Notice

I gave my two weeks' notice at the Radisson last Tuesday night. Working my full-time job and two nights/week (especially Fridays) were getting to be a bit much. I had been thinking about giving the Fridays up in the next month or so. Then they hired Lino, the penultimate asshole restaurant/bar manager. I've adored and worked well with the other managers and staff, so it's not like I've had a problem getting along until now.

One evening one of my regulars out of the blue motioned over to where Lino stood vulture-like and stated, "That guy's an asshole." My sentiments exactly, but I hadn't expressed that. "Why do you say that, Bob? You don't even know him."

Bob replied, "The other managers do work when they're here and help you when you're busy. He stands there and scrutinizes everything you do when he thinks you're not looking, like he can't wait for you to make a mistake." Yup.

When Lino pissed me off even more than usual last Tuesday, I figured that was the time to let it go. Basie's has been a wonderful gift in many ways—my first bartending experience, good people to work with (until now), wonderful customers, etc, etc. But I'm also tired of them making me dress like a man for all practical purposes with black pants, white shirt and a tie (not just me of course—but that's the dress code and I hate it); tired of stuff always being broken—doors falling off hinges, floor tiles missing, bar chairs they just set to the side—that they won't fix or if they do it takes months; and tired of working in a bar that refuses to carry Grey Goose vodka. I'm not even a vodka drinker, but any bar with any class will carry GG and Ketel One. Even though it's supposed to be a high-class place, in many ways it's very divey without having the charm of a true dive.

It was time. I'm excited about having some of my time back. And getting to dress like a girl on Tuesday and Friday nights.