Superbowl

The door prizes are AWESOME! Click on the image above to get more details….

Should be a fantastic time!

LOST, final season

If you don’t watch LOST, don’t start to this season. Instead, rent the back episodes and watch them from the beginning.

It’s THAT good.

But for those of you that do watch my most favorite show of all time, you should absolutely watch the Onion News Network video about the final season.

Cracked.Me.UP!

Click here

You Can’t Change a Tiger’s Stripes

We had to fire someone the other day.

Spicoli had decided to switch shifts with our newest crew member, who was more than obliging when asked.

“Sure,” he agreed. “As long as it’s alright with the bosses.”

Spicoli didn’t bother asking, and when the new guy asked later that night if Spicoli had ran it by us, we told him that no, it wasn’t alright. As a courtesy, new guy called Spicoli and left him a message telling him that he needed to ask us first.

Sure enough, Spicoli didn’t show up the next day.

Instead, he took one of our corporate ski passes up to Anthony Lakes to go snowboarding.

He went to the ticket booth and got his pass, then returned to the booth about ten minutes later claiming to have lost it. The ticket gals trusted him and printed off another pass, which he promptly gave to his brother.

Me n’ Google are tight

Guess what I’ve got?!???

Only the most amazing thing since the invention of the cell mobile phone:

GOOGLE VOICE!

I am so So SO diggin’ this. Right now, it’s by invite only (beta stage) but I haven’t found any problems.

I chose my phone number based on the last four digits of my current phone number, and have been playing with all of the goods that it has to offer.

Here’s what happens.

I give you my local, normal phone number. You call it. I can program whether I want your call to go to my home/mobile/work/other phone OR go straight to Voicemail (which has the option of being custom-recorded just for you) OR be blocked as Spam OR be blocked as YouCanNeverTalkToMeAgain.

Voicemail converted to text converted to text message sent to a mobile phone? Yep.

Go straight to Voicemail? Okay.

Announce who’s calling and ask what to do? Absolutely!

Record a conversation…? Oh. You betcha! One of the coolest features of all!

I need Google Voice for our restaurant! I could program outgoing “hold” messages for every customer, targeting their favorite orders.

“Hello Barb, thanks for waiting. Are you going to have the Red Potato Pie tonight? If you feel like going a bit crazy, we have a great special on Sweet Thai Shrimp pizza…. We’ll be right with you!”

This tech stuff is super exciting for me. Sorry if I bored you.

Best.Invention.EVER!

Fast n’ Furious Friday

What a night!

Our rush started around 3:30, and by 5 o’clock we were in full swing. Typically we would have an exclusive delivery driver, but seeing as how it’s been slow we decided to do without.

At 4:30, FrontGal asked if she should call in Whitey to deliver.

“Nope,” I said. “We can handle this. Let’s just DO IT!”

And do it we did.

There was a basketball game at the high school vs. our arch-rivals, so the parking lot was packed. After our early rush, I printed off about 100 fliers and we all took turns putting the advertisements on the vehicles a block away. One of the kitchen guys got grumpy – he wanted to watch the game. I told the other kitchen guy to let him stay, then, and that we’d clock him out. More tips for you guys, I explained.

We made a few more slice pies and ended up selling almost all of them.

————— delivery story ——————–

I decided to take one of the deliveries that was to the Geiser hotel, because I knew that the couple had been in earlier to check out the menu. I was curious how they had heard about us.

I parked in front of the big-chain pizza place right next door, waved at their crew (who just glared at me), and walked into the hotel.

The guy who answered looked vaguely familiar, and when I asked how they had heard about us, he said that he was from Bend and had heard that a former employee of Cibelli’s (a pizza place in Bend) had opened Paizano’s and he sought us out.

“Absolutely not,” I answered. He looked skeptical.

“Really. I never worked at Cibelli’s, and I’m the owner,” I continued.

“Wait, you’re Kina,” he said. “You used to work at the Bulletin.”

HAH! Turns out that I was his rep over 5 years ago. That’s why he looked so familiar.

We chatted briefly, and he said that he’s here checking out Baker City and thinking about moving here. He’s really into skiing, cross-country and biking, so I can’t see why he wouldn’t love our area. I told him to keep in touch, and that I’d be more than happy to share what I’ve learned about our small town.

———————————————

The kitchen was a disaster when I got back. New FrontGal was territorial about the dish hole, scrubbing, stacking & organizing. Everyone really likes her – she’s a tad OCD which is fine by me.

By the time we clocked-out, it was nearly midnight. A very long day.

Year over Year

We were DEAD last night, and I mean DEAD.

Our lunch crowd was busy, but after 4p.m. we all found projects to do. New gal found “the spot” and pocketed an extra $10, so that was good. The kitchen guys scrubbed the floors and (get this) washed the walls. At least the kitchen looks spotless.

