11 Years...

11 years ago today I met my husband. 11 years ago today was my first day working for (then named) D&D Restaurant Group, specifically at 8th Street Grille. 11 years ago I was 17, Colin was 18. I was hired (at really my first job!) to be an expeditor in the kitchen. What does an expeditor do? Umm...puts sauces in the baskets, helps to run food, is basically the gofer for anyone and everyone. Glamorous, isn't it? Colin trained me on my first night there. He was probably 50 pounds heavier, I'll say I was 50 pounds lighter! LOL! He had hair to his shoulders and went to Holland Public, I was a "perfect angel" from Holland Christian. I remember the night clearly...my first real job and meeting my husband (no, I did not know this the first night!). We didn't start dating until June, so today is the "I met my husband 11 years ago" anniversary.

It's also 11 years that I have now been working in the restaurant business. Haven't tried it? It's tough. Hard mentally and physically. I've worked with more criminals and alcoholics than I ever thought I would! I've been an expeditor, hostess, bartender, pantry worker in the kitchen, waitress and manager. I've worked at two restaurants owned by the same people, but managed by many. I've worked with hundreds of people, most who didn't last long. I've gone from not knowing what a martini was to serving hundreds of them on the weekends. I've been stiffed on bills, yelled at, and made to feel like a fool, but I've also been complimented and rewarded.

I love my job. It is my PROFESSION. My CHOSEN PROFESSION. Yes, I have a college degree. Yes, I could be a teacher. Yes, I am a mom. But I have chosen to be a waitress. And I'm good at it. I cannot imagine doing very many other things right now in my life. It's the perfect job. I get to spend so much time with my kids, not pay for daycare and also make great money. There is not another job out there like this. I do not know why I feel the need to defend my job, profession, career. Sometimes a table will ask "Did you go to Hope" or "Do you go to one of the local colleges?" Why do I almost always answer "I have my teaching degree, but have chosen to stay home with my kids and waitress part-time." Why is the teaching degree important? It's not right now. But I feel that people in the service industry are looked at more and more like servants, not like sucessful human beings (and I am successful!). Waitresses are being expected more and more to get, get, get for the guests who are becoming more and more ungrateful every day. Yes, there are bad servers out there, but I'm not one of them. I love my job, but I also realize why a lot of people don't make careers out of the restaurant business. But

I have. And I'm happy. Happy Anniversary to me!

Let's change gears, shall we! Thank you, thank you for the advice on things to do to keep the kids busy in the car! If you didn't read all the comments that I received, go back up and read the one from my friend, Rene'. She's a comedian, isn't she?

The kids had their pictures taken by Selena Monday night. Though we haven't seen them all, she did have some on her blog today. I copied them from there...Selena, let me know if it's not okay to have them on here! The kids were terrible that night...Colin was so ticked and embarrassed, neither of which he EVER gets. Ugh...they were just so difficult! Anyway...here are some cute ones and some outtakes. Isn't Selena amazing?????

Is anyone buying the first one of the angel?? Yeah, right!

Have a great day!