quick hello...then i'm out.

wow...it has been over five months since i last posted anything. that is terrible, and basically means one of two things: i have been very busy or very lazy. maybe it means both.

i am still bartending at datz and still in school, both of which have kept me pretty busy and also worn me out, in turn making me very lazy during the limited free time i come across. this semester has included a pottery class, so that is taking up a lot of time, mostly because i would rather be there than doing other things. comp 2 also takes up a tremendous amount of time since i am constantly having to write papers. intermediate algebra takes up more time than i would ever want to spend on any and all things math, mainly because i hate it and am terrible at it and i really really really have to work at it to squeak out a passing (70%) grade. ugh. luckilly my biology class is as easy as showing up and halfway paying attention, so it doesn't take up much time at all.

since i haven't posted anything on here for the past 5+ months, i should have tons to say, but i don't. to tell you the truth, i am posting right now in effort to avoid my algebra homework like the plague - which is quite possibly the worst idea ever since i am so god-awful at it. i should spend any free time i have working on it, getting better at it, but all i care about is doing well enough in that class to not have to retake it. that's bad. don't care.

i will attempt to come back here soon and write something of some substance. for now, i feel like checking in and rambling is good enough.

a few TIPS for dining out...

i'm sure most of my friends know how to act in restaurants and bars since many of them have worked in the industry or have friends or relatives who have worked in the industry and have passed along guidelines for acceptable behavior when out...or have chastised them for bad behavior.

unfortunately, i am not friends with everyone in the tampa bay area, and am therefore not able to pass along my wisdom, since passing along said wisdom to strangers/customers while they are at my bar or table is frowned upon and will likely result in termination.

on the flip side, i have a blog and have given myself the okay to start an ongoing, constantly updated and/or revised list of things to do and probably more things not to do when you go out to eat or drink in a bar or restaurant.

first, the basics...

1. don't be stingy. 20% is the standard for good, solid service. servers and bartenders make only about four bucks an hour and depend on tips to make a living.

they also typically have to tip out, which means they share a portion of their tips with support staff like hosts, food runners, bartenders, barbacks, and such. these tip outs are usually derived using a percentage of their sales, so when you leave a shitty tip we don't get to keep all of it, and when you stiff us, we end up paying for having waited on you.

if you don't feel like you got decent service, leave a 15% tip and let a manager know. many times there are factors that you don't know about and we aren't allowed to tell you about...maybe there is a shortage of knives or glassware in the restaurant. maybe the kitchen is weeded and fucked up your order and we had to send it back. maybe the hostess just triple sat my section, meaning i just got 3 brand new tables all at the same time and everyone wants everything all at the same time. a manager will probably be able to explain what happened, but your server is not allowed to.

if you got really good service, leave at least 20% and let the manager know. trust me...this will lead to good things for your server, like better shifts, better sections, which lead to better money.

regardless, you should always leave a tip, and if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to eat in a restaurant or drink in a bar.

2. if you and your entire table order water, throw a couple extra bucks my way. if you'd ordered soda or tea, your bill would be about $2.50-$3.00 more per person, and you'd tip accordingly...well - newsflash - refilling your water seven times takes the same amount of work as refilling your tea. tip on the waters, buddy.

3. if you bring your kids to a restaurant that has a bar, a wine list, no playground, no video games, and no kids menu, make sure those kids are behaving like tiny adults. no temper tantrums, no throwing food, no screaming, and absolutely no running loose. this type of behavior makes all of the other customers in the place miserable. if you bring things like cherrios for your baby, clean them up after baby throws them all over the floor and table.

order for your kids. your server does not have 10 minutes to wait for your kid to overcome his or her sudden shyness. you know what that kid will eat, so just tell me and we'll all move on. my other tables are dehydrating while i am stuck at your table because your kid doesn't want to commit to a grilled cheese or a hot dog.

do not sit at the bar with your kids. many bartenders will say kids are not allowed at the bar because they do not want a kid at their bar taking up a seat that could be making them much more money. sit at tables with your kids.

