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Isle of Capri all-you-can-eat crab legs experience!

There is one good thing about opening. I have the evening to spend with my wife, even though if I’m a little tired. You know, waking up at 3:30 in the morning is not a very easy task for me to do! But, as many of you know, I know what I was getting myself into when I decided to work where I do, and I accept the schedule when I have to do so.

But going back to the one thing good about opening the restaurant. It allowed us on a Friday night to go out to eat at a restaurant. Last night after getting back home I really wanted to make the trip to eat all-you-can-eat crab legs. I have found that you can get a great seafood crab leg buffet at casino. The casinos think that there will be some gambling involved, but I don’t gamble at all!

We drove (ok … it really wasn’t we … more later) to the casino called Isle of Capri for all-you-can-eat crab legs. It was a very good experience. It’s been the best out of all the other casinos in the area. The crab legs were cooked just right, the other selections were good, too, and the service exceeded our expectation. The other places we have visited in the past the crab legs were either overcooked, the desserts were stale, and/or the service was less than standard. At the buffet, the service at the Isle of Capri was something I haven’t seen in a long time. We didn’t have to ask for any drink refills. In the restroom a gentleman was in there just to service the patron. At the time I reached the basin to wash my hands, the gentleman was cleaning the urinal. He stopped what he was doing to help me get some paper towel from the dispenser to dry my hands. Upon leaving, one employee said goodbye. I was really impressed, which is something really hard to do!

I really liked the drive because my wife insisted that she drive because of the early morning wake-up call that I had on Friday. The drive was longer than she expected based upon my quick directions before my nap while she was driving. All I remember was falling asleep soon after we left our place and waking up when we drove into the casino’s parking lot, and hearing my wife demand a restroom to use! :-O

Sunshine Blog posting

I am really surprised. My Sunshine posted a couple of blogs before I could. I am proud of her for writing what she did. I mentioned to her that I wanted her to write on the blog, not only to share what’s going on in our lives, but it acts as a journal of what’s going on.

I’ve always believed to set an example of what I would like from others to follow—not that anyone will at all!

I will be adding a few more post soon, now that I survived my five day opening shifts.

Workweek ahead ... Questions I'm asking myself ...

For most of my life, I thought that I was better good at figuring out how to deal with women, and more specifically if I got married, I’d be able to handle any problem. Since getting married almost ten months ago, I have been presented with a puzzle of life that I didn’t think possible. Let’s say that when there is communication that I can relate to, usually in writing (by e-mail or posted on my blog) or by text—unless it’s a nature of personal, personal nature—that is my means of communication. My wife has really learned that about me; it’s one of the many reasons why I love her.

I am off this weekend, but I’m really not looking forward to the upcoming week of work. It’ll be wake up calls at three-thirty in the morning for five days straight. And most of you know how happy I am about waking up in the morning. Hint: I am not a morning person. It’ll be five days straight. Then, it’s another four days working before my next day off.

Let me ask you all you morning people: how do you get up early in the morning and eat breakfast? I could not get into the routine of waking up early and eating. I really don’t understand that. It’s Sunday afternoon right now, and I have to psyche myself up to get to work within the next eighteen hours, and my schedule for the next week and a half.

I wish that I had more time to really do what I need to do, but I just have to schedule and find the time. I am learning that there are so many tasks to do on a daily basis at the company that I work at that it amazes me that I’ll be able to complete everything on my to-do list. A superior point of why I choose to work at the company that I do is because it is really structured and has many tools at any manager’s disposal. Still, it doesn’t help that it’s a faster paced operation than what I’ve been used to in the last several years.

Even with my present work conditions, there are reasons why things happen as they do. Like working at a job that I have to wake up at three-thirty in the morning! … I really believe that. As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, I have been working on developing my marriage and deepening my walk with the Lord. There’s this other book that God is working with me about with my marriage, along with the other one that I mentioned in a previous post, this along with my personal walk with Him. There’s a lot of challenging questions that are asked. Let me list a few that has made this process interesting. Wouldn’t I be interested to hear your responses to these questions?

 

> How do I see myself?

> Describe your current destination.  And where you hope to travel in your future spiritual journal.   

> Are you quick witted or methodical?

> What were the significant stops along the way?  Did you backtrack or take detours?  Were there some tough mountains to climb? 

 

Would anyone like to answer any of these questions?

A really interesting experience "watching" TV with my wife ...

Right now it’s one of those interesting experiences in 2008. My wife and I are watching the Bristol NASCAR race. It’s almost halfway through the race this Saturday evening. It’s right when the race was red flagged for an accident.

