Tales from the Pit - A Normal Day

Let me walk you through what a normal day is like for me.

8 AM
The alarm goes off and I shut it off, turning back under my covers and returning to sleep. Besides, light hasn't yet penetrated my room.

8:30 AM
I get up and brush my teeth. I spend time on the Internet working on getting a job and catching up on my news. Summary: world basically sucks. Pretty simple and straightforward. Despite what people say about the economy improving, we're in what is termed a "jobless recovery," similar to the malaise that Japan went through during the 1990s with stagnant income, millions out of work still, and severe underemployment. It seems like a good time to find a new skill set to train myself in but I digress. At least it's not Auschwitz. Anyway, I drink some milk and water.

9 AM
Parents are already gone. I look for an episode that I missed last night of House. Watch House for the next 40 minutes. I'm dressed by 9:30 and turn off the heater. in my room.

9:45 AM
The garage door opens I hurry from my room to leave. My brother and I drive to work in silence, both of us tired and in a non-talkative mood. The roads are slightly icy and it's freezing cold but sunny.

9:55 AM
We arrive at the restaurant, the air seemingly colder than before. I walk in, set my stuff down and start loading and preparing the register. The rest of the staff is preparing and cooking. No one's come in yet but it's slowly warming up inside and outside.

10:30 AM
The restaurant opens.

11:00 AM
The restaurant is still open.

11:15 AM
The first customer comes in and orders. I take the order and give him his food. Still waiting for more people to come in.

11:30 AM
A handful of customers come in. I recognize some of the faces and the rest I can tell are new. Most customers order something in the $6-$8 price range. Generally speaking, people cannot afford to spend too much in this economy. The restaurant is about half full. During this winter season, attendance has been on and off due to the weather. When you're smack dab in the middle of a string for 6 franchise and fast-food restaurants, you have some stiff competition. Personally I don't understand how people can ingest crap into their digestive tracts. Then again, people also watch wrestling on television and think it's real. I stand and watch the customers eat and talk, refilling drinks when required. So far today, nothing too serious like a massive explosion of customers.

12:30 PM
Massive explosion of customers. Both registers are filled with customers giving their orders. Most of them look like they're road workers or power plant people on their lunch breaks, many of which have been cut in half due to the Great Recession. All men, of various races simply want something to put in their stomachs before they head back under the axe and the grind out there. We take their orders and send them out as fast as we can. I fill up various cups with drinks and take their money. But there's always a flurry of activity going on. The kitchen staff shout orders and yell and a lot is going on while customers get seated and eat. I think we need another fountain machine up front. Seriously, I don't like getting their drinks because it cuts down on valuable time spent taking their orders and serving the customers. Then again, we're in a recession so we need to make due with what we have. I carry out two trays at once while C. takes orders at her register. S. is helping us fill drinks though he generally is in the back. And the rest of the staff is busily making sandwiches and frying. So far, it's just hectic right now.

1:00 PM
By now, most of the lunch rush has left. I'm impressed with the speed people can actually eat when they're in a rush. A few stragglers are left, talking over the paltry remains of their plates and sandwiches. Scott soon comes in and gets a small gumbo with a Diet Dr. Pepper. He's a thin, blond fellow with a quick smile. He works nearby in a warehouse and once came in 4 times a week. Nowadays, I see him once a week. He takes a table near the window and eats while observing and working with his Blackberry. It's rather amazing how wired we all are in this day and age. When I was in grade school, I didn't have a cell phone. In fact, they were just a novelty back in the early 1990s. Now, everyone has one. Including kids. Hell, some kids have their own facebook page. It's kinda crazy. But anyway, a few people leave and I just stand and watch, reading if I get a chance. From this pont on, it's generally slow.

