If you complain about it so much, why do you do it?

Good question. I ask myself the same thing every day.

Reading over what I've written so far, I recognize that a reasonable response might be: Wow, what a cranky, bitchy person.

Well, I do it for the flexibility, and because it's always been an easy job to get between other gigs. Also, I'm a glutton for punishment. Restaurant workers are members of a global community of pain.

Actually, I'm good at it, too. I'm organized, I have a good memory, and I'm not terribly shy. Those things lend themselves well to serving. Compared to the other jobs that are out there for English majors (i,e, something in an office sitting at a desk) time goes by faster and the pay is generally better.

So, it's a job that could be not so bad if only everyone would be considerate of everyone else. That's what I'm trying to accomplish with this here blog. Encouraging empathy while being entertaining.

That's all for now.

Guys can help spead the word, too, with this tee shirt.

"less than $3 an hour" tee with forest green text from Zazzle.com

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Outrageous but true stories about gift cards.

So, The Olive Garden has a tendency to mollify every guest concern with a magical balm that heals everything: a gift card. Managers give gift cards to anyone and everyone who expresses any slight concern about anything. Often, it borders on ridiculous. And it's annoying to servers, because it ensures that these disgruntled folks will return for another visit and (most likely) take this displeasure out on us. And get another gift card. And the cycle continues.

(An aside: a more employee-focused company would do the kinder thing, and discourage such narcissistic guests from returning, thus pruning the pool of customers to only the most amiable folks. Oh, wouldn't that be nice.)

And now, the true story of a gift card that was given at my O.G. at dinner yesterday:

Guest (returning to the store twenty minutes after leaving, frantic): I think I lost twenty dollars in here. Has anyone found a twenty near where I was sitting?

Manager (after genuinely looking around): No, we didn't find your twenty. But here's a gift card.

Are you kidding me??!!

Do you have an outrageous gift card story to share? Leave it in the comments.