What's New at TGI Friday's???

I must say, I do miss my crew in South Dakota.  BUT..... I have been blessed with an incredible bunch of hard working, respectful, and fun loving staff members to lead here at TGI Friday's in

 South Charleston, WV.

With the help of three great managers (yes our assistant KM went to help another store - and then there were four), I have walked in to a restaurant that has great potential and eagerness to do anything it takes to create sales.  This is huge.  Only with their help, can I run a Fantastic restaurant.

  Here's to my new amazing staff!

(I'm taking my big camera to work tomorrow so I will get more pictures of all the staff I'm missing.  Should turn out better than these considering I was using my cell phone - don't judge!)

Finally after a few weeks, I had my name put on the door.  Felt right and it was finally time to do so.  No one's name had been on that door for over a year.  Apparently the old GM had  "Proprietor" next to his name.  That cracks me up!

So this is the main entrance. Looks kinda sad.   Didn't look very "main entrancy" to me, so I had a signage company put the company logo and promise on it.  Hopefully people will realize

 "its always Friday" in here!

And this is my superfantastic Bar Manager.  He was kind enough to dig down in what I like to now call the

Great Abyss....or maybe I should call it a Black Hole.  Anyhow, I lost a computer monitor down there and he graciously jumped up there to dig it out.  It was like Christmas, only dirtier......he pulled out the flat screen monitor, a brand new keyboard, a beer keg spout, and found some other crap.   Thanks Chris!!

Desiree in all her shining glory.....and then there is Michael - I think trying to look suave, and Summer probably thinking she didn't make it in the shot.....surprise!

I do have a fun group of hosts - they always look sharp, and are right on top of greeting the guests, grabbing the door, and saying goodbye - I really never have to remind them.  Makes my job a little easier!

I must say Jason is a joy to work with.  He can make anyone laugh, even when you feel overwhelmed - believe me I know.  I'm pretty much overwhelmed 100% these days, but seeing Jason walk in makes my day just a little brighter.  Always brings a smile to my face - great bartender!

This is Jeremy - love that smile.  He can sweet talk anyone into buying drinks.  He's been a server for quite sometime and knows whats he's doing.  He's probably one of the kindest servers I have.  Easy to talk to and one of the first staff members I met that made me feel right at home.

Ryan is not as crazy as he looks.  He's easy to work with, will go out of his way to do anything I ask.  Always has a smile and never seems overwhelmed.  Thought he was the best food walker in the whole wide world until I realized he was scheduled to do so...regardless, he is a great team player and cracks me up. 

This is Summer.  I've never seen Summer without a Smile.  She glows..and is even cuter when not in uniform - imagine that!  She has been a big help when I needed information from the servers and how things ran in this restaurant.  She is always up for a challenge and never leaves me disappointed. 

Three Boys and A Bar....should be a movie... that I would watch especially if these three were in it.  Jason, Gary, and Ryan doing their thing.  I should get some pictures of their Bar Flair....yes there is such a thing....some of these guys went to the Bar Flair Competitions.  You should see me with the bottles - quite entertaining! 

New wine display I set up with the Romanian Wine Decanter - quite interesting!

Definitely looks better from another angle.

Don't even ask.....

Almost Died Today....Guess It Wasn't My Time

Never been so ready to pull over, turn off the car, and walk home as I was today.  It took me an hour to get home - I live 15 mins from my restautant.  No body knew, but i guess there was an accident up the interstate.  Meanwhile, I sit and wait.........Finally the traffic jam breaks and frantically we all get to 70 mph as fast as we can.  I'm on a three lane west bound interstate road traveling in the fast lane with a cement wall divider between me and the on coming traffic on my left side.  To my right is a speeding semi truck just as eager to get home as I was.  He begins to move into my lane - I'm assuming he didn't see my SUV - and attempts to sandwich me between him and the cement wall (did I mention we were going about 70-75 mph??!!!!) I HAVE NO WHERE TO GO!!  I couldn't slam on my breaks, I had another car directly behind me going just as fast and was afraid of losing control of the car.  I was inches from the cement wall - still going 70 with no choice but to freak out.  As I looked in my rear view mirror I could see the panic on the lady's face in the vehicle behind me.  Just in the nick of time, the semi driver must have seen me because he does this whip

 action back into the center lane just in time to catch the lady in the vehicle behind me flip him off.   Thanks lady for having my back!

  Didn't regain my composure until I arrived home.  Scarey!

This is Tuesday..........

My Hellish Wednesdays from Ruby Tuesday have turned into Tortuous Tuesdays with TGI Fridays. 

 (Say that a thousand times!)

I was so incredibly proud of myself while attending BHSU and NAU taking 5 different accounting classes and passing at the top of my class.  I even had my accounting instructor ask me to submit my resume for an accounting position underneath her in the large company she worked for.  I had such high hopes and great confidence in my statistical, financial, and mathematical skills.  That was about 7 years ago....and my brain has apparently "left the building" and turned to mush.

