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Monday, May 12, 2008
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Good Morning everyone,
Hope this entry finds everyone fine as can be.
 
Sorry I haven't written much in the last couple of weeks for the exception of my rant and then my rave.  I had a few comments for those two and thank you very much to the one's that did comment ~ it was appreciated.  Probably offended some others that may usually read my journal, but? it's my journal and I'm so tired of apologizing for things I write or even don't write that I'm over it.  Silence speaks the most volumes at times doesn't it? Truth.
 
 
On with what else has been going on in my life for the last couple weeks!
The week before this (Monday) Cindy had to go in and have what may have turned into a carcinoma removed on her back so she was off of work that day ~ we wound up driving over to Louisiana (Shreveport) and having a wonderful day there at the Boardwalk, we shopped around, didn't buy much but I couldn't resist the kitchen gadget store ROFL.  We ate early dinner there at the Saltgrass Steakhouse sitting on the river that goes through Shreveport there (the casino's are just down the river).  We also got a couple of ice cream cakes from ColdStone Creamery (I think  it's ColdStone  LOL) One was for her Nephew's b'day and one was just for us.  All in all it was such a nice trip to be able to get out on our own with no distractions (phone ringing constantly etc.) and we were able to have "Cindy and Teresa" time.  I wish we could have taken more time but it's always rush, rush, rush.  One day maybe we won't have to rush, rush, rush.
 
 
Work has been hectic and for all the hectic the tips have been absolutely crappy.  People in this area of Texas have NO NO NO idea how to tip!!  Frankly, I'm getting really tired of paying for someone else to go out to eat and that's what server's do when their "guests" don't tip appropriately.  We wind up paying the taxes NO MATTER WHAT that the tips help pay with the minimum wage...here in Texas (which will ONE day catch up with the real world as far as minimum wage is concerned ~ don't see those freaking fat cats of the oil industry or other "fat cats from other areas" worrying about changing the laws raising the minimum wage bothering them, it doesn't ~ is us that has to suffer. (insert sigh here) let's see who else doesn't comment today with THAT statement.  Anyway, Server's in Texas and a few other states make $2.13 a hour and have to make the difference up in tips ~ okay on with the other countdowns of our paychecks...we have to report at least 15% of our tips (whether we make it or not) or lose our jobs; we have to tip out the busser, the bartender & the hostess ~ another 10 to 15 dollars per shift (whether we use them or not).  okay, when diner's do not tip at least 15% that means in a sense that I am paying for a part of your dining experience.  I can understand when people don't tip because of crappy service, but when you receive crappy service please make sure it's the Server's fault and not the fault of the kitchen, the cook or management before you "chose" to be an a**hole and stiff someone.  Those Server's still have to pay for your temper tantrum.  For myself?  when service is bad (which rarely happens because I do my utmost to make sure your dining experience is a very good one ~ sometimes though things beyond my control can change your dining experience and though it is not my fault, I expect a stiff or close to it). Server's work their literally "asses" off ~ don't forget that, it's not a easy job at all, it's very hard on one physically and mentally.  Not to mention all the work we do when the guests aren't watching, the cleaning, the scrubbing, rolling hundreds of rolls of silverware ~ all for $2.13 a hour.  Just think about it the next time you dine out ~ if you can't afford a tip because you didn't factor that in when you went into the place to dine?  go to McDonald's or somesuch where you don't have to tip.  Also ~ when you are adding up your debit or credit card charge?  pleeeeze don't add enough of a tip to just make your adding better for your checkbook?   don't take something and make it a even $25 or $30 just because you are too lazy to want to go to the effort in your checkbook to balance it, that's also not our fault, tip appropriately for the service you receive ~ 15% for good ~ if you think it was a little better than good? 20% is great...if you want to leave more? excellent.  For the one's that don't tip, or tip badly ~ believe me, we Server's do remember you and it get's spread around that you are a bad tipper and are hard to deal with.  That's not a good thing for YOU as a guest...we aren't going to bust our butt's for someone that doesn't appreciate it.  You tip well, we remember that also...and you get the service accordingly.
My least favorite type of guest that comes in the place I work?? The "lovely" ladies that work in offices on their lunch breaks...they want this, this and this... they demand everything ~ they run up a tab ~ upwards of maybe $15 dollars? where I've run my ass off for you? where I've made sure your drink was never empty, that your bread is kept full, where your food arrived hot and correct as you wanted it?  you leave me $1.00. or somesuch ~ believe me ladies WE as servers remember you and you can be sure you won't receive as good a service as you did on this visit.  As I said, you can't afford a place where you are supposed to leave a tip?  go to McDonald's or a gas station store and grab you a sandwich there. (shrug)
 
 
Needless to say this past week has been nuts as hell, work has been slow, steady and at times frantic.
The boys are doing nicely ~ we think that Lares may have accidentally hurt Draco in the dog run, because Draco has become very leery about going out there without Cindy or I...he's lost confidence and he used to me the most mischievous one!  Hopefully we can train Lares to stay off of his brother when they are out there alone... Lares tries to "herd" Draco all the time when they are out there and like I mentioned I think Lares may have hurt Draco recently in doing so...Lares has this habit of going after the back of Draco's leg's in order to "herd" him and think he may have bit too hard one time. Poor Baby :(
 
 
I'm off for 3 whole days!!!!!  It's Saturday and I'm not working :)  Today is Cindy's nephew's b'day party at the park, so we (about 10 to 15 of us) are going to have a little picnic for him.  It should be fun and it's supposed to be a beautiful day... no rain.  And gosh have we had a lot of rain lately...storm after storm after storm.  I love it... lol.
 
 
Okay, I guess I'll go... I need to get some things done.  Will try to write again either today or within the next couple.
 
Bright Blessings*
 


stetsonsfyre at 6:59:00 AM CDT Blog about this entry
This entry has 10 comments: (Add your own)
  • #10 Comment from sangrialel 
    5/19/08 6:58 AM Permalink
    My Mom was a waitress at the same restraunt for years and years and I remember her telling me the same type of things.  I used to sit in the living room and count out her tips (that is how I learned to add!)  Mark and I always tip 20% unless it is just really really bad service, but 20 is the minumum, if a server is awesome they get more!  I love going out to eat and the reason is because I love having someone cook my dinner and having someone serve it to me, I don't have to do it myself, so they deserve to be paid well for giving me anight off!!  Linda
  • #9 Comment from mariealicejoan 
    5/19/08 12:28 AM Permalink
    Having worked as a waitress myself in the past I always leave a tip.  The British are, for some reason, notoriously bad tippers.  I think it's because the servers over here do get paid a very decent wage, but I always leave a proper tip myself.  I would feel pretty awful if I didn't!
    Marie
    http://ayearatoakcottage.blogspot.com/
  • #8 Comment from cayasm 
    5/18/08 2:38 PM Permalink
    The service industry is so different in the US from the UK, my staf were reasonably well paid earning $11.00 US so there is not the dependence on tips, which is thought of as extras,in restaurants you are expected to tip, but you certainly don't have to share it with anybody else as the kitchen staff tend to earn more anyway, and the barstaff recieve and keep their own tips.


    Yasmin
    xx
  • #7 Comment from toonguykc 
    5/18/08 1:16 AM Permalink
    Enjoy some time off and r e l a x !!

    xoxo
    Russ

    (I'm a good tipper)
  • #6 Comment from sunnybethe 
    5/18/08 12:13 AM Permalink
    I don't understand why people don't tip either. When I go out to lunch and the 20% is less than 2-3 bucks I'll make sure it's at least 5.   Lunch is usually a crappy shift to pull : /  AND if I go out with a guy who is a lousy tips the server badly I have no problem with diliberately opeong my bag and making sure the server gets a just amount. And that ends that.  It's not and easy job and you deserve more respect than you get.  JMO~Bethe
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