Third

This blog began three years ago, as of yesterday. I can only assume that my orientation was that day too. I do know my first day was the 28th.
What a lifesaver that was too. I know I wasn't trying too hard to find a job, but I was trying. And just when it came down to absolutely needing one, there one was. Amazing how that works, eh?



I didn't think I'd keep this up. Sure, I didn't post every week, and sometimes I let it sit, but I always came back. My blogs, even my journal keeping never lasted for more than a few months, if that.
So I think this has been an accomplishment.
I hope the 600 or so views have enjoyed their time here...

It's been fun. Working that is.
I'm still having fun. I was thinking, maybe I've stuck around, because it's a good fit. Not the best, not the worst. Food service is all I know. And I enjoy it.
What's frustrating is being controlled by a corporation that sees only numbers, not situations, and people. Always comes down to people. I can live with patrons being bad. That's expected.
But my coworkers, man. Someone's gotta whip 'em into shape or give 'em the boot.

By year four, I should have a different color of shirt though...

If there is a year four...
Arizona looks pretty...

So now, here's some more of the usual

Know what's annoying? When I open that drive through window and the first thing I hear are demands.
I don't even get to say anything...
Sheesh. Barbecue, honey mustard, mayonnaise, go f yourself.
Maybe they could try waiting a second? Let me open the window, maybe throw a greeting?

Man, that's all I got. I don't like the smell of cigarettes. I wish people would fix the exhaust on their cars. It'd be nice if people wouldn't talk on their phones while ordering/paying. I don't like it when a coworker lies to my face about procedures. I don't like it when we don't follow procedures.
Girl asked me, 'which one is coke'
The one that's not marked. Because we don't mark the cokes. See, if we all do it the same way, there's no question.
effing a.

On the plus side, we have pumpkin pies.
On the down side, there isn't enough filling in them.

I'm no dime-a-dozen villian...

I always have this dilemma, when someone orders a medium drink. We've been keeping out 1$ large drinks for two years now. Not everyone has caught on, or maybe they don't care. But I can't give them a 2$ smaller drink to their face. Sorry. I usually ring up a large.
This time, I judged the voice in drive-thru. Sounded like an angry, wrinkly old hag. I was right. Her window didnt roll down. She had to open the door.
Isnt the large a dollar? She asked, after I had taken the money.
I think so.
That's a ripoff.
Yup.
I handed back her change, she slammed the door.

Speaking of which, having two drinks being a dollar result in confusion. "I'll take a dollar drink."
"Small or large?"
"The dollar size."
Well okay, small it is!

Sometimes, I pretend my eyes are guns.
Every blink, a gunblast.

The other day, I said, "I can take your armor when you're ready." Too many videogames...

I asked a guy if he had two orders, but he stared at me.
I asked again. And he replied with a frustrated, and overly loud YEAH.
Whoo, I love people.


We've had a cricket problem this summer. Don't tell anyone. But there was one skittling across the lobby floor. I jumped at, the landing was loud, but the bug was squashed. "Nothing to see here, folks" I said to the nearby customers. And I promptly swept up poor taro-san.

Bookends

I'm sure it comes from not being good at conversing
But I just can't talk to store clerks very well. I wish people wouldn't try.

I understand both sides I think. Clerks want an escape, a way to break their monotony. Talking to them will sort of break it. But me, I hate it. I wish they'd shush. Maybe other clerks do as well?
we want to be done with the exchange and transaction asap. We have standing around to do. Just want to get the job done, and go home. Pointless interaction is pointless.

On their side, maybe they just want to relieve the tension? Or have some form of social interaction, that we all seem to crave. Curse our instincts.

But it's all overused one liners and throwaway questions. They think they're being funny, or considerate. But they're not.

So much time has been wasted, why should I waste more time bothering with pleasantries?

If someone wants a McDouble, they'll come back, no matter what I say to them.

I don't boycott restaurants for bad service. I boycott restaurants for bad food.

(and bad marketing decisions)

On occasion I notice sincerity, and something original pops up. I do enjoy that. And I sometimes find something appropriate and worthwhile to say to the clerks. Sometimes.

The Training Method

Newish girl is making a 'dipped ice cream cone'.
"You know," I say, "You're supposed to just let it hang upside down. Like that cool little diagram over there". I'm pointing two inches from the dipped cone area where a small picture diagram on the proper procedure for making it is located. The girl dips it in the chocolate and then holds it an an angle, then a more upright angle. Hot, unhardened, highly viscous chocolate is running all over the cone.
Sigh.
"Sure, and every time I do that it falls in."

"Well don't suck then."


End of conversation.

But seriously, if you make your cone correctly, and stir the mix, and make sure it is the proper temperature, IT WILL NOT FALL INTO THE MIX
So "stop sucking" is totally a justified response.
I've probably done at least 50 of them. Only had one drop, and it was not part of my first 10. I've had people waste three or more in a row, say, 'you do it' and I do it fucking perfectly.

People suck, and if they just did it the right way...
ugh, we have procedures for a reason. BECAUSE THEY WORK. There are people actually getting paid (probably a lot more than me) to research these procedures and how the best way to do something quickly and efficiently is. So just fucking do it.
Dammit.