Stress? What's that?

Good grief! We have a son, leave the restaurant for a few days and everything goes haywire. The walk-in went down which resulted in tossing out the chicken and pork which didn't make it into other fridges. I'm pretty pissed about this because I had called the repair guy over a week ago. He suggested various fixes which while needing to be done (cleaning the coils, etc) didn't solve the problem. Now who the hell pays for the lost goods? Plus one of the ovens has a crappy thermocouple and keeps going out in the middle of service. Or so I'm told. I'm trying to have a little paternity leave.

Another waiter gives notice. This wasn't surprising. She works full-time at a busy breakfast place and her ex-husband (father of at least two of her children) is in an induced coma after being run over by a dump-truck and isn't expected to make it.

Another waiter's house burned to the ground last night. This is the second time this has happened to one of our waiters. She's alright, has a place to stay for a few days, collections of money and goods are being taken up for her and we're going to see if there are any strings we can pull to get her a hotel until the studio she has available to her is ready.

One of my part-time cooks came by today to tell me that his wife has been sleeping with half the town, he's leaving her and needs to take Sunday off to take care of his son. He's trying to be fair, reasonable and rational. I don't know that I would be so composed. He almost broke down a few times and I felt terrible for him, and for his son.

Golden Gate Meat Company forgot to deliver our pork so we're out of pork loin until Friday. Let's see what else... Oh yeah, not only does our son have a touch of jaundice (very common in newborns and nothing to worry about unless it starts increasing) but he has a broken collarbone (again rather common in newborns, evidently 20-25% are born with a collarbone broken. Think about it, you squeeze yourself through that tight a space...). Nothing to be done about the collarbone, it'll heal soon and he'll be fine.

Some of this I could have prevented had I been around and obviously some I couldn't. I am seeing more and more that while the GM thinks of herself as the glue that holds the place together, we're really more like epoxy; resin and hardener and mixing both together is what holds the place up. It's a role I'm usually happy to play, but this week I really could have used a break.

One the bright side, dear friends of ours who have been struggling with medical problems had a transplant yesterday. This puts the other stuff in a very different light. And has made all these situations easier to handle.

So, now off to farmer's market, then the restaurant for a minute, to inject a little resin into the cracks and hope things hold together until Saturday when I return.

Comments

[Tana]

This sounds much like David Lebowitz's plight...Mercury is retrograde, which makes all kinds of snafus with communications, cars, computers, and people. It goes direct on Friday, thank God.

I hope your circle comes back to ease and that you can enjoy your baby boy.

[Joe Fish]

Persevere, haddock! Dozens of people love you and are pulling for you whom you've never even met, imagine what good vibes you get from people who've laid eyes on you.

Remember, it's easy to bypass the thermocouple, especially if you don't have to change temp during service, and babies heal easily.

Breathe deep, and enjoy the moment.
F

[Dr. Biggles]

Hey,

Don't sweat it, it gets easier from here on in.

AHHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHH.

Oh, I'm killing me.

xo

[Molly]

Yikes! Now I feel like a total slacker, I had a baby 5 months ago and I couldn't even keep blogging. And I rarely do the dishes. And I quit my job. Breastfeeding, yeah, I do that! I hear that life only hands you what you can handle, looks so far you are doin it. My advice: sleep with the baby in the bed, don't change a diaper at night unless it's poopy, get some earplugs. Enjoy!

[haddock]

Thanks for the good thoughts and Molly, keep in mind. I didn't actually have the baby nor do I have to produce and dispense his food. You did and you do. It's exhausting I'm sure. And right now he's tiny, immobile and sleeps a lot. We'll see how things go once he's scooting around.

[cedichou]

Haddock: good luck with all the little hardships, you all will come through. Don't hold your breath for the scooting around, you got another 6 month. Molly's advice is very sound: go sleep on the couch, and feed in bed. And have the GM make up her sleep during the day. After 6 weeks, you can give the baby a bottle a day, and give her a break.

[johng]

Cedichou,

Through the magic of the dreaded but indespensible breast pump, I was able to do at least one night feeding for each of our boys, almost from day one. Were it not for that, I'm pretty sure that the boys and I would be spending our Sundays visiting their mom in a padded room.

Hang in there Haddock! It gets better!

BTW if you get a chance watch "Lost in Translation" again. Near the end Bill Murray's character gives the best description of the true nature of parenting that I have ever heard.

[Garrett]

I just read most of the archives. I just stumbled onto your blog. Very well written and throughly enjoyable!

Was also curious as to where and which restaurant you work at.

P.S. Congrats on your son!