Crisitunity
Guy: "Sorry you have to spend your night telling people how to use the sink."
Y.E.L.R.A.: "It's what I signed on for. Eh, what can I do?"
I could quit.
So I did.
The story goes like this: Business at the restaurant has been very slow these days. The beginning of the year is not the best time to be working in a restaurant. Plus, it's been raining like the dickens in San Francisco the last month. I also have the theory that the restaurant is seeing its last days. Whatever is causing this drop in business led to the beginning of the end.
I was waiting at the BART station at 24th and Mission last Wednesday (3/29/06) night at about 5:30. I couldn't help but notice that the Daly City bound train wasn't going anywhere. It eventually dawned on me that maybe I should turn off my iPod and listen to the announcements. The announcer told everyone that there was currently a 20 minute delay. Then, it was a 25 minute delay. Then, thirty minutes. Finally, they decided to close the station.
What was I to do? I had to get to work. I decided that I would walk up 24th Street and catch the J train that would take me downtown. Sure, it was a bit slower, but I had to get to work one way or another. I called work to let them know that I would be late.
"Where are you right now?" my manager asked.
"I'm still at the BART Station, but I'm gonna try to take the J," I said.
"Oh, um... just stay at home. I guess no one told you, but we're cutting you down to Friday and Saturdays for right now. Business is a little slow."
"Okay. Do you know how long this is going to last?"
"We don't know right now."
This came to no surprise. I looked at the schedule the week before and noticed that I was only scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Seeing as how I never relied on the schedule (nor knew that it existed) until recently I chose to ignore it. That's my fault.
I wasn't too hurt by all this. I was really starting to hate the job. I hated when people gave me weird looks when they entered the restroom. I hated being ignored when I told people to have a good night. I hated dealing with young, rich, snobby people, especially the Euro Trash. I hated looking at fake boobs and too much makeup. I hated seeing 2-plus-caret engagement rings that made me feel that what I gave my fiance was inadequate.
Two nights a week does not pay the bills. I was really faced with a dilemma. Should I stay until business picks up or should I get another job? That night my fiance and I went for a walk. I noticed a store in the neighborhood was hiring. I made a mental note that I should visit the store in the morning.
And so I did. I got a new job. It's not glamorous, nor does it pay top dollar. It'll suffice for now. If I don't like it I can always get a new job. It's a job, not a career.
I enjoyed my Thursday evening. We went to a Noise Pop show at the Bottom of the Hill. We saw Her Space Holiday, +/-, Loquat, and Pants Pants Pants.
Despite the fact that I was enjoying the evening I was also caught in another dilemma. Will the new job be enough? Should I stay at the restaurant? The new job would allow me to have nights free, while the restaurant would pay more.
I came to a decision on Friday night. I was really not enjoying that night. People seemed a bit more obnoxious than usual. Finally, I saw my general manager at about midnight and told him that I wanted to put my two weeks in. He said that he was okay with that and wanted to talk to me about it Saturday.
Saturday came and I went to work. As soon as came in, the GM spotting me. He said he wanted to talk to me. We went into one of the private dining rooms and we talked.
"So, that was a kind of seredipitous conversation last night," the GM said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm really sorry about this, but we were planning on getting rid of the position all together anyway. I have your check for you."
"So, you don't need me tonight?" I said trying to hold back my glee.
"Yeah. I talked to [the owner] and I told him you put in your two weeks, but he just said to tell you that you don't have to do it anymore."
Well, that's a weird outcome. Did I get fired or did I quit? I don't know. Regardless, it's over. Don't hold animosity towards my GM. He is a really nice guy and easy to talk to. I don't blame him. In fact, I may still be working at the restaurant in a different position. Time will tell. Either way I think I'm covered (*crosses fingers*).
I went home and enjoyed my first Saturday night off in a long time.
So, what is the future of Confessions of a Restroom Attendant? There's not much future. I will keep this up for some time so you can read the archives. However, leftovers may be viewed at Espied in SF. I would really appreciate it if you stopped by. I created the new blog today in efforts to chronicle overheard conversations, graffiti, and other otherwise overlooked things in San Francisco.
Thanks for reading Confessions of a Restroom Attendant.
Mark
Y.E.L.R.A.: "It's what I signed on for. Eh, what can I do?"
I could quit.
So I did.
The story goes like this: Business at the restaurant has been very slow these days. The beginning of the year is not the best time to be working in a restaurant. Plus, it's been raining like the dickens in San Francisco the last month. I also have the theory that the restaurant is seeing its last days. Whatever is causing this drop in business led to the beginning of the end.
I was waiting at the BART station at 24th and Mission last Wednesday (3/29/06) night at about 5:30. I couldn't help but notice that the Daly City bound train wasn't going anywhere. It eventually dawned on me that maybe I should turn off my iPod and listen to the announcements. The announcer told everyone that there was currently a 20 minute delay. Then, it was a 25 minute delay. Then, thirty minutes. Finally, they decided to close the station.
