Will The Madness Ever End?!

I have three papers due next week and I work every day for the rest of the week.

Paper one: 3 pages (not bad)
Paper two: 1500 - 2000 words (doable)
Paper three: 6500 words (WHAT?)

I am trying to tackle the third paper right now and as I am working through it, I can't stop thinking about how I will hardly be able to work on them after tomorrow because I work 2 split shifts this weekend  and a pre-close (hello tips, goodbye GPA). I haven't even begun to look at the first two papers.


Why is being a student so difficult? It's summer school so these courses are moving super quick so trying to be on top of it plus work at least four shifts a week has been getting really over-whelming. The restaurant asked me to pick up a shift today and tomorrow and I told them I could do tomorrow (which I am starting to regret), but hopefully the tips will be good and make up for it. I worked on Monday night and it was so busy. Apparently it has been like that all week so they are trying to add staff to the floor. This is the second last week of these courses though and after that I will be starting a new one but thankfully it will only be one course. I think it'll be a lot more manageable.

So while I sit in this chair for the next 6 hours, please say a prayer to the paper gods for me!

- A

Double Shift = Double Money? NOPE!

I have always called a Sunday in the restaurant business 'shitshow Sunday' because it can either be completely dead or insanely busy. It's super hard to schedule for a Sunday so if the restaurant gets slammed, you can get weeded pretty easily.

I worked the double today and it was completely dead! I served only three tables at lunch and maybe 6 at dinner. I made a whopping 55 dollars (because that'll pay rent). I got cut pretty early and I am wondering if my manager did it out of spite because I had asked her if my section had changed (she might have thought I was complaining that I was not cut). There is nothing worse than not knowing that your section had changed and you just walked past a table for 10 minutes thinking they were someone else's. The walk of shame to the table after realizing it is always the worst. I didn't want to get cut, I really need the money this week.

Other than that, the night was fine. I didn't get overly stressed (something I battle with constantly) and I stayed on top of my stuff. I was even assigned to my favourite side duty so that made finishing up easier.

There was one time that I wanted to put my foot in my mouth tonight, though. I usually do something stupid at least once a shift (because I am clumsy and socially awkward to the point of physical pain). I had a table of four order 4 cokes and when I was putting them down I joked and said 'just call me the coke fairy!' As soon as I said it I knew how inappropriate it sounded. I shrivelled up and walked away.

Note to self: just stop talking

As always,

- A

I Will Survive!

I survived my shift tonight!

I have been off for 5 days and it is always hard coming back after a break. I went to work feeling like an elephant was sitting on my chest but guess what? It wasn't that bad! I had a party of 9 and 3 other tables at the same time (which a lot my laugh at) but that is a big deal for me. I stayed calm, cool and collected.

I get scared when I find out I have a party of more than 7 people.

When I had first started serving when I was 19, I was thrown into doing a party of 15. They were middle-aged women, were constantly changing seats and had like 6 different bills and I just got in the weeds and they called me names that I won't repeat here but let's just say that it's been three years since that and I still get nervous for parties.

Tonight was good though. The party flagged down my GM and told her how fantastic I was. My other manager even pulled me aside today and told me he has noticed my improvement. It's funny how someone taking a minute out of their day to tell you something like that can make you feel wonderful!

Give it a try. Tell a co-worker that they kick ass! You never know, they could be having a bad day and that may impact them more than you realize.

Pay it forward!

Good luck to everyone starting the work week (AKA Friday-Sunday in the restaurant world),

- A

Still New? That's alright! You Can Pre-Close This Weekend!

So I think the title says it all...

I just saw the schedule for next week and I was shocked to see that I will be pre-closing one night next weekend. It might be because a lot of people have booked the long weekend off but I still am confused because we all know I pretty much suck at serving. I get stressed when I have 4 or more tables (I know, don't judge me) but the restaurant I am working at is very demanding in terms of refills so I have been told that 4 tables there is like 6 tables in normal restaurants. I think it's also important to note that I have been no later than the third server cut during my shifts so a pre-close seems like a big jump.

Sometimes I wonder why I stick with serving. I hate going to work everyday and feel EXTREME anxiety leading up to shifts. I am a weak server and know it along with everyone else but I keep trying to stick with it. Why do I do it to myself? The money is great and I am a student but at what point will I think my mental health is worth more than a big tip?

Maybe once I graduate and get a job? Who knows! This world is big and crazy and full of surprises.

Thanks for reading this ranty blog,

- A

Can You Work Tomorrow?

So I have been surviving the dreaded graduation season.

This week has been crazy. I work 5 shifts this week (2 which are doubles) and have 3 papers due at the end of the week. I am just about to start the first paper that is due tomorrow night. Upon sitting down to start working, my manager texted me and asked me if I could work at noon tomorrow (on top of my dinner shift). I find it hard to pick up shifts because I am also trying to balance school but they are constantly asking me to pick up shifts and I feel like every time I say no, they get a little angry.

So here I am, stuck between a rock and a hard place. Pick up a shift and give up time to do my papers or piss off my employers and get my homework done?

I just wish things could run smoothly but that never seems to be the case.

I hope your enjoying your week, friends!

- A

Tuition, Rent and Double Shifts

Hello readers (hopefully?)!

I have decided to start blogging about my experiences as a university student trying to put myself through school by serving tables. I got the motivation to start blogging after having a nightmare of a shift (I contemplated leaving half way through from the stress) and turned to the internet to read about other servers horror stories.

A little history about my restaurant career...

I had started off as a host in a busy restaurant when I was 17 or 18 years old and had began serving tables 2 years later. 2 years down the road, I continue to serve while living away at school and now, while I have returned home for the summer. I had gotten this serving job because my best friend was a server there and assured me that they would hire me for the summer (it was so hard to find a serving job that would only take me for 4 months) so I could not decline. I have just finished my third year in university and while I continue to do summer school, I am serving and volunteering. 

When my friend told me she could get me the job, she warned me that it is incredibly stressful, knowing that I have always struggled with severe stress and anxiety while serving. I assured her that it was probably no different than the other places I have served and that I would probably be used to it.

I could not be more wrong.

So here I am, almost half way through the summer. I have 2 and a half more months at this restaurant and I wonder if I will make it to the end.

If you are still reading (bless you), I feel like it is because you can connect in some way. This blog will be about my stressors, horror stories, successes and other general stories surrounding life in the restaurant in an attempt to maintain my sanity. 

- A