In my years of being a waiter I have noticed certain traits amongst my coworkers. Wait staff tend to be alcoholics, have children, or they're drug addicts. Sometimes it's a combination of all three. This evening I finally figured out exactly whom I do not like to work with. Which out of 15 wait staff its only 3 thankfully. Surprisingly enough it's almost never the people who fit into these narrow generalizations that tend to piss me off the most. I have yet to figure out why this is however. I think Anthony Bourdain says it best; maybe these people have just never been "fucked properly" in their lives. Whatever the case may be I find it totally unacceptable to talk down to people you feel are below you. Why do some people have this urge to feel superior to others by insulting them and treating them like crap? What on earth could they possibly be compensating for? It's just a job, Schmooze your tables, make some cash, and go home! It really is that simple. The sad thing is it's not even me that I'm referring to, hell I've been called worse by better, I can take it. But what really irritates me is that the scumbags think that I agree with them. I guess I'm supposed to be in this club of talking shit about my less experienced coworkers. God I love restaurants.
Jbeatty's Journal
My Podcast Link
09/07/2007 00:00 #40980
The Honeymoon is over09/02/2007 22:50 #40898
My dirty little secretSmoking is one of the most disgusting habits on earth. Why the fuck I made the most ridiculous decision to start again beyond me. I smoked for 7 years and quit for 1 year, then I smoked for another 2 years and quit for 3 and 1/2 years. So here I am three weeks into my old habit. I blame it on a 50:50 mixture of boredom and stress. But really I should blame it on how fucking stupid I am! I haven't told any of my family because I'm incredibly embarrassed by it. So tonight I have decided that the two packs that I purchased tonight are it, No more for me. I can't wait for the headache to start Tuesday morning.
john - 09/11/07 00:00
Ick.
Ick.
libertad - 09/03/07 13:31
Those nicotine lozenges reduced my withdrawal quite a bit. I have tons left if you want them, but they are really for pack or more a day smokers. I think that chantix has a 40% success rate...not too bad. Maybe the nicotine replacement will keep you from getting the headaches?
Those nicotine lozenges reduced my withdrawal quite a bit. I have tons left if you want them, but they are really for pack or more a day smokers. I think that chantix has a 40% success rate...not too bad. Maybe the nicotine replacement will keep you from getting the headaches?
fellyconnelly - 09/03/07 11:59
naughty boy!
naughty boy!
lizabeth - 09/03/07 11:55
Aww, James. :(
Just so you've quit again by Thanksgiving when we come to see you.
Aww, James. :(
Just so you've quit again by Thanksgiving when we come to see you.
jenks - 09/03/07 10:09
Good for you. Good luck. No lecture here, you've already heard it a thousand times I'm sure. I've heard Chantix (the newest quit-smoking med) works really well...
Good for you. Good luck. No lecture here, you've already heard it a thousand times I'm sure. I've heard Chantix (the newest quit-smoking med) works really well...
jason - 09/03/07 08:36
Hey, good for you. It has a grip on me too, I understand. At least you know you *can* quit. Good to have that in your corner, eh? Best of luck.
Hey, good for you. It has a grip on me too, I understand. At least you know you *can* quit. Good to have that in your corner, eh? Best of luck.
09/02/2007 13:25 #40891
Summer isn't dead yet...but it's showing signs of aging.
It's only a matter of weeks before the Spaten Oktoberfest is on the shelves!
It's only a matter of weeks before the Spaten Oktoberfest is on the shelves!
jenks - 09/03/07 10:08
AAAHHHHHH! I am not ready for summer to be over. :( I haven't done anything yet!
AAAHHHHHH! I am not ready for summer to be over. :( I haven't done anything yet!
metalpeter - 09/02/07 14:31
I really like that first picture.
I really like that first picture.
08/24/2007 12:35 #40707
Summer Recap(picture purge)Well I suppose summer is pretty much over for since school starts Monday. This summer has been an exceptional one for me. Although I guess I usually try to make the most out of my free time. So in sequential order here are the highlights of this season.
End of the school year I went to Malaysia with my friend Melissa whom I hadn't seen in 5 years. I ate lots of crazy delicious stuff, saw my first tornado(well water spout really, but it was still amazing), did my first canopy walk over the top of a jungle, visited my first sacred Hindu site, and saw the worlds largest twin towers.
