Winding Down at Taco Mac

What a hectic day yesterday was! I got in to work at eight am, to find I had twenty one pallets of rugs to put away and no help. Resourceful as I am, I called in my trusty sidekick, Andrew. Hassan came in at nine, and as soon as he was done with his stuff, I grabbed him too. We latched on to a few others as they trickled in to work, and by day's end had seven pallets left.

Tired, sore and satisfied, after helping a customer with a dead battery start her car, I headed off to Taco Mac to meet my wife and daughter for Friday night dinner.

The stranded customer allowed Phyllis to beat me to the restaurant. I told her to put our name on the list for a table, but I knew she wouldn't, she's just that way. That was my job. Other people came in after her and went up to put their name on the list. Kudos to the hostesses, because they had seen Phyllis come in, and one of them walked over to give Phyllis one of those Close Encounter lightshow vibrating coasters. The young lady told Phyllis that she was ahead of all those people who walked in after her.

When I walked in the door, Phyllis started telling me what the hostess had done, and the vibrating lightshow coaster went off.

As we made our way to our table, I took in the room. I saw only part of the restaurant, and counted twenty-five televisions, tuned to a variety of sports events. The place was busy, packed and full of laughter. Just what I needed after a tough day. A slow, quiet place would have put me to sleep.

There were some large parties, some smaller like ours, and at least a few parties with gray hairs, and one I saw with kids. The majority of people were in their twenties or thirties. Everyone seemed to be having fun, and it was contagious.

We sat in a booth with a large table and very high seat backs, which gave us some privacy without taking us out of the party atmosphere. There were a lot of staff people hustling back and forth. Our waitress, Amber, came and took our order. Beth got a club sandwich (it was huge, and came with fries), and Phyllis and I shared twenty wings. The wings were good, but I've had better.

Two tables away, a family or two with elementary age boys sat laughing and telling stories. Next to us, a party of mid twenty year olds were eating dinner and drinking beer. A cute college coed pranced by us with her look what I got smile on as she towed by the hand a young man with a happily emasculated grin. The table over my shoulder housed an older group of people. Aside from their hair color and a few wrinkles, they were identical to the table of twenty year olds.

Lots of people, lots of laughter, plenty of talk, and none of it angry.

Just what I needed after my day at work.

Wicked Good

My new friend Jillian recently moved to Kennesaw from Maine. She is a graduate student at Kennesaw State University. We met one day when she was buying furniture, and I offered to help her mom load the car. Their accents made me feel homesick and comfortable at the same time.

I saw Jillian from a few tables away at Panera in Kennesaw just a few days ago. She was working on a project with some classmates, so I didn't interrupt. I sent her a note on Facebook later to let her know I had seen her, and to say hello.

It was the second time that I had been to Panera. The food there is very good, but it is one of those places where the regulars make you feel foolish because you haven't learned how to eat there. It was pretty simple really, but with no direction and no real flow of traffic, I ended up guessing my way through the process.

The worst of it was this is another of those places that doesn't seem to want to let patrons order a la carte. Everything is a combo, whether you like it or not. Well, not everything, but the things I wanted. I ended up with nearly two full meals because I wanted a whole sandwich with my soup. Live and learn. Half sandwich next time.

Not that I'd desire a half sandwich, mind you. That tuna sandwich was wicked good. There is your tribute, Jillian and all my friends from Maine. Wicked good is the ultimate compliment for food or anything else in Northern New England. The word wicked in context means most extreme.

By the way, a lot of my friends have been singing the praises of this Panera. They tell me that all of the dishes are good and the WiFi is free (they do turn off their outlets between 11:30 and 2:30 though). The first time through might be a bit confusing, but I will be back. The food is a bit pricey but the odds of seeing friends there are wicked good.

Alabama wins! So does Sidelines!

Last Saturday was hectic. Working at a home decor store during the pre-holiday season is more demanding than I expected it to be. The Christmas decorations were flying out the door. Trying to serve many people at one time mad my meal break extremely beneficial.

I timed my lunch so that I could drive to the Sidelines on Chastain Road (not the same one I wrote of in an earlier entry) in time to see the last half of the Alabama/LSU football game. I really wanted to see part of that game, and this was wonderfully convenient.

That particular Sidelines has a no smoking section, which is where I headed. I asked to sit in the corner booth where I could see the big screen that showed my game. The back seat of the booth was a long bench that connected three other tables, two of which had been pulled together to seat four adults and a seeming multitude of kids, one of which was quick to show me that he had a french fry. I now had 48 minutes.

My waitress, Michelle, appeared quickly. She asked me what I would like to drink, and I asked for a coke. I looked her in the eye as I answered, but was quickly distracted by a good play in the football game.

