Just Call Me Alice

 Good morning my friends!  It's a good thing you can't see me this morning because I'm pretty much a wreck.  Just call me Alice ... you know, from the TV series ALICE?  Florence Jean Castleberry played a waitress in that show for several years.  I think she had it much better since she didn't work as hard, or as long as I did last night.  It's going to take at least TWO DAYS to recover from this one!

It started out nice enough ... a little walk with the kid in the hot morning air.  We are currently sitting at 71 degrees at 5 am.  YIKES!

I didn't do much all morning, trying to suck up all the energy I could for this epic night.  Anyone heard of Steve Hilton?  He's running for Governor of this state, which takes lots of money.  He rented the lodge for a fundraiser ... feeding 150 farmer-type folks one of our fabulous prime rib dinners.  

My friend who usually helps out at this kind of thing, asked if I would help too.  SURE ... not even having the slightest clue about how hard this would really be.  Be careful saying YES.  Want your picture with Trump and Reagan?  You could do it here.  

Want to buy hats and T-shirts?  You could do that here too.  Not me really, because I don't buy hats, but my friend does and she gave me this one.  

SO ... I've been a waitress many times before, but this was over the top.  We had five Elks employees and five volunteers from the local political arena who knew nothing ... NOTHING ... about serving, nor did they pay attention to the instructions.

The tables are numbered ... and it's important that you serve them in order.  It didn't help that my friend who was supposed to stand by each table holding her hand up until it was completely served ... was too enamored with the politicos that she wasn't paying much attention either.  I'm sorry, I know politicians are necessary ... I just don't want them in my life.  I'm not impressed, especially when I'm carrying huge plates of food.

Caesar salads got laid down first, with the unexperienced carrying big trays while we served.  Then came the freshly carved prime rib, baked potatoes and roasted vegetables.  Previously I filled 150 cups with sour cream, 170 cups with horseradish (oooweee my nose!) and 150 cups with chopped green onions.  

All they had to do was carry two plates to the appointed tables.  There was sour cream and horseradish all over the floor in the first 60 seconds.  Maybe having these nice 5 people help, wasn't such a good idea after all.  Then there were the folks who wanted well done prime rib.  How did they do that?  A huge pot of boiling au jus. Drop in the piece of meat and 60 seconds later ... WELL DONE.  

Then came the worst part ... standing there waiting while Steve gave his speech.  I have to admit, it was very good.  No teleprompter, no notes ... he just winged it VERY well.  

Dessert was our usual peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.  A slight snafu in the kitchen resulted in one pan not getting cooked.  There was some yelling ... some swearing ... and the boss man stepping in to save the day.  I know from previous experience, that those ovens don't cook evenly at all.  Turn the pans, or put that one in another oven.  All's well that ends well ... it got done and dessert was served to everyone.  

By now I'm slowing down, but with the event over, it was time to clean the tables.  My oh my what a mess!  I have to say however, that everyone cleaned their plates like good boys and girls.  It took us an hour to gather up the dishes to be washed.  The rest will be cleaned up this morning.  I'm smiling because I won't be there!!

Instead I will be enjoying my piece of prime rib ... payment for five hard hours of work.  But WAIT!  WHERE'S MY CONTAINER?  I set it in the kitchen on the side, letting them know it was mine.  I even put my NAME on it.  It was gone ... poof ... disappeared.

Nancy was NOT a happy camper.  Really?  You stole my dinner?  Lucky for me, the Kitchen Boss had cut two pieces for the Head Bartender.  He took one back and I snagged two baked potatoes.  Breakfast in a box!!

Sleep escaped me.  I was so mad that someone actually stole the box with my name on it, that I couldn't sleep most of the night.  Who does that??

I'm supposed to head out to the boat this morning with my sewing machine, but unless I get a shot of sugar, I'm going to be dragging BIG time.  This waitressing work ..... IT'S HARD!!!