the house. He has always liked me and is the only one that actually knows how much harder I work than most of the idiots (not all idiots...just most of the newbies) I work with. He is a stickler for S.O.P (standard operating procedure) like I am. I am one of the only people that use the right glass for the right drink... no matter if it means I have to refill it twice as often. It if calls for parsley sprinkled on top...I would go to the back and chop more if we were out before running it to a table without the garnish.

He has been sick as of late (I probably passed on my germs to him) and when I came into work today he was blowing his nose with a brown paper towel we use to wash and dry our hands with.. I told him I could go in the kitchen and get him a stainless steel scourer pad to blow his nose on if he really wanted to draw blood around his nostrils.

I think what I really like most about him is that he always laughs at my jokes...and I am "full" of them.

After the line up today...when the managers supposedly pump us up and send us out with an "Amway" type message to go out and conquer the masses with our knowledge and professionalism... It came to me like a vision.

I told him that we had taken an unofficial poll and he was the manager we hated the least. Bless his heart...as he blew his snot into another rough brown paper towel his face lit up and he said "Really?" I think his next remark was "That's awesome."

Used to be when I first started twelve years ago the talk was "Who's your favorite manager?" Now it is "Who do you hate the least?"

What does that say about being bought out by a huge corporation that is making oodles of money for themselves while the people that suffer are the ones that seem to be the only ones actually out there making THEIR money FOR them ?

I told my manager that we were counting votes on a shift by shift basis and that if he gave more than a sub par performance grilling our butts relentlessly he could move up the poll and lose his rating . I think I saw him leave the building with his fingers crossed.

Til Next time...COTTON

Tree Decorated..."CHECK"

All happy on the home front. Massey and I just finished decorating the tree
with Zach on the couch watching "Elf." At least we were all in the same mode. Sometimes (all the time with me) it is hard to bring a seventeen year old into what you are doing and make them feel like being a part of it.

Massey was a willing participant for the photos and Zach made me have to use a curse word to get him off the couch and in front of the tree...no wonder he looks so happy.

But what matters to me is that " I " am happy. My husband is working, once again my friends have come through and it is looking like the greatest Christmas I could ever hope for.

Everything that I learned about Christmas as a child has come back to me as a fifty year old woman.

We are happy and secure...we are together and taken care of by God , our family and our friends .

Though you can't tell it from Zach's face...we are happy. The look on Massey's face says it all.

Yeah, I'm a dummy for being a pup lover...but look how happy THEY look. They know a good deal when they smell one.

What goes around comes around.

The earth has finally finished it's rotation and I feel like the luckiest person in the world.

I am at home decorating the tree, my husband just left for work and thanks to the goodness shown to me by too many to mention in one post...we are enjoying Christmas.

I may weigh 95 pounds but feel like a big fat woman... with so much gratitude in my heart for friends and family. The year is almost over and a new one is on the horizon.

Going to work tomorrow and just know that it will be another blessing ...the peeps have finally come out to celebrate and I will be there to hopefully make their visit a good one.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

P.S. Be sure to click on the photos...Priceless!!

Home From the Now Hated House of Employment

You know, I was one of VERY few employees...actually probably the ONLY employee that genuinely loved their job and loved going to work. This whole shopper episode has left such a bad taste in my mouth that it makes halitosis seem sweet.





I feel like the managers are watching my every move (mainly because they are) and when they asked if I wanted to stay or go tonight..."GO!!!" came flying out of my mouth on it's own. I just wanted to leave. When I was in the office handing in my money the manager said he had watched me and that I had done a good job of slowing down and taking my time.





So basically I have to change from the type of person I have been for 49 years...to a new person that I don't recognize or relate to if I want to keep my job.





I told my general manager that the reason I seem rushed and manic is that even though I am fifty, I work circles around all the people I work with... most of them in their early twenties, do my job and most of theirs all the time. For twelve years this has been fine...but since being bought out by a huge corporation, suddenly I am not an asset but a liability.



