It feels like everything and nothing has happened since my last post. I have been working my ass off at Madison's. Walking away from a night shift behind the bar with $220 in cash is an awesome feeling, and I am living every day with a sense of purpose to save up $5,000 before I depart for Morocco on September 9th (yes, the flight has officially been purchased!). On the flipside, though, my growing preoccupation with work has had side effects on other areas of my life. Most of all, I have found myself becoming increasingly cheap and greedy. I am so aware of how every moment of my life translates into monetary terms that I rarely even indulge on something as minor as a $4 smoothie. As you can imagine, this is also taking its toll on Nick, who has to put up with it most, on top of the fact that I am rarely ever home to spend any QT with him - our schedules are virtually opposite. Indeed, my greed was such that I even considered pushing back the date of my departure for Morocco to stay in SB and earn more money. When each night carries a price tag of $200+, its hard to convince yourself to do anything but work.
Last night, after not working out for almost a week (too cheap to pay for a gym membership), I went to a somewhat difficult yoga class. I surprised myself with my flexibility, but was reminded of a problem that has always plagued me - I have very bad balance. And I wondered if it wasn't a metaphor for my life as a whole. I am very happy; so blessed and lucky in life as much as I like to complain. But I always let the problem/situation/topic at hand dominate my perspective and keep me from being properly attentive to the other aspects of my life.
Working at Madison's every day has kept my attention fixed on making as much money as possible to get me going on my journey. But to allow that focus to let me forsake everything else in my life is surely not the proper M.O. for happiness.
I have often asked myself what it is that I am seeking, what it is that I hope to find on my Vision Quest. And I think that all of this experience has showed me that certainly, at the top of that list, my Vision Quest should be an attempt to figure out how to find balance - and to actively live that balance every day.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Money in the Bank
It's been a while since I last posted, and for good reason... I have been working 6 days a week, and 7 days of the coming week. After two weeks of training - two weeks of running around like a chicken with my head cut off, cutting limes and lemons until my fingers stung, and riding my bike home with an oversized helmet falling over my eyes as I cried, frustrated, at making $42 in tips after 8 hours of manual labor, things are finally starting to pay off... literally.
Last week was my first week as a real employee, sans training, and I was both excited and nervous to be scheduled not only as a bartender on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (aka the three busiest) nights, but also as a lead server. I spent all day Thursday preparing for my first big night behind the bar by doing what I do best - camping out at Starbucks studying flashcards. Flashcards of different drink recipes, prices, happy hour specials. I guess I will always be a student at heart.
Thursday night, things went incredibly well. I really held my own, and I know my superiors noticed. The hours of 9-2 were a blackout adrenaline rush, filled with excitement of making drinks as fast as I could, stuffing money into my tip jar, dancing around, and just having an all around awesome time. It was clear to me that the night shift is clearly the way to go.
Last week I was 4th bartender on (ie the last one on, comes on at 9, because from 5-9 they dont need as many bartenders). This week, I am 3rd on, which means I have ascended the ranks already, in addition to being given some of the best money-making serving shifts.
I just finished counting all my money in anticipation for my weekly trip to the bank and am thrilled to report that my savings account will now be $1320 larger than last week.
All of this money makes me all the more excited for the things it will enable me to do on my Vision Quest. I am getting close to booking my flight in Morocco, and I am starting to itch for the exotic adventures to come.
Last week was my first week as a real employee, sans training, and I was both excited and nervous to be scheduled not only as a bartender on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (aka the three busiest) nights, but also as a lead server. I spent all day Thursday preparing for my first big night behind the bar by doing what I do best - camping out at Starbucks studying flashcards. Flashcards of different drink recipes, prices, happy hour specials. I guess I will always be a student at heart.
Thursday night, things went incredibly well. I really held my own, and I know my superiors noticed. The hours of 9-2 were a blackout adrenaline rush, filled with excitement of making drinks as fast as I could, stuffing money into my tip jar, dancing around, and just having an all around awesome time. It was clear to me that the night shift is clearly the way to go.
Last week I was 4th bartender on (ie the last one on, comes on at 9, because from 5-9 they dont need as many bartenders). This week, I am 3rd on, which means I have ascended the ranks already, in addition to being given some of the best money-making serving shifts.
I just finished counting all my money in anticipation for my weekly trip to the bank and am thrilled to report that my savings account will now be $1320 larger than last week.
All of this money makes me all the more excited for the things it will enable me to do on my Vision Quest. I am getting close to booking my flight in Morocco, and I am starting to itch for the exotic adventures to come.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Work, Work, Work
First things first - I got a bartending job!!! 2 of them, to be exact. The first is at the Montecito Country Club. The second is at a popular spot called Madison's Grill & Tavern right in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. As you can imagine, I was very excited.
I first started training the week before last at MCC. It is very upscale but overall pretty slow, with the exception of the special events banquets from time to time. I really liked the members and my coworkers. One, a 50 year-old named Roberto, spends hours sharing pearls of wisdom from his life and admittedly has a soft spot for tequila. The other, a girl named London in her mid-twenties, is an unbelievable singer comparable to Janis Joplin but smoother. Nick and I went to hear her sing on the 4th and we were absolutely blown away.
