I Should Just Start Bartending

Really, I should. Would I be any good at it? Who gives a shit? (other than the customers and whoever the sad sap that decides to employ me is)

I used to work in restaurants and absolutely hated it. But it kept me skinny! Always on your feet, not to mention the stress, I’m sure the secondhand smoke from the breaks in the alley helped curb my appetite a bit as well.

Oh yeah, and It let me surf. That was a bigger plus than I ever realized.

See when you work at a steakhouse, you work at night. The same goes for a bar. What’s there to do in the morning but surf? Usually, you’re working weekends, Mondays, and/or Tuesdays off. You avoid the crowds. At least, you used to. Seems like it’s always crowded now.

I’ve got a buddy that’s in the mountains down here every time there’s snow on a weekday. Great bartender, this guy, and a powder hound too. Seems like he’s got it dialed.

Makes me wonder why I quit.

Oh yeah. I hated it. Did I mention that?

That stress, that anxiety, getting yelled at by some rube from the midwest who inhaled so much lead as a kid that they’ve got that dead look behind their eyes, while you’re going back and forth to the kitchen and trying your damnedest not to drop anything, yeah fuck man, it starts seeping into your dreams, and then you really can’t escape until you get into the water but even then you’re just thinking about your next shift what time you have to get there and fuck man maybe I should call off today, oh Tommy’s having his birthday party tonight, too bad I can’t make it. it’s Saturday, I’m working. Fuck.

At least I could surf. I think current CT legend Jake Marshall worked as a waiter for a couple of years so that he could get his surf practice in. And look at him now! Surfing cold 2-foot Portugal. For Money! Makes ya think.

I have to wonder if a bar is any better, but I know dealing with drunks is its own can of worms. God forbid I’m the guy who has to cut off that angry bastard who keeps a switchblade in his back pocket. Or that I don’t realize I need to, and … well yeah, that’s a lot to handle. Free drinks though. I should just start bartending.