if you do bring your kids to a real restaurant, your server would be greatly appreciative and would probably forgive the mess you left behind that rivals the aftermath of any given tornado if you added five bucks to the 20% you should already be leaving...no matter what the cost of the bill was.

okay, i'll stop there and will continue at a later time...

i need to see something that is NOT numbers...

it is finals time, and i have been studying for an algebra test. my brain is hurting and my eyeballs feel very stressed out. they have not stared at things like radicals and denominators and letters in math problems in a very long time. i do not like anything math-related, and this intense hatred includes all math classes. despite my loathing of said subject, i am actually doing rather well in the class, and only have two more tests to go before i can move on to the next level of horrible math. ugh.

anyway, i am basically here to relieve myself of math homework and take a break. so i will do a quick catch-up of what i've been up to lately.

i am working a lot...i only have one day off this week. thank you, heather. no, that is not sarcasm, it is a genuine thank you!

i just created a profile on dailymile.com in the hopes that it will force me to fit in at least one mile per day like the name alludes to. we will see how well it works.

i have been so busy with work and school lately that those are the only things i've had time for...and i miss my homies! shout out to d and c-dogg...

i signed up for three summer classes...nine hours...what an idiot! i've GOT to fit in a trip home at some point...i haven't been home in nearly two years. not okay.

i am still waiting for the day to come when i drive by hot tuna and see it all closed down. i really hope the owner loses everything. as much as i hate cliches...karma is a total bitch...he deserves to have bad things happen to him for the way he treated a lot of really awesome people.

i still regret not figuring out a way to take a picture of said asshole's ex-girlfriend (who he is still totally in love with, by the way) making out with an old guy at my new bar while completely shitfaced and send it to him. yep...i'd revel in the chance to crush him...it would make my day.

i miss my sister. and i'm totally jealous that she gets to live in germany!

i did an extra credit project for my modern american history class that was all about downtown little rock and it made me really sad! i miss the rock!

two hands makes some of the best shiraz ever. i will be buying bottles of gnarly dudes and angel's share very soon.

one of my headlights on my prius is out, and i don't know why...it isn't the bulb, which is a major bummer.

we got our tickets for dave this year...wednesday show in tampa and friday saturday in west palm. i'm super pumped and have been listening to live dmb ever since i got the package with the tickets in it.

i have yawned about four times in 45 seconds, so i think that is the sign for me to hit the sack.

late night inspirations are such a pain!

i just finished writing and typing a paper for my introduction to philosophy class titled "an examination of 'values' in today's political climate" and am, of course, all fired up and want to keep ranting and raving!!! i really need to go to bed since i am going to try to get up early enough to get a run in before i have to get ready for work and go pull a double.

but, as you can see, no such luck. so here i go...

as much as i like my philosophy professor, i despise the class. it is painfully boring and completely pretentious, but i have managed to fake it through every test. luckily, for the gordon rule requirement, my professor requested that we write a paper focusing on some aspect of philosophy and how it is applied to some subject we are interested in. not a research paper or any sort of pseudo-scholarly attempt at a paper...basically an op-ed piece. slam-dunk! i got this, son!

so i examined the frustration i have with the republican party hijacking the term "values" and making it synonymous with their own ideals. it was a fun paper to write.

but i did not sign on tonight to further write about this paper. during this particular class, i am often struggling to stay awake, and must occupy my mind and body so as not to pass out from sheer boredom. so i write things that i fully intend to type up here later. this keeps my mind away from the line seperating "learning mode" from "dormant mode" and gives me something to do with my hands. it also serves two other, bigger purposes: it keeps me from looking like a slacker who sleeps in class AND it makes me look like an engaged, eager to learn student who is a champion note-taker. score two points for me and my awesomeness.

flipping through my philosophy notebook tonight, making sure i didn't miss any important information i'd intended to include in my "values" paper, i came across several blog beginings and thought i should at least log on and write something...it has been over a month, after all.

