Day 14 of 14 (file under The Shiraz Helps)

I know it doesn’t sound like that much but since getting back from NYC I have worked fourteen days straight which amounts to approximately 126 hours. Not to mention the hour a day I spend rollerblading to and from work. Which incidentally is causing my legs to go from fit to Uber fit. I’ve noticed that my lung capacity is increasing a bit and that I can really push my body now. Yesterday when I got home I opened up a bottle of Shiraz which immediately took the edge off the past fourteen days. I found myself wanting to do nothing more than sit on the couch, but, as there are only 24 hours in the day, I had a smattering of work I had to get done.

This morning my body wanted me to get up at 4:30. I told it, ever so politely, to take a hike and found myself still on the couch at 6am. By that point my body was winning the battle and I pulled myself out of bed and went to get a coffee. In what bizzaro world does 6am constitute sleeping in? Not that it matters; I have a lot to get done today.

Yesterday was another great day at work. Even after fourteen days straight I found that my energy was not diminished, that my capacity for work was still at the same level it was when I started this stretch. It feels wonderful. I mean truly wonderful.

When I arrived at work I had to do my regular set up, which to remind you all, consists of putting in the muffins, starting the bacon and sausage. Turning on the toaster, fryers, oven, flat top and heating lamps. I then fill three blanching pots with water and put them at their various burners. Fill the ice on the cold line. Fill the hot water on the hot line. Set up the cutting boards for both stations (and I have now made it a habit to set up boards for Garde Manger as well) and starting two pots of coffee for the servers. Grabbing six pairs of various sized tongs, two flippers for the flat top, two slotted spoons, and one regular chef spoon. I then refill anything that needs to be topped off (which in theory should be done the night before, but we have spoken about that). Yesterday I had to top off the lettuce, tomatoes, green, red pepper and onion mix, oranges, lettuce and pea shoots. All in all the set up process takes about fifteen minutes. Ten if I am really hustling. About fifteen minutes after that the bacon, sausage and muffins are ready so I get them to their various stages and get ready for the inevitable order that comes in at 7 am.

Sure enough the first order popped at 7 on the nose. But I was ready and excited to start the day. It was a relatively slow day but for a Tuesday it was anything but. I would say that I did approximately 70 orders and along with Garde Manger that was probably double that number.

We operate as a team, if he is in the weeds and needs assistance, without being asked, like a real team member, I jump over and start helping him.

I had some prep to get done yesterday as well so that I didn’t leave anyone in the lurch. Prep included chopping stir fry vegetables (onions, celery, yellow and green zucchini, carrots as well as red and green peppers).

I think one of the things that I really enjoy at the end of my days is the sense of achievement. The feeling that I have accomplished something and done it with a smile. Which also leads me to the next point;

The small things in life are usually those which bring us the greatest joy. You’ll recall that a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I had started writing on the take out containers of members. Usually something that is short and sweet but will definitely impact their day in a positive way (or at least that is the attempt). Yesterday I started writing on many of the boxes so that while I was on my days off they would still have some with writing on them. The messages I wrote yesterday were as follows;

Carpe Diem and I also wrote it in English on a few boxes Seize the Day
The Best Part of Wisdom is The Practice
Love is the Truest Wisdom
The Shadows in our lives are Usually caused by OUR standing in OUR OWN sunlight
Inspiration and Genius – One in the same
Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness

Each morning while I am rollerblading to work I think of little statements that have made me smile over time. Whether it is from Longfellow, Aristotle, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Doesn’t matter, the impact, is what matters. Apart from making a terrific meal that I am preparing for them to take away with them I am also trying to give a little ray of sunshine where there may have been none. As was the case the other day when a server came in and told me about a woman who was having a horrible day, nothing was going right, but when she got home and opened up the bag and saw the message she almost started crying. Coming back the next day she asked who had written it. They informed her (this is now the second time this has happened which only makes me want to do it more) that it was me and that I had gone home for the day. She asked them to relay the message that I had made not only her day or her month, but also her YEAR! A rewarding feeling to be certain.

