Misadventuring in Diner-land...

It reaches a point at 3:15 a.m. when the bars are closed and emptying out. No, the tables aren't all full, and YES, the sign still does say, "Please wait to be seated." Turning the sign around will not help you get seated any faster. Actually, anyone seating themselves won't be helped at all.

The servers just got triple or quadruple sat between 2:45 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. and even if there are empty tables, I'm not going to seat you. You see, I'd bring you drinks, but your server wouldn't be ready to take your order. You'd be drunk and belligerent and fuss about poor service, when the place is packed. Your food might take 15 minutes to get to you (*shock*!) and you'd be frustrated and lower your tips.

Good news? If you want to eat diner food here, during the post-bar rush, then you're not going to get that booth table you want, there may not be space in the smoking section, and you may need to be a teeny tiny bit patient. The place is jam-packed, the kitchen is viciously swamped, and the servers are running around splitting checks nine ways and refilling drinks.

I can't be bribed to seat you, and no, I won't call a cab for you. I'll get out the Yellow Pages so you can call your own damn cab. You can even wait on the couches in front until it shows up. Being drunk, by the way, is no excuse not to tip. If you have cash enough to be getting trashed at the bar, and cash enough to go out for food later, and cash enough to call a cab home -- you've got cash to tip your server for carrying you food and refilling your drink. Yes, you do.

You're going to have to wait. If you choose not to wait, then I'll yell at you myself, with management to back me up. Or, I'll get the manager, who won't be thrilled to be interrupted at our busiest time of night. Please, do talk to my manager. It won't do you one spot of good.

Sometimes, you have to be patient, even when you're drunk and demanding like a two year old. Congrats! The rules you learned in preschool -- they still apply.

Cutting down, paring back, it's a recession!

I've been doing some reading over at www.econowhiner.com which is both cathartic and useful. What I think I love best is when they reviewed various tinned tunas. Paying $2 for a can of tuna fish was considered okay. There have been a number of times in my life where I enjoyed lovely, soaked in olive-oil, imported tuna from Italy or France. Some were lovingly fished, by accountable companies. However, far more often I've been purchasing Kroger brand cans of tuna for $0.53.

I can't cut down on my deluxe gourmet cable consumption -- I haven't ever owned a television of my own, and occasionally I've chipped in for cable with room mates, but I've never had the luxury of 10,000 channels and HBO. The last two places I lived there wasn't a television in residence at all, and I only missed it when more than two people wanted to watch a movie -- the laptop screen was a little small.

The thermostat is hovering at 65 degrees -- most of my households have been lucky if it was at 68 degrees, and more commonly we all wandered around bundled up with the heat set to 60, the windows covered in plastic sheeting, and with piles of blankets on beds.

I can cut back on getting food out, or already prepared, but I cook usually twice a day, every day of the week. Dinners, unless they're for special occasions, are always potluck. I may as well ban myself from coffee shops (sigh) and continue baking my own bread. I already cook with bulk rice and bulk beans, and eat lots of tofu. Cutting expensive meat out? It's never been there. I have had to reduce my consumption of imported cheese, and given the price for even junk cheddar from Schnucks is evil, it's easier to go further vegan than I was. Drinking less and drinking lower caliber alcohol has helped the bank account as well. Drinking while out? Completely off the radar. I'll enjoy my $3/bottle wine at home, with fresh foccacia.

I already drive a two door Honda, which is gas efficient and well-maintained, and I combine errands. With some detailed time spent, I'll figure out metro link and get back on a bicycle. This is courtesy of my militant-biking room mate, who is loaning me one of hers. No, it doesn't actually 'fit' me, it's a bit tall, but I'll make do. If I didn't work nights, I would be more than happy to park it, but given that I get off work at 4 or 5 a.m. or go into work at 4 or 5 a.m., it's just not conducive to A) transit or B) carpooling.

Even the cats have had to cut back. No more delicious tinned cat chow for them, especially since they've both finally achieved a healthy weight.

I'm already a library-user, and have always been. Checking out CDs, DVDs, and books has been a constant. I've purchased almost every book used for years, excepting those written by Marie Brennan, 'cause I know her, she's an author, and I wanted to support her. Also, I <3 her books.

Welcome to the Pirate Land, where I've been underemployed, underpaid, or both, oh, since July. This isn't whining, or suffering. I have a roof over my head, affordable rent, a car of my own (mostly), and the ability to cook for myself, entertain myself with yarn and books, and live in a city both sort of bike and transit friendly. The recession might be here, and it may curtail old-school or classic fun, but I'm ready to invent fun.

TV on the Radio: Dreams

All your dreams are over now
And all your wings have fallen down
Oh all your dreams are over now
And all your wings have fallen down
She's just like you
So why keep doing what you do
Why cut a friend
Why cruise that mean lean to an end
You could have heel toed
To another place
You could have peeled slow
To a better face

But your heart can't grieve
For your little dreams
Oh no your heart can't grieve
Not for your little dreams

All your dreams are over now
And all your wings have fallen down
All your dreams are over now
And all your wings have fallen down

Broke trust in two
Now no one's looking out for you
Why keep it cruel
Why waste so much to play the fool

And maybe I'm the fool but I think we'd find
That we could all be so so kind
If you'd just leave your tread mill powertrip behind
Oh leave your treadmill powertrip behind
And maybe it's best that you're so so blind
It's best that your so so blind
Because your heart can't grieve
I know your heart can't grieve

I know your heart can't grieve
What your eyes won't see
But you were my favorite moment
Of our dead century

I know your heart can't grieve
What your eyes won't see
But you were my favorite moment
Of our dead century

But all your dreams are over now
And all your wings have fallen down
Oh all your dreams are over now
And all your wings have fallen down

Oh warfarin' terrapin
Unconfined undesigned
Undersigned bantering
Bartering bellowing
Barracking blundering
Pillaging plundering
Living and lavishing
Hammerings harrowing
Flourishing flattening
Levelling reveling
Wrecking and ravaging
Savoring savaging

Oh warfarrin terrapin
Unconfined undesigned
You've got me worried and wondering

All your dreams are over now
And all your wings have fallen down
All your dreams are over now

Not my optimistic standard, it's true. A cup of pessimism for the entry of winter, with hopes for the increase of daylight following the Solstice. Salut!