Progress
So, I walked out of my waitressing job on Friday night.
Umm, for the record, this is SO not like me, I have never walked out of a job before, and I don't plan on doing it anytime in the future. But I think my frustration with the bar had been building up. I was the oldest waitress there, and the management didn't give a crap about their employees, and it's just so destructive to work in a bar -- you smoke and drink way too much, get used to people treating you like crap, etc.
And, at any rate, I was treated in an extremely rude, condescending way by my manager Friday evening. I won't go into gory details (partially because the whole fiasco started over a very petty thing and I'm a little embarrassed...), but my manager ended up yelling at me, calling me a lazy ass, and then telling me (in his own words) to "chill out or walk out." So, I chose walk out. And that I did.
I know I really need that money, and I know it's really irresponsible to walk out when I had customers (!) and there were only two other waitresses there....but I can find another part time job, one that I don't dread going to. Arrgh.
Well.
Do you want to see some Polka Purl Dots?
My hand is there for comparison. Moving S L O W L Y.
Here's a picture of the whole thing with one of my skeins of Svale for comparison. It's very, very wide and not very tall. But it's going to be cute, I promise, if I can make myself stick with it. I have discovered through this project that I am a very impatient knitter.
I am posting from the comfort of my little office at home on my fancy new cable internet connection....oh, s'marvelous. How did I ever survive without it? Jacob can't even hold a conversation anymore, he's just constantly thinking about what he can download next with the speedy internet.
Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. I'm about to vacuum up the carpet freshener and then see if Leslie and L'il Frankie can come out to play with me and Miss Bella. For those of you who asked, Frankie is a chihuahua/ yorkie mix. She is a SCHMOO.
Comments (30)
Way to go, Carrie. I've never had the balls to walk out of a shitty job like you did. Yeah, so the others had to cover for you, but your manager sounds like he was WAY out of line. Congrats for doing what millions of people fantasize about doing every day.
I think this deserves a drink and a rousing chorus of Johnny Paycheck's classic "Take this Job and Shove It!"
Posted by eponymous | July 29, 2004 3:34 PM
Hey! I LOVE lil frankie - soooo cute! Sorry about the bar job...still envisioning clip from Office Space where Jennifer Aniston flicks off her mgr..hee hee...not enough flair? Hope to see you this weekend...PS- the dude who made Family Guy is on TOON network at 11:00pm all this week..introducing his fave episodes. Love it!
Posted by family makeover | July 28, 2004 4:08 PM
Damn, you lived the waitressing dream. For so long while I waited tables, I just thought about doing it. Good for you for going! You deserve better.
Posted by Rachael | July 28, 2004 7:04 AM
hey there--i agree with lynn about the mary kay consultant thing. you're so personable -- you would be great! and when you're good with people and already love the product it's super easy to make good money! (i'm also a consultant, but shy with the potential customers, so i don't try very hard. i do have a few regular customers, though and make lovely spending moolah!)
i can imagine walking out felt great!! don't worry about it too much!
Posted by cheryl | July 27, 2004 11:19 PM
Good for you, walking out on your manager. You showed integrity and self-respect, something which the guy never had. As for another part-time job, how about interning at a design agency? The pay isn't great, but it's where you're headed...
PPD looks good; that's a great pink, by the way.
Posted by MJ | July 27, 2004 10:53 AM
Good for you for sticking up for yourself. I have had the same experience with Bartending...you will have no problems finding something new and BETTER...
Frankie is a SCHMOO! Oh I want a little one! sigh. I needed my Schmoo fix :)
I love the color of Polka...very tropicale!
Posted by heather | July 27, 2004 9:33 AM
Very proud of yoou for walking out of your job. I think sometimes we are too concerned with so-called obligations when we just really need to put our well being first! Walking out of a job DOES feel great...i did it years ago.
The PPD is coming along very nicely :)
Posted by Stacey | July 27, 2004 12:53 AM
Another "congratulations on walking out of your job." I bet you felt absolutely fabulous as you walked out of there!
Well done and good luck with finding something so much better!
Posted by pipstar | July 26, 2004 8:55 PM
There may be a job at the Knits End diner for you. Maisy is getting kind of tired of pouring the coffee as the years pile up. ;) I waitressed for a year when I was 18. I was not so good at the multi-tasking but I made an excellent hostess. You know what? It still sucked. If I can give one piece of advice it would be to think hard about your interests and your skills and what your perfect job would be. Then go for it. The sky really is the limit, you only need to believe in yourself. Polka Dot Purls is going to be *so* you!
Posted by Kerstin | July 26, 2004 6:08 PM
sorry to hear about your job, but you're sure to find something better, much better.
polka purl pots is looking great! love the color and can't wait to see it. looks like you have done a lot considering how wide it is. lil frankie is just adorable!
take care!
Posted by froggy | July 26, 2004 5:22 PM
I just gave my two weeks at the restaurant that I'm working at now!! For anyone reading this, reastaurants are not the place to work :) i support your decision *thumbs up*
Posted by nicole | July 26, 2004 3:17 PM
Good for you, you have done what you need to do. Great. Good luck with you job hunting :)
Posted by Eva | July 26, 2004 2:35 PM
Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself. Good for you!
I love the Polka dot pearls. It may take long now but doesn't that mean less finishing?