I never thought that I would want to leave this job, but if changing WHO I AM is a prerequisite for me keeping my job...maybe it is indeed time for me to think about moving on. I will HAVE to keep this job and seem happy about it til my husband gains employment. But the minute that it happens I plan to splurge on getting my blog copyrighted...make a list of my fave blogs and begin submitting to newspapers, magazines and anyone who will look at my writings. Maybe I could be the next "Carrie Bradshaw" or the new "COTTON" posting a column.

I know this is far fetched and most likely unattainable, but I just can't give up being "ME" it is who I am, who I have been and who I want to remain.

Don't ask me where this new font came from, I am on my daughter's laptop and can't seem to make it go away. I kind of like it though, I took my glasses off and can still read it! I am not sure why we have switched to yellow text either, but it is really hard for me to read so I guess corporate can even see me at home and want me to end my rant. Don't worry, I'll be back. Big brother must be REALLY watching me...kinda scary but kind INDICATIVE of how lame I am on a laptop. (We'll leave this one out when I submit my blog to editors.)

Hopefully back to the right color tomorrow....COTTON


PS. I finally got the text close to the original color again, still not sure what happened...guess this ole broad isn't cut out for a lap top.

It's My Friday!!

Thank the Lord this weekend is almost over!

Most people love the weekend...I DREAD it. Monday is my day off and it starts Tuesday morning with a day shift and escalates towards the weekend with Friday, Saturday and Sunday almost killing me.

Besides working all weekend, my daughter and I went to the cemetery where my parents are buried yesterday and worked for a couple of hours on the plot. We picked up limbs, raked up all the leaves and cut all the weeds with my trusty weed eater. Then we planted irises, lilies and morning glory all around the embankment beside the grave site.

At best...Massey is good company, at worst she is a part time worker. She did wipe off all the headstones when I got through weed eating and dug me a couple of shovel fulls of dirt for the flowers we planted. It really looked nice when we (I) got through and it just makes me feel good to remember my parents with this type of gesture. We have made plans to go back in one month to see what kind of progress our flowers have made...I am really excited about the morning glory seeds we put in. The graveside is right by a twenty foot hill leading down to the country road that runs next to the cemetery. How beautiful it will be when the entire hill is covered with blue morning glory! My neighbor who gave me the seeds assured me that they would take over the side and really spread.

After we finished our gardening, we drove down the old dirt road that leads to where my great great grandmother once had a small house.."Granny's" as we called it when we were kids. We found it by the only marker left...the chimney is still standing amongst the surrounding woods. We got out of the car because Massey wanted to take a picture of the free standing fireplace and chimney. As Massey looked all around us she spotted a house almost in ruins across the road. She said brightly "I wonder if that is where Great Great Grandma's BFF lived"? It made me smile, her sweet take on life and still childlike observations.

It made for a long day...back home to shower , change and go into work til Midnight. I came home and sat down on the sofa in the den and was out in under thirty minutes.

I felt more rested today but had to go in at 3PM...only 1/2 a day to catch my breath before heading back to the seemingly starving and demanding masses. Luckily I had almost all REALLY nice customers. It makes my night so much smoother when I don't get people that are ridiculously high maintenance.

After we were closed, two "official" looking guys came to the front door. They said they were with 'security'. It was the first I had heard so I went to get my manager. We recently got bought out by Darden...who own Olive Garden and Red Lobster. They are switching us over to their computer system from our old one. These two guys were there to install the new system which goes live tomorrow morning.

They seemed more interested in having the bartender show them how to change the channels on the three flat screens than anything and I remarked wittily "LOOK, you aren't being paid to watch TV and if you put it on Telemundo, we'll never get the kitchen help out of here". They both got a chuckle out of that (thank goodness).

When I walked out the door a few minutes later to leave, they were chatting on their cell phones (probably inviting a couple of chicks over to keep them company with the all night set up). I remarked on my way out..."The 'L' Word comes on at 11:30 on Showtime". They both laughed again...come to think of it, they MAY have been on their cell reporting my smart comments to corporate!!

