Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope it's awesome, whatever you're doing!

A bowl of ice cream solves a lot of problems

It's been a trying week. I lost my ATM card Monday morning--fortunately, I was able to cancel the account before any money disappeared, but it still screwed up my banking abilities for the week. Then the plumbing in our downstairs bathroom burst, flooding the downstairs neighbor, so we've had plumbers traipsing in and out of the apartment for two days. My 12-year-old stepson is visiting, and so far I don't think he's consumed anything besides dry Cheerios and hot dogs. Maybe a bowl of spaghetti. Definitely anything not, you know, either junk food or a carb.

And I've been working all week, and by that, I mean ALL WEEK. I finally broke down and scheduled myself a massage for this afternoon, because my shoulders are so tight that they're starting to weirdly tingle all the time. I've been having an ongoing dispute with my former landlord about the return of our deposit, and I finally got resolution (sort of); he returned $450 out of the $1000 he owed us. It's a long story. I'm happy just to see any money.

I'm really looking forward to a) a week off, b) seeing my friends and family next week, and c) sitting down. A lot. Sitting is my favorite.

This morning I got up, looked at the laundry, packing, and cleaning that needed to be done, and instead headed directly into the bathroom and took a long, boiling hot bubble bath. Then I ate a ginormous bacon egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast, followed by a ginormous bowl of ice cream.

I'm all ready for my massage.

Gracie's, Providence, RI

One of our Christmas presents was a gift certificate to Gracie's, a top restaurant in Providence. It had been a while since we'd had a real night out, just the two of us, having dinner, no one working. 

I'm happy to say it was a great meal. I let them know I was a fellow restaurant worker, on a rare night off, and they lavished me with a good table, an extra course, and a super-attentive staff. And I came away with the inspiration for pickled cranberries.

We got the full-bore seven-course tasting menu, plus wine pairings. (I didn't catch the wine names for the first three courses; sorry.)

First course: Olive-oil poached tuna with capers.

Second course: gnocchi with foraged mushrooms and rabbit confit.

Third course: foie gras! with sugar pumpkin and pickled cranberries.

Fourth course: bacon-wrapped monkfish with crispy leeks. Wine: Domaine Eden Pinot Noir.

Fifth course (no picture): sweetbreads, with quail egg and truffle reduction. Wine: Kermit Lynch Cote du Rhone.

Sixth course: duck, with duck liver and duck heart. Wine: Beronia Rioja.

Seventh course: cheese! With white port! I hadn't had white port in forever. I ran right out and bought some.

Eighth course: root cake (carrots, parsnips, beets) with a Broadbent Rainwater Mediera.

Yes, that was eight courses on a seven-course menu. Every once in a while, working in a restaurant pays off. 

The service and the food were all exceptional. I totally recommend it. 

Turkey! And another sprint to Christmas

Isn't that a pretty turkey? I made my holiday dinner last night, complete with turkey, stuffing, taters, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato pie.

Why did I do that last night, you ask? Instead of, say, next week when my stepson will be here and it will be closer to Christmas?

Because last night was the last night I'll have off between now and Christmas. I'm working every night, starting tonight, until we leave to go to Virginia on Christmas morning. Yes, even Monday, because the restaurant has a special party that night.

That means two things: 1. Lots of money, 2. Lots of exhaustion. Plus I won't really see my stepson for the week he's here, because I'll be working constantly. But that's okay; I'll make lots of money, and I'll see him for the week that we're on vacation, in Virginia.

All the Christmas shopping is done, all my errands are run, all that's left is to work a lot and do laundry periodically so I have something to wear to work. I have a new supply of all-black work clothes, thanks to an Old Navy sale, I have a pair of shoes specially calibrated for restaurant workers, my back is killing me all the time but I can't do anything about that.

More news: went to the liquor store yesterday and bought a bunch of stuff. Working in a restaurant with a craft cocktail program will do wonders for my home bar--I get so many ideas, and I'm being exposed to all these crazy brands I never knew of before--but it won't be so great for my wallet, or my liver.

I've decided that as soon as we're rich and famous, I'm hiring a housekeeper. And getting a massage every week.

I'm sure this last ten-day stretch between now and Christmas will fly by, since I'll be working all the time. If you don't hear from me between now and then, that's why. Besides, my blog posts would probably read something like "Ugh. My feet hurt. My back hurts. I only got five hours of sleep last night. Rinse and repeat."

Still better than being a corporate drone, though.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Workin' hard for the money, part 2

I forgot when I did the budget for this month that it's December--which is bad, in a sense, because there are all those Christmas expenses. But it's also good, because I now work in a restaurant.

December is a great month for people in the service industry. Everybody eats out a lot and everybody tips well. This past weekend was a good one, tip-wise--I busted my ass, and was running on fumes by Sunday night, but for once the money was really worth it.

Bitching about how my feet hurt all the time aside, I actually really like working in a restaurant again. I like the food, the cocktails, the energy, the passion. I come home with all sorts of food and beverage ideas (though, granted, I'm usually too tired to do anything about them right away), and I like the weirdos that are drawn to restaurant work.

I got a different temp job, too, this one right downtown in a law firm. It's just three days a week, 9 to 1, within walking distance, so I can bring in some extra money without killing myself by literally working all the time.

So I'm working, finishing up Christmas shopping, and keeping my fingers crossed that we'll end the month in the black. If tips continue to be good, and nothing else unexpected happens, we should be just fine.