Posted by elizabeth | July 26, 2004 2:23 PM
It is TERRIBLE for your health - mental and physical - to work in a bar. If you're going to waitress, try to find a schmancy high-end place that serves alcohol but isn't covered in slobs. Yuck! Polka Purl Dots is looking good. Projects always tend to drag if there are fewer pieces, but at least there will be less sewing at the end.
Posted by Julia | July 26, 2004 12:37 PM
Good for you. I'll tell you how I think about it - the part-time second job is a lot of hassle, but one of its few good qualities is the fact that it's at least supposedly totally quittable. It helps just to think of it that way, but dammit somebody has to actually do it sometimes.
Now you never have to look at another chicken wing unless it's by choice.
Posted by karen | July 26, 2004 12:25 PM
Woohoo for walking out! Managers who disrespect their people deserve that, for certain!!
Posted by Giao | July 26, 2004 11:57 AM
Sometimes, you just have to do what you just have to do.
What about becoming a MK Beauty Consultant? I'm sure your current Consultant would be thrilled if you signed on under her (I'm guessing the link on your blog is the link to your Consultant's site)! Not only would you get your MK at wholesale, but you can make a lot without working all that much! I'm a consultant in addition to having a full-time engineering job, and I've had a fantastic time at it! ...and, I still have time to knit.
Posted by Lynn | July 26, 2004 10:59 AM
Good for you on walking out. If more people did it, maybe conditions would improve.
Posted by mac | July 26, 2004 10:06 AM
Yay for walking out! You will find something else. Years ago when I was a single mother, I worked for a guy that would have made Atilla the Hun look like roommate material. To give you a glimpse of his sterling personality, when my mother died he said..."Does this mean you will be off work?" (Well gee, I guess not if you don't mind a casket and crowds of people in the hallway). I worked for him for over 4 years (having been well-trained to NEVER quit). Finally I got fed up one day and walked out. Here I was a single mother, the sole support of my world. I kept waiting for the terror to start, but all I felt was immense relief and dismay that it took me so long. Yes, I found another job and you will too!
Posted by Bliss | July 26, 2004 9:54 AM
Ohhh, I am so proud of you! You're right, you will find another job--and a better one, because you know what you're worth and how you deserve to be treated.
Mazel tov on the cable modem. I hear ya, sister! I still delight in talking on the phone and saying, "Oh, wait, let me just look that up..." Heh.
PPD is BEAUTIFUL.
Posted by Em | July 26, 2004 7:58 AM
Best to keep your dignity rather than keep a bad job, Carrie. You'll find other work; don't sweat it. xo
Posted by alison | July 26, 2004 2:05 AM
Another "good for you" post. I worked a horrible job and was treated like sh*t for two years before I quit, and it still really bothers me. I start a new job that seems like a great job, and just look for the sociopaths to start rollin' in.
Congrats on all the wonderful schmoo-age goin' on.
Posted by spaazlicious | July 26, 2004 1:12 AM
GOOD FOR YOU!!! Good for you for having the self worth to walk out of that mess.. I cannot tell you how much regret I feel even 12 years after the fact for not doing similar!!! Somethings are JUST NOT worth it, and you are smart enough to KNOW it :)
Posted by amy | July 25, 2004 11:53 PM
Yay Carrie! Yay leaving crappy jobs!
You go honey! Waiting tables is bad enough without a**hole managers. I'm sure wonderful you will find something else to supplement the kntting addiction sometime soon.
Posted by Ellen B. | July 25, 2004 9:24 PM
Good for you - no need to take abuse from anyone! Didn't Athens go no smoking in restaurants and bars recently? I love the sweater.
Posted by Jane | July 25, 2004 8:07 PM
I'm so glad you walked out of that place. They were NOT nice to you. L'il Frankie is a schmoo, and your sweater looks so good!! Yay for fast internet. We miss you at the beach!
LET'S GO, LET'S GO CARRIE! (That's my cheerleading camp experience coming back to haunt me.)
Posted by Cathy | July 25, 2004 7:03 PM
Good for you for quitting! I sort of walked out of a waitressing job a few summers ago - one can't understand how badly those managers and cooks and certain waitstaffers treat a person until one actually works there. Life's too short - there's no need to be completely miserable at work. Enjoy a little bit of newly earned free time. :)
Posted by Sarah C. | July 25, 2004 6:27 PM
I'm so jealous--it's always been my dream to just once walk out of a job. You're my hero :)
Posted by Amanda | July 25, 2004 4:43 PM
Good for you, sister. NO job is worth being treated poorly. You did what you had to.
The polka purls are totally coming along. You will get faster as you go along! Great color!
Posted by jenny | July 25, 2004 3:54 PM
I am sorry about the mess with your (ex) job! You do not need to be treated like that... With your experience, I am sure you will find something new!
I need that dog- I have been wanting a Yorkie for a while now but a yorkie/ chihuahua mix? That is so awesome.
The knitting looks great- it will be awesome when you are done and can see how fine the knit is. Myself, I love knitting with smaller needles, just like the look of it better when it is finished...
I don't know how you managed to get along without a cable connection at home for his long- I would have gone nuts! That's why I am glad that I live with a computer nut! Now you just need wireless. :)
Posted by frecklegirl | July 25, 2004 2:58 PM