given my propensity for politically-charged rantings, i had plenty of material to write about the latest goings on: a debate i had with a bar customer at the shithole i don't work at anymore, an open letter to the entire democratic party (which needs some fine-tuning...i really wanna get that one right), and a response to the latest controversial decision handed down by the supreme court regarding campaign finance.

i fully intend to come back to all of those rough drafts and post them soon. but for now i have gotten my blog fix...even if it was pretty unsubstantial and really didn't acheive much in the way of conveying ideas.

i told you late night inspirations are a pain! seems like such a good idea until you're knee-deep in shit. like i am now. good-night, friends...i'll write again soon.

trenta comes to tampa and makes me happy

while killing time in between classes today, i was surfing the internet (does anyone even say that anymore?) and stumbled upon an article which incited an unmanageable amount of excitement...tampa is a test market for starbucks' newest offering: the TRENTA!!! the trenta is 32 ounces of your favorite concoction...32 OUNCES!!! YESSSSS!!!! i am beyond pumped.

now, you may think that patronizing starbucks is a terrible act of supporting corporations who kill mom-and-pop neighborhood shops or a product of my lack of coffee knowledge, but i don't really care what you think. i am somewhat (okay, totally) addicted to peppermint white mocha frappuccinos and if i could find a neighborhood shop who could make one then i'd go there. but i can't, and have no shame in my unabashed starbucks obsession.

and now they are giving me the chance to buy an absurdly humongous peppermint white mocha frappuccino, and i can't wait to do just that. i will also be buying trenta-sized unsweet iced green teas, because starbucks makes amazing green tea, too.

i just hope they come out with a trenta sized hard plastic reusable cup like the one i have in yesterday's venti size. that's old news, yo.

datz the deal...

so, i found a new job. an awesome new job. a new job that will allow me to have fun again when i go to work...actually look forward to it, even. i am so pumped. the new job is perfect for school, since they are busy all the time and close relatively early. the new job is bartending and serving at datz deli in south tampa.

it is located on south macdill across-ish from beef o'brady's. come try it out. it is amazing. super awesome food, south tampa prices (but you get a TON of food, so you could even split a dish no problem), 20 craft beers on tap and even more in bottles. lots and lots of delicious wines priced all over the board, and super sweet flight options. you can even get meat and cheese flights to go with your beer or wine flights. the desserts are absurd...the pastry chef is bern's ex pastry chef, so you know they are so amazing!

the owners are passionate about the place, and constantly there, so they are super involved in every aspect of every bit of goings-on. i love it. come visit me there asap. you will not regret it!

rantings at 1:30 am

i really think i'm a pretty nice person. easy to get along with, easy to deal with...i'll pretty much make it a point to go out of my way for someone, and i'll almost always support people's ideas - no matter how weird, unattainable, far-fetched, or outright retarded they may be. but lately, there is a certain person whom i must deal with quite frequently who has taken a particularly fervent disliking to me, and i can't quite figure out why. since i can't totally avoid dealing with said person, i just avoid it as much as humanly possible - yet i still receive an absurd amount of shitty treatment. not okay.

so...people...if, for some reason, you find that someone in your life (personal OR professional) has done something to make you upset...you should TELL THEM WHAT IT WAS. not doing so and abruptly changing the way you treat them is totally unfair and dickish. not to mention that it makes you look like you have no balls.

okay...all done. off to sleep.

facebook fun

i like it when i can use facebook as a soapbox. today, i had this exchange with one of my arkansas friends:
***DISCLAIMER***I typed this verbatum using that cool feature offered by Windows 7 where you can have two windows up at a time. Spelling and grammar errors are not my own.


ARKANSAS FRIEND'S STATUS: Why are all my democrat friends so quite tonight? Nothing to say? Afraid you're going to lose your gov't handouts? Hmmmmm...... ***crickets***

COMMENTER A: hehehehehehehehehe! mine too!

