spring has sprung

just left a meeting at my new job. all the servers, hostesses, and bartenders were in attendance, not to mention the managers and owner, who i have taken a particular liking to. when he spoke in front of his audience, he was on stage...reminding me of how my dad lights up when he is in his element coaching swimming. the owner's passion and pride for his work was clearly evident in his words and the way he spoke to the rest of us. i instantly admired and trusted him. i also thought to myself, could i ever command the same attention and admiration? it's funny how admiration can be a two-edged sword: on the one hand you are inspired by a person and want to be more like them; on the other hand, the more admirable qualities they reveal, the less you believe you can ever live-up to them in your lifetime. at least, this is how i feel sometimes when faced with the charisma or achievements that others hold. i wonder if the literature out there has researched this very sentiment...

anyhow, i am very proud of the leadership and camaraderie present at my current job, which makes coming into work that much more rewarding. i have one more test left to complete before i can start picking up shifts--after that i'll be scheduled just like the veterans are. those damn veterans...they always find something wrong with the way my tie is tied. when a certain bartender is working i'll go straight to him before he has a chance to seek me out and assess the dimples of my tie. really, i don't mind the attention because i know they are just looking out for me (and want me to look my best), but i need to take a crash course in the art of tie-tying. i also need to grab a hold of my new fetish with ties in general...silk, cotton, dots, stripes...you name it, i want it! not only was i charting in unfamiliar territory by being up past midnight last night, but i was also perusing the men's section of j.crew's online catalog. three weeks ago you would not have found me desiring a couple thin feet of fabric over a piece of jewelry or article of clothing.


though the first official day of spring is still over a month away, i feel like i am going through a rejuvenation period of my own. i am extremely focused on three things: working, training for volleyball, and dedicating time to this blog (sorry, social-life). when faced with an impulse decision, like wanting to get a french manicure, i try to ask myself whether the outcome will benefit at least one of these. now i could feasibly weasel my way into convincing myself that well-pedicured hands will improve my physical appearance on the job, thus enhancing customer service and earning me more tips...but no, the sensible thing to do would be to either paint my own nails or wait until a fat cat drops a fifty at one of my tables in the future. so for now, i will just have to live with the "sand in my suit" o.p.i. nail polish on my hands...though i know that within two days i will most definitely revert to my go-to "cha-ching cherry".