It has been four days since I've posted. I started to write last night, but couldn't keep focused. I have been bussing for over three weeks now, and I have decided to stop. The waitress who works most of the day shifts with me is not a very good server. She is young, and this is her second job serving. She is easily distracted, by boys especially, she relies on flirting to improve her tips, and she doesn't take responsibility for her guest's dining experience. As a busser, its my job to serve her. I am admitting right now that I have a very hard time with serving a server who doesn't care about serving her guests.
I am still working on respecting her as a person. She is a spoiled child. The owner lectured us both on service yesterday. I recognized that because she doesn't care about her tables, I let my standards for myself slip. And when that happens you start to get used to being lazy. I won't let that happen to me. So today I was scheduled as a busser, even though we have a new bus boy. Last night I told the owner I won't bus anymore, and I took today off. The new bus boy worked my shift.
I was scheduled, and worked as a server yesterday during the day. The owner has put me on the day shift through the weekend. For what reason, I don't know. It could be that he doesn't like me, and he thinks I will do less damage on that shift. I feel like I'm viewed as sub-human, no matter how hard I work. Maybe because they know now that I live in my truck, maybe because I smoke, or because they think I'm alcoholic, or maybe it's just because I'm American. It could also be that he knows I am dependable, and the other servers pretty much aren't, and he knows the day shift will be covered if I'm on it. The promoter asked if I could barback the night parties, so maybe he had a hand in it. Bottom line; I don't know, it doesn't matter.
Regarless of the reason, I am serving through Labor Day weekend. Yesterday, after the other server left, I got a seven top, and they gave me a $50 cash over-tip. I know how to give good service, and maybe my reading glasses with only one arm clued them in that I could use a little cash. Stuff like that happens everyday. Not $50 overtips, but money when I need it. Consequently, I was able to not work a bus shift, demonstrating my resolve to the owner, pay two $18 parking tickets before they became $45 parking tickets, eat, and buy cigarettes. EVERYDAY, I get what I need. That's how I know I am doing the right thing and am in the right place. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
I am not a pleasant teacher to lazy students. I am gruff, and at times, rude. I let them know they do not have my respect, and I show them how to work. This other server has gotten better in the last three weeks, maybe when I show her how a good server works she will learn even more. I doubt she has the character to do it, but maybe she will. I respect effort. Also, she is free to do and to be as she wishes. I will be what I am and who I am regardless.
Still no callbacks. I went to see a manager I worked with here before. He didn't have anything for me, but he referred me to another manager who I worked with briefly, and took my resume because he has several special events happening this month that he might be able to use me for. One of my new friends tipped me to a job where she works. I met with the manager who said I was hired, but she hasn't called me yet to tell me when I can start training.
I have been in the hospitality business for over 10 years, I have a very good resume, I look good, and I can communicate. There is no reason I shouldn't be able to get another job, unless god wants me where I am for some reason. Working as a bussboy fed me for three weeks, but it has begun to turn me into something I don't want to be. Jimmy Buffet says "Leap, and the net will appear". So I recognize that I shoulld be a server. That will either happen where I am, or something else will come along at exactly the right time. Believe it, I do, I am staking my life on it.
I checked craigslist the other day and found two sailboats that I think I would be happy living on. Both were 22 feet, smaller than I was thinking, but one was asking for $3000, the other $2800. I think I should be able to scrape that together in not too many months. And I will bet that I will have a boat before it gets too cold to live in my truck. If not, plan B is a cap for the bed, a camp stove, water tank, and a cot with blankets. I will not live in another apartment before I live on a sailboat.
Yesterday I started to write about a buddhist martial arts teaching former bartender that I used to work with and recognized about a month ago doing tai chi on the beach. Yesterday the time was finally right for me to approach him. I hope to be studying with him starting next week. I'll tell you how it goes...
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