I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

I don’t know how much I’d missed writing.

It’s been fun getting back to it.

I also didn’t realize how awful my office at home looked until I started spending time in it again.

A dining out experience tonight.

I had to run by the mall after work tonight.

I stopped by chipotle afterwards.

Two things.

First as a customer you don’t have to stick your head over the sneeze guard to be heard by the staff. Sound carries. They’ll hear you and it will be more sanitary.

Then I ordered a burrito. They heated up the tortilla, added the rice and chicken and only then did I discover they were out of mild salsa, corn salsa, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole.

They were going to give me a burrito with chicken and rice.

I politely explained that I didn’t think I wanted a burrito after all.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

It’s been weird being in a new restaurant(s).

They are all function the same, they just dress up the product more or less depending on the check average.

From an employee point of view the basics are the same, once again dressing up the service, based on the check average.

What’s been tricky for me, is knowing when food is in the window needing to be run.

For the past 2.5 years there was a bell. If it was dinged once, it meant food runners were needed at the window.

If it dinged twice then I was needed in the window.

At my new restaurants there are no bells. The chefs call for the servers and the food gets where it needs to be. There isn’t a lag, a pile up, or panic. The staff all seems to be in tune with when they need to run food and it magically just happens.

Tonight, an 8 tops food, seamlessly, landed on the table and I didn’t even notice it was happening. By the time I realized, and asked if help was needed, the table was fed, re-watered and happily eating.

What a concept.

The sounds of the restaurant are quite different as well.

The music, the staff, the door, the guests, the bar, the lack of TV’s, the dish area, the chef, the kitchen.

All so different.

It’s also been funny the last two nights being on the floor of a new restaurant for service.

I like to interact with the guests. Get to know them. Treat them like friends who’ve come to my home for dinner.

Last night and tonight, servers came running up to me after I’d spoken with guests wanting to know what the guests were upset about. Surely they wouldn’t be talking to a manager if they weren’t unhappy with something.

Both time, it had been me, who’d approached the guests, and inquired about their experience.

Last night because I’d recognized them from my old restaurant.

And tonight, it was because it was their anniversary.

My staff will never know if they are upset, or if I’m just being friendly.

Tonight, I learned that the anniversary table was not married. But had been together for 16 years. One of them explained to me, that her date had been married 3 times and their relationship had lasted longer than all of his marriages put together. He laughed and said the secret was not to get married.

We all laughed and had a nice chat about gratitude.

Then they were off, just in time for a walk-in party of three from Orlando to join us for dinner.

The new gig has started off well.

Although my to do list gets longer every day.

And my knee gets bigger.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Day 2 of the new job is in the bag.  

I’m really having a great time.  And I truly am appreciating NOT working 12+ hour days.  

I also love that the longest part of my commute is parking.  10 minutes to work these days.  

I saw my first regulars from my old job tonight.  

They exclaimed when I said hello, oh you are the host.  I said, I preferred General Manager, but yes, I was the host.  

They were so complimentary of their meal tonight and promised they’d be back next week.  

I’m two days in and have yet to be yelled at.  

I’m two days in and have not been told I suck at my job.  

I’m two days in and have not been made to feel like an idiot.  

I’m two days in and so far none of the staff hates.  YET.  

I’m two days in, and my knee is swollen and stiff, but it is MILES ahead of where I was in August and early September.  

It’s also been fun to get back to writing.   I’ve also decided to be more positive for the moment, since it feels better to write those posts over the horrible ones I was writing a year ago.  Of course, explosions are better for ratings but not so much for my emotional state.  

Thanks again for all the support over the last few days.  

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

WOW!!! You guys know how to make a girl feel special.

I don’t think I’ve ever had so many comments before. And the likes were through the roof.

Thank you all.

I write these posts thinking four people read them, and one of them is Adam and tow of them are my friends Laura and Charity.

So to get home tonight and find so many comments, texts, and messages felt really swell. So thank you.

