Bar Rot?

Last week, my right ring finger started to get really dry and itchy. Then a couple days ago, the dry and itchiness started to spread to my middle right finger.

What the hell is this?

It could be from my fingers being submerged in water and sanitizer while washing dishes at work. It could also be from excessive exposure to lemons and limes.

I tried researching online what this could possibly be, but I wont be truly sure what it is until I see my doctor.

Just a gentle reminder for me to wear finger condoms at work.

This sucks. Bye bye pretty hands.

86ed!

It looks like this guy came into the bar on Christmas and drank 2 shots of Jameson and an IPA, broke the toilet and then couldn't pay his tab. He must have been plastered and broke by the time he got to this place to begin with. Now the poor bastard is forbidden from ever coming to this establishment again.

Shame on the bartender for even serving him. Sometimes Christmas can be a rough time for folks, but damn. I haven't had anyone this obnoxious in awhile. I hope I didn't just jinx myself.

Toothpicks Are Not A Fashion Accessory

Women who have toothpicks in their mouth are not cute. Guys who have toothpicks in their mouth aren't either. Who decided this was a cool thing to do? Stop using my toothpicks on the bar as a fashion accessory. It's just plain gross!

Two Double Shifts In A Row

You want to know why I have had to work two double shifts in a row this weekend? One of our bartenders quit yesterday. He quit at about 2 pm when he was supposed to show up for a 4 pm shift. No worries. I was the girl to the rescue.

I can't say I am surprised. I had a feeling that was going to happen. We were overstaffed and he didn't quite click with the bar manger. A little notice would have been nice though, but I ain't complaining. Rent is paid and I got money in the bank. Shoe Weee!!!

I am really looking forward to my lazy three days off this week. All I want to do is write and finish up the third issue of my zine. I don't want to shower or put on an ounce of makeup. I am such a dirty, closet nerd!

Nightmare Night

Last night behind the bar was the kind of night I have nightmares about. It was weird because just the night before, I had a dream that I was a server who got slammed and kept getting everyone's order all messed up. A little foreshadowing perhaps?

Last night's shift wasn't my worse night of bartending ever, but it was pretty close. First of all, I had to work a double (4pm to 3:30am). Working the double was the easy part. Over the course of the whole night, we ran out of everything: Grey Goose, Kettle, Belvedere, Fernet, Don Julio, Patron, ice, ones, fives, glassware, manpower. Our bar got slammed at 11 pm and didn't let up until 1 am. My side of the bar was deep with thirsty people all night long. And just as Murphy's Law would have it, it seemed like most of the people I helped were very high maintenance with their double cadillac margaritas, cosmos, lemon drops and chilled shots of whatever we had left to pour. It was so frustrating. All I wanted to do was go fast, but the customers I had kept making me go slow, not only with their order and their add-on orders but with their credit cards.

Have I mentioned how much I hate credit cards? One girl wanted me to split her tab on to two credit cards in the middle of the rush. I could have slapped her.

We made it through the night and I ended up making decent money so it was worth the pain and drama. I just hate bartending nights like that. I am a hard worker, but I have to be prepared for something like that in order to feel good about my night. I think every bartender would feel the same way.

Who Are They Talking To?

I want to know who the cabbies are talking to as they drive you around the city at night. Other cabbies?

Last night my cabbie was talking to someone about packing up the cooler with plenty of juice and fruit. I wonder where he was planning on going. Camping? Inquiring minds want to know.

Sometimes I Feel Like A Water Facet

And it's always right before we stop serving for the night. It is like people realize all of a sudden that the lights are about to come on and they have to rehydrate themselves. Some of them wished that the water could sober them up, but we all know the only thing that sobers you up is time.

So right around 1:30, I always get a crowd of people who ask for water. Asking for water is fine, but please keep in mind I am still providing you a service. Throwing me a dollar here or there is always greatly appreciated. If you are one of those people who only orders glasses of water all night long and doesn't tip at all, I think you are annoying.

Moral of the story is the more high maintenance you are, the more you should tip. If I have paying and tipping customers at my bar and you yell at me in the middle of another transaction to ask me for a glass of water, you will just get ignored. Seriously. How would you react if I interrupted you like that at work while you were in the middle of doing something else? You would be pretty annoyed too.

I remember one time working behind the bar when I was really busy and this guy asked me for water. He did not specify bottled or tap so I gave him a bottle and told him it would be five bucks. Yes, that is how much we charged for bottle water at that bar. The guy told me no way and asked for tap water. By that time, I was already onto the next set of paying customers. He asked me again and actually got into my face about it. I stopped what I was doing, took the bottled water back and told him he wither paid me five bucks or he could go drink out of a sink in the bathroom. He didn't have to get into my face over a glass of water. He called me a bitch and without missing a beat, I motioned to a nearby security guard who ushered the guy right out of the club.

I felt kind of bad about having him kicked out over water, but he did call me a bitch and that's where I draw the line.

Don't piss off bartenders over glasses of water. Just ask nicely and be sure to show your appreciation through a measly tip.