Petronas Towers
canopy walk north of Kuala Lumpur
water spout in Palau Lankawi(its kinda hard to see)
Batu Caves, home of the Lord Murruga
Melissa and I at the Batu Caves
Claypot Snowfrog, with Chicken Satay
Fish Curry at an Indonesian Padang joint
Durian the "king of fruits"
banana leaf lunch in the Cameron Highlands.
the beach at Palau Lankawi
the view from our balcony
Tiger Prawn Curry, those things were the size of small lobsters!
yum yum Dim Sum.
something called a chickenfish
I helped my friends try to finish their addition. Including running electrical wiring, CAT6, Installed vinyl siding, plumbing, knocked out a wall and installed a Parallam support beam, insulation, and installed a high velocity AC system. Unfortunately no pictures.
Camped and boated at Lake George in the Adirondacks. We also climbed Rogers Rock, well we went the easy way up.
Rogers Rock from the water
Rogers Rock from the top
The boat I wasn't on
Saw the Police In Connecticut.
Sunset before the show
About 1 min before the show started
Last but not least I moved to Buffalo. Which I'm finding to be a pretty cool city so far!
End of the school year I went to Malaysia with my friend Melissa whom I hadn't seen in 5 years. I ate lots of crazy delicious stuff, saw my first tornado(well water spout really, but it was still amazing), did my first canopy walk over the top of a jungle, visited my first sacred Hindu site, and saw the worlds largest twin towers.
Petronas Towers
canopy walk north of Kuala Lumpur
water spout in Palau Lankawi(its kinda hard to see)
Batu Caves, home of the Lord Murruga
Melissa and I at the Batu Caves
Claypot Snowfrog, with Chicken Satay
Fish Curry at an Indonesian Padang joint
Durian the "king of fruits"
banana leaf lunch in the Cameron Highlands.
the beach at Palau Lankawi
the view from our balcony
Tiger Prawn Curry, those things were the size of small lobsters!
yum yum Dim Sum.
something called a chickenfish
I helped my friends try to finish their addition. Including running electrical wiring, CAT6, Installed vinyl siding, plumbing, knocked out a wall and installed a Parallam support beam, insulation, and installed a high velocity AC system. Unfortunately no pictures.
Camped and boated at Lake George in the Adirondacks. We also climbed Rogers Rock, well we went the easy way up.
Rogers Rock from the water
Rogers Rock from the top
The boat I wasn't on
Saw the Police In Connecticut.
Sunset before the show
About 1 min before the show started
Last but not least I moved to Buffalo. Which I'm finding to be a pretty cool city so far!
paul - 09/02/07 14:17
I am so jealous of your food expedition. I love sea food and asian sea food especially.
I am so jealous of your food expedition. I love sea food and asian sea food especially.
drew - 08/25/07 09:58
We rode a bus once that people were eating Durian on. It was not pleasant. I like to take food adventures, but I wasn't willng to try that stinky stuff.
We rode a bus once that people were eating Durian on. It was not pleasant. I like to take food adventures, but I wasn't willng to try that stinky stuff.
tinypliny - 08/24/07 22:29
Interesting. Didn't know Malaysians worshipped Lord Muruga (he is the "good" elder son of Lord Shiva, the younger one is the elephant god - Lord Ganesha/Vinayaka) and ate on banana leaves.
I miss eating on banana leaves so much. :(
Interesting. Didn't know Malaysians worshipped Lord Muruga (he is the "good" elder son of Lord Shiva, the younger one is the elephant god - Lord Ganesha/Vinayaka) and ate on banana leaves.
I miss eating on banana leaves so much. :(
joshua - 08/24/07 13:57
Damn (e:jason) asked before I got the chance to.
Anyway, what a great trip you guys took! That is what I call traveling.
Damn (e:jason) asked before I got the chance to.
Anyway, what a great trip you guys took! That is what I call traveling.
museumchick - 08/24/07 13:56
that must have been such an amazing trip!
that must have been such an amazing trip!
james - 08/24/07 13:38
I read that they genetically engendered the horrid stink out of Durain but old folks were upset because the stench is such a part of the experience.
I read that they genetically engendered the horrid stink out of Durain but old folks were upset because the stench is such a part of the experience.
fellyconnelly - 08/24/07 12:57
you lead an exciting life!
you lead an exciting life!
jbeatty - 08/24/07 12:56
I actually ate a couple of them. It's a lot like eating a sweet onion custard while sitting in the Port Authority bathroom. I saw many signs indicating Durian was not allowed there.
