En route to becoming a bartender, I'm required to serve first. I think it's a good philosophy. I'm not a " in order to fence any of the three weapons, fencing foil first is the best" sort of person. Yet, as bartenders serve food in most restaurants, it's always good to know how the kitchen works. Supplementing during crises helps you stay prepared. Anyway, it's a fast-paced, challenging job, and the 2.5 hours of training provided hardly prepared me for the following days' workload.

Some of our teachers, whether they be friends, family, or colleagues, have been doing what they do for so long, they lose perspective. Fresh eyes are always valuable.
My teacher left out quite a bit, and needles to say, I'm afraid some customers will never come back again. Hindsight is always 20/20, but it's hard to know what you're looking for, when you don't know what you're looking at.

Comparing waiters to teacher are very similar in mental demand. Information is presented, there's dialogue, being cheerful beyond diffidence. There's about a 2 mm gap between staying focused, and losing your pay from tips. It's a narrow line to walk when you're waiting 8 tables on a Friday night and all have a party of 4 or more. That's like 32 children in a classroom, except you have to keep them content.

In the state of NC, a waiter's standards pay is $2.13/hr. If you don't tip, we don't eat. We don't keep all of our tips, either. What you leave us is split further to the bartender, host, busing, etc. depending on the level of establishment you're at.

Being an athlete has its advantages. Mistakes can be compensated for with hustling, and always thinking a step ahead.

That being said, I'm earning as much as a standard public school teacher in the state of NC earns. Not bad; no more 80 hrs/wk., no frantic lesson planning, no bad administrators. What I still get are philestines. The type who go to a restaurant, snap at waiters for service, tap their silverware on glasses to get service attention. The type who don't read menus and ask for something that's not available. The type who tip on the remaining balance of a $2.85 bill after a $20 coupon. What's 15% of $2.85? Not enough for the gas home.

Those of you who have worked food service are keenly aware of what I'm talking about. Or maybe it's been a couple decades since you had that kind of job on the side for extra money for school and such. Regardless, my previous food service job was actually making the food, and I did it well. I think I need to take a course on plastic surgery. The one where you get the "perma-smile." More money, yes, but less sincere effort in the long run.....hey, that sounds familiar....TELEMARKETING!

Now, unto happier news. Due to gas now teetering at the price of $4.00/gal, I decided I wanted to become the pseudo-hippie aka URBANOUTFITTER-CORPORATE-DRIVEN-INDY-HIPSTER, and get into biking again. A letter in the local paper inspired to compose a response, and shortly thereafter, I walked the talk by biking again. My previous bikes (all three of them) were jacked by the GANGS OF (NY, nice movie, except the floppy dead rabbits)DURHAM. one was a $2300 Trek owned by the AF....but anyway, road bikes.

I am not a road bike specialist. I don't have a "thing" for vintage bikes like some people fawn over cars. Anyway, I got a 1977 Fuji 12 speed Fuji. Nice thing about most bikes is that your investments pay off because bikes retain their value. Granted, the components to wear down over time, just like most things, but it amazed me that a 1970s Bianchi still runs for $400+ consistently. Also, instant gratification. With cars, it's often difficult to pinpoint the source of a problem, but because the bicycle is such a lean machine is comparison, a tweak will tell you instantly whether it's the right or wrong fix.

P.S. I hate hills in this area.
P.S.S. At least they'll give me jacked legs again....I hope.
P.S.S.S. Can't wait until May and June roll around so I'll be going down a hill at 40 mph, and....SPLAT SPLAT SPLAT. Bugs everywhere. I'll wear my visor mask + helmet for ultimate protection! I hope they'll be mosquitos at least. Those little ****suckers. I mean bloodsuckers. har har.