Bar Notes: Things Not to Do

Last night Dave and I got slammed around 5:30/6:00 as two big groups came in at the same time, plus a couple tables and people at the bar. Busy as all-get-out, and busier than it ever was on Friday. Not bad for the middle of the week. Also fun is how when we get busy and I'm running from table to table to the bar to a table... my patience level goes way down. A couple of suggestions, not just for when it's busy, but these two things made me want to smack people yesterday:

1. Please keep your [expletive] hands off the waitress. Seriously. Yesterday, I got up to the table, guy puts his hand on my hip - not in a "come here baby" kind of way, but kind of in a "hang on a second" way, but totally inappropriate even so. For the rest of the night, I always came to the table from the other side so as to keep out of arm's reach. Another guy, same 50's-ish age, different table, put his hand on my arm. When I immediately took a step back, I think he got the message. Why is this an issue? Realistically, when is the last time you went up to a total stranger in the street and touched them? They have this saying about three feet of personal space. I have my own saying: Don't [expletive] Touch Me. Side note, when the table was done, this guy paid - $10 on an $80 tab, i.e. less than %15. Maybe I should have given him a grope, would that've helped?

2. When sitting at a table and the server asks "How's everyone doing? Can I get anyone something?" That is the ideal time to ask for another beer. Not a couple minutes later when I bring your friend his. I like to minimize my trips back and forth because I have five other tables and the less time I spend running back and forth to yours, the more time I have to see if they want something. It's called maximizing my efficiency. Taking three trips for three beers when I could have gotten them all at once is called pissing me off.

3. Bonus: Situation awareness is a great thing, i.e. paying attention. Table orders food. I bring silverware out a few minutes before food. Table moves silverware to another table to get it out of their way. I bring food. Table says "Can we have some forks and napkins?" I barely refrain from saying, "No, dumbass, 'cause you made it very clear just moments ago that you don't really want either."

Okay, all in all it wasn't a bad night. It was just a very hectic two and half hours where I had just enough idiots to cause undo frustration. Then I had the table who couldn't read the menu. I had to explain the difference to them between an appetizer and an entree for what seemed like half an hour: "This one's an appetizer, it has dip and bread. This one's an entree it's kinda like a mini pizza and it has a side."
"But, does it come with bread?"
"It is bread, with toppings. Like a mini pizza."
"And this other one comes with bread?"
"Yes, and dip, too."
Same table with guy who grabbed my arm.

Fortunately, after a while they all left. Then I got a free ice cream sunday 'cause the gal wanted chocolate syrup, not caramel. Damn. Dave and I made fun of people a lot. Later, a table of our nice regulars came in and by the time I left, I was in a pretty good mood.

It's just that, since I got home late and did a bit of homework and blog updating, I didn't get to bed until 2:00 a.m. then my alarm went off at 7:30 a.m. and this morning I find a message from my problem prof. that no, we can't meet on any of the days that work for me because she's only on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so can I meet with her before I go to work? No. I'm not getting up early just to have a meeting I don't want to have with someone who gets on my nerves. Instead, I can cut my lunch break short on Tuesday. Now, if that time doesn't work for her, I don't know what I'm going to do. I'll just have to tell Dr. Sheidley I tried, I really did, but I just can't bend over backwards quite that far. (In finding out my frustrations with said prof. he suggested I talk to her directly about them - a tact I'm not sure I agree with in this situation, but at least I can say I tried, right?)

Wow, that turned into a seriously ranty post. Isn't sleep deprivation combined with frustrating people fun? The bright side: Brandi talked Marianne into changing the schedule on Saturdays so instead of having two bored-to-tears servers, we'll only have one. This means that, for now, I get every other Saturday off. Starting with this one. Thank George for small favors.