My first table got me a little worked up today. Maybe I was upset for no reason, but our business is to sell food and beverage.

Two women, they both order waters. That really isn’t a problem for me, I usually drink water when I go out these days. When I return to take their order, one has a decidedly reddish color to her water. She has added a “flavor enhancer” to her water. This bothers me. Again, it may be a smaller thing. But these ladies were pretty high maintenance right off the bat, so I may have unnecessarily gotten riled up about this.

A couple of months ago I had a couple sit at the bar later on a Monday night. They ordered 2 waters and asked for menus. I went back to get their chips and salsa, and when I returned, the man magically has a lemonade in front of him. And an empty packet of Countrytime Lemonade next to the glass. We serve lemonade. So I ask if he added it to his water. He says yes. I tell him we do not allow that, we sell lemonade. I say I will let it pass this one time, but if it happens again, I will charge him for the lemonade. His wife punched him, said “I told you not to do that!!” Episode over, they ate, paid, tipped well and left.

Back to today. I discussed it with my manager, we decided to not make an issue of it. But they kept their attitude towards annoying, so I stewed through it all. I know it shouldn’t be a big deal. And I think about other things that have happened. I had a family come in one day, they brought with them a bag of food from Noodles & Co. The rest of the family ate our food. The one kid doesn’t like Mexican, they tell me. I am amazed at their balls. And I don’t know for sure, but it may be against health code. But for sure it is rude as hell.

If you don’t want to pay for a drink, just have water, that is cool with me.

We had another table walk in this evening, coming from the Packers’ game. 2 women carry in their road drinks. A Bud Light and one of those insulated drink containers. Totally illegal. The Bud Light lady left her bottle in the bathroom. The other walks out drinking her mug thing. Yes, she did purchase a beverage from us. But carrying in is not ok. I was off the clock, so it wasn’t my concern.

I asked in the service industry group how they handle this kind of thing. Most said to pick your battles,it isn’t hurting me, to let it go. But most agreed it was pretty trashy. That is you are so cheap to only order water and then flavor it, that I should just lower my expectations on getting a decent tip.

I may have gotten riled up for no reason. I do that sometimes, it is my right as a service industry person. We take a lot of crap, although most people are exceedingly cool. But if you bring food or beverage into a restaurant that serves food and beverage, you are a total and complete tool.

Rant over.

We went through an unfortunate 10 day liquor license suspension at the restaurant a few days back. We failed 2 “Compliance Checks” in a one year period. What that means is we failed to properly check two underage kids sent in by the cops to make sure we are properly checking IDs. And it sucked, that 10 days without alcohol was worse than working at a Taco Bell with no drive-thru. And I do want it on the record that it was not me that failed those stings. I am getting old, I card everyone these days. It was unfortunate it happened, but we are back in the booze business and things are better now, mostly.

As you may imagine, our bosses are big time reminding us to card people, look at those IDs carefully and confirm they are old enough to booze. I am looking at these IDs like I am FBI and you are getting hauled in for questioning. Expiration dates, everything. I can’t be too careful now, I am not getting bagged for serving someone who shouldn’t be drinking. I can’t afford another stretch like that 10 days and neither can the restaurant.

So tell me why so many grown ass adults do not carry their IDs with them? Seriously, this week I have carded 4 people and denied them service because of no proper identification. I don’t truly believe any of them were under 21, but that isn’t the point. I need proof. One guy had an ID, but it was expired, not by 2 or 3 days but by 7 months. I felt so bad, because an expired ID is not a valid ID. The other 3 were all adult men, with no ID on them. No wallet, nothing. Who leaves their house like that? Didn’t their mother warn them about ending up dead in a ditch without any identification? Seriously!!

I am in this one Facebook group, it is service industry people and most of the group is out of Colorado, but lots from other places too. It’s a lot of people bitching about crappy tippers, but what I have learned about Colorado is they take their valid identification stuff serious as a heart attack. Vertical IDs are not valid for purchasing alcohol, even if it is current. They don’t take expired IDs at all, passports are ok but if the picture doesn’t look like you have something else ready to prove you are who you say you are. And out of state IDs are incredibly suspect. I am not sure if this is state law to be that strict or if it is the establishments, but either way, if you want cocktails, comply. I get why they are so strict with legal weed, you have to be sure people are legit, and they have people flock there from all over for the Rocky Mountain High experience.