Michelle then asked if I needed a minute, and my phone rang. I rudely answered as I nodded yes. It was Phyllis, excitedly asking me if I was where I could watch the game. I said yes and that I had to go. Michelle had gone on her way to another table. I now knew that I wanted chicken noodle soup and a salad. 45 minutes left.

At the next table, the kids were getting restless. They were loud, but the game was muted, so I didn't care. I love kids, so I was doubly entertained.

Michelle was running from table to table, getting more exercise than Richard Simmons at a fat camp. It was eventually my turn to order (my fault entirely for answering my phone when I knew what I wanted), and she took my order and disappeared into that place all waitresses disappear into. 38 minutes left.

Michelle reappeared with a fantastic looking bowl of soup and a decent salad. The soup had thick noodles and one inch squared pieces of chicken breast. It was thick enough to eat with a fork. I ate my soup first, then my salad.

Michelle came back with another coke, and asked the questions required of all waitresses. I had already witnessed the fact that she was the only waitress working this room, and she did so quickly. What surprised me more was the smile on her face and the feeling she evoked, making me feel like I was her only patron. The game progressed, tied, not tied, tied again. 10 minutes left.

My boss called my cell. Business had not slowed. When would I be back? I had to leave with the game tied. Michelle heard me say I was on my way as soon as I paid my bill. She stepped over quickly and I gave her my money - keep the change - and a card telling her to read my review. Her face changed to one who thought she was being tested. I tried to put on my best reassurance face, and asked her again to read my review.

Everybody in the room was happy, my food was great and I returned to work with 5 minutes left in my lunch hour.

Michelle, I would say you were great....

Remember the day.....?

I just had a minute to talk with Kenia, the manager at McAlister's. We were talking about writing blogs, and finding the time for same.

We talked about the impact of good, happy employees who have the heart to serve. How patrons will keep coming back just for the service.

We talked about the concept of being a part of a "blog community". Kenia told me how tight her time was because she chooses to spend as much time as possible with her baby. I work a schedule similar to hers, but my kids are nearly grown.

Here's a thought for those of you considering writing a blog. Some people use blogs to document their lives. A written photo album, if you will. Writing down what happens is a sure fire way of remembering events the way they really occurred. I would love to remember my thoughts from the day my son first walked, spoke or, later, confessed to liking a girl.

So write, people. It strengthens your communication skills as well as a myriad of other beneficial things.

If you write a blog, please share with me the URL, so I can visit and see your life through your words...

Through The Hoop, This Time With Feeling

The Vice President of our company, our Regional Manager and District Manager are all supposed to meet at our store today. You ought to see the worker bees go! We're dusting, moving, filling, building, straightening and re-straightening.

All of the things we are supposed to do on a daily basis.

Jumping through hoops is not my favorite pastime. If you do things right, you are always ready for any visitor you may have.

I saw on a friend's FaceBook page that the Target store he worked at had just had a bad visit from their District Manager. It was another case of people almost finishing their work. What is it with people that they want to do exactly what it takes to get by, and less if they can get away with it? To me, that is theft. These people are being paid to do a job, and by intentionally not doing their job, yet still collecting a paycheck, they are stealing from the company.

When I interview someone for a job, they always tell me how hard they will work, how smart and well trained they are, and how their prior experience is going to put the company I work for on the map. Then when I hire them, some go through a comfort zone metamorphosis and place themselves in the "exactly what I have to do and nothing more, less if I can get away with it" category. All I know is they sold me something in that interview, and I want what I bought.

The bottom line is, as long as people are unwilling to take ownership and show accountability for their work, there will always be a hoop to jump through.

The Heart to Serve

Given today's economy, and the shrinking of disposable income coupled with the fear that we may never be able to retire, it has been said that fewer people will be eating out.

You couldn't have made me believe that on Wednesday. I sat in McAlister's and watched the line grow to the sidewalk from the front counter. It was still being replenished when I got up to leave. How could that be, given the current state of the wallet?

Shae is awesome. That is what she'll tell you when you ask her how she is, and she'll say it with a melt butter smile.

The same can be said of Abby, Alanna and Jamie at Cuppy's. Even when they don't think anyone sees, they enjoy their work as well as each others' company. Alanna with her loving spirit, Abby who can't speak without a laugh in her voice, and Jamie with a smile to challenge the sun.

Today, at Cuppy's, it was wall to wall patrons with their friends and laptops.

I will repeat myself when I say that happy employees make for good service. Only a fool will return where he feels unwelcome. If I am a chore to my server, nobody goes home happy.

Employers and employees alike should take note , the line at McAlister's was long because Shae is awesome.

Henry

On a side note, Henry had liver cancer. He has recently received a liver transplant, and is recovering at home. Please offer your prayers for a thorough and speedy recovery.