I actually ate a couple of them. It's a lot like eating a sweet onion custard while sitting in the Port Authority bathroom. I saw many signs indicating Durian was not allowed there.
jason - 08/24/07 12:44
Oh my God. Tell me you actually ate some Durian.
Oh my God. Tell me you actually ate some Durian.
08/23/2007 20:59 #40697
KalbiTonight for dinner I made Kalbi. All modesty aside it was absolutely delicious. I got most of the ingredients from Sung's Oriental Grocery on Niagara Falls Blvd (between Sheridan and Main). It's a well-stocked Korean Grocery with plenty of hard to find items. The owners are also very pleasant and helpful. Maybe worth an (e:tinypliny) review.
Ok so I suppose I should be fair and critique my own cooking. The garlic I cooked with it sucked. But I stopped using it after the first piece of lettuce. It was the first time I have tried to make it, however I've seen it done literally, thousands of times. Fortunately I made way too much so I guess its Kalbi again for lunch tomorrow.
Ok so I suppose I should be fair and critique my own cooking. The garlic I cooked with it sucked. But I stopped using it after the first piece of lettuce. It was the first time I have tried to make it, however I've seen it done literally, thousands of times. Fortunately I made way too much so I guess its Kalbi again for lunch tomorrow.
john - 08/26/07 12:38
Mmmm... That looks good. I won't tell you what I ate last night (yesterday was clean out the fridge day). I can't wait until Thanksgiving. I wonder what we'll come up with to cook for that. Hmmm...
Mmmm... That looks good. I won't tell you what I ate last night (yesterday was clean out the fridge day). I can't wait until Thanksgiving. I wonder what we'll come up with to cook for that. Hmmm...
tinypliny - 08/24/07 23:53
Nice-looking dinner. Not up my alley, though. :)
I guess the store that is being sung about is not exactly walking/biking distance from downtown, is it?
Nice-looking dinner. Not up my alley, though. :)
I guess the store that is being sung about is not exactly walking/biking distance from downtown, is it?
jbeatty - 08/24/07 10:38
1)Kalbi is beef short rib Korean BBQ. Its made in a fruit based marinade. Served with leaf lettuce and any one of numerous sauces either doengjang, ko choo, or a mixture of the two ssamjang. You take the lettuce and and all ingrediants and make (for lack of a better term) a Korean fajita.
2)I think because I get sick of eating the white-boy stuff all the time. So I try to figure out how on earth to make what I already like to eat.
1)Kalbi is beef short rib Korean BBQ. Its made in a fruit based marinade. Served with leaf lettuce and any one of numerous sauces either doengjang, ko choo, or a mixture of the two ssamjang. You take the lettuce and and all ingrediants and make (for lack of a better term) a Korean fajita.
2)I think because I get sick of eating the white-boy stuff all the time. So I try to figure out how on earth to make what I already like to eat.
jenks - 08/24/07 10:17
1: what is kalbi? (looks yummy)
2: why do you know how to cook all this non-white-boy food?! (that is a compliment)
1: what is kalbi? (looks yummy)
2: why do you know how to cook all this non-white-boy food?! (that is a compliment)
theecarey - 08/23/07 23:33
I agree, Sungs is great. I just thought earlier today that I need to make my way out there to pick up a few things. Dinner looks yummy, btw!
I agree, Sungs is great. I just thought earlier today that I need to make my way out there to pick up a few things. Dinner looks yummy, btw!
james - 08/23/07 23:19
I love that grocery store. Just wish I was up that way more often to justify going there.
I love that grocery store. Just wish I was up that way more often to justify going there.
Not as well as I had planned :(
I will admit I have never worked in that field but I have known a few people who did But I didn't learn anything at all about any of that from them. But maybe if you have not all ready seen it you should watch "waiting". I don't find it the type of funny where your on the floor laughing but it really is a great movie. Now in terms of the talking down to people I don't really have an answer but what I can say is that maybe it has something to do with the higheracry of places are set up. Or maybe it is that the new people are kinda initiated not sure really.
Perhaps it is because servers are often seen as unskilled (although obviously are not) and perhaps those, and especially those who have made it a career rather than supplementary to other aspirations, take that stigma to heart and therefore have to prove themsleves to themselves by making others feel like shit.
Just a thought.
PS How goes the nasty habit?
Well, like you said: "It's just a job, Schmooze your tables, make some cash, and go home!" If you've got some co-workers who are assholes, ignore them as best you can, or tell them to shut up if you're feeling ballsy.
Illegitimi non carborundum and all that mess.