Stevens Survey

1. What song describes you right now? “Atlantic”-Keane

2. If you were a type/brand of alcohol, what would you be and why? Bud Light, because their commercials are brilliant.

3. When did you go to bed last night? 11:00pm

4. Preferred brand of bottled water? Any…I’m not a water snob.

5. Favorite photo with you in it? A picture of me, Ben, Erin, and Matt after our last Hickman concert.

6. TV channel you watch the most? SciFi, or USA

7. Favorite style of shoe? Casual tennis shoes

8. Most common color in your wardrobe? Blue and Black

9. Favorite flavor of gum? Tridents Apple Rasberry splash

10. What is your usual breakfast? Whats leftover in the fridge that’s good, or oatmeal

11. Favorite breakfast cereal? Life

12. Domino's, Pizza Hut, or Papa Johns? All of the above for different things

13. Best part of your day? Reading before bed time.

14. What do you do when you're bored? Read, watch random tv. Sometimes a movie, but that’s less frequent now that I don’t get free rentals.

15. McDonald's, Wendy's, or Sonic? McDonalds if I have no money, Wendys for their awesome food, Sonic for their drink options, corn dogs and onion rings

16. Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Harry Rings…

17. Hans Zimmer or James Horner? Zimmer all the way, baby

18. Who's worse- Brittany, Paris, or Lindsay? Why? Can’t…answer…have…to….*vomit*

19. How do you stay awake when driving late at night or when you're really tired? Sun flower seeds, or M&M’s something light for my mouth to do.

20.When was the last nap you had? Must have been last Wednesday before work

21. Favorite gameshow? Used to be the Price is Right. Now…I just don’t know anymore…*sob*

22. Favorite place you've lived? The blue duplexe only because it’s where I spent most of my childhood

23. Josh Grobin or Michael Buble? Bubble…I mean Buble

24. Sci-fi or fantasy? Movies or Books or TV Shows? Actually in everything they are pretty much equal in my sight.

25. If you were to be cooked, which spice would you use on yourself? Nutmeg, because it has the irresistible allure…not that I want to be irresistible…*cough*

26. Would you rather eat your own placenta (or wife's) or lick your firstborn child clean when he/she comes out? Okay, what the heck kind of question is that? There is no way that I am going to answer…but…must…answer…it’s a survey…AGH! Lick firstborn clean! There I said it!

27. Preferred pain reliever? Mmmm…Ibuprofen

28. Favorite kind of juice? Crapple

29. Push-pins or thumbtacks? What’s the difference?

30. Favorite poet? I was conditioned in A.P. English to hate all poets…Please don’t make me break down another poem again!

First Experiences

I am at the point where I am tired of relating this story, but I feel like there are a few blog readers out there that would like to fume at this as much as everyone else.

So heres the deal. On one of my first nights At Bob Evans, I handled a couple that seemed nice enough. Both the man and the woman wanted Coffee and water and the man asked for a slice of Pumpkin pie(man I really want to carve some pumpkins.). Okay, so I was still new at the whole serving on my won thing. Apparently I didn't serve them as well as I could have. I think I forgot the womans water or something and then the pie was cold. Whatever. I apologized and figured that I would never see them again.

Friday night: The same couple comes in and are once again sat in my section. I greet them cheerfully. I ask what I can get them to drink.

Woman: I hope you can get it better than you did last time. You seemed to have problems with my coffee and water.

something to that effect. There was no gentle teasing in her voice showing that last time was forgiven. There was an unhappy malice to her words. My smile faltered for a brief moment, then shot back up. More forced than before.

Me:I'm sorry if there were problems last time. I'll try to get it right this time. Is that going to be all for you?

Man: I'll have the same and piece of Pumpkin pie. Heated, please.

I smile again and tell them I'll get that right out. At this point in the night, I have at least three other tables that I am trying to take care of. I had food and drinks to get out to them because they were first and I was already trying to juggle three tasks in one, so I put the coffee and water on hold for about 60 seconds. I helped my other people and as I made it back to the front to get the couple their coffee and water the shift manager Kathy comes up to me.

Kathy: Have you gotten table 33 their drinks yet?
(table 33 is the couple)
Me:I was just about to.
Kathy(a little distressed): these people are huge Bob Evans Regulars(said like it was a title). They like to get their drinks as soon as they come in before anything else.
Me: oh! I had no idea. I'll get right on it.

I make their drinks, get the man his pie and rush to their table. It couldn't have been 3 minutes since they sat down, and no more than two since I got their drink order. I give them their drinks and pie and with a more confident and natural smile than earlier ask if everything looks okay. The woman looks at me and gives me a sour false smile...

Woman: Oh, we'll see.

My smile falters again and I just nod my head

Me: Okay. Let me know if that pie is warm enough.

The man smiles at me. I go back to the front after checking on my other tables. Kathy looks at my expression of annoyance as I punch in their ticket.

Kathy: Let me take care of them for now.

Me: Gladly!

The incident left me in a little less of a good mood for the next several minutes. Then I got over it and was back to being happy.

