"I am a very well-rounded crank" I think that might be a quote of the day!

I'll do it!

Just remember: The person emailing you about bitching all the time? Emailed you to bitch at you. So went out of his/her way to bitch at you, as opposed to doing it in their own space where it wouldn't hurt anyone. So it's not like they have the moral high ground in the bitching about people argument. They are being much pissier than you are, and are also being hypocritical about it.

Crank away! Anyone who asks if all you do is complain about people is someone who has never worked food service. For those of us who have, we know that for everthing you say, you leave out at least 2 dozen curse words floating around in your brain and all the smartass remarks you WISH you could have said the dumbasses who tried to ruin your day without even really trying. That's how dumb they usually are. It's like Rita Rudner says in the movie Peter's Friends "You know what I hate most about the public?...........The public."

what charlotte said.
I read about 20 blogs. YOURS is my all time favorite
I work in the floral industry. You are my vent to all the idiot clients. Keep the stories coming, you're wonderful.

What's a blog for if you can't use it to bitch about people and blow off steam? It's good therapy. Better than bitching at people.

And if they don't like your blog, why are they reading it? It's not like they're paying to read your blog.

Whew, I feel better now that I bitched about that guy.

Incidentally, I like your blog the way it is.

Oh. I'd be thrilled to be your assistant, you kidding me? I'm very good at organizing and fending off the unwashed. Plus I understand the industry...I'd be a great asset. When do I start?

Someone emails you to ask you if you only bitch!?
Send them over, I'll take of that bowl of bullshit faster than a waitron promises the impossible for that extra dollar.

I thought it was just me. I even told the owner today that maybe it was a full moon or just the whole month of Septemeber we were going to be cranky. I don't know but it takes all I can muster when someone comes in a throws a hissy fit because the can't get a small cake tomorrow. "It's only for fifty people!" heh.

For everyone who bothers to put forth the effort to complain about something, there are score of others who would praise, but don't feel moved to. I've passed along a few stories from your blog, and have drawn even more people to your defense - there is a world of stupid out there!

Those pesky insert card thingies are called blow-ins. I'm not sure how or why I know that, and certainly only one other person in the world does. Or did. Your description is much more succinct, not to mention brings a hint of lightness and playfulness to your post. I move for an edit to the dictionary!

Here's a challenge that is sure to bring a smile,.... try to edit that sentence using the term Blow-ins, but without raising our eyebrows.

I love your blog.
I will move from Australia and be your slave.
And when it comes to dealing with those who choose to cross us, well, my husband calls it "putting out the bulldog". I am made to deal with those emails.
Crank on

You're not tense, you're just really, really alert!

Personally, I have always been quite proud on my inner bitch. And every so out she has to be taken out for a bit of exercise. Crank on.

Nice to meet another well rounded crank!

I used to love the snooty people who would eat their finger bowl contents (assuming that they were eating cold lemon soup), eat their soup with the parfait spoon, and not know how to eat a lobster. When the first two stunts are performed in full evening dress, it can be quite amusing. Thank heavens for the truly classy people with good manners who know how to enjoy their food and will pop a bib over an evening dress and have at it with the lobsters :)

"I also go on long walks in the moonlight, scare small children away from buffet tables, and I glare at customers who talk loudly on their cell phones in my restaurant."

You also give a lot of people something to smile about with your postings. Thanks.

"I need an assitant."

That, and a spellchecker.

To the person who wrote you that e-mail, I say, "bah!"

You're on par with Dooce; your bitching about people is damn funny! When you said you woke up with a magazine insert stuck to your face, I nearly snarfed my (wish it was a Lemon Drop) drink through my nose!

Don't worry, some of us don't have a problem with infrequent postings...they're always gems!

A wise friend gave me a definition for "b***h" -

Babe In Total Control (of) Herself

You go girl!

And "Lurker" - when you have a blog, *you* can use spellchecker, you wanker.

Careful with those Ipod earbuds darling, you could choke!

Anytime you are looking to hire you know where to look me up ;)

I am in a different line of work but also very stressful. Maybe I am missing the point (ie maybe you are kidding) but I think you should get an assistant. Your blog is so great I am guessing that the rest of your work also shows your gifts, so you are probably in a place in your life where you need to start (or expand) delagation. That is the way you will be able to do more (if you want to) or maybe just keep doing what you are doing without being spread thin. To personalize it: when I am spread sooo thin I start interpreting everything differently. That said. I love your blog and I never think you are too harsh about anything and your perspective is appreciated. I hope I haven't missed the point.

oops I just read my post. what I meant to say was that you are NOT too harsh. sorry typo. K

So you need someone to go through your mail, pay your bills and blog for you through oral dictation. Oh and what about test all your recipes. Count me in. How much are you paying? :} Oh bollocks, how am I going to open your mail over the internet? Foiled again!

you need to:

a. make a cheesecake, nice berries, fresh whipped cream.

b. get laid.

c. eat the cheesecake.

You? Bitching? Nawwww!

But that's what we love about you. :) And you do it so gracefully. That makes it alright.

I would do it but you would have to send me an email about what you would need me to do. It would be worth using me. :( I love your bitching :D

I know the word "blow-in," and I know how to deal with those pesky things...when I get a magazine, the first thing I do is 'de-bone' it. Yep, that's the phrase for removing all that debris.

That said, crank on! We love you just the way you are. Ah, yes...learn to delegate more. Thing of the parts of your job you don't love...and consider whether you could hire/con someone else into doing those things. That would/might leave more time for blogging and/or doing the parts of the job that you do love.

In reply to "Lurker"....what a retarded thing to pick apart....something as lame as spelling 'assistant' wrong! Don't you have anything else better to do? Boy, some people are so anal!

Man, I feel better now that I have gotten that off my chest! :D

Foodwhore....we love you no matter what anybody says! Your 'bitching' is good therapy!

Sounds like it's time for a retreat for some serious soul-soothing. Lemon drops for days ought to help.

And for the record, I have years of experience in assisting, catering, writing, and bitching. (And curly hair.) But with credentials like these, you probably couldn't afford me. wink wink

Hang in there. It always, always gets better.

I'll be your assitant, OR assistant. Sign me up. I'm great at bitching... and drinking lemon drops.

Hey, I love your blog! I also deal with the public (though not as a caterer) and I think your stories are hilarious. If getting an assistant will help you blog more, then you should definitely get one. Offer to pay them in food. They'll be fighting to get in. As for the reader who e-mailed to complain about you complaining about your nutso customers, simply explain to them that you are a delicate flower. Like a rose. You must spread your thorns as well as your petals. Ideally, curare-tipped thorns that you shoot into backsides of those who so richly deserve it. But I digress ... :-)

A recap, part 1 With Digital ID World in the books as a success, I always like to take a look back at "what I learned." As an organizer of the conference, Digital ID World is always a whirlwind experience for me, but I find that as I look back