I remember years ago we had a cleaning party at work. The managers had everyone that wanted to, come clean the restaurant after closing from top to bottom...free beer for all of us.

The next morning the manager came in to find two of the Latino cooks asleep under one of the booths (to avoid the motion detector). Come to think of it...that was the LAST cleaning party we had!

I love working with my immigrant friends. They work harder than most Americans I know (they do have a FEW slackers that make it through the fence or tunnel). I have learned more Spanish from the dishwasher and prep guys than I did from 8 years of Spanish class in the school system.

The only thing that bothers me sometimes is the music on their radio or CD's. Number one...isn't the accordian a little outdated for pop music...and why is everything in 3/4 time? ONE TWO THREE ONE TWO THREE ONE TWO THREE. The other night after we were closed and they cranked up their radio...I started hearing Rap music...in ESPANOL!! I asked one of them if this was called "El GANGSTA RAP"??

As usual they all grin sheepishly at me and call me their favorite nickname besides Algodon(spanish for cotton)... "Pelos Parados" Which loosely translated means "spiky hair".

I truly think the reason they like me is because I treat them with respect and treat them as friends. A lot of people I work with treat them like unkowns never even learning their names. I not only learn their names but learn about their families and their culture. I even give some of them nicknames and always ask them if they need something to drink or ask how they are doing. I try to be an amiga! At least I always get a quick response when I need something "on the fly"...that means I need something quickly, usually because I made a goof with an order or I have a Gringo that is too demanding or short of patience. When in Rome...

My Girl is BACK...and my BACK is OUT!!

My sweet little girl came home tonight, after an eight day vacation with her friend and their family.

My back went out yesterday...Painfully so, after a 12 hour double at work on Saturday... carrying probably 30 racks of glasses and about at least 30 buckets of ice during my shift. I guess that I am not as young as I used to be.

I regretfully had to call out of work on Sunday. The spasms in my lower back were almost bringing tears to my eyes.

I went to WalMart and bought a heating pad, came home and ran the hottest bath I could...added a two quart pot of boiling water to it..and scalded myself silly.

After sleeping on the heating pad and repeating the scalding bath routine..I felt well enough to go back to work.

I take the good with the bad...My girl is back..but my back is killing me!

She remarked that I should let all the lazy young people at work do the heavy lifting....I believe her comment was "MAMA...you are OLD"!

Number one..they aren't going to do it...Number two..don't call me OLD to my face!!

She said she meant it in a good way.

Exactly what "GOOD" way was she talking about?

I guess she meant that I was still in shape, had a funky haircut and can still stand to listen to
STAR 94. (our local top 40 radio station)

My girl is finally back...and my back is finally better.

It freaks me out when I have a physical ailment that could possibly stop me from doing my job.

I have worked since the age of fourteen. I have never been without a job.

My husband is on the edge of making his dream come true. He has started his own air freight business...and is working relentlessly to make it ALL come together. It may take a couple of years for it to come to fruition...but I have complete and total faith in him.

If only my old tired body can make it that far. I am going to start taking it easier on myself...stop doing what others should and WILL start helping me with...and start making other "Young Farts" at work pull their own weight. I think that we will be OK..By that, I mean "I" will be OK.

At least I have my girl back...my husband has my back...and hopefully I will keep my OWN back!

If only these young people that I work with knew what I know...knew what I have done and experienced; and knew what lay ahead of them in life.

OOOHHH!! The magic word is "ONLY".

I guess that it is lesson that is learned by experience, trial and error.

But for Pete's sake...don't break "MY" back by learning it !!

Gotta go scald my back again...Till next time COTTON

Racially Ridiculous

One of the servers that work with me is amazing, smart and and African American.

She has recently started law school and is worked to death for no pay, with her internships. She works with us "PEONS" on the weekends...and whenever she can squeeze in a shift so that she can earn some money .

She is an absolute delight. I have only known her for a short time, but consider her my friend.

I work in a city that has their nose so far up in the air, it is a wonder that they can see where they are walking.

