Oct 28, 2007 18:34
My anniversary is coming up. It's been an on again off again relationship, but I always come back to it, it's just so easy, it's always there: instant gratification. It hasn't been very stimulating or adventurous, but it's familiar. I feel like it's time for an ultimatum: step it up a notch or break up forever.
I've been out flirting, and I haven't always been faithful. I've been making out with project management, children's programming, art events and television.
9 years ago on Halloween I started waiting tables. Since then I've worked in Diners, Pubs, Bars, Restaurants, Yacht Clubs, and Concert Halls. I've washed dishes, cooked food, scrubbed toilets, carried several plates at a time, mastered the Bloody Caesar and burnt myself with hot coffee more often then I can remember.
I've had bosses that I've loved, hated, didn't speak English, didn't have thumbs, didn't bother to learn my name and flashed their tits at customers.
I've learned every trick possible, from bigger tips to ripping off the owners to having the kitchen staff in the palm of my hand. The restaurant industry is filled with surprises, lulls, rushes and monotony and frankly I'm bored of it.
So here it is. I want to open the upstairs of my restaurant, make it my own bar. Serving organic cocktails like Huckleberry Cosmos, Ginger and Lemongrass Daiquiris, Fresh Mint Mojitos and Mango Margaritas. I want to run it, advertise it, prep it, everything. And if that fails I'm ready to turn my back forever.
Every year at this time I think about my anniversary, how many pots of coffee I've made, how many times I've asked "mashed or fries" and my self esteem dies a little bit more.