Fresh, Authentic, Simply Original Experience, that everyone will want to repeat. That is the mission statement of my new place of employment, Ted's Montana Grill. The uniforms are comfy, the atmosphere is cozy and friendly and the food honestly is fantastic. It's gonna be a good summer job. I had orientation yesterday and in about an hour I will begin my training. After reading up on Ted's philosophy and trying desperately to memorize their 20 different burgers, not to mention there specials and soups of the day, the desserts, the drinks, the salads, the kids menu... it compares nicely to cramming for my last final. A memory which is still all too fresh. Despite the crazy amounts of food choices I will be memorizing over the next four days, I really am looking forward to this job. Well, at least as much as anyone could look forward to a waitressing job. I like my manager and I like the philosophy of the place, so I figure I'm off to a good start.
Last Thursday Jason and I embarked on a trip of uncertainty, but hope. We drove 11 hours down to Venice Florida for some relaxation, sunshine, a little Shamu action, and to complete the puzzle of Metting Natalie's enormous family. Jason met my grandparents. Actually my mom's Dad and step-mom to be completely accurate. As we traveled along the highway and I faced challenges such as eating a Wendy's baked potatoe while driving (I wouldn't recommend it) a looming apprehension and dread began to fall over me. I realized that I had never, NEVER, in my 21 years of knowing these people, spent a single, solitary moment with them alone. Never any one-on-one communication. Sure I had seen them at Christmas and usually once in the summer when we went to the lake, but I had always had the buffer of my family, or my cousins, or my aunts and uncles. I realized these people really didn't know me, and I really didn't know them, and I was about to spend 5 days at their house. No buffer, no distractions, just me and Jason.
We pulled into the driveway of their new Florida home at about 9:30. The home is nestled in THE PLANTATION, a lovely community for single families, and retired couples, the majority being the latter. Jason and I gave each other a little pep talk, a quick kiss, and prepared ourselves for what may lay ahead...awkward silences, dinners at 4:30, subject matter of toe surgery and dizzy spells? I rang the doorbell uttering a quick prayer, and when the door opened my fears were releaved. There they were, so excited to see us in a beautiful home. Grandma had made us shrimp scampi and fresh rasberry juice. I was stuffed from that earlier Wendy's baked potatoe fiasco, but I ate anyway. We were welcomed so warmly with dinner at 9:30, not 4:30! The following five days followed suit. Now I'll tell you, there were some bumps in the road.
Big bumps: Jason and I spent all of Friday on the beach. We came home and took showers in preparation for "the Club", grandma and grandpa's country club. I didnt ever realize just how much my grandparetns liked to drink until this trip. They offered us a drink before the club, so we both had a glass of chardonney. No big deal right? Well, I think we got extremely dehydrated in the sun all day and we hadn't eaten in a long time. As I was drinking my chardonney I began to feel as though I was floating above the table. I was talking, but wasn't sure if what I was saying was what I thought I was saying. Basically, I was blown off of one glass of chardonney. I looked at Jason and he appeared to be okay, but then my grandpa asked me to move my car. I asked Jason to come with me, thinking surely he was in a better condition for such a task then me. I found out he was just as loopy as I was. So there we were, after one glass of chardonney, completely blown and trying not to crack up and lead my grandparents on into what was going on. I successfully moved my car and we went off to dinner.
Unfortunately, dinner at the club was lacking. Our meals were over-priced and not that great, but a little white merlo took care of us just fine. As if we hadn't had enough to drink, when we got home they offered us coctails! We laughed to each other and politely declined.
Well, unfortunately my fish from the club came back to haunt me and at 2am I was hugging the toilet begging for it to just leave! I still felt bad in the morning and you would have thought my leg had fallen off the way it ruffled my grandma's feathers. It was pretty funny though, because she was trying to protect their beloved club saying, "surely it wasn't the fish. I bet it was the cheesecake. Sometimes dairy can do that. It was the cheesecake" Okay grandma, it was the cheesecake (it was definitely the fish-don't eat the sea bass, whatever you do...) About noon my stomache finally settled down, and they took us to a restaurant with all seafood and fried food. Just what the doctor ordered for a queezy stomache... AFter the meal, strangely I fetl sick again. Once again I shouldn't have been driving because when leaving the restaurant I backed my car right into a concrete median. Sweet!
Really, I could go on and on about this trip, and I probably will later, but I have run out of time. Ted's is calling! Let's just say in conclusion, I have a nice tan, they loved Jason, and I got to see Shamu for the first time! =) Until next time.....