Somethings to adjust.

A friend reached out to find out why I had a photo of an old woman in my collection of Photos that I had not written about.

That was the fuck up of all fuck ups.

That old woman, is my friend Trish. She is one of the most generous loving, gentle, wonderful humans in the history of humans.

I failed to mention that we had a three-hour coffee date while I was in Kentucky.

Here’s the thing about Trish. When we get together it’s like we last saw each other on Tuesday. We do not dissolve into the past, but instead share stories of our current lives.

She shares stories about herself, about her daughters, whom I love more than life and about her grandsons.

I share stories of Adam, life, work and all the other things I do.

Seriously.

We talked for 3 hours and I finally, had to push away from the table in order to get to dinner with another friend.

And a last thing to mentione about my dear friend Trish, years ago, I was struggling. With life. With relationships. With work. And there was a 90 day period where I seriously considered not going on. And this dear woman, listened to me at 3:00 in the morning, and I’m not sure she even remembers but she saved my life. And for that I will be forever greatful.

She is the best, of the best, of the best, and I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.

Love you dear friend.

As for everyone else who reached out. Thank you. I seriously write these posts thinking 6 people read them. So many people commented that I had no idea read what I write. Old employees. Old employers. Friends from every part of my life. So thank you, thank you, thank you.

As for me, my first day was a winner.

I played restaurant for the first time in four or five years.

10 years ago, when I had just been hired for my first GM job, my bar manager Laura and I used to joke that we were playing restaurant. We’d pull out a catalogue and order bar glasses for our pretend restaurant. We’d do side work charts for our pretend restaurant. We held interviews for our pretend restaurant. And then a month later our pretend restaurant, opened.

And for the last 10 years, as we’ve both moved on to other jobs, we talk often sharing our experiences in our restaurants. And we still call it playing restaurant.

So today, I played restaurant. I made lists. I chatted with the staff. I had a five hour conversation with the owner. I started to plan. I watched service.

And all of this will be manifested into an action plan in the next few months. But for today. It was fun. And it felt good to be in a situation where people respected my opinions and ideas.

It’s been a while.

My friend Jamie told me that I was going back to work too soon.

He might have been right.

At the end of my four hour shift on the floor my knee was huge and although it didn’t hurt, it was terribly uncomfortable.

However, I’m glad I did it. It will get better from here. And Advil and Tylenol when I got home seem to do the trick.

I’ve asked Adam to buy me the largest bottles of Advil and Tylenol he can tomorrow. He’s going to Costco (which just opened here) so I should be able to supply the Northeast corridor with pain relievers for the next 8 years.

Fun story from today.

The Portland version of Monopoly was released today.

We are selling it at the new restaurant.

Every person who came in wanted to know about it.

And my constant joke, which was not even mine, is that there is NO FREE PARKING IN PORTLAND.

And they missed a huge opportunity for a snow ban charge of $185 bucks.

Meanwhile, I sold three games today.

Which is a few bucks toward earning my keep.

Whew!!!!

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

As I mentioned last Monday, long time no see.  

For the six of you who read my posts, you might have noticed that I took a break mid-September.  

The break was facilitated by a separation from my job.  

It was not my idea, but it happened all the same.   I’ve been unemployed since September 15^th.  

The loss of my job, actually turned out to be an amazing thing, though it’s taken me a while to get there.  

The day after I was let go, Adam’s mom passed away, and the employment change allowed me to travel home to Texas with him for a week to get her affairs in order and plan a service. 

That week was one of the sweetest, most loving times we’ve spent together.  It was great to see his family and to just breathe.  

When I returned home, I picked up a new car that I’d ordered prior to the job change.  Not the best timing, but I’d promised myself that when I got to the end of this stupid summer season, I’d buy a new car for the first time in 20 years.  It’s not fun to make payments when you are unemployed, but I’m loving having an adult car.  And who knew that I needed a heated steering wheel and heated seats.  

