Why tipping is an art form May 9, 2008

This may anger some people. Especially those that work, or have worked, in the food service industry.  But Please let me say that I have worked for the world famous El Morocco and Dunkin’ Donuts and a HUGE portion of my pay from both of those places was from tips.

I always got good tips… A. Because I never felt like I deserved one, and B. because I worked hard to earn one.

Somehow we have gotten to the point that a tip is expected, and not earned.   I reject that notion… Please note I do tip at every sit down meal.  But if your service sucks your tip sucks.  If it takes you 15 minutes to refill my drink, and when you do you are carrying the glass with your finger inside… (like what happened at this nameless restaurant) then your tip is really going to suck.

We need to reclaim the power of the tip.  bad service = a bad tip (oops try this one),  good service = Good tip.  Back when I waited tables a customer gave me a $45 because I went next door and bought them a $2 bag of pretzels when my restaurant had run out of “bar snacks.”  That tip was just for the pretzels never mind all the drinks and food I brought them during the 3 hours they occupied my booth.  They left happy and I bought a PlayStation with thier tips.

I know, I know, what about problems in the kitchen, or being short staffed, or having to many tables in different sections… I get it.  You can’t control everything.  But Let me know that problems exist.  DO NOT WHINE OR COMPLAIN, just say something like “I am going to put your order in now but the kitchen is a little backed up would you like some rolls or salad?”  or “someone called out tonight so I have a few more tables then normal, I will keep checking in but do not hesitate to grab me or any other waiter.”  Then you do need to work harder to make sure everyone is a least comfortable, drinks are always full, bread or salad to make sure the people aren’t starving, and just simply don’t ignore them… Especially when they look upset.  That is when you turn on the charm and earn your tip.

Some people will just be unpleaseable.  and some will be cheap.  You can’t help that.  Just keep smiling (a lost art in itself) and perhaps the happy customer behind you will be a little more gracious.

 

Billy

I love my wife May 6, 2008

yep it’s true… I love my wife. 

I am not going to pull out some bible verses and tell you all the ways they apply to my wife.  Also I will not be telling you a sappy wove stowy that could onwy be wead by wepwacing aww the R’s and L’s with W’s.  Nor will I be writing a poem about how her beauty is like a million candles on a hill filled with wildflowers, butterflies, and rainbows.

(please note: she is not hold a loli-pop or anything for that matter)

I will tell you that she is one of the single hardest workers I know.  Not only does she work 40 hours a week or more and is the primary bread winner (what an odd term… think about it), but she leads the teachers of the 3-5 year old for our church, as well as all the other motherly responsibilities (kissing scrapped knees, cleaning, not so much cooking but you get the Idea).

(eating a wildebeest at the zoo)

She hates these pictures… And you may say that I am cruel for posting them but I love them.  This is what I see  that others don’t get too.  Everyone has a side that only a few really get to see.  It’s human nature to guard yourself.  That is why I am incredibly lucky that Colleen drops her guard around me, she doesn’t have to pretend, she doesn’t have to put on a show, she is who she is. 

That is what I love about her.

Billy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

(one more why not?)

As Promised May 5, 2008

So as I promised earlier this is the first of a flurry of posts.  I decided to start off with one I had teased in my previous post about a dilemma I am having at work.

The dilemma is this,  Lately I have been given all of the closing shifts (4-8, 1-9, etc).  This of course stinks because my wife gets home around 4:30-5:00pm.  So we don’t get to eat dinner together, I miss out on tucking in my kids, and in general spending quality time as a complete family.  I do get time in the mornings with my girls but not with Colleen.  I have also been given the pleasure of working every Saturday…

I really do love what I do, and the people I work with.  But I love my Family more.  And when I am at work (especially on Saturdays) I am thinking about them and really resenting the fact that I am working.  That isn’t fair to the customers or to my employers.

I don’t want to leave but I can’t keep cheating my family.

So, what do I do?

Billy

Coming tomorrow… I Love my wife (with Pictures).

2 weeks May 5, 2008

So I haven’t written a post in nearly 2 weeks.  Things have been slightly busy but I hope to go on a posting frenzy this week.  Stay tuned and buckle up.

Some possible post topics… (I believe they call this a tease)

Erynne’s Birthday

Horrible service in restaurants

Work dilemma

I Love my wife (with pictures)

hmmm which will be first…

 

And the Winner is… April 2, 2008

Some of you may now that we did a coffee tasting on Sunday at FC.  I talked about it here.  We were choosing the new official Fellowship Church coffee.  The Coffe comes from 963 coffee  a “fair trade coffee supplier that does a lot of work in the communities of the farmers.  They are a great company and I am excited that we can partner with them.  Well with out further delay I am proud to announce the New Official Fellowship Church Coffee.  And the winner is…

(drum roll please)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 

“The Triple Tango” is a Latin american blend with a medium roast.

32 votes were cast in our coffee sampling and in a route 21 votes went to the winner.  We will begin brewing this coffee in our cafe’ hopefully on Sunday.  The order was placed yesterday now it is just a matter of roasting and shipping. 

For those interested we will have all of the different coffees for sale at the cafe’ or by clicking the link below. 

963coffee.com

Later,

Billy

Very cool news. March 6, 2008

One of my Favorite musicians Andrew Peterson has written a new book called “On The Edge Of The Sea Of Darkness” and I have been chosen to review the book here on my blog.  My Blog will be linked over to his site and the publishers site for all the world to see.