Saturday. I was on a roll. Bill had just finished complimenting me on my excellent job at rising to the challenge of the 10's and 20' section. Telling me that he had heard nothing but good things about me all night. About 10 minutes after that in comes a man and a woman. I am punching in a ticket when I hear my name being said by the register. I hear the hostess say "sure, no problem". I look up and see the couple. I watch as Allison sits them in the section farthest from mine. When Allison came up to me I asked if they had asked not to be seated in my section. She nods her head and asks why. I just shrug. Bill, the ASM heard this exchange and looks at me, troubled.

Bill: I'll talk to you about this in a second.

He goes off to greet the couple. At this point, I'm exceedingly glad that they aren't in my section and I almost laugh my head off when Shelly(the girl who's section they got sat in) comes up to me and asks if I can take their table because she is really busy.

Me: Trust me. They don't want me to take them, I don't want to take them. They asked not to be in my section.

Bill comes up.

Bill: What did you do to Jade? Man, she's hammered. I really don't like that woman.

Me: I don't know. She just hates me for some reason. But hey, if she doesn't like me, I'm fine with never having to serve her again.

So I know that her name is Jade, she is drunk and that the ASM doesn't like her. Man am I glad that she hates me. Later Bill tells me that she told him she thinks I'm lazy. Apparently because they like to get their drinks 30 seconds after they come in and are offended if you try to ask them if they want to order before their drinks have been served. DRINKS FIRST DRINKS FIRST DRINKS FIRST!!! If you don't get their coffee and water out to them before they even sit down, you are automatically on their Bob Evans hit list. Whatever. They think I'm lazy because I helped someone before I get their drinks to them. Bill thinks they're full of crap. And besides, Bob Evans Policy # 1 is get hot food out of the window and to it eater. Policy two is greeting a new table. So is I have a table that needs food and another new table that has just been seated, I am going to fill my tray with table ones food and then make a short stop by table two to let them know I ill help them shortly and give them silverware. Mrs. I'll just have coffee and water will have to wait her priority turn.

So a few things. This was my first experience with a really obnoxious customer. I think I handled it well and I really just feel sorry for the woman and very very sorry for her husband.

I am not a mind reader. I am still somewhat new. I had no idea that they were regulars and had to get their drinks on their table before they even decide that they want to come to Bob Evans. And I like Stevens phrase. This woman is "Not Gods gift to Bob Evans" and has no right to treat people like they are worth nothing. Oh! And i never got a tip from her. Not out of any of the three times I served her. Not that I would get a lot out of two coffees and a slice of pie. But whatever. I will never have to deal with her again. And even though I will have bad customers in the future, I'm pretty sure none of them will be bad enough ever ask to not be in my section.

Anyway. Thats life. There you go. My first bad customer. WOOT!

Downdate?

So update.

I am getting better and more confident when it comes to serving. But I still am not making amazing money and that only makes me a little worried. It mostly has to do with the fact that the managers don't want to scare me off and are giving me the slightly easier sections. I had my first 5-top. Not huge, but the most I have had to serve at a time. I think I did rather well, in my opinion. I am getting a long with my co-workers. Though the evening manager, the guy who hired me, has a tendancy to use "colorful metafores" (NAME THAT FILM!) giggle.

Classes are moving on. I can follow the material and that makes me feel good and confident about the semester. Puls I am not insanely bored with the lectures. Another good thing. That was my failing in Ornithology. Though I imagine that my Insect Diversity class is going to get a lot harder. I've already caught a mantis, a walking stick, a non descrpit beetle and a monarch butterfly...oh, and a moth. Not I just have to pin them up. Kirsti thinks that I am a terrible person. I bet if the bug was on her she wouldn't mind.

Oh well, life is getting into a groove and thats the way (uh-huh, uh-huh) I like it (uh-huh, uh-huh).

But there are uncomfortable things too. Why can't anyone feel this way about me? Yay for being vague! I became a master of this my High School Senior Year...ha...

Classes

The first week of classes. Isn't it wonderful? Apart from being really stressed by all the new things I have to learn from work, I get to freak out about all the money I have to spend on books, how I'm going to get from my class in the hospital to my class in LeFevre hall in 10 minutes(a 20 min walk). I also get to wonder whether or not I'm going to be able to attend Institute and One voice. Not a whole lot of happy things right now. I do have a class with Bro. Dr. Bruce Barrett as my professor. Thats kind of fun. And even thought they all seem like they will be pretty hard, all my classes seem pretty interesting so far and not out of my ability range. Wait till I get to Biochem. Eww...

So there was an amazingly happy thing today. It lasted 5 minutes and I am going to share it with you.

"The Return of the 17-year Cicadas"

This is hilarious. Enya to the life of one of the most disgusting bugs (excuse me, "Insects") in existence.

Thats about it really. It's very hot and all my classes are far far away. I have to start working on my own by Friday and that scares me. And I still have to get my books from online, return the ones I spent too much money on, make my first car payment, and prepare a Sunday School lesson.

Breathe, Sarah. Just Breathe.

Oh! Joel's mom is hot!

(That ones for you Erin...good times)

First Week

I have finished my first week working at Bob Evand. Actually, according to their weird system, the week ends on Wednesday and starts on Thursday.

