Have a Heart <3

This weekend at the Cheesecake Factory was a little crazier than usual since Valentine's Day fell on a Monday this year. I've been a hostess there since the begining of September and this was probably the busiest I've seen it. I have to say, some of the people down here on Long Island really aren't the brightest people I have ever met. The guests that come in sometimes just blow my mind how rediculously arrogant and stupid they are. And when I say stupid, I mean it. Don't get me wrong, there really are some pleasent and perfectly normal people here that are a pleasure to talk to, but wow, I have never met more miserable, snotty people in my entire life. For being the busiest restaurant in all of New York state, you think people would realize that when we tell them that it is going to be a 2:30 to 3 hour wait on a Saturday night for a party of 8 and that we don't take reservations they could then make the decision on whether or not they want to stay. Now, you would also think that 3 hours is a rediculously long time to just wait around for dinner . . . but people do it, and I don't know whether they make up their own wait time in their head or think we're lying to them or something, but it's like clockwork . . . after like 30-45 minutes people always come back in a frazzled mood complaining that they've been waiting too long and that alllllll these people that are being seated before them came in after them, like we're trying to purposely pick them out of the hundreds of people that come in to the restaurant and make them the vicitim of our evil scheme to not allow them to sit down. It gets rediculous how many times I have to tell guests, "we told you how long it was for a table, it was your choice whether you wanted to wait or not." Then we tell them that they have at least an hour left on their wait time and then go to the next step of our routine which is bickering with them a little more then handing them off to speak to a manager who then tells them the same exact thing we just explained to them . . . I guess it just takes the 6th time for the concept to get through to them, or maybe because it's coming from someone who they can't feel like they can intimidate. I dunno, but that's a regular event on a Saturday night in particular, and there's actually a few showings consistantly throughout the night, maybe even every 20 minutes. Oh boy, just makes me say . . . "I'm just glad that there's nothing in my life to make me as miserable and evil as them, and wow, that stick up their ass must f*in hurt"
But hey, these are just the bad stories. I've also met some of the most genuine and nicest people ever. A lot of the guests are fun to talk to, and I love being around most of the people I work with. They're great.
But I just have to mention that their was this one lady that was waiting for a table the other night that completely cought me off guard and left me speechless when she came up to me with this annoyed look on her face and asked me if there was any AIR in here. Yes, a lady actually comes up to me while I was standing next to the revolving door that was indeed revolving and letting in a cold breeze from outside, she's breathing and speaking, and says "Oh my God! Is there any air in here?!" I really was just stunned by the stupidity of the question and really had nothing else to respond with but with a long pause and " air???" I almost felt like she somewhat lowered my intellegence level. After telling her that there are plenty of vents in the building and a door that she was welcome to graciously walk out of she briskly turns her back to me and walks away after telling me to demand that the heat is turned down for her. I almost felt like I had to apologize and excuse myself cuz I didn't know that we were expecting a Snow Princess that evening that was in danger of melting, or believe me I would have tried to better accomodate her. We like to avoid puddles inside the restaurant at all costs.
Anywayyyy, It's Valentine's Day, so even if this isn't your favorite day of the year, go out on a limb and tell someone you love them. The least it can do is make them smile, and who knows you might benefit a lot more from it than you think ;-* Well it's off now to my ballet class for a couple hours. Happy Valentine's Day! : ) Lots of Love *