What A Blast!!

Okay, so today I trained in another restaurant with real customers.  Ray and Sean were great and they took the time to show me their computer system, how they set up, and it really helped me out a lot! 

Tomorrow is the "dry run" for the newly renovated restaurant with friends and family only.  Then we open for real Tuesday!

Who Knew?

For the first time in my life I have allowed my blonde hair and large breasts to benefit me, rather than try to pretend they don't exist.

It turns out that even though they are the reason I was hired to help open a new restaurant, it will be my brain that helps me to be fast, efficient, and make a lot of money ... eventually.

I have also gotten a lot of calls and had a few interviews in just one week of handing out resumes.

Getting Noticed

My boyfriend had a great, yet uncomfortable idea.  "Put your picture on your resume so they can see you."  I found out that Craig's List is full of job listings for bartenders and servers and I sent about 12 to 15 by email and hand delivered another 6 or more. 

After having several years of bad job interviews and applying for jobs I didn't really want, it is nice to suddenly have several calls and messages asking for interviews.

This week I start training for one of these jobs and I am really excited about the potential.

Not So Jazzy

After puttimg out a lot of resume's I got a call from a restauranteur needing a bartender for his high end Creole restaurant.    What a great first opportunity!  After two nights found out that he is barely making it, chef and servers are not getting paid and no alcohol behind the bar.  BUT I have something to add to my resume'!  Not sure I'm going back.  LOL

What an Experience!

I spent the last two weeks in bartending school.  Over forty hours learning around 140 drinks and how to create them quickly and accurately.  The laws surrounding the serving of alcohol surprised me a little and I wonder now why it isn't a requirement to be certified to serve alcohol.
Bartenders tend not to be drinkers and if you are responsible and dependable you can get some good jobs.  However, having just graduated I have to work anywhere that will hire me so I can post experience on a resume!

3 Days Down

Okay, so I signed up to attend bartending school.  A friend made a comment over lunch one day that when his wife took her job with the State and stopped bartending she took a pretty big pay cut. 

So I don't have kids and my boyfriend just finished this class and he has encouraged me to do something fun.  So far I love it! 

I read a message board somewhere online and it was posted that any monkey can pour drinks.  Well I can say that this person has no idea!

Wow ... No Dental Insurance

How do you do this knowing you now need a root canal and other dental work for a few thousand dollars.  It makes you really feel for those with families who no longer have benefits and still need to take care of their health times 2, 3, 4 and 5. 

Now the wheels are turning.  I need to make something work fast and think outside the lines that had always been drawn for me.

The Book of Careers

A few months ago I bought a book listing careers by various categories including pay scales, personality types, and demand for that job. 

So how do you finish school or training in a specialized area without a way to pay for it knowing if you work less hours to make room for the classes you can't pay your monthly expenses?

How to do this after 40 knowing you need a lot of money fast and legally.

You think, listen, and consider all possible options.

Working From Home

I have been able to work from my home since 2008 through a company called Arise.  www.arise.com

You pay to do some basic testing and you pay to be trained to work for major companies, but you are self-employed, work your own hours, your own schedule and it is and has been a great experience. 

How I Got Here

I was raised in a very rural area and in the 80s it was still a new idea for women to blaze a trail and it was suggested that I become a great secretary.  I felt like I could do more, but had no idea how.  College was never discussed.

I went to cosmetology school and thought it might be a great way to have a flexible job and put myself through college.  I had allergies to a lot of the products and chemicals, so that didn't work out as well as I had hoped.

Married at 25, started attending a community college, then a private university before ending my marriage and moving out of the state at 31.  I had about 27 hours remaining for my degree in Business Administration when I was presented with the opportunity to build a business, but it required long hours and no way to finish my degree.  I had assumed I would finish in just a couple of short years.

I was doing well, at the top of my game and blazing trails before pairing up with someone I new little about.  I had never been exposed to drugs and after 7 years of being ignorant, then learning a little more than I ever wanted to know about cocaine and addictions I finally had to sell my practice to pay for the damage my "partner's" addiction had caused.

Worked from home through a company providing online customer service for a few years so I could reset my brain.  No money to finish school, and more bills than I had sense.

So, now, after having been in a supportive relationship for a year I have decided it is time to look at other options that I would never consider before.  This time I want flexibility, fun and laughs.

Follow me.  Laugh with me.