Well, I am up.
I sold time at the calender store yesterday morning and while I was there I got a call from the dining room manager at Mulligan's asking if I would work FOR HER last night - be the dining room manager and pick up tables - since she was going to a wedding; I said "Yes."
Since Mulligan's is just reopening, we are overstaffed, and I was in charge of cutting people (NOT with a French knife) as the evening progressed as well as checking their side work and taking their remittance before they left. Also answering any questions which might have risen regarding the computers (and the POS) system we use to place orders.
We had a fairly brisk early dinner, and each of the eight servers (nine, counting me) were able to have at least two tables. I cut people starting at 7pm, using the tried and true "1st in, 1st out" method, with few complaints. We do seem to have one "bad apple," who sits around and bitches when it's time to do side work, and she has rubbed most of the staff the wrong way all week; fortunately, she was the first in.
After nine, one ten top came in - a celebration of a 21st birthday occurring at midnight. We had to use diplomacy to get them to eat in the dining room, since the downstairs bartender wanted a server to take the party, while the owner didn't want to have a server staying beyond midnight just for the party's alcohol tab. One of the new, though experienced servers, volunteered to handle the party, so she got major props in my book.
I got another ten top, which turned into twelve, at 10:45, just before the dining room would close and the kitchen would go onto the bar foods menu. They were an entertaining groups of teachers and interns from my area and we had laughs while many bon mots flowed.
During the evenings that I work, I am also the designated male escort (!) to walk the female serving staff members to their vehicles after dark, so I got plenty of fresh air last night. . .
My last server left at midnight. I finished up any remaining dining room duties - nothing was neglected by the staff - and had a meeting with the new owner (whom I've known since 1998 or earlier) about how things are running and what can be done to keep things going as smoothly as they went last night.
I pulled into my driveway at 12:59am, did a little surfing on the net, then finished reading James Ellroy'sTHE BIG NOWHERE before going to sleep.
Gotta say, all in all, it was a wonderful day. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought that if the benefits at Borders weren't as good as they are, I'd seriously consider remaining in the restaurant business on a full-time basis again. . .