Over the last month I have come home frustrated and down right angry at myself for not being able to make sense of my new restaurant's General Ledger, P&L, and accounting procedures.  I keep telling myself take it easy, one of these days it will click

But it didn't - and today I was fired.....

No, I'm just kidding, I wasn't, but that has been the feeling hanging over my head the last few months.  I just want to see it, learn it, and understand it all in one day and I guess it doesn't happen like that.......until today!

 It took one phone call from my boss to ask a few financial questions from month end reports when I realized I had nothing.  Not even a guesstimate, or an educated thought to make him believe he had chosen the right gal for the job.  I'm sure he thought to himself, "why again did we hire her??"

He was very kind and while I stumbled over some hard questions, he was meanwhile emailing me all the explanations I needed.  He kindly asked about my family's arrival and acted excited that they would soon be here, but all I felt was utter defeat and how in the world was I going to pull this whole GM thing off.  I've done it for years, why was this so hard?????

Back to my lonely 4 walled apartment I began to dissect reports, monthly ledgers, P&L critiques, Plans and Budgets, Prior Year Sales............and guess what........it happened.  I got it.  I quickly wrote down thoughts as not to forget them by morning, then I was so excited I started writing numbers breaking down more numbers and making goals that seem realistic

. 

Did a little jig in my living room to my own music in my head - wrote my boss a little Hallelujah and thank you email for his patience and capped it off with tator tots for dinner.

I'm looking forward to getting in my office tomorrow - crunching some numbers - and making sales happen.  For Tomorrow Is Another Day!

Total Anticipation!

As unexcited as Lauren is to meet new friends and go to a new high school, her new track coach and school counselor are thrilled excited to meet her.  I called her Winfield HS to start her registration process and ended up talking to her HS counselor.  He had just returned from taking their team to their State Track meet over the weekend.  After our conversation, he called me back with in ten minutes saying the the varsity track coach wanted to confirm that he was being told the truth that Lauren really was going to attend their HS and that she was a varsity hurdler.  They were so excited that Mr Hanson said the track coach was practically doing cartwheels in his office.  They were like two giddy school girls - then they found out she also played varsity volleyball....icing on the cake.  Needless to say, her HS will be one of our first stops when she arrives.  They have already asked for her transcripts so she can be in their system which will allow her to attend summer camps for both volleyball and track.  She doesn't feel it yet, but this is going to be a great year for Lauren. 

 Just don't bring it up........complete meltdown warning!

Within the embrace of family we discover the sharing of life's most precious legacy. It is here we learn to love and to be loved, and to understand the meaning of listening hearts, outstretched hands, and the song of joy and laughter. The beauty of family brings us cherished memories we wish to hold forever, for it is through our memories that our hearts find their way home.

Quiet Before the Storm

Wexford Village at Devonshire.  I don't know if it was the British sound of the place that intrigued me or the look of the apartment complex, but this is where we call home.  The "we" part

will arrive later this week, but as for now, it is just me. 

As I write this, I am sitting on a blow up couch with one plate to my name and a few cups in the kitchen.  I've been here in West Virginia for nearly three months now, owning only enough items to get by knowing all our household goods will arrive in a bit.  As Lauren is sad to leave, Jason is nervous yet anxious to get this show on the road.  Trent and Emily I think are indifferent.  Movers arrive tomorrow, and will pack the family out until Wednesday.  Jason, while hauling our troop and the 30 foot camper, will leave South Dakota early Sunday morning.  Only one fear.........household goods will probably

 arrive before they will. 

Have I gotten used to living on my own?  Yes, do I like it?  No.  Oh it can be done, and there are moments I tell myself to soak it in.  Like when I come home exhausted from work - I can slip on my pajamas and go right to sleep.  Or like today - major headache when I woke up......lay on my blowup couch and listen to April's General Conference (of which I am still trying to finish).  But I do miss making dinner, helping with homework, or just the very least.....someone needing me.  I miss Emily yelling from her bed to have me tuck her in and say prayers.  I miss Lauren wondering if I'm going to make it to her track meet and being able to ask her how her date with Colton went.  I miss checking in on Trent and him wanting to show me the latest accomplishment on Minecraft or MW3.  Jason and I were just saying how over the phone doesn't cut it.

I am happy we chose to love here, in Charleston that is.  We actually live in the Teays Valley area  between Charleston and Huntington.  Marshall University is close so I'm sure the football games will be in order this next season.  I'm excited to to to Washington D.C. as it is closer than I thought and so many things to see and do there with the kids.  Virginia Beach is within half a days drive as well as

 many beautiful lakes in WV. 

Time to carve out some family time and make some plans.  We have a great year ahead of us!