I’m upstairs watching TV and my wife is doing the same show downstairs. Why are we doing this? Many times we end up taping the races to watch them later, because of our schedule, most of the times we are not watching it together. We watched Nationwide race together from yesterday.  We ended watching it at 6:40pm (CST).  The Sprint Cup race was planned to start their cars' engine at about quarter after 7pm (CST).  But there was only twenty minutes to squeeze the Countdown hour show.  I knew that we couldn't finish watching the show.

I wanted to keep track of the race with NASCAR RaceView. It’s watching the race in real-time with up-to-the minute hundredth of a second distance between cars. During the race, I get to track whatever driver I would like to throughout the forty-three car event. It’s not often that I am off from work at the same time that the race is going on, so I try to take advantage of it.

 

Who will be the US Democratic vice-presidential nominee?

It’s been a slow news week. It’s not supposed to be during the weekend, but with the presidential nomination conventions for both parties coming up during the two weeks it will not be so . The buzz around the world is who Democratic presidential nominee will select for his vice-presidential running mate for his convention which starts on Monday. 

I wonder if any one of really care who he does select to campaign with him during the fall campaign.

Let me preface these comments by saying that this year’s presidential election hasn’t gotten me very excited at all. I don’t know if it’s my age or not, but I’m leaving the big picture of life to God Almighty! It really doesn’t matter who wins this year. I know that some of you might find hard to believe, but right now true.

Work ... next two-and-a-half months & the Dentist

For the weekend, it was very busy and thoughtful. This weekend started a lot of wheels moving toward the next two-and-a-half months at work. Now, is challenging times in the restaurant with the economy tested with uncertain gas prices, the mortgage market on a downward trend, and government spending being cut many times over and over. Whatever patrons are walking into the door to eat, we always have to do more to “wow” them. Every company tracks the loyalty of their guests.

As I mentioned before, I am planning more week-to-week. Still, it doesn’t help that the business that I’m in is really intense and fast-paced. I work really on my feet for many hours straight. I was asked last week to plan out what I would like to personally accomplish during the next fiscal quarter, now, until October 31, 2008. I’ve mentioned to you that is one of the best things about working where do. During my training, they stressed the idea that you have to plan your day out to accomplish everything that needs to be accomplished to move the business forward. They did not want manager, but leaders. They didn’t want prospective hired managers to come in with their keys and just “run” their shifts (make sure the building didn’t burn down). 

I finally went to the dentist yesterday after over a decade, maybe two? I was amazed how the visits have changed. The X-rays are immediate just seconds, they map your teeth by saying how deeply rooted each tooth is, and there is even a camera takes picture of my teeth (and shows you there as you are in the “chair). The people working there have been a comfort to me.

I have a few more decisions to make in the coming months. I may have to change my e-mail address, one that I’ve had for many, many years. That will be sad, indeed. I will keep you posted, and let you know if my e-mail address will change.

Dealing with employees while multi-tasking

Yesterday was an enlightening day at work. Every once-in-a-while I am called into our store’s manager office for those one-on-one. Most of the time it’s for coaching purposes to mold me into the manager that the company would have me to be. I’ve looked at the process as making me more the type of man that I need to be in the world as a whole. That is a challenge all by itself.

I was called in the office because there are many times when I have to multi-task at work. I would be walking up to take care of a guest and a server would come up with me to get permission to take a break. Let me admit that when the choice becomes between the needs of a guest and an employee, most of the time the manager will choose the guest. There are obviously exceptions to the rule. And I wouldn’t have the time and/or space to explain all the scenarios.

I admit that there is a lot for me to learn about multi-tasking. But even as my General Manager mentioned in the one-on-one in the store’s office (and the General Manager before), said that I don’t think like any other manager. I’m too complex for a business that querns for simplicity. He said that when I get information, I process it, digest it, and formulate a perfect plan to implement. Most of the General Managers I’ve worked with have said that they don’t have the same level of intelligence as I do. (Good to know?) It needs it with the majority of turnover of front-line employees.

I was asked by my boss to stop and communicate to the employees to at least say that “I’m busy right now, I’ll be right back with you”—instead of just ignoring them. There used to be a time when managers would direct employees to complete a task, and the employee would have to follow through with the request. Now, as a manager, there’s no doubt that we have, at times, beg and plead and/or use negotiations. It’s amazing how running a business has changed.

Dancing in my head ... What dance card?

It’s dancing in my head. It’s been dancing for a while. A vision. I think it’s an easy one. I know in my mind it’s not really that hard to imagine, but it may just be hard to explain to you all. Usually, I can get through this by someone asking me questions to get through expressing what I really mean. And that is the true purpose of what I have in mind in writing this.