So it is now 7:42 am. I have the whole day ahead of me. A couple more blog posts to come. I am also working on some writing for a friend of mine resident in NYC at the moment. Exciting times. I am also cleaning up my iTunes today. I started the day with 6000 songs amounting to almost nineteen days of continuous music. Today I am getting rid of some of the crap. Time consuming but necessary to make way for more great music to be added.

As I said at the beginning of this post. The Shiraz Helps. And it sure did last night. Today I am fresh, alive and filled with the wonder of where this day will lead. I hope the same is true for you.

T.E Lawrence once said; “All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.”
Are your eyes open? Are you dreaming big and inspired?

A la prochaine

SDM

And it just keeps getting better (file under Wowzer)

I truly hope that everyone knows even half as much joy as I do. I don’t say this to sound like a braggart, instead, I say this, because I made a conscious decision to awaken my own happiness by deciding what I truly wanted to do with my life and then went after it.

What have you done today to realize that long held dream? They say the longest step in a journey of a million miles is the first and I tend to believe them. Whoever they are?

I woke up real early this morning. Somewhere around 3:45am. My body just doesn’t want to let me sleep as I am so insanely excited each and every day to go to work. So I took my time getting ready. Spent some time working on the plan for New York City this weekend. Responded to some emails and got a great email from C about this weekend. It would appear that James Lipton and I (and a few hundred others) are going to get intimate with Seth Macfarlane of Family Guy and American Dad fame. It is an ever so happy accident which reveals, there are no accidents, merely opportunities. Needless to say I am thrilled.

I left the house around 5:40am and did not rollerblade today as the road was slick but I did bring them so I could run a few errands after work. Though still slick it was a great rollerblade home. Possibly because I knew that I now have thirty six hours to myself to get all the things I need to get done before going to NYC.

So I started when I got to work by taking care of the muffins, bacon and sausage. Set up the line and then on to the days prep which as you all know includes getting the specials ready for the day, conceiving of the specials for tomorrow, etc. Naturally my morning regulars were there and happy as could be to see me. Little did they know that I had specially prepared 6 carrot muffins for one of them and had the Health in a Glass ready to go. I got to meet two other regulars this morning who asked; “Well how come I don’t get this kind of service, I’ve been a member for thirty five years.” At this point Mr. S explained that I had just started and explained a bit about my story, where I come from and why I love my job. Bang on in his description by the way. I thanked him for his kind words which were, VERY kind and then found my way back to the kitchen to finish the H.I.A.G.

Today I had to prepare H.I.A.G. for six and the ingredients were; Banana (in case you haven’t noticed my favorite and has been since a child), Mango (another lifelong favourite), Raspberries, Orange Juice and Ice. I call this one Tropic Thunder. When I went out to refill my coffee (Peruvian sunrise and fair trade and organic) I could hear them all loving it. They thanked me profusely. It feels REAL GOOD to be appreciated.

Yesterdays specials went like hotcakes and they had no prep left which means that I sold all of them. The specials today were selling like hotcakes. I did about ten of the pasta and four of the pizza by the time I left.

The specials tomorrow are a Fusilli fagiole with shallots, red beans, red peppers and black olives. While the pizza is a Caprese; Boccini, Tomato and Basil.

I also took pictures of work today and will post them tomorrow. All in all I am truly loving life. I feel honoured and privileged that other people recognize what I am and what I have to offer. In the pursuit of service I have realized my life mission.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Yousuf Karsh (Turkish born Canadian) once said; “I have found that great people do have in common an immense belief in themselves and in their mission. They also have great determination as well as an ability to work hard. At the crucial moment of decision, they draw on their accumulated wisdom. Above all, they have integrity.”

Are you dreaming big and inspired?

A la prochaine

SDM