I know! We loved it. Didn't want to move. But it was the right call for the kids schooling. We brought all the animals with us except the rooster who is being taken care of by our friends who moved into the house after we moved out. Surprisingly, all the animals have adjusted really well. We built a fence around the backyard first thing so Otis the pig gets some serious free-range grazing time every day, which he loves.
What a beautiful piece! I love that this job, borne out of necessity, is bringing you joy in a way, and making your kids proud, as they should be. Would be ironic if you got a book deal out of all this 😉
Thanks for reading! I’m as surprised as anyone that this job is jolting me in cool ways! And ha! Do they even give book deals to anyone without a massive social media following these days?
Some of my most treasured friendships and memories were born from smokey dish dog dens where we tried to grab a few moments to ourselves in between taking orders, expedition, clearing, checking.... I remember I worked at this coffee house that was just a ship of straight up weirdos. This was around the time Blair Witch came out, and someone had made those stick dolls out of straws and hung them all over the dish room, LOL. We used to shoot toothpicks at each other by blowing them out of straws and one of the cooks had to go to the ER because he got his eye shot. Coming in to open for brunch on Sundays and see two cooks on cots in the kitchen because they closed the bar down the night before and said "fuck it. we'll just sleep here." We own a bar/ music venue that also serves food, as well as a theater now on that same strip where we all knew younger versions of ourselves at that coffee house, and the culture is still chock full of new, wonderful weirdos and their journeys.
Service industry people are special.
I saw a meme that was called "Climbing the Hospitality Ladder" the other day. It was as follows
Apr 25, 2023·edited Apr 25, 2023Liked by Monica Danielle
People who haven't spent time in this industry just don't "get it". It's a whole other world with some of the most interesting people you will ever meet. That coffee house, Kaldis, not only employed some strange rangers that would become my circle to this day, but the copper bar surrounded by books and art, was the gathering place of the artists, musicians (one of them is sleeping next to me right now) and poet laureates of my life. Shit, I have two closings coming up with some of my fellow K-Hole crew.
Also? When the Bear came out (which is so spot on, I have a hard time watching it because I get anxiety and then have server dreams) there was a meme about the general public being exposed to the "sexually competent dirtbag" that can only be found in restaurant kitchens and I almost died.
Loved the Bear! And dig that you "get it" even more than me! My boss (who could be my son) wants to start me on flat top (cooking) and I'm nervous and excited even though it's making the same damn thing I make my kids several times a week. My dream is to retire, leave PA and work in a kitchen somewhere in the Caribbean or Central/South America a couple days a week. And the dreams! Yes. I already have nightmares where I keep fucking up orders and am behind on tickets.
There used to be this music festival downtown here every year called Jammin on Main that was just the biggest douche magnet and I would have nightmares that I was cocktailing in heels with trays of spilling martinis, LOL
My back cannot do serving or bartending anymore. The physical toll is a lot after slinging from age 16 until 40.
That was such a beautiful house in the woods!! What did you do with all your animals?
I know! We loved it. Didn't want to move. But it was the right call for the kids schooling. We brought all the animals with us except the rooster who is being taken care of by our friends who moved into the house after we moved out. Surprisingly, all the animals have adjusted really well. We built a fence around the backyard first thing so Otis the pig gets some serious free-range grazing time every day, which he loves.
What a beautiful piece! I love that this job, borne out of necessity, is bringing you joy in a way, and making your kids proud, as they should be. Would be ironic if you got a book deal out of all this 😉
Thanks for reading! I’m as surprised as anyone that this job is jolting me in cool ways! And ha! Do they even give book deals to anyone without a massive social media following these days?
Some of my most treasured friendships and memories were born from smokey dish dog dens where we tried to grab a few moments to ourselves in between taking orders, expedition, clearing, checking.... I remember I worked at this coffee house that was just a ship of straight up weirdos. This was around the time Blair Witch came out, and someone had made those stick dolls out of straws and hung them all over the dish room, LOL. We used to shoot toothpicks at each other by blowing them out of straws and one of the cooks had to go to the ER because he got his eye shot. Coming in to open for brunch on Sundays and see two cooks on cots in the kitchen because they closed the bar down the night before and said "fuck it. we'll just sleep here." We own a bar/ music venue that also serves food, as well as a theater now on that same strip where we all knew younger versions of ourselves at that coffee house, and the culture is still chock full of new, wonderful weirdos and their journeys.
Service industry people are special.
I saw a meme that was called "Climbing the Hospitality Ladder" the other day. It was as follows
Host
Server
Bar Tender
Bar Manager
Bar Tender
Realtor
and I felt personally attacked.
Haha! And yes, you've nailed the kitchen vibe. It's a breath of fresh air after decades of performative corporatism.
People who haven't spent time in this industry just don't "get it". It's a whole other world with some of the most interesting people you will ever meet. That coffee house, Kaldis, not only employed some strange rangers that would become my circle to this day, but the copper bar surrounded by books and art, was the gathering place of the artists, musicians (one of them is sleeping next to me right now) and poet laureates of my life. Shit, I have two closings coming up with some of my fellow K-Hole crew.
Also? When the Bear came out (which is so spot on, I have a hard time watching it because I get anxiety and then have server dreams) there was a meme about the general public being exposed to the "sexually competent dirtbag" that can only be found in restaurant kitchens and I almost died.
Loved the Bear! And dig that you "get it" even more than me! My boss (who could be my son) wants to start me on flat top (cooking) and I'm nervous and excited even though it's making the same damn thing I make my kids several times a week. My dream is to retire, leave PA and work in a kitchen somewhere in the Caribbean or Central/South America a couple days a week. And the dreams! Yes. I already have nightmares where I keep fucking up orders and am behind on tickets.
There used to be this music festival downtown here every year called Jammin on Main that was just the biggest douche magnet and I would have nightmares that I was cocktailing in heels with trays of spilling martinis, LOL
My back cannot do serving or bartending anymore. The physical toll is a lot after slinging from age 16 until 40.
Heard that. I could talk back pain all day like the slippers and robe wearing middle-aged lady that I am.
Goddamnit, you're good. Whew. Love. State College's finest, right here.
Love you the most. Thanks for reading my shit.
Omg- first thought of you…
https://people.com/parents/mom-blogger-heather-armstrong-dooce-dead-47/?hid=0d3ad7d739d704536ed0e07b3bde426ba1c93390&did=9100671-20230510&utm_campaign=ppl-breakingnews_relationship-builder&utm_source=ppl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=051023&lctg=0d3ad7d739d704536ed0e07b3bde426ba1c93390