She is not your light skinned variety of an African American . She is TRULY a Black woman...a wonderful, intelligent and sophisticated woman that will undoubtedly go very, very far in her life and leave a huge mark on the world. When she does, I will be excited to say that I knew her when she was "just" a server.

Since she has been at our store, I know of two occasions that she has been so horrifically and unjustly treated by "White" people...YES I can call them that, because I am WHITE myself..and on these two occasions, I was embarrassed for my race and the way that they behaved.

The first guy, just DIDN'T like her. It was obvious from the beginning. He berated her for no reason, found fault with her service where there was none...yet when one of us "white" servers went by his table he was exceptionally polite and kind. It made me sick to my stomach.

The second was even worse.

We were all standing in the alley way of our service area where we prepare drinks and expedite the food out of the kitchen. This man came almost "storming" into the face of my friend and quite loudly demanded "Can I HAVE my credit card back"? She looked at him inquisitively and said "sir"? She asked wasn't it in the book with the check that she had placed back on his table ? He VERY rudely said that it wasn't there and he would like to have it back.

God bless her, she sweetly said that she would be right over to his table to help him.

His demeanor and attitude told every one of us that heard, that he felt she had either taken his card, lost it or was copying the numbers down for her later use.

When she went back to his table ...it was RIGHT THERE...behind his receipt in the book that she had left on the table.

I asked her what his response or apology was? He had neither. He walked out the door in a huff, acting like it was her fault he was too stupid to look through the entire book before he came to challenge her in front of all her fellow employees , and make her look like some kind of con artist or cheat.

He left her a crappy tip, and he left me with a foul, bitter taste in my mouth and in my heart.

How can people blatantly be so biased that they actually spend their time creating and manufacturing problems where they don't exist...just to try to make someone look bad, to justify their obvious total racism?

I have complete faith in this young woman. She rises above it EVERY time, and always says.."They are just showing their stupidity."

Her ability to ignore the ignorance, to ignore the bias, to ignore the slights... she takes it all in stride...with AMAZING grace and humility.

When she gets her law degree...I will not only give her a party...but probably a retainer as well.

She is as good a person as I have ever had the honor to know and call my friend.

Look out!! You racist, crooked , dishonest slime balls!! I have a friend on the way to her future that is going to kick your ASS!!!

Till next time WHITE COTTON!!

You ordered chopped steak...but what am I ? Chopped Liver?

I ran a plate of food to a table the other night at work. It went to a pretty young guy...sitting by himself. I sat the chop steak down and he began to explode.

"I ORDERED this WITHOUT onions, I told her I didn't want onion!!". I replied calmly that I would take it back and that it would be no problem to bring him the correct steak.

The young waitress that had taken his order told me that the man wanted to see me, and I told her to tell him I wasn't there. She replied that he could see that I was still there...I guess my two inch spiked hair and Melanoma inducing dark tan gave me away.

After her saying that he was still asking to see me, she said that she thought he wanted to apologize .

I approached the table hesitantly, and told him that I was almost scared to come back to his table.

He said that as soon as I had walked off from his table he had felt terrible about the way he had spoken to and treated me.

I gently patted him on the shoulder and said "Don't worry about it...as soon as I turned to walk away, I called you an ass hole in my head".

Let me inject here that I KNOW what customers I can joke with, and this young guy actually found me quite humorous.

He said "Did you really"? I said "no", and then said "Yeah, I really did." But I told him that I had been a server for thirty years, and he would be pressed to a point to insult me...I had heard it all by this stage in my career. I told him that it was our fault his order was wrong and that I was sorry he had been served the wrong food.

He ended up leaving the server a ten dollar tip on a fifteen dollar meal.

Sometimes you just have to stand up and say "What am I?...Chopped Liver"?

For Pete's sake...it's a piece of meat!! It is not like that was the last piece of Chopped Steak left on the planet.

We made him happy in the end, and I made him laugh at not only himself, but at me as well.

Granted you can't treat every person this way, but I pick and choose carefully who I joke with...and he took it exceptionally well.

I believe it was one of my finer moments as a server....don't you?

Till next time COTTON