Anyway, monday was dull. Two hours of what they call e-learning. A really boring and only slightly informative computer training program. I like it better than movie gallerys but only because it makes me laugh and it has pictures. It's a little reminicent of those computer programs for kids that we had to do in elementry school. "Press the next button to continue." "Excellent job!" etc.

Tuesday was where I actually got into it. It was quite akward. I had to tail my server, who is quite nice, by the way. And he's really funny. I get the picture of one of those show choir gamer nerds. But only because he likes to belt out the current song playing while he's in the back and he told me that he loves to play computer games. This day was a day of firsts. I got my first tip from a nice elderly couple who heard that I was training. They handed me a tip personally. When people do this I am allowed to accept it. I also had my first big embarassing moment. We had a 25 top table(another first) and I was trying to get h2o to all these people. I had 10 glasses of water on a tray. I leaned over to get a woman her water and my tray tipped. I got cold ice water all over the back of this nice little old lady. She was nice about it. But I just know that my face was flaming. One of the other servers, Kim, said it's better for that to happen when your new and you have an excuse than later when you feel even more stupid. I also served my first people all on my own. Sadly I didn't get their tip. Anyway it was a very long day.

Wednesday was not as exciting. I spent 4 hours learning more markings and more about the menu.

Thursday I served a few tables on my own when it was slow. It was a farily busy day of following Spence and taking orders along side him.

Friday was much of the same as well as going over some tests. It was kind of slow.

And Saturday was me going over even more tests. Fun Stuff.

It's a lot to take in and I'm supposed to be taking my own tables this friday. I'm a little nervous. But I also feel that I will do better once I can learn on my own from my own mistakes. Having someone constantly looking over your shoulder can have it's advantages. But I feel that I need to start flying solo in order for me to get the hang of things as well as start making my own money.

Exciting.

I know many of you server siblings have already given me tips. But if you have anymore I am open to anything to make things move a little smother and make me more money. Spence has already given my several little ideas that will make the customer happier and tip better.

Well, thats about it. I cant wait till I get out of the insecure phase and into the "I know I can do this on my own" phase.

If you're really interested

Here are the pictures of my journal entries on my road trip. Read if you are really interested. That way I don't have to tell any of you avid readers (all 3 1/2 of you) the whole story.
Click on the the pictures to see them bigger. Sorry that my handwriting is so terrible.
This is a rare look into a me that I don't usually post online. Sometimes that me gets out there. These entris may also seem a little boring. I tend to blaze through big events because I hate spending hours writing. It causes my wrists to hurt.

Anyway.

The last four pages are what I put in my journal in the way of a scrapbook...sort of. Memories that I wanted to get out there right away instead of tossing them into a bin to be sorted later.

Catching Up

I feel horrible that it has been so long (please don't hate me Emily). I had full intentions of typing a wonderfully lengthy entry after my road trip, but things just sort of took off and the free time that I've had has been dedicated to friends and relxaing a bit. I need to make my sentences shorter. I have decided this.

Lets start with the most rescent events in my life.

1. I have a new job. It's official. I am going to work at Bob Evans. I wish that I could say that I am excited, but who gets excited for work? Especially when it is a job that you are not famaliar with. But it will be good for me and once I get on the floor I hope to be making at least a little more money that I was at Movie Gallery. Even though I am not excited, I am extremly happy to be gone from the Gallery. I've been there long enough to realize that I was neer getting paid enough to do all that I did for that place. I am greally going to miss the free rentals though.

2. I have a new car!! This is significantly more exciting that the last one. It took a lot of paperwork and jumping through hoops to make it officially mine. This includes taking out a loan which is something completly new to me. But I now have a means of transportation that is all my own!! In my excessive merdlyness, I have dubbed him Sirius Black. Go ahead and laugh. I feel no shame.
3. Steven is married!! I have another sister! Exciting, yet still a little weird. My brother has a wife. Crazy. It was a good time to spend with family.

4. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows was one of the most amazing books I have ever read! It was all that I wanted and more. And though there is a sense of emptiness, I also feel complete. It would be great to have mre books, but we most deffinatly do not want a repeat of the Wheel of Time Series or all of the contunious Star Wars series containing the main characters who should really be dead by now. I'm happy with the ending and the fact that she is going to write an enciclopedia is enough for me. It was so much fun dressing up this time and getting swept away in the hype! I love being obsessed enough to do things like this. Here are links to some pictures, courtsey of Emilys Blog.

Ben and Me

Bellatrix

Our Order of the Phoenix. Or D.A. if you want.

Nymphadora

Me and Ben Again He was the first one to get his book.

Luna "Loony" Lovegood

Harry aka Kyle

The gang reading our hearts out!



5. I had a wonderful time on my road trip to Michigan with Juli. That in itself will take a full entry to cover and will probably happen soon. I just don't have the energy to do it at this time. I'll Porbably a Facebook album that I will put up a link for (okay, I just did). If you really care to hear about the epic tale of love, loss and triumph, call me. You all have my number.

Well, thats about it for now. Life is rolling on. Look for my next entry where I will put pictures of my entries for my road trip if you really desire to read them.

ME OUT!