The job change also allowed me to go on a 10-day car trip.  I started posting about it, and then got distracted.  It was originally a trip to Charleston to see my friend Laura, but then I realized that my 40-year high school reunion was scheduled at the start of the trip, so I went the long way and stopped in Kentucky first.  

I didn’t tell anyone, and I mean anyone I was coming.  

I thought my aunt was going to have a heart attack when she saw me.  

I also saw my friend Jeff who I didn’t even know in high school really, but has become a favorite of mine since connecting on Facebook.  We met and had a Manhattan at noon because why not.  

And then when I arrived at the reunion, it was dark and no one could see my face, and everyone was shocked that I’d come.  For that matter I was shocked that I’d come.  

I’d not seen most of these folks since my 20-year reunion.  And I was moved to tears several times, getting to hug people I’ve known for most of my life.  Everyone was so generous of affection and love.  I don’t remember the last time I felt such love and friendship.  

A big part of the evening, was assuring these folks that the stories I tell on line aren’t exaggerated or false, but absolutely true.  This was quickly over shadowed when I let them know that I no longer worked for the restaurant.  

I was convinced I’d stop by, have a beer and be on my way.  But I was one of the last to leave that night.  

I want to give a big shout out to Millie, Kim, Jason and Jamie.   Millie because she and Jamie planned the event.  Jason for bringing his guitar and playing for me.  Kim, because she’s been my bestie for damn near 50 years.  And Jamie has spent the last 6 weeks coaching me through my knee recovery as he just had one.  PS.  Special shout out to Tina for sharing her bourbon with me.  

From Kentucky, I went to Atlanta to see my friend Stacy.  Stacy from  my first restaurant work days.  Stacy who was my bestie in Atlanta for two years.  Stacy who witnessed the biggest fiasco of my theater career 30 years ago, and I’ve yet to see anything worse happen on stage.  Stacy who I taught to drive a stick shift, and who attended Broadway shows with me back in the day.  

From Atlanta I went off to Charleston, SC to see my work wife Laura.  Laura and I worked together 10 years ago at my first GM job.  She was my confidant and friend and together we learned how to be managers by trial and error.  I taught her how to tell when a staff member was stealing and she taught me to be patient and caring.  I had the difficult task of speaking with her about how to dress and she had the difficult task of being my right-hand person.  For 10 years as we’ve changed jobs and grown and learned we’ve continued to be each other’s work person.  

For three days, I hung out with her and her boy-friend.  We drank beer and bourbon and sat on the patio watching the sun set.  They helped me map out an outline for an idea for a book that I have.  We ate great food.  And more than anything, we shared time with each other.  

Turns out, I have other friends in South Carolina and I got to hug my college bestie’s neck, Mrs. Jayne Violet.  We had lunch and shared old times.  Fun fact.  Jayne’s mom taught me piano when I was in college.  And since we both knew I was never going to be a concert pianist, she taught me chord structure so that I could fake my way through show tunes.  I can still play Maria from West Side Story on the piano, and the sheet music is on my piano even now.  My favorite memory of Jayne is sitting on the swings of Garth Elementary at 3:00 in the morning.  I was so close to telling her I was gay, but just couldn’t do it in the end.  PS.  She played Patty in our production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, to my Linus.  

Then I saw my friend Sonja.  Sonja.  Sonja.  Of my early Kennebunkport Days.  She was in charge of selling my restaurant out for events.  I was in charge of saying no.  I never won.  We hit it off from the beginning and were favorites of each other from the beginning.  Back in the day, on Thursdays, I would invite the marketing team to my office at the restaurant.  Sonja was part of that team.  We’d lock the door, and crack open a bottle of Hilinger sparkling Rose and we’d have a marketing meeting.  It was a way for us to get through the tumultuous summers and just relax for 30 minutes.  And believe it or not, we did get marketing work accomplished.  Sometimes.  

I had one last meal with Laura in South Carolina.  

And then I drove home. 

