Life What a Long Strange Trip it's been - Page 2

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-07-2011, 11:08 PM

I swear to God this is the worst economic situation that any of us will face in our lifetime. It's just brutal out there, still. Never in my almost 34 years of life on this planet have I ever had a hard time finding a job. I'm good at what I do, and my resume backs it up. For the last year and 3 months I have been unemployed and freaking out. Tried this and that, here and there, and nothing seemed to work for me.

Determined to get out of the field I was in, I moved halfway across the country to Springfield, MO knowing full well that my level of expertise was just not in demand out here. I know times are tough, and people are lucky to have jobs but if you're positively miserable in your day to day existence, what's the ****ing point? We haven't starved. We've paid our rent every month. It's been a scratch, kick, and claw existence, but to some degree that can be good for the soul.

Anyways, I ramble. I'm excited. I got a job today. It's not glamorous. It's not glorious, but mother**** I can pay my bills, and look at myself in the mirror every day while I do it. And while it may not be glamorous, it is in the top establishment in town for it's field. I'll make close to 50k a year doing a not so glamorous job, and frankly, I can live with that.

So congratulate me. I'm Hootie. I'm waiting tables for a fine dining establishment. And I give not a ****, because Goddammit, I can pay my bills again. What else really matters?

R&GHomer · 03-07-2011, 11:43 PM

Congrats

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-07-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

good

when I move to KC when my life crashes down before me (like it inevitably will) I'll have a good friend to get me a job!

I honestly think you'd love it here. You have no shame in what you do, and neither do I. If we can live with our day to day existence, **** everyone else. But you already get that. And yeah, I'll get you a job here any day of the week. You'd love it.

WV · 03-07-2011, 11:45 PM

Congrats!

Hootie · 03-07-2011, 11:47 PM

and **** everyone who wants to bash the industry...

I've met dozens and dozens of life long friends, I've been through many a girlfriend (good and bad), and have had a ton of great life experiences in the restaurant industry.

Also, it's not like it's out of the norm, Flop. When I worked in Chicago (away from campuses) the average age of our serving staff was 30-35...

My roommate and I (at 22) were the two youngest people there...

We may have to wait on people and take orders and maybe people don't respect that...but I was done being ashamed of what I do for a living a long time ago.

I make more than a lot of people with so called "respectable" jobs so **** 'em.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-07-2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I honestly think you'd love it here. You have no shame in what you do, and neither do I. If we can live with our day to day existence, **** everyone else. But you already get that. And yeah, I'll get you a job here any day of the week. You'd love it.

By the way Hootie, I'm working in Branson which is like 200 miles south of KC, so you'll have a ways to go if you're moving to KC.

**kysirsoze** · 03-07-2011, 11:48 PM

Nice! Waiting tables can certainly be humbling and make you lose some faith in your fellow man, but for good money and short hours, it's hard to beat. Fine dining's the best, too, if you can mind the details.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-07-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

and **** everyone who wants to bash the industry...

I've met dozens and dozens of life long friends, I've been through many a girlfriend (good and bad), and have had a ton of great life experiences in the restaurant industry.

Also, it's not like it's out of the norm, Flop. When I worked in Chicago (away from campuses) the average age of our serving staff was 30-35...

My roommate and I (at 22) were the two youngest people there...

We may have to wait on people and take orders and maybe people don't respect that...but I was done being ashamed of what I do for a living a long time ago.

I make more than a lot of people with so called "respectable" jobs so **** 'em.

I give not a **** dude, I swear to God. I love the job, at least I did 12 years ago and I have no reason to believe I won't now. **** it, man. I like taking good care of people. It makes me feel good.

Hootie · 03-07-2011, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

By the way Hootie, I'm working in Branson which is like 200 miles south of KC, so you'll have a ways to go if you're moving to KC.

I have been to Branson...back when I was 16 and went on a road trip with my dad when he was on business...

Got to take the car (when I first got my license) and hit up some cool places while he was meeting with clients...big leap of faith for the old man to trust me with the keys to his Lexus in Branson when I couldn't drive worth a shit.

Tourist town, right? Can't argue with that...the more business, the more hours, the faster the shifts, the more $$$...

**Dunit35** · 03-07-2011, 11:57 PM

Congrats bud!!

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-07-2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

I have been to Branson...back when I was 16 and went on a road trip with my dad when he was on business...

Got to take the car (when I first got my license) and hit up some cool places while he was meeting with clients...big leap of faith for the old man to trust me with the keys to his Lexus in Branson when I couldn't drive worth a shit.

Tourist town, right? Can't argue with that...the more business, the more hours, the faster the shifts, the more $$$...

Yeah. I got my cousin a job at the place I'm working 12 years ago. The most he made in 1 shift is $700. People can talk shit about that as much as they want. He bought himself a 3000GT working this job, and that was over a decade ago. People want to talk shit, let them. It's good ****ing money.

Hootie · 03-07-2011, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

Nice! Waiting tables can certainly be humbling and make you lose some faith in your fellow man, but for good money and short hours, it's hard to beat. Fine dining's the best, too, if you can mind the details.

this is kind of what happened to me...

I grew up in the industry...I was 19 when I started waiting tables and I was coming off a hard breakup with my girlfriend of 4 years (all through high school) and my self-esteem was at all all-time low...

