I've been working at the cafe here at the Y.M.C.A. for seven and a half months and in that time, a lot of people have come through the door looking for a good meal. Some of them are staff members, some are members, and some are residents. We also get a lot of the residents from the Y.W.C.A. up the block and the two senior housing facilities that are close by.
Sad to say, some of these people have gotten themselves banned by the cafe for various reasons. It takes a lot for Mike to make that call on someone, but once it's done, there's no going back.
I really don't want to get into that any farther. What I do want to do is talk about a few of the customers who have been memorable for good reasons.
Like the mother and daughter who wanted to get lunch but the mother wasn't sure if she her SNAP benefits had been made available. They hadn't, but her little girl had already started to drink the grape juice I had given her. She looked to be about three years old or so, and when Mike and I said she could have the juice anyway, she said "thank you" to me in such a quiet and sweet voice, I just wanted to cry.
Like the single mom who comes in at least two or three times a week. Almost always with her little girl who turned two years old last month, and sometimes also with her son, who turned ten years old last month, as well. I have never seen this person in anything but a very good mood. Her son is very polite and well behaved and as far as I can tell, is a normal, well adjusted kid.
One day, this young lady ordered a large iced coffee and then realized she had forgotten to bring her purse with her. I turned to Mike and said "I'll kick in a dollar for it if you will" and Mike agreed to do that. I brought her the coffee just as she was getting ready to leave and she was so happy. It was a reminder that sometimes, the smallest gesture of kindness can mean a lot and also, that the simplest pleasures are often also the sweetest (no pun intended).
Like the older gentleman who came in one day and said he had known about the cafe for years but never been in it before. This was on one of the days that Mike was out sick and I was filling in for him all day. This person was very quiet while I made his food for him. He, to be honest, looked like he was having a very bad day.
Which he was, as it turned out. He and I were the only two people in the front area; Lauren was in the back room doing dishes. After a few minutes of racking my brain to remember where I knew this person from, it came to me.
He was a neighbor of my late Aunt Mary, and still lives in the same apartment he did all those years ago before she passed away. As he ate his food, I asked him if there was anything else I could get for him. He said that there wasn't but thanked me for asking. We wound up having a very pleasant and interesting conversation. He now comes in almost every day, and some days, twice, for breakfast and lunch. He's very considerate, in that if I'm really busy, he'll not disturb me unless he has to. But if I can spare even just a minute or two to talk to him, he really appreciates it.
So, those are a few of the people I've dealt with in the time I've been working at the cafe.
Wishing you a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving, dear reader.
Also, rest in peace, Roy Clark. Singer, songwriter, actor and all around good guy.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Thursday, November 15, 2018
I'm Back
As of today, I plan on resuming regular posting. I've not posted much of anything in a long time for several reasons. I've been busy with work. I've been doing a lot of reading. But I'm back, really.
Where to begin? If you don't care for politically related posts, this might be where you want to stop reading. Because so much is going on I simply can't remain silent any longer. We have a President who is becoming a dictator. The sheer amount of nonsense coming out of the White House is almost impossible to fully keep track of.
The Press Secretary has pretty much gotten away with releasing a doctored video to justify the taking away of a journalist's press credentials. The President, among other things, believes he can revoke the 14th Amendment to the Constitution with an executive order. He's also tried to interfere in elections and counting of votes. He once again has shared his crazy beliefs about voter fraud.
In other words, we're seeing things that are so far beyond normal, it's terrifying. We're seeing things that no presidential administration has ever dared attempt, much less believe it can get away with doing.
And don't even get me started on the most recent mass shootings.
Wow, this was not a fun post, was it? I do have two more much enjoyable posts currently in draft status and will be posting those in the next two or three days.
Until then, farewell.
P.S. Rest in peace, Stan Lee. You will be missed.
Where to begin? If you don't care for politically related posts, this might be where you want to stop reading. Because so much is going on I simply can't remain silent any longer. We have a President who is becoming a dictator. The sheer amount of nonsense coming out of the White House is almost impossible to fully keep track of.
The Press Secretary has pretty much gotten away with releasing a doctored video to justify the taking away of a journalist's press credentials. The President, among other things, believes he can revoke the 14th Amendment to the Constitution with an executive order. He's also tried to interfere in elections and counting of votes. He once again has shared his crazy beliefs about voter fraud.
In other words, we're seeing things that are so far beyond normal, it's terrifying. We're seeing things that no presidential administration has ever dared attempt, much less believe it can get away with doing.
And don't even get me started on the most recent mass shootings.
Wow, this was not a fun post, was it? I do have two more much enjoyable posts currently in draft status and will be posting those in the next two or three days.
Until then, farewell.
