Short Stories
Recently my wife asked me to take away the secondary verification for Amazon so she could order me something for Christmas and I then would not be able to see it. I get up the next morning and see my son had ordered 18 different items.
You know how sometimes you see those helium-filled birthday balloons that come back down to the ground, well the other morning I was driving down our country road when I spotted one up ahead moving on the side of the road. Apparently, this squirrel was holding on to the string and running with it. Pretty cute, until it decided to cross the road. Thankfully, the balloon survived.
Ok, so we were able to cancel 17 of those items and the one that we couldn’t cancel was $50. So my son apologized and offered to work for it. So I told him that he would have to work 4 hours to pay for it. Then I realized that because of COVID he couldn’t work at the restaurants and so he would work at home. Well, that means I have to go out and show him what to do, so really that means I have to work 4 hours. Next time I will be the lazy father and not the "Tough Love" type.
Well, everyone I hope you all have a nice and safe Christmas. We will pretty much just be serving take out until the first of the year and hope that the caseloads drop in the hospitals. Soon we will look back at this and smile. Of course, we have to have a drink in our hands to do that, but we will smile.
Thanks, everyone. Merry Christmas and stay SAFE.
Dec 14 - 20
I think that because of COVID the future of our population is in trouble. I read this article about the secret of living a long life is eating healthy. Well, how many of us are eating healthy right now. We are all stuck at home with nothing else to do but bake cookies and cakes and brownies and everything else that will shorten our life span. I do believe I was in a good place before all of this, but now, what is there to do but eat? And why would you eat healthy when things are so nerve-racking. I mean we are in a tough time, so do you eat a salad? NO! You eat something that will make you feel like life is worth living, Unfortunately, that life may not be as long.
Ok, folks things are a little challenging right now. We are serving to-go only. We will let you sit outside if you wish and eat, but we cannot serve you out there. I am still upset that some restaurants are cheating, but what are you going to do. Right now the odds are that approximately one out of every 80 people is contagious for the virus. That person can infect people up to 20 feet away in an enclosed room. So right now you don’t want to go into any building that has activity. When that number gets back down to one out of every 200, then things are set for us to serve inside again. Again, I have the UV system to kill the virus, but right now, it is just not safe.
Folks, I love you all. Please be extra careful and we will get through this.
Dec 7 - 13
This is my week. So on last Saturday, I didn’t drive the car all the way in the garage and so the garage door got caught on the trunk lid, scratching it pretty badly. The worst part was they all seem to merge and I could not get the door up or down. So I had to push on the garage door to free the car. I then moved the car, but when I tried to raise the door it got past the car but got caught on the frame because I apparently bent the door. Of course in the process, I also broke the spring and drove the door off the tracks, and then the door came crashing down. Now I go to raise the door not realizing it weighs 200 plus pounds and pull my back, and I mean I really pull it. So now I call the garage door man out and of course, my door is not a typical size and $2500 later I still have a scratched car and a bad back. Remember how I was down to just 2 brain cells, well I think I am now down to one.
Ok, right now we are open for outside service but that could change depending on the ICU occupancy. If we have to go to takeout only, we will leave some tables outside so you can always sit out there to eat your meal. We will not be able to serve you, but I believe there is no reason you cannot sit out there. Some day I will have better news. I am just not sure when.
Nov 30 - Dec 6
I am a softy, but I didn’t use to be. I got that letter from my Sacramento Bee delivery person, that is supposed to remind me to leave a tip for Christmas. In the good old days, I was a stingy SOB and wouldn’t have left him or her a tip. My friends use to call me a slimy Bast--rd, and I took it as a compliment. I mean when you strive to be a despicable businessman and you achieved that goal, I do believe you should be proud. I mean I use to have a portrait of my hero, Ebenezer Scrooge, on the wall of my office. Then I met my social worker wife and all that changed. I became a nice guy. Now I tip everybody and donate to everybody. I get close to 40 letters a week from different organizations asking for money. When I get 4 letters on one day from the same company requesting money, I begin to miss the old days. Oh well, I will send my paper girl a tip for Christmas and even write her a nice note. The problem is, the last time I sent a tip, the Bee carrier quit the next day.
Folks, we are doing what we think is right. We are serving outside in the cold. Mind you, we have spent tons of money on heaters and it still isn’t enough. However, many restaurants are still serving inside. I wish things were different and everyone abided by the rules, but it is what it is. I have heard stories of restaurants packing people inside. There are some that just can’t afford to close and I understand that they just can’t afford to lose their business, but some restaurant owners have the money and are just slimy SOBs.