Andrew is a great christian folk singer.  And he has a great site called The Rabbit Room.  Where he and various other singer, songwriter, authors, and pastors write articles on movies, books, music, life.  It is a great place to spend a couple hours.  

The problem is that after visiting there I become very aware that my writing skills are really nonexistent.  I am quite intimidated by it all.

The book is being mailed out to me today so look for the review around the 17th.

Later,

Billy

xtreeeeeeme March 1, 2008

why is it that people go to extremes?  Sky diving, and Bungee Jumping are one thing but why do people point to extremes to make a point?

What ever political or religious affiliation you follow I am sure you have heard how absurd your stance on X, Y, and Z is. 

Let’s look at the debate on whether or not it should be OK for homosexual couples to adopt.  The pro-tradition side says that a child raised in that environment will have a warped sense of right and wrong.  Their views on gender will be destroyed.  They will grow up distrusting, and hating men.  And worse of all they will shot Laser beams from there eyes.  While the pro-gay side will say that the gay or lesbian couple will love and care for that child more than the drunken redneck that beats his prostitute wife and burns the “family” dog with cigarettes.

Wow!  When you look at those arguments you hardly no where to start.  On one hand you have a drunken wife beater and on the other hand you have a child that shoots laser beams at men.  Can you really compare the best of one world with the worst of another?  Isn’t it apples and oranges?  If you want to truly accomplish something more than just being heard you should compare your best with there best and be brave enough to compare your worst to there worst.

We even use extremes when talking about little meaningless things.  “That pepper was like a million degrees!” ” My boss is the biggest jerk.”  Really?  Cause my boss is a pretty big jerk too.

It drives me crazy.  Shouldn’t we focus on the common ground?  If we made the common ground a pleasant place to be don’t you think that more people would join us there?  Then we could find other things we had in common.  Think of the influence you could have.

The problem is that the conversation will eventually get around to our differences and we will both push away.  Accusing the other side of some outrageous extreme that in our hearts we know isn’t what they believe.  They will do the same thing and before you know it no one is talking to each other.  Everyone looks inward and thinks they are more and more right and everyone else is crazy.

Marriages are destroyed because of this.  Friendships crumble.  And we are left alone.  Relationships that once thrived are left in ruin because one person took their “ball” and went home.

What do we do about this?  Tell me what you think.  I promise you this though.  If you take anything I said to an extreme I will delete your comment and not read it.  Call me closed minded.  But I like people and I want to think the best of them.  So I will choose to focus on the common ground and cultivate it.  I will pray that when our common ground is “the place to be” we will have enough respect for each other to talk civilized about what divides us and perhaps redraw our boundaries.  Giving in a little here and gaining a little there. 

Later,

Billy

Excellence January 15, 2008

I wrote a blog the other day in response to a blog about the lack of excellence in Christian music and Christian art as a whole.  Which has lead to more thoughts.

!st.  My Pastor Spoke a while back on the idea of excellence.  It is also a running theme in our staff meetings.  The idea of doing things with excellence can seem daunting, and unattainable.  However striving for excellence and doing things as excellently as WE can, is a spiritual act of worship.  If we skimp out on things and take the easy way out that is not only a reflection on us but also our Creator.  And I don’t think he took the easy road in creating us.

2nd.  I forgot to mention one of my favorite Christian artists.  He is Derek Webb, formerly(and i guess now currently) a member of Caedmon’s call.  He has several albums all with an acoustic folksy style.  He is NOT the typical Right wing christian.  In fact in one of his songs he says that the 2 biggest lies he has heard is first “if you eat of the fruit of this tree you WILL NOT surly Die” (the snake to eve) and second “that Jesus Christ was/is a white middle class republican.”  Talk about not mailing it in.  He constantly challenges “the way things are.”  There is no fluff with this cat, he is completely sold out to finding the heart of God where ever it may be.

3rd.  Check out my friend Jeff’s Blog.  he is a member of our church’s lead team and a thinker.  Picture the statue of the guy on the toilet entitled “the thinker.”  That is Jeff.  Anyway he sparked a little controversy and personally I think it is great.  He is seeking out some biblical truth and could use some input.  Who would of thought someone looking to the bible for answers would be so criticized?

Later,

Billy

I’m new here January 12, 2008

You know, the reason I am here is due to my pastor.  He started a blog http://pastormarty.wordpress.com/.  And that started me on the journey of reading and enjoying them.  Plus the thought That I can sit here in my living room and right something that could be read a world away.  By someone I don’t know.  They might not even fall into the 6 degrees rule.  Someone… You…  Welcome.

I Love people.  I love talking to, listening to, and being near people.  So I said hey if other people can write a blog so can I.

Well there is nothing more that I hate than being misunderstood.  I freely admit that it is sometimes my fault.  But I try almost too hard to be clear with my thoughts.  In fact I re-wrote the first paragraph more than once.  So with this in mind, If I write something that you don’t like or you think I am wrong about a thought, belief or opinion I hold, please ASK ME ABOUT IT.  Don’t go ask 3 or 4 other people what I meant or tell them how dumb I am.  Tell me.  I promise I will at least read your comment and think about it.  You might change my mind or I might think you are nuts and tell you why, but I will respect you for coming to me.  After all it is biblical Matthew 18:15-16.

So I start tomorrow with my thoughts.

Later,

Billy