P.S. Rest in peace, Stan Lee. You will be missed.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
The Wait Is Almost Over
I can hardly believe I've gone so long with no new posts. I feel bad about it and will resume regular posting very soon.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Kevin, The Short Order Cook - Let's Talk About This.
I'd like to talk about my job in this post. I put in several extra hours at work when I filled in for Mike for 1/2 a day yesterday and for Lauren all day today. I worked hard but efficiently. I honestly think Mike's still a little bit thrown off by the way I do things, because his style and my style are very different.
Mike, I think, sees things like doing dishes as a task to be accomplished, and nothing more. I, on the other hand, get a sense of satisfaction from completing even the smallest of tasks. Also, and I'm the first to admit this, I'm quirky. As I often phrase it, "take normal and twist it just a little". I've spent a life time watching other people react to me in different ways. Sometimes, people just don't "get" me, and for various reasons, can't or won't make the effort to attempt doing so.
I understand that, I really do. It's a personality thing (I hesitate to use the word conflict). But four months into this job there are still times he acts as though he expects me to screw up the simplest thing. That bothers me, because I'm improving every week, bit by bit, and also because I've stepped up in a big way more than once.
Lauren's way of doing things is a bit different from mine as well, but she usually makes the effort to understand why I do things the way I do them. As far as she's concerned, it's results that count. If the food is up to her standards, and is served properly as well as on time, she won't second guess how that was accomplished (presuming standards of sanitation and safety are adhered to).
If I had to sum things up in one sentence, my next sentence would be it. Mike is a co-worker I get along with okay, but Lauren is someone I'd gladly work for, or have work for me.
Now, let me put together a list of some other things I'd like to discuss briefly.
The Bad
1. Mike often talks about fellow employees behind their backs. Honestly, when I hear what's said about some people, I really have to wonder what's being said about me when I'm not around.
2. Mike views his job as being the cook and nothing else. On days when I've worked with or filled in for Lauren, he has allowed tables to get really dirty. It's a small cafe, people. Five tables and a small lunch counter. I can normally get them cleaned and sanitized in about two to three minutes. He also gets upset when I clean them, because strictly speaking, that's not my responsibility on such days.
But, is it really that big of a deal? The thing about the food service side of things is that when you're busy, you really are. And when there's nothing to do, there really is nothing. Today I actually laughed out loud when I was able to sneak in doing the tables while Mike went to use the men's room.
The Good
1. We got a perfect score on our annual inspection by the county Health Department. Mike and Lauren both thanked me for the hard work I did when doing extra cleaning to be ready for the inspection.
2. Most of our customers take it for granted that they're going to get a good meal at a reasonable
price. Which is fine, because that's how things usually are. But every now and then, someone will really show appreciation. If someone complements me on the food I cooked for them, or if a fellow employee thanks me for taking the time to bring their food to them, that's a nice thing.
3. Doing the food service for the day care program is a real challenge. It's one that, honestly, I wasn't sure I was up to. In the three days that I've filled in for Lauren, I'd grade myself at 80, 85, and 90 (basing that off what she does being 100). And when the little kids smile and thank me for bringing them food, it's a great feeling.
Mike, I think, sees things like doing dishes as a task to be accomplished, and nothing more. I, on the other hand, get a sense of satisfaction from completing even the smallest of tasks. Also, and I'm the first to admit this, I'm quirky. As I often phrase it, "take normal and twist it just a little". I've spent a life time watching other people react to me in different ways. Sometimes, people just don't "get" me, and for various reasons, can't or won't make the effort to attempt doing so.
I understand that, I really do. It's a personality thing (I hesitate to use the word conflict). But four months into this job there are still times he acts as though he expects me to screw up the simplest thing. That bothers me, because I'm improving every week, bit by bit, and also because I've stepped up in a big way more than once.
Lauren's way of doing things is a bit different from mine as well, but she usually makes the effort to understand why I do things the way I do them. As far as she's concerned, it's results that count. If the food is up to her standards, and is served properly as well as on time, she won't second guess how that was accomplished (presuming standards of sanitation and safety are adhered to).
Now, let me put together a list of some other things I'd like to discuss briefly.
The Bad
1. Mike often talks about fellow employees behind their backs. Honestly, when I hear what's said about some people, I really have to wonder what's being said about me when I'm not around.
2. Mike views his job as being the cook and nothing else. On days when I've worked with or filled in for Lauren, he has allowed tables to get really dirty. It's a small cafe, people. Five tables and a small lunch counter. I can normally get them cleaned and sanitized in about two to three minutes. He also gets upset when I clean them, because strictly speaking, that's not my responsibility on such days.
But, is it really that big of a deal? The thing about the food service side of things is that when you're busy, you really are. And when there's nothing to do, there really is nothing. Today I actually laughed out loud when I was able to sneak in doing the tables while Mike went to use the men's room.