1:15 PM
Karl comes in with a friend. He orders the usual. I'm busy taking another customer's order at the drive thru and deal with that instead. Lot of people have been ordering plates today. You generally get a good deal with the plates but it's kind of crazy and ridiculous. So far, things are tapering off. M. calls me and I basically exit the working world for about 45 minutes to take the call. The rest of the staff process several orders while I'm locked in the office. I can hear the hustle and bustle but it doesn't sound terrible. We talk and chat for awhile, catching up on life and stuff in general. Nice to hear from M. after awhile. Life just gets crazy sometimes and hectic. Both of our lives. Trade parental stories and such. Then I get the call to return to duty. Nothing's going on really outside Karl's eating and talking. He and I talk about some architecture and also politics about how the Democrats are being stupid and we don't even know what's going on anymore. He's an interesting guy and he also ran for Congress back in the 1980s when he was in shape. But being a trucker has taken a toll on him. I've noticed that most truckers are fat men. Like really fat. It makes sense if all you do is sit and drive and eat food on the go. It's a terrible lifestyle really.

2:00 PM
The part-timers have all left by now and gone home. The restaurant is dead and it'll probably be like this for a couple more hours. I managed to steal some wireless from nearby and I go online, reading up on the blogs and working on my essay for a bit. An occasional customer comes in now and then. But generally, I'm left to my own devices for a bit or so.

3:00 PM
I carry out the orders for a nice old couple who often come every week and have our chicken sandwiches and other chicken-related orders. They're quiet, straightforward, and decent folk. So far, nothing going on really aside from two or three tables filled. The phone rings and I pick it up. The caller ID reflects that it's a local number.

"Hi, how may I help you?" I ask the caller at the other end.
"Yeah, you guys have that pole in the back..." A deep voice replies.
"Um...yes, we do."
"You know I can't park there with the pole in the back."

I remain somewhat confused, considering the pole blocking the exit in the rear is meant to deter truckers from running through and ruining our landscape. The landlord redid the asphalt and installed the pole for that reason. Not to mention we have a gas meter in the back that we have to pay for if truckers hit it. So really, it's a pain the ass for us to fix the damage and it's a pain in the ass for truckers to drive around the restaurant. I leave it up to you, reader, to decide which is worse.

"Well, sir. The landlord was the one who put that one up to deter trucks. I'm afraid he's the one who calls the shots. We can't do anything about that at all." I blatantly lie to the guy. It's actually a half-truth. We could remove it. But it's a pain.

"I'm just saying that lots of truckers won't park in the back with that pole."
"You could just drive in and turn around and park. Others have done that."
"Well, I rather go out the back, ya see? Much easier. Besides, it's going to hurt your-"
"I'm sorry for your inconvenience. Good day." I cut him off and hang up the phone, mildly irritated at the blatant laziness and inanity of such a ridiculous phone call. People like him would probably call the restaurant they ate at before to complain about the heart attack they're having rather than an actual ambulance. Asshole.

3:45 PM
Two regulars come in and ask how business is going. I tell them that things are picking up though it's been cold. It's generally true that people seem to not want to go out when it's cold and gray out. There are exceptions to this fact but as a rule, it's true. I serve them their food and they sit by a window and eat. I work on my essay for a bit, revising and editing. There's only three of us running the place right now with the owners gone shopping for about 2 hours now. Lord knows what they're buying for this place. Or themselves for that matter. I manage to steal some wireless and browse some websites for a bi to pass the time. Sometimes, I think we should invest in an internet connection just to make things a little easier.

4:00 PM
Two new customers come in, both of them white males in their middle age. They seem to be working men judging by the level of grime and dirt on their coveralls. They spend some minutes looking over the menu.

"Ya'll have burnt ends?" One man asks.
"No, we don't, sir." I inwardly sigh. I think I get this question like 4 times a week.
"What kind of barbecue place don't have burnt ends?" He angrily responds.

I mentally remark the kind of barbecue place that knows how to use proper English. I often get irked at customers demanding things that we don't carry whether they're burnt ends or Happy Meals. Seriously. I've gotten requests for Happy Meals. Luckily, his companion saves me from engaging in further sparring.

