Waiter Rant

Five and a half years ago I was looking for a new job. I had my resume in with employment agency after employment agency. I clicked on link after link that Monster had to offer. And, on a whim, I put in a resume for one serving position. I talked with a manager and was advised to check back in two weeks. Two weeks later I had a phone interview, only a few days before my previous position was ending. Friday September 1st was my final day with that company. I was hired at the restaurant on Saturday the 2nd.

I didn't expect to be there long. I wanted to move to the big city and take steps toward becoming a professional author. Over the past five and a half years my life has changed substantially. My goals have shifted and altered. And yet here I am, moving to the big city and starting a graduate program in Creative Writing.

I love this job. I love the coworkers, I love the food industry and I love interacting with the public. Sure I have bad days (who doesn't?), but truly it's been a great five and a half years.

Tomorrow is my last day at the restaurant. I will cry. Tomorrow I say goodbye to the memories. I say goodbye to the girl I was when I walked in those doors, and smile at the woman I've become.

I have grown professionally and personally because of this job. I have formed friendships that I hope will last a lifetime, and made connections that I will forever treasure.

So thank you dear work friends, for making the past five and a half years so memorable. Thank you for being there through the bad tips, the rude tables, and the burnt food. We've been through some horrible times together, and some amazing ones.

And it is without irony that I say, for perhaps the last time "HB ROCKS!"

The goodbyes are quicker now

I expected to feel more.

It’s my last day at my day job. I haven’t worked here long, maybe six months, but the staff warmed up to me easily. This I think has less to do with my sunny personality and more to do with the fact that it’s a new company. Sure everyone had seniority on me, but in some cases it was only three weeks. I was an important part of the system within weeks, and my voice was always welcome.

Maybe it’s because this isn’t goodbye, not yet. The holiday party is on Thursday. I’m facebook friends with the bulk of my peers, and I’ll be working with the company in a few short weeks at the Fancy Foods Show. Maybe it’s the result of last night’s stress caused insomnia.

Or maybe it’s because Claire and I are already saying goodbye the only way that we know how; publicly and through the written word.

Two weeks ago, we moved into this new office space. I said goodbye to my own office and moved into a temporary shared office. I said goodbye to the dirty warehouse, and moved into a warm, welcoming building.

I knew from the get-go that this was a temporary situation. Not just this office, but the job as a whole. I knew Leonard was applying up North, and I knew that I wanted to start a new life. I had no reason to start working here other than that little voice in my head saying give it a try,

What did this job bring me, aside from a lovely resume booster and day after day with my BFF? Simple: this job reminded me that I have a lot to offer. That there's more to me than meets the eye, and that my creativity is a gift.

How is it already over?

Working Girl

One of the biggest questions that I get is how I will make money after the big move. My friends, I assume, are not asking if I will work the street corners, but rather where I will be legally employed in San Francisco. This issue has haunted my own thoughts, and I admit, has caused me more than a little stress.

I’m currently working two jobs – not something I recommend. I’m completely drained, and I’ve only been doing this since August. As the holidays come closer, I anticipate that my work load will double. Still, as we prepare to move to one of the most expensive cities in the country, every dollar counts. Frankly, I should probably be working more. I am in awe of the people who work 60+ hours a week.

Each of these positions has an opportunity for me in San Francisco. My restaurant position has a very busy location in San Francisco, a location that I’ve planned to transfer to for years. My office position would allow me to work from home, despite the fact that the company is based in Orange County. What would you choose?

As Leonard and I have looked over apartments online, it’s become clear how little we know about our future home. We may wind up a studio. He can study with sound, but I get easily distracted. That, combined with general curiosity about the city, caused me to lean toward waitressing.

Yes, I decided to keep waiting tables.

But really, when you think about it, it’s kind of perfect. I’ll be working with a wide variety of people, all of whom will have budgets close to mine. When I need recommendations for a vet, a hair salon or a good bar, these will be my people. I’ll get to learn about the city from the guests; tourists and locals alike.

Sure, maybe I’m wearing rose colored glasses. Maybe I’m ignoring how physically drained I’ll be, or the fact that I’ll be wearing all white for another year of my life. Maybe I’m forgetting how frustrating waiting tables can be at times.

Maybe there’s a magic third option that will jump out at me when I least expect it.

But when it comes right down to it, working in the heart of my new city seems a lot more stimulating than spending day after day cooped up in my (likely) cramped apartment. And really, I love working with people. Other people make me more productive.

Most of the time.