The Good
1. We got a perfect score on our annual inspection by the county Health Department. Mike and Lauren both thanked me for the hard work I did when doing extra cleaning to be ready for the inspection.
2. Most of our customers take it for granted that they're going to get a good meal at a reasonable
price. Which is fine, because that's how things usually are. But every now and then, someone will really show appreciation. If someone complements me on the food I cooked for them, or if a fellow employee thanks me for taking the time to bring their food to them, that's a nice thing.
3. Doing the food service for the day care program is a real challenge. It's one that, honestly, I wasn't sure I was up to. In the three days that I've filled in for Lauren, I'd grade myself at 80, 85, and 90 (basing that off what she does being 100). And when the little kids smile and thank me for bringing them food, it's a great feeling.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Odds And Ends, Once Again
I really don't have anything all that important to write about right now but I do have a few odds and ends I'd like to share with you. So, in no particular order of importance, here they are.
1. My air conditioner arrived last Thursday, a day earlier than expected, which was nice. For the most part I'm very pleased with it. It was difficult to set up by myself (the instructions do say it's a two person task) but after forty-five minutes, it was ready to use. It works well and is worth what I'm spending on it.
2. Monday and Tuesday of this week coming up will be a real test of my skills at work as I'm going to be filling in for Lauren. Both days the lunch menu is pretty simple, which is good. But still, it's going to be a challenge for me. I'll have anywhere from thirty to forty people depending on me for their food, and I need to get it served on time.
3. I will have three paychecks in August so that's going to be about $400 extra I can spend any way I want. This is going to be an interesting decision for me to make. Will I put that cash into my savings account? Will I invest it in my catering business? Will I buy my mother something quite expensive she wants, as a birthday present? At this time, I really don't yet know what I'm going to do.
4. I got my hair cut on Tuesday of this week at the barber shop I've written about here before. As always, it was a very pleasant experience and really did once again feel like going back in time a good thirty to forty years. And, as always, the hair cut was a great one and reasonably priced, coming to $9 with the tip.
5. I usually don't buy things for the kitchen that look to be of questionable value. But last week I took a chance on something and it turned out to be a good buy. It's a pasta cooker and steamer you use in the microwave. Its name is "Pasta N More" (poor grammar, I know), and is endorsed by this guy you might have seen on television who calls himself Chef Tony. I've used it to cook macaroni that came out perfectly. I've also used it to steam hot dogs, which also came out just right. Fifteen seconds or so also steams the buns very nicely. It's well worth the $18.98 I paid for it at Wal-Mart.
It also comes with a very nice recipe booklet, and most of the recipes actually look very good. I'll let you know how they come out as I start to make some of them.
1. My air conditioner arrived last Thursday, a day earlier than expected, which was nice. For the most part I'm very pleased with it. It was difficult to set up by myself (the instructions do say it's a two person task) but after forty-five minutes, it was ready to use. It works well and is worth what I'm spending on it.
2. Monday and Tuesday of this week coming up will be a real test of my skills at work as I'm going to be filling in for Lauren. Both days the lunch menu is pretty simple, which is good. But still, it's going to be a challenge for me. I'll have anywhere from thirty to forty people depending on me for their food, and I need to get it served on time.
3. I will have three paychecks in August so that's going to be about $400 extra I can spend any way I want. This is going to be an interesting decision for me to make. Will I put that cash into my savings account? Will I invest it in my catering business? Will I buy my mother something quite expensive she wants, as a birthday present? At this time, I really don't yet know what I'm going to do.
4. I got my hair cut on Tuesday of this week at the barber shop I've written about here before. As always, it was a very pleasant experience and really did once again feel like going back in time a good thirty to forty years. And, as always, the hair cut was a great one and reasonably priced, coming to $9 with the tip.
5. I usually don't buy things for the kitchen that look to be of questionable value. But last week I took a chance on something and it turned out to be a good buy. It's a pasta cooker and steamer you use in the microwave. Its name is "Pasta N More" (poor grammar, I know), and is endorsed by this guy you might have seen on television who calls himself Chef Tony. I've used it to cook macaroni that came out perfectly. I've also used it to steam hot dogs, which also came out just right. Fifteen seconds or so also steams the buns very nicely. It's well worth the $18.98 I paid for it at Wal-Mart.
It also comes with a very nice recipe booklet, and most of the recipes actually look very good. I'll let you know how they come out as I start to make some of them.
Monday, July 2, 2018
My Air Conditioner Should Arrive Soon
Summer is definitely here, folks. Over the weekend just ended, local temperatures in the Binghamton area got as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When I passed a bank on Saturday afternoon at about 4:30, its sign read ninety-six. I was on a B.C. Transit bus, coming home from a supermarket that I normally walk to and back from. But on Saturday, I gladly paid the fare to ride the bus both ways.