Waiting on people has made me feel better and better and better about myself...

when I worked in Chicago I waited on so many terrible, awful, uncivilized people it always made me think, "wow, if I thought I had it bad...geez!"

It doesn't humble me at all, it makes me more confident as a human being.

Met so many people, have made so many friends over the years...

you can fall into the trap like I did...I know if I'm still doing this where I'm at now when I'm 30 I'm going to turn from the "cool older guy" to the "weird creepy old dude"...

so yeah, shelf life is short on campus

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-08-2011, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

this is kind of what happened to me...

I grew up in the industry...I was 19 when I started waiting tables and I was coming off a hard breakup with my girlfriend of 4 years (all through high school) and my self-esteem was at all all-time low...

Waiting on people has made me feel better and better and better about myself...

when I worked in Chicago I waited on so many terrible, awful, uncivilized people it always made me think, "wow, if I thought I had it bad...geez!"

It doesn't humble me at all, it makes me more confident as a human being.

Met so many people, have made so many friends over the years...

you can fall into the trap like I did...I know if I'm still doing this where I'm at now when I'm 30 I'm going to turn from the "cool older guy" to the "weird creepy old dude"...

so yeah, shelf life is short on campus

Heh, I'm almost 34 so be careful bro.

Hootie · 03-08-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Yeah. I got my cousin a job at the place I'm working 12 years ago. The most he made in 1 shift is $700. People can talk shit about that as much as they want. He bought himself a 3000GT working this job, and that was over a decade ago. People want to talk shit, let them. It's good ****ing money.

yep

Where I live the cost of living is very cheap...

Pay day was today...looked at my pay period...84 hours (5 overtime) and $1700 (before taxes of course) in two weeks time...and that's claiming 85% of my tips (approx) and not including my other job that I work every Thursday night.

Not every week is that good, and some weeks are better...

but **** man...yeah I'll never be rich but for being a degenerate P.O.S. student and only 25 I'm not doing too shabby.

Hootie · 03-08-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Heh, I'm almost 34 so be careful bro.

I'm talking about campus waiting...

We have a staff of about 15...

full timers are me (25), another guy (32) and another guy (23)...

everyone else is 19-22

Hootie · 03-08-2011, 12:04 AM

city waiting is different...

you go to a city like Branson, or Chicago, or any vacation place or big city...

and the average age is probably 30+

03-07-2011, 11:08 PM
Mr. Flopnuts FINALLY! The wait is over. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Future Is Now!!! Casino cash: $19947565	What a Long Strange Trip it's been I swear to God this is the worst economic situation that any of us will face in our lifetime. It's just brutal out there, still. Never in my almost 34 years of life on this planet have I ever had a hard time finding a job. I'm good at what I do, and my resume backs it up. For the last year and 3 months I have been unemployed and freaking out. Tried this and that, here and there, and nothing seemed to work for me. Determined to get out of the field I was in, I moved halfway across the country to Springfield, MO knowing full well that my level of expertise was just not in demand out here. I know times are tough, and people are lucky to have jobs but if you're positively miserable in your day to day existence, what's the **ing point? We haven't starved. We've paid our rent every month. It's been a scratch, kick, and claw existence, but to some degree that can be good for the soul. Anyways, I ramble. I'm excited. I got a job today. It's not glamorous. It's not glorious, but mother I can pay my bills, and look at myself in the mirror every day while I do it. And while it may not be glamorous, it is in the top establishment in town for it's field. I'll make close to 50k a year doing a not so glamorous job, and frankly, I can live with that. So congratulate me. I'm Hootie. I'm waiting tables for a fine dining establishment. And I give not a **, because Goddammit, I can pay my bills again. What else really matters?
Posts: 56,649

03-07-2011, 11:43 PM	#16
R&GHomer Veteran Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Olathe Casino cash: $10004900	Congrats __________________ Tod Haley: "I just want to coach well, have our team play well and make this city proud of us again."
Posts: 3,900

03-07-2011, 11:45 PM	#18
WV Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: In the Holler Casino cash: $10004950	Congrats!
Posts: 4,983

03-07-2011, 11:47 PM	#19
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	and ** everyone who wants to bash the industry... I've met dozens and dozens of life long friends, I've been through many a girlfriend (good and bad), and have had a ton of great life experiences in the restaurant industry. Also, it's not like it's out of the norm, Flop. When I worked in Chicago (away from campuses) the average age of our serving staff was 30-35... My roommate and I (at 22) were the two youngest people there... We may have to wait on people and take orders and maybe people don't respect that...but I was done being ashamed of what I do for a living a long time ago. I make more than a lot of people with so called "respectable" jobs so ** 'em.
Posts: 56,356

03-07-2011, 11:48 PM	#21
kysirsoze SNAP THE ****ING BALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $3756946	Nice! Waiting tables can certainly be humbling and make you lose some faith in your fellow man, but for good money and short hours, it's hard to beat. Fine dining's the best, too, if you can mind the details.
Posts: 11,295

03-07-2011, 11:57 PM	#24
Dunit35 Keepin it Real Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Casino cash: $1537045	Congrats bud!!
Posts: 10,489

03-08-2011, 12:04 AM	#30
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	city waiting is different... you go to a city like Branson, or Chicago, or any vacation place or big city... and the average age is probably 30+
Posts: 56,356