A trick I have had a few people try, and fail I may add, is having a picture of their ID on their phone. Yeah, that’s not going to work Young Millennial, I need the real thing in my hand. I have had people offer to call their mom to verify their age. One person wanted to show me his Facebook page because it had his birthday on his profile. I am not making any of this up. Why all of this? Is it so hard to carry that little card along with you?

Many years ago, when Cleo’s moved from its former location to the location it now occupies, there was a gap when they weren’t open for the move. My brother Pat was a Cleo’s regular, some may have called him the Mayor of Cleo’s at times. So they are opening back up, and the venerable door lady, Anna, a fixture back in the day, ran a tight ship at the entrance. Pat opens the door, exclaims “Anna! I’ve missed you!!!” And in her business-like way says “Yes Pat, ID please.” If the former Mayor of Cleo’s needs an ID to enter, you need one to get your margarita jag on at my restaurant!!!

Carry your identification with you. For many reasons, like the dead in the ditch one I mentioned above. If you are an adult, old enough to drink, you need to be able to prove it. If an officer were to stop you and you do not have it with you, they aren’t going to apologize like I do when I have to shut you down on you Pina Colada desires.

You don’t know what you got until it’s gone. True in so many aspects of life. But especially true when you’re Carb Cycling, and your High Carb day is over. For those not familiar with the carb cycling, it’s a small torture device you use on yourself to lose weight, body fat, stuff like that. You eat very few carbs for 2 days, have a high carb day, 2 more low carb days, a high carb day and a recovery day. Exhausting, truly dizzying!!

I am doing this right now, and it is a part of a nutrition plan I am doing at the gym. Two other ladies are in on this with me, and we are 2 weeks into it. It is going ok, my body fat has gone down, and a little weight dropped. So it works, but thinking about everything I stuff in my face is not fun. I find it really isn’t that bad, but I just miss certain things, like bread. Fun fact, I live near a bakery that bakes, often. The smell of the bread wafts through the neighborhood. I think they were making cinnamon bread the other day. Jerks.

Yesterday was my high carb day. I didn’t go overboard, but I enjoyed some rice, a little sushi and popcorn. As well as a decent amount of protein. It was a good day. Now today I find I am dreaming of sandwiches, potatoes, and desserts drowning in carbohydrates. Sigh…

Truly it isn’t that bad, and there are plenty of good options of things I will have on my low carb days. I find it fun to over dramatize my plan and its execution. And if it weren’t for carbs, I wouldn’t have developed the body I am working so hard to change. As it is, carbs have provided some serious job security for the coaches at FIRE. I am surprised they don’t eat sub sandwiches in front of me during camps.

I have learned so much in this time, and carbs are not the Devil, but they know him. It’s truly about balance, and making smarter decisions with my diet, and my workout plan. I can eat things that aren’t so great for you, as long as that isn’t all I eat. And oh the water I drink!! I am flushing carbs through like crazy! Again, the balance. Good times.

It’s all changes I needed, and I needed someone to help me navigate it, and I found that. Life is a constant learning experience, and the knowledge I gain may actually help someone else down the road, you never know. I am a work in progress, and I am looking forward to the upcoming changes, and my High Carb Day.

How many times do you get a friend request on Facebook, look at who they have as mutual friends, and accept based on that? I do it, too often. It works out alright more often than not, but then you get that one. You know, they hop on Messenger the second you hit “accept” and begin the Creepshow.

Just happened a few days ago. This person hit it quick, and got too friendly or something right off the bat. I get it, there are a lot of lonely people out there. And the ones who are looking to network through Facebook to sell you stuff. People who just want to make a connection because it is overwhelming to go out in public and meet others. But that over-friendly stuff right out of the gate really creeps me out.

I keep it cool at first, don’t give too much information. I watch ID channel, I am not a fool… much. So how do you balance it? I don’t know. When they are trying to sell me something, I shut it down quick. Tell them if they just friended me to build their pyramid they can unfriend me and move on. If they stay as my friend, I tell them they are not welcome to use me to get to my other friends.

What about the lonely ones? They ask a lot of personal stuff, but don’t give much information back. That is where I get cautious, and I don’t volunteer much. This latest one started in on that too much, seemed like a stalker type. But he says he lives pretty far out of state. Ok, so why are you chatting up a Wisco girl so aggressively? It just doesn’t jive for me. So I started shutting him down. He is like, we are just friends, Carol. I said “No we’re not, I do not know you.” How long of a drive is it from the East coast? I probably have time to pack up the essentials and change my identity, right?