My training at Madison's started last Monday. They pride themselves on being a "cross-trained" staff, meaning that I had to learn how to be a food runner and a waitress. Madison's isn't upscale by any means, but it is nearly always PACKED with people. All drinks are made in schooners with twice the alcohol, there are peanut shells all over the floor, people dancing, eating, and watching sports - never a dull moment. Everyone tells me I stand to make a TON of money there, especially on weekends, when the place goes off as a nightclub. Unfortunately, this past week was not quite that glamorous. Having never waitressed before, it was quite a challenge to be thrown in the mix and to have to learn on the fly how to somehow keep my head above water. I waitressed Mon - Thurs (yes - 4th of July included), for at least 8 hours each day. It was grueling and incredibly exhausting - on top of the fact that as a trainee I wasn't making any tips - but with each passing day I became more accustomed to the work and the hours. The past two days I have spent 6 hours each evening running food out to the tables, which was a nice break from serving, and gave me a chance to get to know my coworkers better.
One man told me that he calls Madison's "Coyote Ugly" because it is known for only hiring pretty girls. The staff is about 80% girls. The people are cool and really nice, but because of the fast-paced environment, everyone seems to be scrambling to hold up their share of work instead of socializing with one another.
Today is my second day off in about 12 days - I am recuperating and preparing myself for another crazy run beginning tomorrow. I have been incredibly antsy to get behind the bar and am looking forward to starting my bar training at Madison's this week. It will probably be at least another week until I get scheduled for any legitimate bar shifts, but I understand that I have to prove myself. In the meantime, I am working about one shift a week at MCC, which is pretty much all I can handle on top of the workload at Madison's.
Work aside, Nick and I have been having some great times. We just celebrated our 2-year anniversary last week with a picnic at the beach and a seafood dinner on the Santa Barbara wharf. I had to work until 4:30 on the 4th, but after I got off, Nick and I went to a great house party given by the two main chefs at one of Santa Barbara's most famous restaurants, Bouchon. There was abalone and venison on the grill, gourmet dips and salads, the works. Afterwards, we rolled ourselves down to the beach to see the fireworks, following the sun to find the water and coming out to find that we were amidst hundreds of Mexican families ready for the show. The fireworks were amazing - I was really impressed that a town as small as Santa Barbara could put on such a show.
That's all for now...
I first started training the week before last at MCC. It is very upscale but overall pretty slow, with the exception of the special events banquets from time to time. I really liked the members and my coworkers. One, a 50 year-old named Roberto, spends hours sharing pearls of wisdom from his life and admittedly has a soft spot for tequila. The other, a girl named London in her mid-twenties, is an unbelievable singer comparable to Janis Joplin but smoother. Nick and I went to hear her sing on the 4th and we were absolutely blown away.
My training at Madison's started last Monday. They pride themselves on being a "cross-trained" staff, meaning that I had to learn how to be a food runner and a waitress. Madison's isn't upscale by any means, but it is nearly always PACKED with people. All drinks are made in schooners with twice the alcohol, there are peanut shells all over the floor, people dancing, eating, and watching sports - never a dull moment. Everyone tells me I stand to make a TON of money there, especially on weekends, when the place goes off as a nightclub. Unfortunately, this past week was not quite that glamorous. Having never waitressed before, it was quite a challenge to be thrown in the mix and to have to learn on the fly how to somehow keep my head above water. I waitressed Mon - Thurs (yes - 4th of July included), for at least 8 hours each day. It was grueling and incredibly exhausting - on top of the fact that as a trainee I wasn't making any tips - but with each passing day I became more accustomed to the work and the hours. The past two days I have spent 6 hours each evening running food out to the tables, which was a nice break from serving, and gave me a chance to get to know my coworkers better.
One man told me that he calls Madison's "Coyote Ugly" because it is known for only hiring pretty girls. The staff is about 80% girls. The people are cool and really nice, but because of the fast-paced environment, everyone seems to be scrambling to hold up their share of work instead of socializing with one another.
Today is my second day off in about 12 days - I am recuperating and preparing myself for another crazy run beginning tomorrow. I have been incredibly antsy to get behind the bar and am looking forward to starting my bar training at Madison's this week. It will probably be at least another week until I get scheduled for any legitimate bar shifts, but I understand that I have to prove myself. In the meantime, I am working about one shift a week at MCC, which is pretty much all I can handle on top of the workload at Madison's.
Work aside, Nick and I have been having some great times. We just celebrated our 2-year anniversary last week with a picnic at the beach and a seafood dinner on the Santa Barbara wharf. I had to work until 4:30 on the 4th, but after I got off, Nick and I went to a great house party given by the two main chefs at one of Santa Barbara's most famous restaurants, Bouchon. There was abalone and venison on the grill, gourmet dips and salads, the works. Afterwards, we rolled ourselves down to the beach to see the fireworks, following the sun to find the water and coming out to find that we were amidst hundreds of Mexican families ready for the show. The fireworks were amazing - I was really impressed that a town as small as Santa Barbara could put on such a show.
That's all for now...
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