I think I better post an optimistic entry, since most of these blog entries are going to turn out to be bitch fits. ;)
These are things I love about my job. I thought I'd list some of them here so I can still find a reason to go to work every day.
1) The regular customers. We get quite a few, considering they're all college kids and they come to the commons for lunch every day. I know some by their faces and they get the exact same thing every day.
2) My awesome coworkers. They can make any nightmare rush seem okay. I have some who actively and willingly seek out to help me in my moments of greatest need. You know, the moments when you want to literally rip your fucking hair out and scream?
3) Good music. We turn on the radio. You wouldn't believe how much listening to awesome music can change your work day.
4) Having a manager say something nice about you. Last week one of the managers said to me, "You're such a good worker," and he sounded completely sincere. It made my day!
5) Free drinks (and French fries if you're sneaky) and discounted meals. It makes it worth it to work there when you know the customers paid an outrageous price to get the same thing. ;)
Today is Saturday and I am sleeping the fuck in and ENJOYING MY DAY OFF!!! ;-D
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
First Entry - Tuesday Night Shenanigans
Greetings from me, the Kunoichi Cook. I will explain where the nickname comes from at some point, but first, I wanted to talk about my adventures on Tuesday night.
On Tuesday night, I worked the dinner shift as a Dishwasher Bitch. If you've ever slaved away cleaning filthy dishes before, you'll know what that entails. Loud, hot, messy working conditions, and that doesn't even include a description of how DANGEROUS that place is. Wet floors, burning hot water, sharp objects, people running all over the place. I am a total butterfingers, so this is not really the best place for me to be. Ever. But alas, I am the Dishwasher Bitch tonight, so I must find a way to survive.
I have a question that I need answered. What happens when the dishwasher breaks??? We had this happen. There came a loud grinding sound from deep within and the entire conveyor belt-like system came to an immediate halt. The Dishroom Guys all came running, ripping open the doors on the sides of the machine and trying to figure out what was wrong. I kept working on washing my huge pile of silverware, hoping that they'd fix it soon or we'd be there into the early morning hours washing back-ups of the dishes and silverware that couldn't go through.
Luckily, Dishroom Guys did manage to fix it within about 2 minutes so we didn't really suffer. But I wonder - what happens when the dishwasher actually breaks down for good? Has it ever happened before? Would they close the dining hall?? HA HA...more likely they'd get "volunteers" to stay late and clean up the mess.
As slaves, we often find ourselves in miserable jobs that have rules and regulations. Now, sometimes these rules make sense. They have a purpose. Then, for every good rule, we have [at least] one stupid one that negates the good one. And then there are [sometimes] ways around the stupid rules.
Example time!
* Anyone with long hair must wear it pulled back. This makes sense. No one wants hair in their food or food in their hair. Good rule!
* Employees must tuck in their work shirts. We need to look presentable to the customers. Because, you know, I just spilled tomato juice all over me, sprayed myself with mayo, and got grill grease all over the front of my shirt. Tucking in my shirt will ensure I look presentable! Stupid rule!
* To get around this stupid rule, I usually wear an apron (unless I'm cashiering). No one will tell you to tuck in your shirt if you have an apron on, and this way you won't get grease and shit all over your shirt. Practicality! I love it!
---
* Employees must wear vinyl gloves while handling customer food. Okay, that makes sense. Sort of. It only really means anything if you change your gloves a lot, which none of us do. So...good rule?
* Cooks must wear vinyl gloves while working on the grills. I truly do not understand this one. Grills kill germs. Ugh...this is just so pointless, I don't even understand it...Stupid rule!
* Use tongs while line serving and do not touch the food. Then why the fuck do we need to wear these awful, powder-filled gloves??? Stupid rule!!!
* There's no way around the glove thing. Sorry!
---
Now, for two stupid, pointless rules in the dishroom!
* Employees must wear white fabric heat-resistant gloves (does not apply to those loading the dishwasher). This is pointless in so many ways.
- First of all, those gloves are only "heat-resistant" if they don't get wet. They're great for people filling food on the lines, but in the dishroom, if you get your hands wet (which you WILL), then you WILL get burned. Badly!
- They feel disgusting when they get wet, so you have to change these gloves every five minutes to get rid of that nasty feeling and to prevent being burned (near impossible). This is hard to do when you have dishes flying by or a back-up of silverware and you can't walk away!!!!
- These gloves come in one size - HUGE. If you have small hands like me, it doesn't work well. Try adding an inch of length to your fingers and then sorting a pile of silverware. AGGRAVATION.
* When sorting silverware, place knives blade down in the bins, but forks are tongs facing up, and spoons facing up. W...t...f??? They're butter knives!!!! They're not going to cut you!!! But...ever been poked real hard on the tip of your finger by a fork??? It fucking hurts! Spoons should be the only thing with the handles down.
