Holding the fort.

It was just a really good day. I’m not openning anymore, so my lone 7 AM shift is the only time I get to make an impact on the morning shift. After checking coffees and wiping down the few dirty tables, I decided my first order of business would be fruit cups. It took a bit to finish, as I had to stop now and then to flip coffees and watch Natasha’s ass. I refuse to leave her out to dry.

It’s like I keep pushing myself. The reason I’ve gotten to the point where I am is because Angie kept on top of me. She’s keep giving me things to do. My goal was to do those things before she’d ask. One of those things would be to come up front when I was in the middle of fruit cups or other prepping (like cream cheese). I was switching out coffees, and I swear in the span of 45 seconds there was a line to the door. And of course that’s when Mike wanders out. I say to him, “Yeah, yeah, help Natasha.”

I was sent on a run to two other Paneras to fetch and give stuff. That’s always fun. It was a beautifully hot day. Any warmer and I would have ripped my pants off. Just right.

We buzzed during lunch rush. No massive line to the door, thankfully. Yet, it was obvious every seat in the house was taken. With four drawers out and only three on line, we created a line for food. I wanted to help, but Rolanda only had three orders on his screen, while the salad screen had six orders on it. Thinking back, I could have offered to consolidate so Sonia could help Gladys get caught up on salads.

Maybe next time.

While we were buzzing, I noticed Mike was on the phone and otherwise occupied trying to figure out a problem with one of the credit card machines. At some point, I got a hold of the manager’s card. I decided to hold onto it until Mike was ready to be of some assistance. Suzanne hates it when I have the card, as she’s anal-retentive about associates having it. After all, we’re technically not supposed to hold onto it. But fuck that. I can field most questions any customer has. I keep hearing my name being called by my coworkers, and 99% of the time, I have the answer. Of course that doesn’t have much to do with the card – it’s just the simple fact that I could calm down Natasha on the spot and do a refund for her.

I wonder if Mike realizes I’m the reason nobody pestered him. I’m sure Sam would have gotten asked questions if I wasn’t there, but, whatever. *laughs* OH! A customer came up to me holding his salad and a puzzled look on his face. He said, “Are you a manager?”

Oh, I was so tempted.

But I resisted.

I said no, but I’d see what I could do for him. Or something to that effect. I’m not sure what the hell Sam was thinking when she rung it, but he asked for ceasar dressing on the side of his greek salad, and the receipt didn’t make much sense to me. Or, rather, his salad reflected the receipt, and as a cashier error…

Point is, I instantly told him we’d remake it.

It kills me, the inconsistencies. Is it any wonder I don’t even bother asking for my managers if I can handle it myself? For a while, when we had two managers on during lunch, we’d get told to field questions to them, as opposed to telling line. Fuck that. I went to Gladys and asked her to make me a whole greek to go. No questions asked, she did. The only real issue is that I didn’t get a chance to manager-meal it. Food-cost and all. I don’t think I had the card at that point.

Whatever.

Aside from an unswept bakery floor and crumbs on the table, I had few gripes about what the rest of the cashiers were doing. I saw the pan-up being attended to, which silently made my day. I hate having to bitch at people to do it. So this is why Brandon says I act like I’m the GM. *laughs* And he’s the one that wants to be a shift supervisor!

On top of everything else I do, I’ve been making it a thing to do one run through dining room during lunch rush, cleaning dirty tables, and more importantly, pre-bussing. Who else is going to do all that customer interaction bullshit? *smirks*

After clocking out, I stayed an extra two hours reading through the entire production book. It has sheets on how to make and do everything in the store. Granted, I skimmed through large portions as some things were meant for other stores. The procedure, the way things are “supposed” to be is ridiculous. The book said soups should be out at 8 AM. Buttfuckingnuts! If soups were out that early, it would have a skin an inch thick by the time the first order came! I know our soups are out sometime around 9 – 9:30. I know this because I when I openned I’d want to take my break right after soups came out. ..So I could have soup. *nodnod*

My goal is to memorize things to the point of stupidity. Or, as said to the Cliff I work with, my goal is to show up Scott. GOAT PEPPERS. Yes. GOAT PEPPERS are part of the “zesty peppers” that are on the garden veggie sandwich. Yes. *laughs* COMBO SAUCE IS MAYO/MUSTARD WITH A HINT OF HORSERADISH. Yes.

Goddamn, I gotta get out of there before I get promoted to shift supervisor. I’m going to get an ego trip enough once I’m a Trainer.