Dear God, why do you hate me?

Since I left Catholic school in the 8th grade and moved on to bigger and better things (high school pshhh-- now college) I have struggled with what I believe. I believe there is a higher power (God) and I believe in Karma. I also believe that reincarnation is possible...kinda. See my version of purgatory is much like the Five People You Meet in Heaven. Mitch Albom's book became a theory for me. That when you die, you have interactions with people who have been a part of your life in a significant way (maybe you didn't even knew how significant they were)and through coming to some type of conclusion during that interaction you are able to move on to the next step. It's really genius if you ask me.

So that brings me to my next topic. Applebees. Now, I don't know where these people come from in Jacksonville, exactly what cave they crawl out of and exactly how they are able to survive in this world. I've always heard how Seattle, Washington is so diverse and the people there are all so crazy but when I look at Jacksonville- I think the same thing. Now- they all look a like with their high and tights, walking on the side of the road trying to get to the mall and then the nearest restaurant...most aren't old enough to drink and either way they will still cause a scene. Then you have the locals. There are three types of locals in Jacksonville. You have the upper class, country, locals. (They typically go out to eat in Swansboro) Then you have the people who work jobs like waitressing, retail, and whatever else is available and then go to bars that night and sleep all day- work- drink- play...whatever then you have the ones that I just can't figure out if they drove in from the outskirts ...but they obviously do not socialize much with humanity. Rude, hard to understand with thick southern accent and they don't know the difference between much of anything intelligent. And I am sorry- not all are like this of course, but a lot of them that come into Applebee's are and you will soon find out why I am so bitter.

I think on Friday I was taken advantage of. My co-workers know that I go back to Applebees to make the most money I can, so I will take just about any and all tables. But this particular Friday it had been a month since I had last served,I had been up since 7am and I just was messing everything up because my mind was everywhere but there.

Which let's just start off with Friday morning really- I wake up go to my internship...blah. Friday afternoon I go to Talk, Inc. so my advisor can do a usability test. Friday afternoon- she is asking me questions about this website that they are testing out. I'm sorry. I don't care. I'm not getting paid to do this. I have to hurry up and get home for a job where I will work all night (until 4AM, little did I know) and I just want to leave now.

Ps. Talk, Inc. was pretty chic and sweet. For Wilmington, it was pretty much high class PR firm and I liked it a lot. I hope to one day work in a place with such caliber.

I go to leave the parking deck and "OH HEYYYY" my missing parking pass (flew out of my car while driving) lands me a 5$ to park....why? you ask...because it's fall break for CFCC. Nice. My last 5$ to pay to be somewhere that I am volunteering my life this semester.

All right- so I get home stuff my face, change, go to work.

As I had mentioned before, taken advantage of. Turns out I pick up for a closer, the last closer there (I'll finish around 3am I thought) Around the end of the night the servers stop wanting to take tables, they start throwing them on my side of the restaurant. To make matters worse the parties are growing from 2 to 6 people, 3 to 8, 4 to 10 and they are all drinking- finishing their drinks at different times, our bartender is taking forever, so waiting for that. Mind you- it is 12:30AM. So this lady- with holiday earrings on (okay...lady (type 3 local). What holiday is it? Really? You have Columbus day earrings? DOUBTFUL. Those are Christmas earrings. Keep livin' the dream ma'am but it is only October. I'd at least go for some skull earrings that way people can't tell if you are in the Halloween spirit or you just like to wear them)... Anyways- she orders two beers (tall boys at that) because she doesn't want to wait for the beer when she is finished with one. - Back up lady. It takes a total of 5 minutes for you to get your beer, assuming there are no drops of beer left in the bottom.

So then there are these two men with two kids, sitting in smoking section (strike ONE) I f-ing hate that. And I don't care if you do it with your kids- you are making a terrible decision by doing that, poor parenting. I'll tell you what, I can barely handle serving the smoking sections so I can't imagine how a little kid feels. Again type 3 local, order pomegranite martines (8 dollars people, 8 dollars)... order steaks with shrimp parm topping (3 dollars extra) loaded mashed potatoes (2 dollars extra), two tall boys of BUD (heavy), next 2 shots of patron (what?! is this serious), oh don't forget the kid with the kid fingers and the other kid that just doesn't get to eat. So this man- he asks me if he can substitute the broccoli for shrimp. WOAH. WOAH, sir. DREAM BIG. When in the world do you really believe that shrimp can substitute for broccoli?!?!?!?!? REALLY!? They aren't the same at all. Not even in the slightest.

Either way- I'm super busy and I'm running around. His steak isn't cooked right (go F-ING FIGURE!)...I have my manager take it off and re-make it.

SOOOOOO...I put their check down with the steak on it it was 85ish dollars. Without the steak it was 65 dollars. I walk by and say, "I can take that as soon as you're ready" the man says, "He just went to go take care of it" (referring to the other man with the kids) I walk into the back to grab some things for other tables. When I come back out, my manager has their ticket up and I ask if she is closing the ticket. I asked if she had taken their card or if he closed out with her. NOPE. SOB's walked out on their check.

... ... ... Really? That just happened. I started to laugh. My table full of 6 Marines didn't seem to take pity on me because they tipped especially crappy. Which reminds me- why do I not receive good tips from Marines anymore? I don't really humor them anymore with my sarcastic remarks and dilly-dallying around to chat it up and joke around- now I am more like- okay- you are blowing smoke in my face, WTF do you want to drink and eat- not that hard. Maybe that's it. I don't know. Can't be sure.

Have you ever seen people that really enjoy watching Nascar watch Nascar. Now that is a sight to see. This guy cheers on his favorite car- "Just slip right in there!" "Come on! Come on!" etc. etc. It was crazy. All I'm sayin' is -- check it out.