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Posted 12/9/2011 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Know what yo do NOT want next time you go out to dinner? A clumsy waitress, lol. I have been so bad this week, my hands can't hold on to anything! It's driving me crazy. Today I spilled a drink I was delivering, a plate ready to go out, and countless napkins and assorted non breakables (thankfully). I try to make a joke of it if it happens at my tables, "haha, are you sure you want me serving you?" but that is getting old. Yesterday, I upset a kid's ice cream desert with a flaming splarkler that was for a birthday. I was able to get it out of the child's way, but left the sparkler burnign on the table. I just watched it and it didn't clue in that it was not the safest thing to do, can you believe it? Another server assembled saw the burning tablecloth and put the sparkler on the plate.

I also have to keep checking every five minutes to see if I have indeed ordered the food. I haven't had this hard a time at work since I first got sick. Good thing I have seniority ;)
Posted 12/9/2011 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
As a former waitress, my gosh. I would die if I had to pull a shift now. The trays, the balancing, the feet....
Posted 12/9/2011 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Right now it's hard b/c I'm in more pain and feel weak. Taking out plates takes a lot out of me, they are so HEAVY!. I have to take out 2 instead of my usual 3 or 4. I had to give up a closing shift last night, I just couldn't take it anymore. But usually I'm thankful for my job. It keeps me moving, and the adrenaline rush during dinner service makes me forget my pain entirely on my good days. I keep saying if I had a desk job I'd be on disability by now. I do love that adrenaline high :) And my plantar fascitis is gone now too, which helps.
Posted 12/9/2011 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hats off to the ones that can keep on working!
Posted 12/9/2011 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
It's always better to be busy than slow and pokey. And I agree. An office/desk job would really end me. But we all have different parameters of what works best for us. I am glad you have something that gives back to you some power.
Posted 12/9/2011 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
I commend you for still waitressing. I myself have a desk job but I can tell you it is not slow...I may not be on my feet but my arms get more than a workout as I handle 307 alarms 48radios and all traumas and codes going into the emergency room. We also handle over 1500 pagers and more than 130 calls an hour, not to mention making all the call schedules for the following day. As you may have guessed I work at a hospital and I know some desk jobs are pokey but not all. However, I still give Mamanan credit I would not be able to do that job...that is heavy work.

Thanks for sharing your story you sound like you have fun and I would love to have a funny waitress opposed to some.lol.

All the best to you, Amy
Posted 12/9/2011 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
Amy, I get your handle name now :)
I would not be able to do what you do. How do you keep your head from exploding?
And I imagine yoru arms have to be reaching and high all the time. I can't even blow dry my hair for very long as my arms get too weak. Carrying plates, at least I can brace my elbows up against my body and keep them low. I also can't sit for very long periods. My comfort zones are standing and moving or laying down.

It is funny how we think we can't handle certain situations. I suppose it is conditioning.
Posted 12/9/2011 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know how you do this either, Mamanan.  Waitressing can be hard work and the lifting would kill me.  I swear they make the plates out of cement.  They are so thick and heavy. 

 

I used to be a waitress when in college and I didn't have fibro but was still clumsy!  tongue    I worked in an Italian restaurant and I had a huge tray of plates to serve.  As I was serving one side of the table, I heard a gasp.  I looked and the tray was tilted and a plate of spaghetti was sliding off the tray and about ready to land in a customer's lap!  I took my free hand and slapped in into someone's dinner.   tongue    That saved the day and the customers were wonderful.  We all had a good laugh.

When you have days like you had, take a deep breath and try to brush it off.  I find if I start thinking about it or worrying about it, things just get worse.  I do this with fibro fog, too.  If I can relax about it and not worry that this is going to happen all day long, it usually settles down.

I hope you have a better time on your next work day.  Hats off to you for making this effort, too.  I know you are not feeling well at all. 

