So this is my first blog entry from my new phone, and I have to say that this thing is pretty damn cool! My new phone is the LG "The V", and it is surprising in its multitude of capabilities. Obviously, there is the web browser, which is infinitely more useful with the benefit of the full size qwerty keypad. There is the requisite 1.3 megapixel camera, but that camera has a business card reader function! The camera takes a high-quality capture of the card, uses OCR software to parse out individual strings of text, and will auto insert the information into a phone contact. How sick is that?

Today was my first real shift as a server (earning tips and all), but I'm not going to talk about that now. Instead, I want to relay some thoughts I had over this past weekend at my brother's bar-mitzvah. As an aside, I had a great time, seeing my family and spending time with my siblings and cousins.

Every time I go back to my Dad's and/or go to family events, I find myself living in the shadow of who I used to be . By that, I mean that my family and my father's friends can't seem to separate their memories of me as a child/young adult from the man I am today. On some level, it's nice to be reminded of my past and to revisit fond memories with friends and loved ones. At the same time, I lost track of the number of times my conversations began with "I remember when you were only this big, this old, etc . . . " this weekend. There was a point where I seriously (albeit largely due to alcohol) wanted to shove a fork in one guy's eye. He wouldn't let me walk away from him until I assured him that I remembered a particular time when we had had some interaction when I was 'only as high as his knee'.

Great . . .

I am officially a server now. I passed my roleplay meal, and am cleared for the floor. When I get back from Chicago, I will finally start making tips and earning the money my roommates do. It feels good to have finally gotten over the hump of training, and it's funny how much things changed at work as soon as I did. Even though my training was only just complete, the trainees from the evening shift started looking to me for answers to their questions.

At first, it threw me a little, but soon I felt more comfortable with the role. It was fun, because it showed me that I knew more about the job than I had allowed myself to realize. I guess worrying about passing my roleplay kept me from seeing how ready I am to serve. It was a nice feeling, to be honest. And, it was very nice not being the newest guy at work anymore ;)

Snoooooooooooooooooow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even though it is coming down hard outside, I am still getting ready to go in for my last training shift. I mean seriously, we are expecting over a foot of snow, there is no visibility, and the roads are covered, but Joe's is still open. The natick and braintree malls are both closed, but still Joe's is open. Oh well, at least I can't expect it to be too busy tonight. I'll blog more afterwards, and see if anyone even showed up . . .
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So, yeah - it was supah dead. The most guests of the day were the plow drivers who came in after 6pm. Everyone who came in (except for a handful of people) went straight into the bar/lounge, so my dining room training was a complete wash. In fact, the most exciting part of the day, was dealing with a gentlemen who appeared to be to drunk to leave on his own. He tried to drive away, and couldn't even get out of the parking lot! By the time the cab we called for him arrived, it took two of us to even get this guy into the cab - he was completely passed out. It turns out he forgot to take his blood pressure medication, and that was what made him that way; but, at the time it was damn funny! Anyway, I'm off to enjoy some Olympic coverage with my roommates . . .

I think the thing I miss the most about my old job was the respect and authority. I'm not saying I always have to be in charge (though it was nice), but that was probably the hardest thing to deal with after losing my job: not having anyone looking to me to make decisions. I didn't notice how much I missed it until I finally got into the swing of things at my job.

It started to get hectic in the kitchen when I was helping run food, and I wanted to step in and direct people when I saw them obviously losing focus, and needing direction. But, when I tried to step in, I realized I was the new guy, nobody was going to listen to me (assuming I even knew what I talking about), and I needed to step back and let those in charge sort it out themselves.

It was a weird feeling, both the realization that I wasn't in charge and the realization that I wasn't qualified or experienced enough for anyone to look to me either. I miss the money I was making as a manager. I also miss the familiarity of the job - being able to know what a week would be like, just by the normal tasks/duties of the day. The job was by no means easy, in fact far from it; but, having worked there for so long made it easier. The sheer amount of time I worked in that same store made my job that much easier. Now, starting over at a new job, in a new field, I realize just how much I took all that for granted. In fact, I think I miss that MORE than I miss the money I was making. I can always make more money, but experience - well, that is very hard to come by.

I know that if I want respect and authority at my new job I'll have to earn it, but I still resent the fact that I have to. I feel like I already spent a lot of time doing that, and now I just have to do it again. But, on some level I think this is my own fault. I always said I never wanted to end up working in retail as my career, and yet I stayed there for much longer than I had wanted. So, the fact that all of my experience is retail-based is of my own doing. In fact, I don't want to end up stuck in the restaurant business either. So maybe I should stop worrying so much, and just try to earn some money . . .

I am blogging quickly today, as I am only home now during the break between my two training shifts. The nice thing about work being so close to the house, is that I can actually use the 2 plus hour break between shifts on a double. Depending on the section I'm in (or more accurately the section my TRAINER is in) , and when the last guests leave, I could have almost 2 and a half hours off between my two shifts. Plus, working a double means I would get cut first in the evening (over the single shift people), and could be home as early as 8:30 or 9!

Anyway, I am going to run across the street and but a drink and a snack before I have to head back in. Later y'all . . .

Today, I started my training at the restaurant. I have to work several shifts, before I can start earning tips; but, I do get a free meal at the end of each training shift. All in all, I have a lot to learn, but am looking forward to earning the money my roommates do!

That's it for now, since 24 is about to start, and I need to jump in the shower. Until tomorrow . . .

Once more dear friends . . .

For anyone reading my blog now, and wondering about the 3 month gap in postings, here is the quickest recap I can muster:

My boss finally got fired, and I got another raise and promotion. I was making real person money (over $43k a year), and got into a good groove at work, just before thanksgiving. I was working ALL the time (with one scheduled day off a week), but was still excited at having my own store. The lease for my store was up at the end of January, and corporate decided not to renew. My store closed for business effective December 26th. I was given a severance package (including payment for unused vacation time) and sent on my way. I filed for unemployment, and, no new job immediately presenting itself, I got myself hired as a server at the restaurant my roommates work at.

With that said, I am rededicating myself to blogging as much as possible, and make the most of the blog as I can.

No actual posting today ( I am off to the movies in just a second), but tomorrow I regale all of you with my many tales of unemployed madness . . .