Day 13225...Ouch!

Wow. I used to say that I thought I had shin splints; but, that was back in gym in middle school, or when my dad used to make me run three miles a day, three times a week as a kid. I never had them. It just seemed to be a great lie that got me out of doing the required exercise.

Well, I can see why that lie was effective. Today, I woke up and thought that I was just a bit sore, as I would be anytime I worked a new set of muscles differently than usual. So, like a moron, I thought I will just work out the tightness...oops! I could barely get out of my car when I got to work.

The point of the story, though, is not my aching limbs. Rather, it is that somebody, in days past, worked really hard to help mankind. That special somebody invented ibuprofen and I love them for it! We should really have a national holiday dedicated to the inventor of ibuprofen. I will add that task to my list of "To Dos."

I realized today that there are only 27 days left between me and the slopes. I suppose that I need to be very careful at the gym. I need to find the level of exercise that will help me continue to build strength, without ANY risk of injury. I need the routine that is "just right." Call me Goldilocks, I don't care...Ain't nothin' keeping me from skiing for 6 days!

So, Wednesdays are my night to close at the GTC. Being the first Wednesday of my blog, I feel the need to mention this for one reason...

This is all you get...

Day 13224, not so bad really...

Ah, there is nothing better than a day off.  One day, I hope to have one.

So, I was off today.  You should know that when I say "off," what I mean is that I:

a: do not have to get dressed in clothes that require dry cleaning or professional laundering.

b: do not have to smile, be gracious, or otherwise fake to people that I would otherwise not give the time of day to. (Keeping in mind that I do love many of my peeps.  It is just unfortunate that the few can ruin one's experience of enjoying the many)

"Off" does not mean that I stay away from work, ignore the business, or otherwise have a relaxed, enjoyable day.

So, I went in search of all that food cost money I mentioned on Day 13223.  3 hours later, and with blurred vision from looking at a month's worth of invoice prices, I am pleased to announce that I found a mere $70.00.  Now, who here thinks I would go through all this for 70.00 of money on paper?  Those who said "I do," clearly do not have the slightest idea of who I am.

Anyway, as it stands, we are out a few Ks and I guess it might be time for a price increase.  There is nothing I hate more...

"Off" also does not mean sit at home and relax.

Today was PT at 8am.  Upper body day.  I have to say, I impress myself...

I am not sure which I like most, upper or lower.  I do know what I hate of each:

Upper: Assisted pull ups and dips.  Don't know why, but that machine is mean.  I guess I should just appreciate the word "Assisted" in this scenario.  It could be worse...

Lower: Squats, and these ridiculous jump squats that PT has decided will make me a much stronger skier.  I doubt the validity of this exercise.  I think she just wants me to look silly.

After my frivolous attempt at finding food on a spreadsheet, I went and bought some new runnin' sneakers (i love the word sneakers.)  Then, like a kid, I went back to the gym to test drive my new sneakers.  2.25 miles in 20 minutes.  Who the hell knew??? Up till now, I only wished I had strong legs so that I could do the triple axle just like Sasha Cohen (only without the falling.)  Now, I see that I have a chance at being just like Jaime Sommers (We can rebuild her...)

Yea, me!

So, at the end of the day, I guess that it is important to be able to look back and feel a sense of accomplishment.  And, throw a few beers in at the end and you have got a good day...

Day 13223 & I am dreading 13224...

So, every now and then, I really think that I miss waiting tables.  What I mean by that is:

Jay, we could sell all our possessions and sell the business and I could wait tables comfortably, knowing that we have something set aside for retirement...

When you think about it, what is really so bad about being a server?  

Common answer:  People are rude to you...

Really? 

Cause that only happens when you are a server???  It would never happen when you are trying to pay for gas, walk through the grocery store or the mall or any public sidewalk.  It would NEVER happen if you called ANY "customer service" number, went to a government office, or needed help form your banking "specialist".

Basically, living life is like being a server.  People treat you like shit, EVERYWHERE.  The ONLY difference is that when you are a server, you take the crap because you are basically begging for money.  But, if you had money already, and were not living day to day, hand to mouth, would you really have such a tough time sucking it up?  I think not.

Think I have gone crazy, do you?  Well, yes, I have...

You see, I have been up since 4:30 for inventory.  It is my least favorite day of every four week, four week, five week accounting cycle.  I get up, drag my self into work (sans coffee, mind you,) and proceed to argue with Jay for the next 2-3 hours.

Today was extra special as our food cost seems out of whack and I can't find it.  Granted, what can you find on an Excel spreadsheet after you have been up for 13 hours doing tedious tasks and getting yelled at by Jay.  

No, Dear, you did NOT call the 40 pounds of granulated sugar.  YES, I am sure you didn't...

I will look again tomorrow for the missing food, evidence of theft, or pennies here or there that add up to the source of my problem.

My point, you see, is that I occasionally miss my days of serving.  Walk out at the end of your shift, and your job responsibilities end until the next shift.  Sure, the rest of your life might seem stressful, too; but, how is that different than anybody else's life.  Remember, we are all still dealing with assholes (see yesterday's entry for reference)

I have to worry about our 32 children and our business pretty much 24/7.  Getting $20+ an hour for getting past the guy that answers "Iced Tea" to the question "Hi, how are you today?" cannot really be so hard can it?

After all, he just walked in from dealing with the same assholes that you did...

Day 13222 & I got nothing...

So, really, I got nothin'...