Whenever we’re slow, I take comfort in looking at the numbers from the last two years on that particular day. The oddest trend has emerged; we are usually in the same ballpark year-over-year, and thankfully, a bit higher year-over-year. In looking at last year’s sales, we were within forty dollars. I should almost predict how busy we’ll be by looking at the numbers from last year, and also the weather. We’ve taken to writing down in our daily log book “Busy, Warm, Patio slammed” or “Freaking COLD, slow lunch, Busy late, basketball game” so that we can understand the trends of our sales.

It’s currently snowing, and looks as if we’re about to get dumped on. That usually bodes badly for dining room traffic, and busy for deliveries. Our new delivery driver has never driven in snow before, of course.

If we get too busy, I’ll have to call in Whitey to drive, which he loves (sarcasm).

Better get to it.

Politics n’ Religion

Steer clear, my momma always said, about talking Politics or Religon. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, and yet won’t falter to continue to try to change your mind if it’s not of the same persuasion.

So I’ll just send a friendly link to a very blunt letter written by a small business owner, and ask that you read it.

It’s based on Measures 66 and 67 which are being voted on here in Oregon. It’s certainly not a Democrat / Republican issue, nor is it a religious issue…. but it definitely is a hot topic.

Because I am a stats kind of gal, I looked up what we paid as a corporation last year. Interestingly enough, we paid more in taxes to our state and federal government every day than we pay our highest-wage earner per day.

Uncle Sam is making the big bucks at Paizano’s.

Here’s the link

Picture Guy

The Picture Guy comes in often; one day, he came in three times for a slice, every three hours or so.

He’ll add spinach, olives, jalapenos, asparagus, artichokes, and other crazy toppings, and sit there in the corner with a fork and knife, explaining how it’s just like having a salad on his pizza.

“Gotta get my fiber,” he’ll say. “Keep me regular, ya know?”

Um. Yeah. TMI.

We’ve named him “Picture Guy” because he looks JUST like the man portrayed in a poster we have hanging on the wall:

He usually sits at the table closest to the poster, too.

He’s got an old dog, older than dirt as he says. His dog sits in his car and watches the front door of the restaurant, waiting for him (or me) to come out with some leftovers.

We got to talking one day, and it bummed me out. His wife passed away five years ago, and he says doesn’t know anyone except for his dog.

“When my dog dies,” he told me, “I’ll probably just die along with him.”

How sad is that?

He’s an odd man, but we’ve all been a little nicer to him since then.

Except for when he fell asleep after lunch one day, stretching out on the wall bench. I told him to go home to take a nap, and to come back for dinner if he was still hungry.

I think we’re his only friends.

It makes me sad to think about that.

That’s Nuts

Don’t forget – today is special!

Throw some nuts outside!!!

But please don’t hand-feed them, obviously.

Tuesday

Yesterday morning, I worked on payroll from home, then got to work at 10 a.m.

I got home from work at 10 p.m.

12-hour shifts are killer. We had a pretty busy night, and even though we closed at 8 o’clock, we still had to clean up and do the books.

I’m still tired this morning.

I received packets to fill out from the Eye Are Ess wanting us to list every.single.tiny.detail of our business and personal finances. Such is the woe of having government-backed loans.

I’ll spend my morning doing paperwork and still consider it a “day off” because I don’t have to physically work until 3 p.m. today.

Off I go.

The Power of Anonymity

The internet has more power than any other previous technology breakthrough in our history.

The light bulb? Eh, we had candles.

The telephone? So what. We had the Pony Express.

The power that the internet has is anonymity. You, sitting in a closed room without windows, can do or say anything that you choose to… AND choose to do it anonymously.

On the other hand, your use of the internet can also be used against you.

I read an article the other day about a woman who posted photos of herself smiling and having fun on vacation. Her medical benefits were denied for on-going depression.

Or how about the gal who recently found out her fiancé was cheating on her from photos tagged of him on Facebook?

Or closer to home, remember when one of our employees was too sick to work? The photos posted online showed otherwise.

The best, though, was that gal that we interviewed whose MySpace shows her posing for the camera while lighting up a big ol’ pipe full of marijuana. Woo HOO!

So now let’s talk business. Why the big lead in? Because I needed to pound on my keyboard a little before jumping in head first. Plus it helps to get rid of the lurkers who could care less.

Why I don’t do yoga

Ahhhh, a nice, relaxing Sunday morning.

Time to stretch, and maybe do some yoga.

And then laugh hysterically until tears are welling up in your eyes.

Would you like sardines with that?

I have watched this video at least three times in the last week, and it still amazes me.

Find seven-minutes and watch this. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The moral that I’ve found in this spectacular underwater display is that when everyone works together towards a common goal, we all succeed. When joining our resources and resisting attacking each other, even when in close proximity, everyone benefits.

Everyone, of course, except the very smallest of fishes.

(make sure to click the bottom right-hand corner to enlarge your view)

Baker City in the news

Did you see the article in the Bend Bulletin newspaper this morning?

It’s all about skiing at Anthony Lakes, and has some great landscape photos.

Oh, and this non-landscape photo:

Hysterical, right? At least she got my good side. HAH!

Get a Job, Earn a Job, KEEP a Job

I’m going through a slight burn-out phase at work. I’ve been working 11 a.m. till close every day (9 or 10 p.m.), sometimes even getting called in early because of a big order. And of course, I still do work at home from 8 till 11 a.m. It’s taking its toll.

I’m a worker, though. I’ve always worked. I take immense pride in a job-well-done. Every former employer that I’ve had has told me that they would hire me back immediately. That makes me feel good. I’ve heard that we humans should be humble, but dammit, I’m proud of my accomplishments and of my work experience.

It’s infuriating to see such high unemployment, thousands of people lining up for jobs everywhere else but in Baker City. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve received over 200+ applications after running our recent cruitment ad. Yet barely anyone had any positive work experience, most didn’t have a driver’s license, or worse, their references just laughed when I called. I’ve been on the other side of that phone call, when all I can do is drop my jaw incredulously that a previous employee who wronged us actually lists us as a reference.

Check out the line of applicants at the Olive Garden in Bend:

Robb Kerr / The Bulletin

Unbelievable, right? Over 700 applicants for 165 jobs.

Another restaurant, 5 Spice Fusion and Sushi, received 500 applications in November for only 25 positions. (PS: My folks went there for dinner and were blown away, so if you live in Bend please go try it!)

Kohl’s department store is opening in Bend as well, and all 117 positions were filled in 2-hours. TWO HOURS! These are minimum wage jobs that people are lining up for.

Today, Whitey’s former employers (and friends of ours) 10-Barrel Brewing Company took in over 400+ applications for 30 positions.

- wow -

People need to take any job that’s offered to them if they’re out of work (or work their arses off at the job they have to keep it). Hard work, ethics, and loyalty to those who are signing your paychecks are valuable traits to have in an employee, and smart employers realize this. They reward it. But bite the hand that feeds you and you can kiss your paycheck goodbye.

While they don’t make as much as working at Satchel’s, our crew averages over $13 an hour. Last month our top employee made over $17 an hour. That’s good money for a town that has a household median income of $29K. That’s “I can buy a house” money.

We just hired someone from out-of-town. He recently graduated with degrees in History and Elementary Education. When he mentioned this in his interview, Whitey and I smiled at each other and shared an inside joke.

He and Whitey have exactly the same college degrees.

I often tell the story of my sales assistant years ago who had $30K worth of student loans. She was working an hourly wage, barely making ends meet, but she proudly displayed her college degree in a Dollar Tree frame on her desk. Very expensive paperwork.

Experience is everything. Being professor-taught isn’t as big a deal…

UNLESS you’re a doctor about to cut me open. I don’t want a Medical Doctor, a Dentist, a Psychologist or Attorney who is “self-taught”.

Everyone else? Work experience is key. Get a job, do it right, be the BEST at it you can be, regardless of your title. If you’re worth your salt, you’ll move up in your career. I promise. But if you’re lazy, a liar, or not loyal, you’ll continue to be that guy filling out applications which list 6-months at every job.

And employers notice.

</rant>

Another vehicle

A new rig for the new year:

Whitey loves his new truck. It has so much room, rides smooth, and has a really nice sun-roof. I am driving the old truck until the snow is gone and I can pull my car out of the garage. I miss her.

This post is mainly for my mom and MIL who have asked what it looks like.

Now you know. And yes, Dave Ramsey would approve.

The end.

Good Pizza is Priceless

(click photo above to read the letter posted on NPR)

Dear Satchel,

You are so dead-on, so right, so all-knowing… and I want a job.

Love,
Kina

PS: Here is a snippet from a gal on Facebook, Satchel, just to make you smile.

PSS: We need your salad dressing recipe, stat. I’ve had requests here in Eastern Oregon, which is about as far away from Gainesville, FL, as you can get. No joke.

Odd advertising

Does anyone else find it odd that the local NBC television station is advertising for FOX?

That would be like me putting Pizza Hut coupons in our table tents at our restaurant, right? Really, really odd.

Funny Spelling Lesson

You MUST check out this site. Here’s the first lesson:

link

Slow night means a clean kitchen

I was in the office, and hadn’t heard the ticket printer go off in almost a half an hour. I decided to pop my head out into the kitchen and see what the crew was up to – it was too quiet.

James found one of the “spots” – the back door of the kitchen. Kris found two of the spots – the sauce that had dried on the kitchen cutting table legs, and the pop that had been spilled on the wall near a trash can.

Even better, the entire dish hole was scrubbed down; top, bottom, sides, pipes. Both of the large trash cans in the kitchen were scrubbed to a shiny white, and the wainscot behind the make line was cleaned with a steel sponge and is now spot-free!

I love a clean kitchen!

—————

PS: It has been brought to my attention that the You Tube video above (previously titled “Find the Spot”) automatically suggested other videos titled the same thing.

Ummmm, NOT my intention.

I’ve changed the title to “Cleaning Crew” and hopefully those videos will disappear. Yikes!