I guess it’s the age we live in. I mean, people want to have a connection with other people, I get that. I just don’t want to get creeped out in the process. At least in out in the real world I know how to act if I get a bad vibe from someone. And people misrepresent themselves online all the time. I had that experience with online dating, so I got out of that fast. I am just me, I don’t pretend to be someone I am not just to improve my odds. I just don’t get it, I guess.

I would say my advice is to be careful. Hey Carol, be careful. I better advise myself of that first. No more accepting friend requests unless there are at least 5 mutual friends. Cyber Stalking is exhausting. I just don’t have the patience for it. I get that some of these online meetings turn into something great, but I have also watched Lifetime movies, and I know that Netflix is jam packed full of cautionary tales of Cyber Creeping gone wrong. I have no desire to meet Dr. Phil under these circumstances. Now if Oprah was still on, I could consider it, but that’s a no go, so I will stay somewhat cautious.

Thanks to all of you for Cyber Creeping me at one time or another, but in the good way. I think social media is a fantastic thing 90% of the time, but oh that other 10%. Yikes!! Stay safe, online and out there in the big real world!!

I have to admit to being a little superstitious. Not too bad, but you never can be too sure when it comes to the dealings of the universe. I would say a little healthy respect for things you can’t explain is where I am at. I am not usually too wound up over Friday the 13th. It is fun to make like it is a thing, but people don’t get too nutty in my experience, so it isn’t so bad.

Enter the Full Moon. I absolutely believe that full moons affect people. Years of bartending and serving tell me so. Ask anyone in healthcare. They know. So do police, EMTs, teachers, anyone that has to deal with people out in public. We know. We see, and we respectfully fear each full moon cycle. I have people that laugh it off, and say that can’t really be a thing. I like to tell people this: If the moon can affect the tides of the ocean, what makes you think it isn’t pulling extra hard on certain people? The word “lunatic” came from somewhere!!!

We get a double dose then this month, with the full moon on a Friday the 13th. I thankfully work a day shift today, so it shouldn’t be so bad for me. I have many friends who need to be concerned when that moon starts to rise. Now hopefully, with this being the Harvest Moon, it will not be so bad, because harvest means food. Even whack jobs love food. So maybe they will be out looking for some corn or a nice squash or something. We can only hope.

I love the celestial stuff. I like looking at the stars, and the moon. The universe gives us a lunar eclipse, I will make sure I catch it if I am able. There is something fantastic about getting out of town a little away from city lights and seeing how many more stars and planets you can see. It makes me feel a part of something so much bigger, it is calming for me. But I am not messing with a Full Moon. I know better.

Whatever you feel or believe, I hope you get a good view of the Full Moon tonight. And if you feel it’s draw, if it makes you feel a pull towards something, stay home. Hahaha, just kidding. Enjoy this world, and our universe. You are a part of it, and it is part of you. Make a wish on a star, or a satellite if your chosen star is moving. We look up so we can appreciate what we have here. Happy Friday the 13th too, it can be a fun day to mess with people.

The term “Self Care” gets thrown around a lot. And I believe in it, I truly do. It may mean different things to different people, like taking an unscheduled day off, pampering yourself with a massage, meeting for lunch with an old friend. All things that will take off some of the stress of your day to day life. Lots of ways to take care of you. I encourage you to do something for your own “self care.”

I am doing that today, but not in that sense. Today is an important day on the calendar. It is my Mammogram Day. I am taking care of my health. I have a family history, as Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 67 years. So it is important to me, and for me to keep up on it. Last year my mammogram came back a little abnormal, so they sent me for further testing, a 3D mammogram. It turned out to just be extra dense breast tissue, but for the couple of days it took me to get in, I was a little stressed. I didn’t tell anyone about it, really. No sense getting anyone worked up unless it was something to worry about. But still, had I not had it scheduled as a yearly thing, it would not have been flagged as having been different from the previous year, because there would not have been anything to compare it to.

