Being a grownup sucks

I'm alive! I say this because I haven't posted anything in a long time. Nothing new and exciting is happening. Work is still work and it still sucks. My co-workers are great and my managers still suck-great-big-donkey-balls! I would like to find a new job, but it is almost impossible in this economy to do that. I still have a good schedule and make great money, but I get weary of putting up with all the corporate policies and the whimsical nature of my managers thought process. Today is a day off and I need to do some day off things, i.e., errands, laundry, catch up on reading, see a movie, stop and talk to some people at other restaurants. I already have spoken with my parents this week. My roommate is very busy with school, work and his gf. As of today, I am five months into my one year suspension on my driver's license. That makes life harder, especially with spotty public transportation, but I am getting through it well. Not being able to drive is another reason for not quitting my current job. I'm trying to get hired on at one of the other bars in the mall where I work, but it is taking a long time. I know the regional manager very well, so its just a matter of waiting for something to open up. Oh well, back to reading. I'll post more later.

Another day in paradise

Another weekend down the tubes. Manged on Thursday and Saturday mornings. Closed the bar Friday night and worked it with Christi and Dawn on Saturday night. The best story of the weeks; The Bar Manager came back on Wednesday night with his girlfriend and proceeded to get drunk(er) at the bar. Dawn was closing. At one point he asks Dawn across the bar in full ear-shot of his stupid girlfriend, "What do I have to do to be the cool manager?" Dawn's initial response was to laugh hysterically, but she kept that down and instead told him, "Stop being a dick." He just doesn't get it.

Been awhile

So Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. I haven't posted for a couple of weeks. I don't know why. I worked straight through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was well worth it because I made a ton of money in which to pay bills with. I've been having more fun behind the bar lately so that is a good thing. I went to a concert on Friday night with my roommate. It was good to get out of the house and pretend to have a normal life for once.

Last night was good. Jana was a volume from the morning, but I didn't have to put up with her for long. Dawn stayed with me until almost close which was great because she is awesome! I sat down and split a meal with her when she was done because The Bar Manager, unlike most bar managers, starts his weekly inventory before we are even close to closing. I don't mean that he just counts the storeroom and the like, he was counting my speedrail while I was still pouring drinks! He is an idiot! Because he started so early he didn't get the chance to suck back five or six Captain n' Cokes like he usually does on Saturday night. He tried to suck up to me by discussing the schedule with me. When I was done I went over to The Tavern because I thought Brian and Abby were going to be there, but they went home early so I went over to Bar X and got a few drinks from Miss Brandy and stood by the door waiting for a cab and talked to the bouncers. When I got home my roommate and I watched most of "Bubba Hotep". Its a great movie! I get the pleasure of closing tonight. It should be a good shift. Yea, me!!

Explanation

I guess I should explain yesterday's post. Not only am I a bartender at The Seafood Restaurant, but I am also an hourly manager. (I know, I know, the dark side.) Our last GM, the good one, asked me to do this soon after we opened and I accepted. I enjoy it somewhat and I'm very good at because I was a manager previously at The Italian Restaurant. That taught me how to be a good manager and put up with bad managers. I don't want to be a full time manager right now. Especially in my current place. I don't want to work that closely with The GM. So I am content to manage twice a week. I usually open, which is nice because I'm the only manager in the building for a few hours and I can hang out with the other employees while still performing my management duties.

I'm stupid

My shift last night was long and frustrating. Many problems and very few solutions. The main problem is the one that gets worse every day. The fact that my managers are not qualified or good at their jobs. We have a new executive chef that falls into the same vein. Everyone is trying waaaay to hard to do everything the way corporate wants it done. All told, it's not a nice place to work. I can't quit because I am making good money and I will not be able to find a job this good or that pays this well.

Back to last night. The dishwasher behind the bar broke. This not a good thing because we wash almost all of the glassware in The Seafood Restaurant behind the bar. I don't have a triple-sink so I had to load everything up and take it to the main dishwasher in the back. I had late bar patrons, which was great because they tipped well and they were way cool. But, because I was talking to them, I did not clean as much as I should, as quickly as I should or started as early as I should. I got into it with the Bar Manager (who remember is not good at his job) about the broken dishwasher and getting everything clean. He wanted to leave everything until the morning. I said that was silly. We need to clean everything, every night. Period. I told him we need keep the main dishwasher open longer to accomodate the bar glasses and equipment. The chef said no, but he did leave the dishwasher full of clean water so I could finish my dishes. I just had to break it down. No big deal, it only took a few minutes to do this. Compromise is great!

I was done with my shift at 11:45. I was angry at the management, frustrated with the way the shift went and flush with cash. So what do I do? I go to Bar X and proceed to down what I think was six tall Maker's and Diet in about two hours. That was a great idea! Do you know why? I had not eaten in twelve hours, the Bar Manager came in and sat down next to me and just generally pissed me off, and they kept pouring me drinks. Now, the first two are very bad. The last is very good, just not for me. If I go out at all, I generally only have two drinks and then go home. Two relaxes me and helps me unwind, but does not impair me. Impair is the correct word to use. I was extremely impaired. I had to go into the bathroom and puke before I paid my tab. One of my best friends in the world, the Girl From LA, called me at that time. I remember her calling, but I don't know what we spoke about. And last but not least, I got pulled over, arrested, and GOT A DUI!!!! So this is why I'm stupid.