"The kind of place that didn't burn the meat, man." He chuckles.
"Oh, fine. Just get me a beef sandwich."

They take their orders and get it to go. As I glance outside the window, a long line of cars and trucks slowly builds up on the street outside. It's nearing rush our and when it gets to rush hour, the highway becomes almost a parking lot. During that time, few people dare to come in since they don't want to lose their spot on their precious way home from work, resulting in a 1 hour drive instead of a 20 minute drive normally. Part of me wishes I could lure them in and serve them since the lack of activity is somewhat boring and tedious after quite awhile. But alas, the flies do not head to the honey.

5:00 PM
So far, no one's come in at all. I manage to get on the wireless again and figure I'll look at the reviews on Google for the place. I notice a customer gave me a 1 star rating, remarking on how "the meat was dry and terrible and the sauce was horrid" and also how "people shouldn't waste their money here but the service is polite and friendly."

Not surprisingly, everyone's a critic. I honestly don't give a damn about people's opinions at this point, mainly because so many people come in and act like they're self-professed gourmands about barbecue having eaten at so many places in this town. It's actually spoiled them to the point where new folks just won't catch an easy break. Think of it like giving a cokehead his usual crack over a period of some years, the same stuff generally. Then one day, his drug dealer is whacked and a new one takes over, selling the stuff only at a different quality and make. The guy takes some and tries and then suddenly starts to feel euphoria. Pissy, he goes back to the dealer to demand the old stuff even if it made him feel like parasites were crawling all over his skin. We offer euphoria but if you want to feel like pins and needles, go right ahead. (Note: We don't sell or trade in cocaine. Sorry.)

The Internet really has allowed people to remain anonymous and bring out their nasty side. A lot of negative reviews are simply assholes since they think they can remain anonymous. Isn't that right, Mark C. Stark?

6:00 PM
Two regulars stop by and get their usual orders. The wife spends part of her time looking at the menu at other items while she's eating. She's tried at least 5 different dishes the last four weeks since she first started visiting. They're nice people and they spend a decent amount of money. In the back, there's talk and chatter about the upcoming New Year holiday. Personally, I'm hoping to hear back from some feelers I put about potential jobs in something that actually has something to do with my degree.

A few people come by the drive thru asking for our new special for $3.95. I notice how people can be insanely motivated by money more so than food nowadays. I frankly don't blame them since it's technically the great recession and all. Food is necessary for survival. But money is more important. I wish they would spend more but I figure I shouldn't try to complain to much. My job after all requires me to find creative and semi-legally nice ways to part people from their money.

7:00 PM
I get three rail workers come on in, asking for their food to go. I see them often and they're generally hardworking people with long hours. But they are grateful for good food so we're happy to help. I know I gave one of them a free drink once since it was late and I didn't care too much. Good to know that charity act made him a regular. At this point, I start beginning the ritual of cleaning up the place and emptying out the trash bins. There's only three of us left at this point anyway so things are slower paced.

As I empty the trash, I notice how empty most of the boxes of food are, which is a good sign. Sometimes, I'll find a half eaten sandwich or an entire plate, which is often sad and irritating since I hate it when people waste food. We already took the money but wasting food is simply wrong. Unfortunately, our society is so driven by mass consumerism and ease-of-disposal that it's often commonplace and few people care to deal with it. After all, it's not like the food could've done much good, aside from feeding hungry children in Haiti, the homeless drifter at the street corner, or the folks down at the soup kitchen. Nope, not at all.

8:00 PM
We all start cleaning up. Though we close at 8:30 PM, no one ever comes in after eight. There's only been two incidents were people came in for ordering food. It takes us awhile to close up shop but generally, I count the money, close the credit cards, make sure stuff is locked and what not.

8:30 PM
Lights out and head home.

9:00 PM
I blog about a normal day and spend time on the Internet. Farmville remains a viable outlet and addictive. Later on tonight is the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. I chat with some friends online but then eventually, I turn in.

12:00 AM
Bed time.