I think I seriously need to rewrite some rules, because clearly these were written by people who have never worked in food services before!
The good things about being a Dishwasher Bitch: awesome blaring music, blowing fans that keep you cool, awesome coworkers (usually), and NO CUSTOMERS. Yyyyyyes! *pumps fist*
I have a great rule I'd like to make!
The Rule: Dishwasher Bitches and Slaves can do whatever the fuck they want.
The Reason: It's the dishroom. It fucking sucks.
~ Always lookin' out for my fellow slaves,
The Kunoichi Cook
On Tuesday night, I worked the dinner shift as a Dishwasher Bitch. If you've ever slaved away cleaning filthy dishes before, you'll know what that entails. Loud, hot, messy working conditions, and that doesn't even include a description of how DANGEROUS that place is. Wet floors, burning hot water, sharp objects, people running all over the place. I am a total butterfingers, so this is not really the best place for me to be. Ever. But alas, I am the Dishwasher Bitch tonight, so I must find a way to survive.
I have a question that I need answered. What happens when the dishwasher breaks??? We had this happen. There came a loud grinding sound from deep within and the entire conveyor belt-like system came to an immediate halt. The Dishroom Guys all came running, ripping open the doors on the sides of the machine and trying to figure out what was wrong. I kept working on washing my huge pile of silverware, hoping that they'd fix it soon or we'd be there into the early morning hours washing back-ups of the dishes and silverware that couldn't go through.
Luckily, Dishroom Guys did manage to fix it within about 2 minutes so we didn't really suffer. But I wonder - what happens when the dishwasher actually breaks down for good? Has it ever happened before? Would they close the dining hall?? HA HA...more likely they'd get "volunteers" to stay late and clean up the mess.
As slaves, we often find ourselves in miserable jobs that have rules and regulations. Now, sometimes these rules make sense. They have a purpose. Then, for every good rule, we have [at least] one stupid one that negates the good one. And then there are [sometimes] ways around the stupid rules.
Example time!
* Anyone with long hair must wear it pulled back. This makes sense. No one wants hair in their food or food in their hair. Good rule!
* Employees must tuck in their work shirts. We need to look presentable to the customers. Because, you know, I just spilled tomato juice all over me, sprayed myself with mayo, and got grill grease all over the front of my shirt. Tucking in my shirt will ensure I look presentable! Stupid rule!
* To get around this stupid rule, I usually wear an apron (unless I'm cashiering). No one will tell you to tuck in your shirt if you have an apron on, and this way you won't get grease and shit all over your shirt. Practicality! I love it!
---
* Employees must wear vinyl gloves while handling customer food. Okay, that makes sense. Sort of. It only really means anything if you change your gloves a lot, which none of us do. So...good rule?
* Cooks must wear vinyl gloves while working on the grills. I truly do not understand this one. Grills kill germs. Ugh...this is just so pointless, I don't even understand it...Stupid rule!
* Use tongs while line serving and do not touch the food. Then why the fuck do we need to wear these awful, powder-filled gloves??? Stupid rule!!!
* There's no way around the glove thing. Sorry!
---
Now, for two stupid, pointless rules in the dishroom!
* Employees must wear white fabric heat-resistant gloves (does not apply to those loading the dishwasher). This is pointless in so many ways.
- First of all, those gloves are only "heat-resistant" if they don't get wet. They're great for people filling food on the lines, but in the dishroom, if you get your hands wet (which you WILL), then you WILL get burned. Badly!
- They feel disgusting when they get wet, so you have to change these gloves every five minutes to get rid of that nasty feeling and to prevent being burned (near impossible). This is hard to do when you have dishes flying by or a back-up of silverware and you can't walk away!!!!
- These gloves come in one size - HUGE. If you have small hands like me, it doesn't work well. Try adding an inch of length to your fingers and then sorting a pile of silverware. AGGRAVATION.
* When sorting silverware, place knives blade down in the bins, but forks are tongs facing up, and spoons facing up. W...t...f??? They're butter knives!!!! They're not going to cut you!!! But...ever been poked real hard on the tip of your finger by a fork??? It fucking hurts! Spoons should be the only thing with the handles down.
I think I seriously need to rewrite some rules, because clearly these were written by people who have never worked in food services before!
The good things about being a Dishwasher Bitch: awesome blaring music, blowing fans that keep you cool, awesome coworkers (usually), and NO CUSTOMERS. Yyyyyyes! *pumps fist*
I have a great rule I'd like to make!
The Rule: Dishwasher Bitches and Slaves can do whatever the fuck they want.
The Reason: It's the dishroom. It fucking sucks.
~ Always lookin' out for my fellow slaves,
The Kunoichi Cook
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