I also ate at Subway while I was out. As I've mentioned here before, I do not handle extreme heat very well. Today, for instance, I got a little bit ill from the heat here in my room at the Y.M.C.A., so I went down to the air conditioned lounge for awhile. As I've mentioned here before, there have been times I've actually had to go to an emergency room to be treated for heat exhaustion. I do not want to have that happen again.
Spending a little time in the lounge is a nice short term solution but it's not like I can hang out there all day, or sleep there overnight. Here on the fourth floor, the temperature in these rooms can be as much as ten to fifteen degrees higher than what it is outside. My two rotary fans help some, but when it's that hot, the only real solution is air conditioning.
So, earlier tonight, I bought a portable air conditioning unit from QVC, and I paid extra for express shipping. The unit will arrive on Friday. Between sales tax and shipping, the total cost came to $402, which when spread out over six months is very affordable for me these days.
And you know, it's for something I really do need. I have to be comfortable and rested when I wake up each morning if I'm going to be able to do a good job at work.
As always, dear reader, wishing you the best.
I also ate at Subway while I was out. As I've mentioned here before, I do not handle extreme heat very well. Today, for instance, I got a little bit ill from the heat here in my room at the Y.M.C.A., so I went down to the air conditioned lounge for awhile. As I've mentioned here before, there have been times I've actually had to go to an emergency room to be treated for heat exhaustion. I do not want to have that happen again.
Spending a little time in the lounge is a nice short term solution but it's not like I can hang out there all day, or sleep there overnight. Here on the fourth floor, the temperature in these rooms can be as much as ten to fifteen degrees higher than what it is outside. My two rotary fans help some, but when it's that hot, the only real solution is air conditioning.
So, earlier tonight, I bought a portable air conditioning unit from QVC, and I paid extra for express shipping. The unit will arrive on Friday. Between sales tax and shipping, the total cost came to $402, which when spread out over six months is very affordable for me these days.
And you know, it's for something I really do need. I have to be comfortable and rested when I wake up each morning if I'm going to be able to do a good job at work.
As always, dear reader, wishing you the best.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
I Just Want To Cry
I've not written anything for a few weeks now because I've been dealing with some personal issues, and also because I'm so very worried for the future of America. The things going on in my personal life are ones I'll get a handle on, sooner or later. But the things happening in this country?
God only knows when we'll somehow find a way out of the mess we're in Do I really need to list all the things that are wrong? Because part of me wants to, right here and now. If you pay any attention at all to current events and to politics, you must have at least some idea of what's going on.
Let me just say that as far as I'm concerned, we're living in a fascist country right now. If you don't agree with that statement, so be it.
And now Anthony Kennedy is retiring from the Supreme Court, which gives Donald Trump a second justice to nominate. If Roe V. Wade is really hanging on by the thinnest of threads, which I believe it is, the next new justice could well be the one to finish it once and for all. I said right here on this blog that electing Trump would result in everything we've long considered as being normal being up for grabs again. And I've been proven right on that, I think.
I'm sad, and scared, and worried. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the 2020 presidential election called off altogether. To see Donald Trump embrace his desired role as our dictator for life. Nor, sadly, would I be surprised at all to have Trump declare martial law in an attempt to control dissent.
Again, if you disagree with me, so be it. I'm just calling things as I see them, which if you read this blog on a regular basis, shouldn't come as any surprise.
I wish I had something fun to write about, or something uplifting, or hopeful. Right now, I just don't.
God only knows when we'll somehow find a way out of the mess we're in Do I really need to list all the things that are wrong? Because part of me wants to, right here and now. If you pay any attention at all to current events and to politics, you must have at least some idea of what's going on.
Let me just say that as far as I'm concerned, we're living in a fascist country right now. If you don't agree with that statement, so be it.
And now Anthony Kennedy is retiring from the Supreme Court, which gives Donald Trump a second justice to nominate. If Roe V. Wade is really hanging on by the thinnest of threads, which I believe it is, the next new justice could well be the one to finish it once and for all. I said right here on this blog that electing Trump would result in everything we've long considered as being normal being up for grabs again. And I've been proven right on that, I think.
I'm sad, and scared, and worried. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the 2020 presidential election called off altogether. To see Donald Trump embrace his desired role as our dictator for life. Nor, sadly, would I be surprised at all to have Trump declare martial law in an attempt to control dissent.
Again, if you disagree with me, so be it. I'm just calling things as I see them, which if you read this blog on a regular basis, shouldn't come as any surprise.
I wish I had something fun to write about, or something uplifting, or hopeful. Right now, I just don't.
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