Sunday, March 21, 2010

Workin' at a Bar

My brother Guy has just opened up a bar & grill called Two Whelan's Bar & Grill, with his wife Dot. My parents and I came up for the grand opening on Wednesday, St. Patty's Day (because we love our Irish roots and what better day for the grand opening of a bar!) Anyway, Guy is going back to work at his job in Evansville on Monday. So Dad asked them if they would want me to come help them at the bar, since I haven't been able to find something admin/clerical or anything. They were pretty excited. Especially Dot! Because otherwise she would be here by herself through the week. And that would pretty much stink. It has been pretty busy even though they've not advertised at all, only by word of mouth.

So I drove up yesterday morning and started working on the grill/fryer and whatever else. It's a lot to learn, and the timing with all the burgers and fried items is difficult to get correct right now (it's a learn as you go process for all of us). Guy did say that I was catching on pretty quickly with the grill. I even mixed a couple of drinks for a few people. Tried my hand at pouring beer from the tap, too. I'll probably be getting my liquor license sometime soon too.

It's definitely going to be a hard job. With being on my feet all day and going back and forth from one end of the building to the other, frying/grilling, keeping up with all the orders and everything.

I think it will be rewarding though. I will be able to spend time with Guy and Dot. They are graciously allowing me to stay in their apartment with them. I am so thankful for this. That also means I'll be able to help them out with the remodeling of the apartment once we all get in the flow of things. They have been overwhelmed with all that it takes to run the bar so there hasn't been a lot of time for working on the apartment. I think one other rewarding thing will be just meeting people and ministering to them, even if it's only being a kind person to them. Dot was telling us the other day that part of their mission with the bar is to minister to people. It's a good place for it!

I went to Wal-Mart in Owensboro, KY today. I didn't have much trouble finding it. I did miss my turn off at one point and tried to turn around, but ended up on a Parkway. Kind of like an Interstate. A long road, posted at 70 MPH, with very few exits. The next one was 25 miles away. No way was I going to do that. So I found a spot before one of the little bridges over a creek, and I waited for one where there was no one behind me, and no one coming, and I pulled a U-ey. It wasn't at one of the spots with the sign telling people it was not allowed. So.... yeah. Anyway, I got back on the road and hit the right exits that time and got to Wal-Mart. I found an area rug for cheaper than the ones they listed on their website, a 5'x7' for only $20. Also found a floor lamp for under $10. Both the lamp and the area rug are black. Just simple black. I didn't want a green or blue rug, and I think the lamps only came in black. I also got Glade Plug-In air freshener, and a couple of those Renuzit Odor Eliminator gel things, because the building is over 100 years old and smells like it. I like the scent of the Odor Eliminator things. I don't know what the scent is, but it's the one that says "odor eliminator" or something like that. Anyway, it's a spicy sort of scent that I remember from when I was a kid. So apparently those have been around a while. But I like them a lot. Strange, I know.

Anyway, I am probably going to find something else to do. Probably relax or something. Guy and Dot went to their other place to do laundry for the bar. Oh, the rug, it went partly under the air mattress and partly out, so the mattress doesn't squeak on the cardboard under it (since the floor is currently just pressboard), and so I can have a little something to land on in the morning to get up, instead of trying to get up without touching the pressboard, just coz it looks kinda blah and I don't want to touch it...

I should take a broom to the cobwebs up on the ceiling that are dangling precariously over my bed. Ugh! Not that my room at home was any better. I don't think they hung down as much at home. Unless you look at the ceiling from the low part to the high part. From my side it doesn't look bad at home. lol. All about perspective.

OK, I'm gonna find something to do that doesn't stress my back out. I used the thing Guy and Dot have to stretch your back out last night. It like turns you upside down and lets your body weight stretch your back out and readjust yourself as you relax while hanging upside down. I had such vertigo on it even when I wasn't going anywhere!! We couldn't get my height right for me to be able to raise my arms and let it go back like it's supposed to. So Guy had to tilt it over. I was kind of freaking out, since going backwards and upside down are two things I generally avoid doing. It did help though. Now I just need someone to punch me in the back on my left shoulder blade. That muscle back there has been hurting like crazy, I think from how I was laying last night. But I'm generally stiff. I did get some more ibuprofen since I left the bottle at home in the cabinet, like a dummy. Oh well. May not have to buy another bottle for a while if I can get that one after this one's gone. Could take a while. Maybe not though!!

2 comments:

Holly said...

Wow! Thanks for the update. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this new adventure. I'm so glad you get to live and work with Guy and Dot! Praying blessings over you, Nora!

Jana Alexis said...

I'm so excited too, Nora! I like your perspective on the job and that you're ready to go at it and looking at it as an opportunity to bless people. So good. Can't wait to hear how this first week goes.