I know two women who are currently going through breast cancer treatments. Their diagnoses were different, and the paths they are on are as well. They both have some incredible support around them, which makes me happy for them, it makes it a better path if you know others are there for you, showing love and support. I know a little about their journey, but not really enough to speak knowledgeably about it, and I want to respect their individual experiences at this time. I just hope they both are getting through it and staying positive. They have a lot to live and love for. And that they are inspiring people. It is a side effect of cancer, you become someone people look up to, and it helps them think of their own health, or self care, if you will. Inspiration can come to you in many ways.

My healthcare awareness has evolved a lot more in the past year or two. I started taking it more seriously, and for my own reasons. I think my brother-in-law going through cancer was an impetus for it, certainly. Seeing how it affected him, my sister and our family as a whole makes you stop and think about your own mortality, and certainly how you would handle it if it was your diagnosis. Cancer does really reach everyone, one way or another. He got great care, and he is doing well now. Cancer Survivor. Pretty magical words, and words I hope more and more people get to have as more people take more self care by getting screened for different things.

I used the word “More” quite a bit there. It’s something we all want, more time, more love, more donuts, etc. It is kind of the thing of “Self Care.” If we do take care of our bodies, our minds and our souls, we can have More. I want that for you as much as I want it for myself. Especially the donuts.

If you haven’t scheduled your mammogram, PAP test, prostrate exam, colonoscopy, or whatever test you have been putting off, please get it on your calendar sooner than later. It is the ultimate form of “Self Care” to take care of yourself and your health. There are people that will support you no matter the result of that test. They will breathe a sigh of relief when it comes back clean, and they will certainly rally around you if you get a less than desirable result. You are your own #1 asset, treat yourself as much.

5 years and approximately 5 days ago I went with my sister-in-law to a local rescue shelter. We were going to “just look” at some doggies. They had recently lost one of their dogs to a sudden illness, Rudy. The remaining dog, Chopper, needed a buddy and Heidi was ready to start thinking about a new fur baby after an appropriate time of mourning their beloved Rudy. I foolishly thought I would be just along for support of picking a new friend.

Enter Arizona. This shelter had lots of dogs, probably too many, really. We went along the rows of kennels wanting to rescue every single one. We come by one that has a little beagle and this cute freckled doggy named Arizona as roomies. I say to Heidi “look at this cute puppy!” That little doggy put her paw on my hand, and next thing I know I am asking the shelter lady about her. Yep, she picked me. I was an easy target. A big sucker for those eyes and her floppy little ears. Pretty much filled out an application on the spot, they said they would call my references and let me know. Wait, what did I just do?

I did what I had wanted for a long time: made the move to get a doggy back in my life after lots of years. But I was just helping Heidi start to look, right? Not by “Arizona’s” schedule, she picked me out and steamrolled my heart. A couple of days later i get the call, you can come get Arizona if you still want her. Aaaahhh!!! YES!!! I left work early and ran across town. Didn’t even give myself time to think about it or think of the fact I had nothing at home to be ready for a doggy. Screw that, I’m getting a dog!!!

All of that worked itself out. But that name, Arizona, had to go. She was a rescue from Tennessee, that name made no sense. So I put out a Facebook post for name suggestions, and got plenty from Freckles to Oreo and Spot and many more. My nephew Will suggested Zelda. Robin Williams had just died, and his daughter’s name is Zelda. He thought that would be a nice tribute, plus there is the Zelda game. I liked it, and that was that.

Here we are, five very fast years have flown by. Hundred of walks, thousands of treats and many, many tennis balls later, me and my girl Zelda have a pretty good deal going. And I have learned a lot! First, squirrels are not to trusted. They are little bastards that must be barked at and chased up trees. Number 2, tennis balls are like treasures, but they fit too easily under furniture. #3 Treats are awesome, and you deserve one for every little thing. The vet doesn’t know what she is talking about when she says to lighten upon them. And a big #4: Coming home to your best buddy is cause for celebration always!!! There are many more thing Z-dog has taught me and will teach me, and I look forward to the lessons.

I may have technically rescued Zelda, but she really saved me in the big scheme of things. She picked me, and I am forever grateful for that day. Heidi and Paul did eventually rescue another dog, it took a few more years. But that day at the shelter, Heidi was the perfect enabler for me to be the one that ended up with a dog. It wasn’t really my plan, but I got the best end of that day, for sure!!

Happy Gotcha Day Anniversary Zelda!! Or as I like to call it, Happy Zeldaversary!!! My special whack job, my spaz, my heart.