Woke up, worked brunch, went home, changed clothes, then went to 2 4 1 at 3 Crow.

Now there was some in between stuff.  While at home, I had to deal with Jay.  

Does he have something to wear (to the bar down the street...) 

I don't know? Go naked, who cares? Maybe, if you didn't buy the same plaid shirt EVERY TIME you decide you need to get new clothes...Maybe if you ever thought that this conversation occurs EVERY TIME you need to put on something other than a chef coat...Maybe then you wouldn't have to have this battle with me EVERY TIME I am ready to go and you are holding me up and keeping me from "gettin what's comin to me" at 2 4 1...

Does his hair look ok?

He went and got his free haircut yesterday at the new salon across from the GTC.  They give you your first taste for free and then you get hooked...Just like crack!  But, you still have to style it.  It is not wash n go...

Typical Sunday.

Inventory tomorrow in the AM.  5 AM...

What can be more fun than counting salt and schnapps at 5 am?

Well, I guess I could go kill cute puppies and kittens instead...

The shirt is awesome, and 100% accurate!!!

I think I will get some of these made up for the next employee party.  Would it be bad to put "her" logo on them?  Those that know me well, you know who "she" is...

Well, I am going to eat some of the cake that Jay made.  Cause it is always good to eat cake when you have to get up in 6.5 hours.  

Typical Sunday...

Day 13221 & I finally got a good night's sleep

When I was in college, post dorm days, living in my first apartment on Elliston Place with a friend named Karina, I had this futon. Damn, I really loved that futon. Now, keep in mind, I am not saying that I loved the look or the design of it as a piece of furniture; rather, I loved the sleep that I got on the best futon mattress that has ever existed. Just the right amount of give, firmness, blah, blah blah. It was a queen. As I slept alone on it well over 50% of the time, it was also quite roomy for one.

Cut to the past year. We have been "sleeping" on the same queen size Sealy for the last 10 years (3652 days.)  I use quotes because I cannot really consider that it has been sleep of any real quality as of late. Rather, each evening was a well choreographed dance between us. If he moved, then I had to move to help the springs balance out, reclaim my allocated space, and stay far enough away from the heat that he seems to generate (imagine sleeping with a kerosene heater in bed with you.)

For awhile, I used to anxiously await the 5 o'clock am hour. You see, Jay gets up at 5 most mornings (sometimes he sleeps in till 5:30). This would be the time that I was able to sprawl across the bed and make up for several poor hours of tossing and turning. Alas, the last few months, the bed would not even allow me this early AM respite from its torturous grip. Every time Jay got up, I found myself rolling into the ravine that was the center of the bed, trapped like one of those hikers that get caught in some chasm while wandering lost in the snow.

Drum roll, please...

Behold! A king size Sealy Posturpedic, Spring Free, Latex Core, pillowtop (and a swanky 4 poster frame that seems to fit in the bedroom like it was designed to be there...) I have to say, I feel I have robbed myself of a few years and some of my youthful appearance because of being cheap and not wanting to spring for the kingsize bed and all its necessities. I am a moron. (And, I found 1200 threadcount king size sheet sets at Sams for 99.00, by the way. Sure, Oprah wouldn't sleep on them, but clearly, I am not Oprah)

The beauty of this mattress, for me, lies in its remarkable similarity to that futon mattress of yore. Just the right amount of firm, etc...And talk about what a difference a few inches in width can make (hee hee.) I might as well be sleeping in Nebraska. After 14 years (5126 days) together, it is nice to have a little time apart.

The bonus to all of this? I feel like I am really contributing to the economy. Nobody is going to accuse me of allowing this recession in with open arms. No sir.  Not me.

And really, it is the least I can do, despite the fact that I won't be getting any 600.00 bonus check from the government. Screw you, W! I am going to go hide 600.00 under my new mattress.  The last word will always be mine, bitches!!!

Day 13220 & I am suddenly 13219 days behind...

So, I have decided that I should start a blog.

Why? I have no idea. I know that it is not because I have soooo much free time that I might as well spend it in front of a computer. I also know that it is not because I feel that I should justify my parent's $125,000 sacrifice for my college education and my English major.

Rather, I think that I am starting to realize that at age 36 (13220 days, give or take a few for the leap years that I am too lazy to allow for), I am officially an adult. As such, the life I live now is apparently going to be the only one I get; therefore, I might as well start writing it down.

In all honestly, I think that jealousy might also play a tiny, almost minuscule role in what I have to confess is a self-indulgent pastime. You see, my long lost friend Nat has been blogging for the past several years. As I have navigated through her days with a click of the mouse, I sense that she has managed to turn this writing into something therapeutic. I also sense that over the last 10 years (3652 days), my writing skills have been on the decline. Her writing skills, meanwhile, have been honed to the level of a professional.

So, yes, basically I have started a blog as some kind of ridiculous competition with a friend (& dare I say former girlfriend, though barely...) who I have not seen in the last 15 years, who is married, has two kids, and has no idea that this competition even exists.

What? That is why most people blog, right?

Additionally, I should hope that somebody might find some of the aspects of my "glamorous" life to be somewhat entertaining. After all, I do own a successful restaurant. I am about to open another successful restaurant (please god, please let the second restaurant be successful...), and I have been involved with my partner Jay for the duration of this this century and the tail end of the last one (5215 days). That is quite a set of achievements, if you ask me. And those of you that know Jay would not even dream of asking, as you know exactly what an achievement he is...

So, yeah, this is my blog. We'll see how this goes.