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November 21, 2003

Brunching Ladies

A couple of Sundays ago, I was invited to join a group of ladies for lunch. We were linked in some form or fashion by the host, a friend I used to work with a couple of years ago. The nine of us met at a cute little Cajun restaurant in Old Town, Virginia called Cafe Marianna. The warm tiny delicately sweet bicuits served prior to giving our orders, won everyone immediately. Our waitress was a bit callous and not the most attentative, but overall, everyone seemed to enjoy their food. I opted for a crab and crawfish cake which was a rather disappointing fried paste consisting mainly of filler, unnaturally colored red. The cole slaw was dripping with mayonnaise, a little too rich to accompany fried food. However, most of my dining companions had opted for real brunch food, consisting mainly of poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. While there appeared to be no Cajun influence on the dish, it at least appeared consistent across the table.

At the end of the meal, all but a couple of pulled out our $20 bills, the other two women were gracious enough to have exact change for their meal and tip. Once all of the money was collected, I counted and recounted and recounted again the total. The bill came to about $125 and we had collected over $160, more than enough to cover the bill and tip. But somewhere between us counting the money and the money getting into the cash register, $20 disappeared.

I had asked for change for a $10 and when the waitress handed me the bill fold with the change, she commented that the bill did not include tip. Well, being literate women in our 30's we clearly were able to see that and had given her a $27 and change tip. But as I said earlier, a $20 bill, the meat of her tip, had mysteriously disappeared. Now she was not a good waitress, but we certainly had no plans to undertip her.

But then she started to yell at us. In the middle of the restaurant she yelled at us with full support of her manager who she claimed had counted the money himself. All I know is that those new $20's stick together and somone on their end didn't count correctly. She refused the money that was left on the table, which was only a portion of her tip. What started as a pleasant meal with new friends ended in a very ugly fashion. A few of us got up from the table and walked next door to the antique shop to avoid further discomfort and embarrassment. What I find interesting how the situation is that regardless of what happened to the exra money, we had paid our bill in full. No waitress or anyone should feel they have the right to publicly embarrass a table full of customers because she felt she was slighted on her tip. All she accomplished was gaining at a minimum 9 women who will never go back to the restaurant and probably 100 people who will never set foot there because of what they heard from these nine women.

Posted by kafi at 11:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 13, 2003

Chanel Knock Offs

She looked contrived with her straightened blond hair and dark roots in her pink tweed suit. Classic or not, tweed suits do a disservice to anyone under 30.

Posted by kafi at 12:32 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 11, 2003

Rejuvenated

Day four of a long weekend and I have finally relaxed. Too many home decorating shows have convinced me that there is little hope for my apartment. The space is awkward and oblong and not conducive to practicing yoga. That is - until now. By opening the space and using some IKEA tricks, I now have a functional space for watching TV, practicing yoga and working on the laptop. I gave up a kitchen table that was only used to hold mail and flowers. And while the space isn't perfect, it is now more perfect for me. Finally I can do a sun salutation without knocking anything on the floor.

Posted by kafi at 08:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 10, 2003

Crossroads

How much do you have to let go, to grab on to something else? That's the million dollar question of the day.

Posted by kafi at 11:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 06, 2003

Neglect

It's been too long since I have last written. Unfortunately with my new position at work, my attempt at training for a race and a food writing class that has convinced me that I do not want to be a food writer. I love food and I am okay with the writing part, it is just that this class took ALL of the glamour out of it. Who knows though, I still have a few classes yet. Maybe something will change my mind.

So we had a goodbye lunch for my old manager today. It seemed rather ineffective though. I mean, does the number of people who show up represent how well regarded you were in the office? Nine times out of ten you don't even get an opportunity to speak to that person during the lunch. I guess it is just an act of goodwill. I think I've come up with a better, more efficient way of sending off a fellow co-worker. Have a reception. Set aside a conference room for an hour or so and bring in food, just as at any other reception and set up two comfortable chairs. It would work almost like an interview or speed dating. You get one or two minutes with the person to tell them how much you enjoyed working with them, and when your time is up, the next person gets their turn. That way, everyone is guaranteed a chance to say goodbye. And with food at the gathering, it still be called a "lunch" or at the very least, a reception. Just an idea. I think it would work out well. We'll see, the next time someone else leaves the department.

Posted by kafi at 05:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack