Winter's closing in. The leaves are almost all done turning, the restaurant - without notice and ahead of schedule - has begun closing 2 days per week, layoffs are complete - many wanted the layoff, worked the summer so they could collect EI all winter, maybe work a few cash-in hand jobs. A couple of employees were not so pleased with the layoffs, didn't see them coming, weren't warned, only found out when their names vanished from the schedule - not impressed, and you realize that you're always on shaky ground here, that you're expendable to the needs of the business. We've kept a total of 3 staff - 1 waiter - me, (the other the owners son R#5), and 2 chefs. That's it.
Saturday, cold outside, the restaurant is busy. 10, 11 tables at once, no more tourists, these are the residents of Foon, people in for an herbal tea with extra slice of lemon and honey, party of 4 to share 4 lemon waters and plate of fries, people in for a glass of water and the free wi-fi, we're the heated shelter for people waiting for the Ferry, I do 40 tables to ring out $700.00...unbelievable...
More scrolls from my friend, more humorous rants about R#5, he doesn't like him, once they were friends, but R#5, he has that way of rubbing people ... he's rationed Batshit to the yellow candies only, nobody likes them, and Batshit, he knows, he's bearing a grudge...cryptic instructions to meet with Batshit at 2:00 on the other side of the lake, witness the glory of the Keith Richard's painting on woven teflon, for my eyes only before driving him to a helicopter pad up in Riondel, he's betting I won't make it...
Cold, and I haven't yet confirmed my place for November 1st - I'm hopeful, but the cheques are lean and leaner, the bills keep coming and the tips are scant...I need to reign in my vices, work on other things, always, always keep a full tank of gas in case I gotta get the hell out of here, but Calgary is cold in the winter and it's not the best time to flee the magic Kingdom, time to start looking for more work, another job, find a way to make it to spring when I can start new plans...