Today.

Was.

A

Day.

First I couldn’t sleep last night. Perhaps because of my full belly and the meat sweats. Perhaps because of the cappuccino I had at dinner. Perhaps it was that we had the lights off by 12:15 last night.

I couldn’t fall asleep. I couldn’t stay asleep.

I toss and turn all night. At around 10:00 I check my phone. It’s 10:00. I don’t have to be up for two more hours.

But.

There’s a text from an employee.

I think. I’ll deal with that later.

I try to go back to sleep.

I continue to toss and turn. I read Facebook for a bit. Try to sleep. Toss. Turn.

Eventually the alarm goes off at 11:30.

I pick up my phone.

My employee has pulled her back. It will be fine. I’m just sad she’s dealing with it again. I’ve been there and know how much it can hurt.

I also know that we’d have probably made a cut anyway so we’ll be staffed okay.

Then I check email.

I scan them to see if there are any fires to put out.

Fun fact. There are never fires at my current job. No one emails me to say what the fuck from the night before. It’s nice.

There are no fires, but one email is my staff line up from our scheduling tool. I open it since I know at last one person will be out.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

A new employee is starting today. In my head I thought she was coming in on Friday.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

It’s not that big of a deal but none of my employee documents are printed.

I get up. Get my day started.

I shower. Make lunch. Leave for work.

I’m almost to the highway when I realize that I need gas. I’m really bad about paying attention to the gas tank.

I have to detour to get gas.

Now I’m going to be late.

This isn’t great because I have a meeting at 1:15.

Now I’m not going to have time to check messages first.

I get there. Make a coffee.

Meet with chef.

This is interrupted by deliveries. By phone calls.

We get through our lists. It’s 1:49. I have 11 minutes to get ready for my new employee.

I open my computer just as she appears from the dining room. I explain I’m printing a few things and I’ll be right with her.

I print. Print. Print. Print. Print.

Since last season I’ve put together about 500 pages of training materials. Menu descriptions. Drink and wine list. Updated employee manual. Server training guidelines. Server manual.

It’s 2:02 when I print the last document.

I do my new employee meeting. A tour. We go over the menu. We go over the cuts of meats. I tell her the difference between a t-bone and a porterhouse. I tell her about the grills. We go through the handbook. We go through the server guide. I get to my favorite part, my speech on hospitality. I discuss restaurant culture. I discuss my approach to the guest. I discuss how I think of guests as people in my living room. How the guest is not always right but deserves to be heard.

I look up.

It’s 4:00.

I haven’t checked email. I haven’t done phone calls.

And then I remember we are rolling out the new beverage/wine list.

Fuck.

I need to get the new cocktails into the POS.

I get that done.

It’s now 4:20. Pre-shift starts in 10 minutes.

I find my list. I pee. I get a water.

It’s 4:30.

Pre-shift goes long. New drinks. New expo procedures. My list of things. The daily specials. It’s 4:50.

We have to be open in 10 minutes.

We get the doors open at 5:02.

It’s show time. A quiet start but show time just the same. First turn is quiet. By 7:00 we are cranking.

As soon as it starts it’s over.

Around 8:30 I realize I never ate the lunch I packed. My head is hurting.

Around 9:00 I sit down. With my lunch.

My staff starts to wrap up. We are tasting new cocktails. I meet with the new employee. She did great.

Everyone is gone by 9:15. Except table 31. And one poor server. Table 31 sat at 6:30. They are two older women who haven’t seen each other in 30 years. It’s a little after 10 when they finally leave.

Server finishes up.

I’m done a few minutes later.

My checklist is done.

But I’m standing in the dining room trying to figure out what I’m forgetting to do.

What am I forgetting? I recheck the thermostats. I check the front door. I recheck the gallery. Nope. Surely I’m being paranoid.

I go through the kitchen. Check the coffee station. Check the hoods. Turn off the lights. Lock the door.

Get into my car.

I text Adam to let him know I’m leaving.

I start my car and drive around the building to the road only to see that every light in the dining room is on.

That’s what I was forgetting.

I go back to the back door. Go in. Turn off all the lights. Retrace my steps.

Drive home.

It was a day and I get 2/10ths of what I needed to get done accomplished.

But alas.

Tomorrow is another day.