The Misadventures of Doe and Terry....part 3

I don't remember what day it is at this point. I just know it is a constant routine. Wake up with a slight hangover, lunch, go to work at or around 1 p.m., meet deliveries, inventory spirits, check reservations,check schedule, check with the kitchen, put out fires. It is a continuous cycle. I had gotten into a routine... a never ending barrage of saying "thank you", "welcome", "hello", "I'm sorry, please allow me to correct this situation". Any preconceptions about things staying on an even keel close to perfect are gone. Mistakes happen, they are inevitable. Regardless of how hard you are trying and how much time and effort you are putting into the work. You can't be perfect everyday. But, you can continue to work towards that and hope if any damage is ascertained, that it is minimal.

By now, the non-hackers, staff-wise are gone. They got weeded out for whatever reasons. Maybe the pace was too much. Maybe the demands to be perfect are to great. Maybe, they realized there former dependencies are too much to deal with while serving drinks to a packed bar. Actually had a former alcoholic walk out mid-shift because he couldn't handle the pressure and temptation. At the time, I didn't understand that. I thought it was a selfish act or that maybe this person just really didn't want to be here and he used that as an excuse to "jump ship" right in the middle of the battle. Whatever, I was actually glad that person was gone. Kinda gave me the creeps in a psycho type way. As it stands we had an eclectic mix of personal. Former hippies that had been doing the job so long that they forget when they started, musicians, part-time beauticians, full-time writers, occasional addicts, and the ever present wine snob with halitosis. The one thing I was thankful for was that they were all capable of doing a really good job. Just had to hope they were in the right head to do so. Problems did arise with a few, not many, but a few. For the most part, many of them had a vested interest in what was going on. They liked working there, they appreciated what was trying to be accomplished, they were curious, they were enthusiastic. There was one cat, who, by and large, stood above the rest. This person was a truly phenomenal waiter. Overload him with tables, not a problem. Put him with a partner who liked to coast, not a problem, he'll carry the whole table. But even he was far from perfect. Everybody has flaws, it is just part of life. This guy liked to party and occasionally dabble in some euphoric side activities. This was a problem, because he would occasionally show up for work looking like Keith Richards after a 15 day layover in Amsterdam. Just completely strung out. The old College adage, "Puke and Rally". Well, that was him. If he walked in with a liter from the "Whole Foods Market", you knew he just got home from going out. I don't recall what the name of that concoction was, but it was loaded with antioxidants. Sorta like a flush of the system. One of those,a pot of coffee, a trip to the lavatory, and gallon of water later, right back on schedule. I am glad,well extremely grateful, I never hung out with this person. There is no telling what I would have been exposed too and it would probably be things that would haunt my mind to this day.

All that being said, the one area where no underlying problems existed was in dishland. Terry was a badass. Fish all day in the hot ass sun, come to work with a cooler full of fish, bass, bream, crappie, drum, and whatever trash fish he snagged in the back of the Tempo, and just go straight to work. Unfortunately, the guy that replaced Doe, well, he didn't last. I don't think he and Terry really "Jeehawed". So, in a act of desperation, we had to hire Doe back. There was nobody else in the cupboard. Of course, there were stipulations to this second go round with Doe. Naturally, no engaging in any "mind-clearing" exercises at work. Don't show up for work with your "mind cleared". If that is your thing, then you can do that after work. But, while you are here, you are here to work and we need you not be a thorn to the team. Doe agreed, albeit it seemed like a reluctant okay. I really think that Terry had something to do with this. I really think that Terry ran the new guy, who did so well, off in an attempt to try and get Doe his job back. Terry and Doe were boys. They fished together, probably hung out a pretty decent amount together and chased women. If Terry did play a part in this, by god, it worked. We had Doe back, for better or worse.