Pretty quiet. But not pretty at all!

I've been pretty quiet lately. I've hardly done any writing. This is because I'm on auto-pilot.

After working the last 55 consecutive days, without a day off, I'm basically a robot. A robot with deteriorating looks and deteriorating ability to function.

A regular customer, a person I would even consider a friend, summed it up the other day like this: "Cath... Aw, you look like crap. I mean, you'll bounce back, but how much more of this can you take?"

All I heard was "you'll bounce back" and I'm thinking.... I usually CAN, but what if I CAN'T this time? What if there is no amount of $200 eye cream and night serum that will ever restore my outer glow? Lord knows at this point, the inner "glow" is pretty much gone.

So, I agree, 55 days is not healthy. Not a good idea. I wouldn't recommend it.  But truthfully, days 35-45 were the hardest. I was still hoping for a day off at that point. Now, I've pretty much given up wanting/hoping/expecting/planning for a day off, and that, frankly, that has made it easier. Now that I've resigned myself to the fact that each day the sun rises and sets, I must attend to the restaurant... I'm ok with it. I know what I need to do.

Failure simply isn't an option. Either is getting sick. On that note, I'd highly recommend Cold-FX and washing your hands 800 times a day. It works. Seriously.

Now some days are easier than others. And an 8 hour day feels like a cake walk. It's practically a day off kind of feeling. Even the kids are in shock and awe if I'm home in daylight. Mom... you're home??? It's not, "Mom... you're home!!!" It's said with a much more suspicious and "what's wrong" kind of tone.

Mondays used to be my favourite day. Kind of a slack day, meant for cleaning and getting caught up at work. And now, the last 2 Mondays have been complete and total, unpredictable, you-would-not-believe-me-if-I-told-you kind of gong show days. I'm pretty much scared of Mondays now. So I think I will just stick to referring to days of the week, by their numbers. As in, hey.... happy day 56.

So I'm just going to stop typing now and pretty much shut up. I'm sure we both agree this isn't pretty.

Don't worry.... I'll bounce back. Maybe.

Back in the groove

Some things just feel right. 

I like a good groove. I like to feel like I'm firing on all cylinders and enjoying things to the fullest. When I'm at work in the kitchen, I like certain knives for certain tasks. I like things that make sense…. like fries and gravy. Not onion rings and gravy, That still doesn't make sense to me. I like certain products, not substitutes. I like Mother's Day specials in May and sundaes on Sundays. Call me crazy.

I like it when things go as predicted. I like to know what to expect. I'm sure I'm not the only one like this. 

I also like Spring weather in March and April. -20C and blizzards… that's supposed to be January.

Now, of course I like good surprises. Like sunshine on a day the weatherman said was going to suck. Or like tulips being delivered on a joyless Saturday. Great surprises like that, can turn your whole week around. 

These last few weeks have been very hard. I haven't felt right since that yellow handled knife broke on a Friday night, (I'm kidding…. well, sort of.) I replaced the knife but couldn't find my groove.  Nothing major, just out of sync. Hell, I haven't even felt like writing. 

Then I made a quick trip to Vegas. I laughed and laughed. I gambled. I sat in the sun and started to feel like myself again. 

This last week has been intense. No other way to describe it. I got the sunshine I needed. The help that saves the bacon, and the right knife to cut buns again. 

It all came together sitting at the patio, drinking a coke at the restaurant I own. It just felt right. Like the stress was leaving my body and I was at home where I should be. 

I love my restaurant, I love the people I work with and the people I see across the counter. (Ok, not all of them. Some make me want to call the cops.) This is where I need to be. This is where I'm happy. Next person who says I should get a real job, or that I only work half the year… they should try a week in my sneakers. But bring your own knife. I won't let just anybody use mine. 

Day 1

Today was the first official, in-house day of the 2013 ice cream season.  For those in the back benches, it's not my first day working this year. (Hold the snickering please.) But it's the first day I scrubbed a shelf and ordered stock AND spent 9 hours at the building.

I also did a lot of shovelling. Damn there was a lot of snow this weekend.

Anyways, all I wanted to say was that today was a good day. It was a great way to start. I talked to all our suppliers (except for the guy from Coke who always seems too busy to call back little old me), service people and even a few neighbours.  Everyone was happy to chat and share a laugh. That's the kind of "day one" I like to have.

I also had lots of help and enthusiasm from my staff. That's good too. I NEED their support.

I'm excited to go back for Day 2. I have high hopes for Day 3. Four is a good number, so I'll be there too. Five is my lucky number so I'm going to shine that day.

Don't you just love that new season optimism? I do.