It’s too bad that life can’t stop for a while when you are doing what you want to do. I wish it could stop when I’m not at work. It would be great if it would stop when I’m doing what I’m doing: with me in front of my laptop, typing away, with the television on, with a picture in a picture watching the latest update of news. I’m watching it on the television and I have the option of surfing the `Net to find my own news and storylines. I would have greater satisfaction if I were traveling and posting my observations, thoughts and feelings where I am.

This is definitely the best of worlds right now for the better. During the last few days, the people around me have commented about how spectacular the Opening Ceremonies were of the China 2008 Summer Olympics. I am now able to watch highlights of the ceremonies on the Web at my convenience. 

It’s a changing world where so many technological choices are offered. We can watch our favorite shows when we want to do so. Last year it was the infamous DVR on the local cable system. This year it’s watching the 2008 Opening Ceremony of the China Summer Olympics when I want to do so.

I posted a blog to let others see me for who I am. It’s what I wanted from the years when I sent out written newsletters in my friends and family’s mailbox. I’ve envisioned a time where I could have a community where all my friends and family could share what’s going on in their lives. There will be a discussion board of what’s been going on in their lives. You know to have a real dialogue on what’s our thoughts and feelings are. I would like my friends and family to post a picture and tell a story behind the picture, because a picture is worth a thousand words. I can just look at any one of my pictures and know, thinking back (much better than without a picture) on what happened when that picture was taken.

Growing up in Hawaii, I realized the importance of accepting different cultures. Living where I do now, it’s surprising how racism still is a prevalent issue here. I was really ignorant about that when I was living on the Islands. I remember vividly watching the O.J. Simpson trial and hearing about that and then puzzled how race could even be brought up. There were many ethic groups on the main island of Hawaii getting along relatively well.

I discussed recently with my wife about writing a novel together. I think that it’ll be a good idea. If anyone has any suggestions, please write your comments in the comment section of this post. Any input will be greatly appreciated. It’s bolder than writing on the blog. But I have no doubt that my Sunshine will be up-to-task on this mission. I know that I’ll have to prompt her constantly to keep an eye on the end results. As many of you know from my days cruising the islands, it’s been my “thing.” I hope to capture the process with you on this blog. I hope that you’ll share with me your quick thoughts and reactions when you read what we write. It has always been my desire to know what’s going on with you all. I desire this because it gives me a sharper edge to know more about people, the most challenging opportunity to relate to people.

That is what I would like to start: a different dance … toward something. What is it? Come back once in a while and find out what the dance will be.

Childhood memories ... Longs Drug no longer

Every time I’m on the Internet I browse the Web for news all over the USA. I search many places of interest, especially where I lived: Honolulu, Hawaii, Southern California, St. Louis, Missouri. I noticed this afternoon of news of the sale of Longs Drugs Stores in Hawaii being sold to CVS Caremark, Corp..

I remember many years in Hawaii growing up, riding The Bus, the city transportation, going to Longs Drugs to pick up the latest weekly specials. All of this is because of my Aunt Olive and grandmother who put up with me time and time again. They would always pay for everything that I needed, and most of the time wanted. It brings back wonderful memories of my childhood in the 50^th state.

On my recent visit to the Island, I thought to myself, how sad it is that so many of the small local companies hardly survive in today’s business climate. Most companies are big corporations, the smaller getting incorporated with the larger companies. I also noticed that many of the Hawaii memorabilia were not made in America, but out in the Far East. That is really sad.

After the "I Do"

Have you ever gone through life and felt that you are doing fine, and then someone tells you that you are not? Well, it happens more often when you are married than anything else. I guess for those of you who have been married that is how it is, huh?

Every once in a while there might be a bump in any journey. I thought that it would be cool to go through a refresher course of what a marriage is with a personal relationship with Christ.

I have chosen to read The Smart Groom’s Answer Guide. It’s a guide for the first year of marriage. It interested me because it had a chapter on “What Does It Mean to be the Spiritual Leader?” I have asked for my wife and me to work through a workbook entitled, “After You say `I Do.’” She has been asking for more quality time with each other, and I thought, this would give us a good guide to do so. I thought that I would find a way to build on whatever momentum there is on just being married. Believe me, that is really what I need in this world today with all the assault on the institution of marriage between a man and woman.

I know that the process that we are going through is because it’s all about molding me into the kind of man that God wants me to be, no matter how my self-image of myself is. There are many times that I know in my marriage or my role as a restaurant manager that I get really frustrated because I do not understand why people do what others do!—especially since I know everything, right?