What was I to do? I had to get to work. I decided that I would walk up 24th Street and catch the J train that would take me downtown. Sure, it was a bit slower, but I had to get to work one way or another. I called work to let them know that I would be late.
"Where are you right now?" my manager asked.
"I'm still at the BART Station, but I'm gonna try to take the J," I said.
"Oh, um... just stay at home. I guess no one told you, but we're cutting you down to Friday and Saturdays for right now. Business is a little slow."
"Okay. Do you know how long this is going to last?"
"We don't know right now."
This came to no surprise. I looked at the schedule the week before and noticed that I was only scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Seeing as how I never relied on the schedule (nor knew that it existed) until recently I chose to ignore it. That's my fault.
I wasn't too hurt by all this. I was really starting to hate the job. I hated when people gave me weird looks when they entered the restroom. I hated being ignored when I told people to have a good night. I hated dealing with young, rich, snobby people, especially the Euro Trash. I hated looking at fake boobs and too much makeup. I hated seeing 2-plus-caret engagement rings that made me feel that what I gave my fiance was inadequate.
Two nights a week does not pay the bills. I was really faced with a dilemma. Should I stay until business picks up or should I get another job? That night my fiance and I went for a walk. I noticed a store in the neighborhood was hiring. I made a mental note that I should visit the store in the morning.
And so I did. I got a new job. It's not glamorous, nor does it pay top dollar. It'll suffice for now. If I don't like it I can always get a new job. It's a job, not a career.
I enjoyed my Thursday evening. We went to a Noise Pop show at the Bottom of the Hill. We saw Her Space Holiday, +/-, Loquat, and Pants Pants Pants.
Despite the fact that I was enjoying the evening I was also caught in another dilemma. Will the new job be enough? Should I stay at the restaurant? The new job would allow me to have nights free, while the restaurant would pay more.
I came to a decision on Friday night. I was really not enjoying that night. People seemed a bit more obnoxious than usual. Finally, I saw my general manager at about midnight and told him that I wanted to put my two weeks in. He said that he was okay with that and wanted to talk to me about it Saturday.
Saturday came and I went to work. As soon as came in, the GM spotting me. He said he wanted to talk to me. We went into one of the private dining rooms and we talked.
"So, that was a kind of seredipitous conversation last night," the GM said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm really sorry about this, but we were planning on getting rid of the position all together anyway. I have your check for you."
"So, you don't need me tonight?" I said trying to hold back my glee.
"Yeah. I talked to [the owner] and I told him you put in your two weeks, but he just said to tell you that you don't have to do it anymore."
Well, that's a weird outcome. Did I get fired or did I quit? I don't know. Regardless, it's over. Don't hold animosity towards my GM. He is a really nice guy and easy to talk to. I don't blame him. In fact, I may still be working at the restaurant in a different position. Time will tell. Either way I think I'm covered (*crosses fingers*).
I went home and enjoyed my first Saturday night off in a long time.
So, what is the future of Confessions of a Restroom Attendant? There's not much future. I will keep this up for some time so you can read the archives. However, leftovers may be viewed at Espied in SF. I would really appreciate it if you stopped by. I created the new blog today in efforts to chronicle overheard conversations, graffiti, and other otherwise overlooked things in San Francisco.
Thanks for reading Confessions of a Restroom Attendant.
Mark
posted by t.a.f.k.a.y.e.l.r.a. at 12:27
6 Comments:
goodbye YELRA! We will miss you...when will you be on the prime nbc spot?
-e.las.
Good luck, I'll miss you.
Mark,
I have so enjoyed your blog. Lived in SF for 10 years and recently moved out to Massachusetts. In a way, I knew all along it HAD to be SF you were talking about. It was the way you described the people. Bottom of the Hill is a great place to catch a show, but horrible for finding cabs home. Anyway, any other blog you start, let us know. Would love to keep following along.
Cheers!
oh! I will miss my trip to the bathroom with you. Oh.
Good Luck in your future job, and i will follow you onto your next blog!
Bloody hell.
Where did you go?
Couldn't you now do like "Confessions of a Prep Cook" or "Confessions of a Crossing Guard" or "Confessions of a Welfare Mom"?
I feel dirty.
Hey, my man McDougal is looking for that $30 you owe him. No big deal. Just whenever you get a chance. Maybe by 2 p.m. today?
Great.
Thanks.
Frank here, I help run jobstr.com -- we're a Q&A website where visitors can ask questions about the interesting jobs of others. I realize your blog has been inactive for several years, but on the off-chance you still receive these comments, I wanted to ask: would you be interested in taking some Q&A on jobstr.com about your time as a restroom attendant? You could answer our users' questions at your leisure, and you'd be welcome to include URLs or any other promotional links (twitter, etc) within your Q&A info. If you're game, just email me at the address below -- thanks either way and have a great week.
Best,
Frank
frank@jobstr.com
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