COMMENTER B: LOL

COMMENTER C: I'm here my Republican friend! Me and mine work damn hard, so we're def not getting any handouts. Matter a fact I'm about tired of handing out our money! LOL!

ARKANSAS FRIEND: I'm sure you do work hard but unfortunatly there are those out there that don't! I think one should have to work for what they get. It's sad that the democratic party doesn't think so. I feel that real "Change" is on the way come November!!!

COMMENTER B: If I have anything to say about it, damn right!

COMMENTER D: I dont really fit in with either of the parties...and I have NO idea what you are refering too...but I am all for helping those that are TRYING to help themselves, but for whatever reason cant or can't fully. But I certainly dont want to help anyone sit on their butt all day because they don't WANT to work. I dont want to either, but I have to! :)

COMMENTER E: I'm neither dempocrat or republican but I'm wondering how many republicans took advantage of bail out money and stimulus checks without batting an eye?

ME: considering a majority of the bailout money was given to big business and banks...i'd say most of thise recipients were republicans. interesting....

ARKANSAS FRIEND: Marissa - how can you back that up? I don't think it really matters who is getting it. What matters is who is giving it all away. Guess it doesn't matter how much debt we stack up, it'll be our children who will be stuck to repay it right? Obama is on course to spend more in 20 months than Bush spent in 8 years. When are we gonna hold people responsable for their own short comings and quit bailing them out. I'll tell you when...When the democrats are out of office! Don't bitch when republicans have to raise your taxes to pay it all back!

ME: This won't fit in one comment, so i have to post two. Number one, "Republicans" is the right answer based on simple demographics. Secondly, most of that isn't new spending though, it is continued spending started by the prior administration that they can't just arbitrarily stop now. It doesn't matter who is in charge anyway, none of them work together so nothing will ever get done right. All politicians, Ds or Rs, are mostly self-preservationists who focus not on their constituents, but on getting re-elected. None of them can stop fighting long enough to fix anything...much less everything.

But the Bush administration started the ball rolling...you can't spend without taxing...it simply doesn't work. Regardless of party affiliation, all Americans benefit from the United States being a social welfare state...we should start realizing that paying taxes affords us many of the liberties which we enjoy that other countries do not.

I'm not blaming everything on Bush or the republicans, nor am I coming to the defense of Obama and the dems, I'm just saying that sometimes even the staunchest of republicans or most liberal of democrats can learn from each other and work together to achieve common goals, even if it means they have to make conpromises...but I don't think the current crop of politicos in DC are capable of eaither.

Don't worry (ARKANSAS FRIEND)....come midterm elections you'll get your republican congress back! And even then, getting nothing done will remain status-quo.

Having said that, my answer to (COMMENTER E)'s question was simply stating fact, not blasting the GOP. (Even though that IS my favorite thing to do :) !!!)





***TO COME: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY....I'M FIRED UP NOW.***

touching base...that means i'm safe, right?

wow...haven't posted a blog in a loooooooong while. back in school and trying to work every chance i get at the job. tomorrow is MLK day, and the only plans i have are to go to busch gardens and do a little algebra homework, so hopefully i'll have some time to catch up on this little blog since i totally love writing in it!

but in the meantime, i'll just play catchup with the most important things that come to mind or are just right off the top of my head...

i made straight a's last semester. that was pretty sweet.

i love my new little dog i adopted from the puppy dog pound. her name is juno.

i'm totally bummed that it took some huge network drama to get people to watch conan. hello, people...conan is super smart and completely hilarious!

i'm pumped that ryan mallett is staying at arkansas next year. he's awesome.

i want the cooler weather to come back to florida, 'cause i got three pairs of uggs for christmas and i can't bring myself to wear them in warm weather for fear of looking like a dumbass.

i'm super sad about the tragic hurricane in haiti, but am proud of all of the efforts made to help them recover and rebuild.

i don't understand all the hype over the new movie "avatar"...i have exactly zero interest in seeing it.

i need to go to sleep now so i'll have energy tomorrow to play at busch gardens.