Sherrine 

Posted 12/9/2011 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
I was a waitress for 10 years and I have hauled sheetrock at a construction site...I think sheetrock is easier-lol

Being a waitress is not easy, I take my hat off to you too!! I would collapse within an hour now..used to burn the floor up back in the day-lol

Take care Mamanan
Maggie
Posted 12/9/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Oh My....I also think it is great that you are able to waitress...I never was graceful enough....have difficulty carrying a cup of coffee without sploshing outside the cup let alone carrying a tray. I'm lucky to get dinner on my own table without making a mess....I was clumsy pre-fibro. I've always had waitress-envy and I think waitresses are some of the most patient and kind people...they always deserve a big tip :)

You go girl! I would love sitting at your table :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 12/9/2011 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
My shoulders hurt just thinking about that job lol!
Do you think the dropping stuff issue is because of nerves/feeling in your hands or could you have some swelling?
Posted 12/9/2011 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
mamanan...I think you are right condition I have done my job for almost 25 yrs. I still think what you do with young kids at home and then go waitress, you go girl...be proud of yourself. Love reading your posts I can tell you have a great sense of humor and are so helpful and uplifting.


Take care, Amy
Posted 12/9/2011 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
I worked for awhile a couple of years ago. It doesn't seem like that long but it is. I had to do some lifting, but not a lot. But had to fill soda fountain machines with ice. So I had to fill a bucket and climb up on steps and fill these guys. It wasn't easy. Stocking shelves was hard for me too, with heavy items.

I worked waitressing when I was young and it is hard work. My girlfriend is a waitress. The thing that bothers me the most is that here they only pay waitresses about 2.00 an hour. I truly don't think that is fair. Even though they get tips. In my opinion, a tip is something extra. I think that the wage should be mininum wage like everybody else.

Do they pay you minimum wage Mamanan? Or do you have to work less because of tips? That is one of my pet peeves. It has always bothered me. Because not all customers tip. And the work is a lot harder. I am glad that you enjoy it though. I ran into a lot of people when I waitressed. And realized it really is a small world.

Have a great day everybody.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 12/9/2011 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
That is terrible $2 an hr. wow...were do you live Karen that is just awful. I live in Canada and our waitresses make min.wage plus tips, That is not fair that is a very hard job. Your right not all people tip, no matter how good the service was. I know some people like that, they think they get a wage so why should I tip. I disagree I think you should tip according to your service.


Amy
Posted 12/9/2011 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
I do think it's true that we all can do whatever it is that we do because we are accustomed to it. It's what we know. AND, we have accommodated it into our lives.

I think working is good. For me, at least, the pain and depression is worse when I have too much time to think about it.
Posted 12/10/2011 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Karen, I must have you confused with someone else that I 'met' here a few years back. I thought you were from cottage country in Ontario?

I've heard that wages for waitressing in the states is really awful. In Canada, minimum wage has steadily increased to around 10$ and change. I make 8.40$ b/c I have tips. When I started serving 15 years ago, I was making 5.35$ so I think I'm doing alright. Tips really add up, so I do ok. Thing is though, b/c I have seniority, I get better sections and hours. It's really hard starting out when you may only work 2-3 hours a day b/c you leave when the rush is done. I work usually until close or close to it.

We have to give a percentage of our sales to the kitchen and hosts as tip out. It bothers me a bit when someoone lieaves a low tip, but it uaully averages out with some awesome ones. What bothers me is when someone doesn't tip at all, then I actuallu end up paying for the priveledge of serving that table.

Last night was much better, I didn't drop a thing! But I did walk into a wall, lol.
Posted 12/10/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of waitresses getting minimum wage here in the US.  That's why it's so important to tip well for good service.  This is their livelihood, after all.   

When I was waitressing, I was in a resort area.  This was back in the mid 1960's.  I got $0.89 an hour!!!!  But, I made $40 a night in tips and that was good money back then.  The owner wanted me to clean the bathrooms, too, and I absolutely refused.  Not for $0.89 an hour!

Sherrine 

Posted 12/10/2011 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Mamanan...You are funny(walking into a wall..lol..) I bet you are a great waitress. I agree I think you should always tip unless the service is absolutly horrific. That does not happen often for me infact I can think of one time and I still left a 10% tip. Keep up the good work.

Take care, Amy
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