And two days later I had surgery.  

And my boyfriend and neighbors and our friend group all took care of me.  

And on Wednesday it will have been 7 weeks.  And I feel like a new man.  

And now.

I’m sharing this, because last night Adam and I went to his restaurant for dinner to celebrate that I am starting a new job on Tuesday.  Tomorrow. 

And at the end of this post, I can’t tell you enough how grateful I am that the job change happened. 

I worked hard.  I did a great job.  The numbers, the revenue, the comments, the staff all are proof that I did what I was hired to do.  

Alas, it turned out not to be enough.  

But I am grateful, for the time I had with Adam.  The time I had on my trip.  The time I had to recover.  

The new job, is a bigger roll. It is  Director of Operations.  I will be overseeing a couple of restaurants.  It does not involve an hour drive to work.  Nor will it require 70, 80+ hour work week.  I can take time off.  I can have a life.  And it will be the chance to learn and grow in new ways.  

So, as they say, when a door closes, lock that shit so it doesn’t reopen and move on to the next greatest thing.  

Stay tuned for new and exciting things.  

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

NYC continued.  A few days late.  

Our last day in NYC was Thursday.  

Unfortunately, when we finished up Thursday night, we had to hit the bed, so be up and on our way back to Maine, at 8:00 a.m. Friday morning.  So there was no time to write.  No time to catch you up.  

Then the weekend was crazy.  I was exhausted and trying to get caught up on things that have been let go since my surgery.  

So here we are on Monday, and I’m about to catch you up.  

The trip was great.  My knee survived, although on Saturday and Sunday I knew that I’d punished it.  My knee and calf were swollen and there was more discomfort than there had been.  

Saw my knee doctor to day and he said it was par for the course, and that it was just my knee reminding me to be gentle.  The result of the appointment was that I am to continue PT and that I will go back to see the Dr in a year.  So I guess that’s good.  

Back to NYC.  

Thursday started with breakfast with a friend of Adam’s that we had not seen in a long, long while.  We grabbed breakfast in midtown, with the most intense urgent service I’d ever had.  We were told the specials before we were seated, and had at least 5 attempts to take our order before we were ready.  That being said, we wanted for nothing, the food was good and we probably stayed longer than we should have.  

After breakfast, we a bit of shopping.  Adam was looking for some cologne and I wanted to check out Macy’s.  We also stopped by Astor Place Wine and Spirits to look for goodies.  We bought a nice bottle of wine, and same Amaro’s we can’t get in Maine.  

Then we dropped off our packages, and then headed back north.  A friend of Adam’s from college was in town so we did a swing by to hug her and say hi to her and her friends and then it was off to a very early dinner at Joe Allen’s.  

You can’t be seats at the bar there, when you need to eat quick before a show.  It was our fastest, most casual meal and it hit the spot.  

After dinner, I swung by Iron Bar to say hi to a friend I worked with at the Hard Rock Café.  It was great to see Hailey, and hug her as well.  It was such an intense work environment back in the day that we are all bonded.  For ver.  With PTSD. 

Then we were off to see Appropriate.  It’s a new play with Sarah Paulson and Corey Stoll.  We don’t see a lot of plays, but were excited to see them both live.   It was an interesting piece about family dynamics, family history, and secrets that may or may not have been known.  We both enjoyed it, but I have to admit, I’m still not sure why the front door opened out to the porch and not into the living room.  But alas. 

After the show, we hit up Junior’s for cheesecake to the take back to our apartment.  And an hour later, the lights were off, and we were on our way home.  

I’ll wrap up by saying this trip has made me nervous, since I rescheduled my surgery at the beginning of the summer.  I was told I’d be miserable and that it would not be fun.  I definitely see where they were coming from, as driving for 6 hours was NOT fun on my knee, but I do have to say the pain and discomfort were far better than any of the trips we’ve taken in the last two years. 

We are looking forward to our next trip as EVERYTHING is coming to Broadway next year.