Better Than Ever
A Post By Ruby
A Post By Ruby
White roses can mean many things to many different people. They can symbolize new beginnings, or be a sign of farewell. They can convey feelings of love, friendship, respect and hope.
Edited by RJ
Commentary by RJ
Thankfully (finally), all of Mr. E's hard work and the dedication of this loyal staff has seemed to pay off. Not to disregard the economic condition of our country and our president's nervous and panicked look while trying to reassure us that everything is going to be alright (his eyes seem to be getting closer together every time he speaks to the nation [bad liar?] and we all can sense something is wrong and he feels guilty about it).
When the first week of panic ended (Monday, Columbus Day), business at the Lounge was looking up. Monday (Columbus Day), the day business was showing a little bit of progress. Tuesday and Wednesday were not awful either. Thursday was the breakthrough we needed (my best day ever since the old owner sold the Tavern). Finally, we broke over instead of being minus (embarrassing and depressing to show a negative $4.00 to your boss and barely making shift pay).
Monday, thanks to the holiday and "Dino", we didn't do half bad. "Dino" also hung out on Wednesday and spent a lot of cash, bought the bar a few rounds and although he got a bit drunk and pissed off at "Evie", he did not pick up the pool table (of course I caught that moment and forbade him to do it, and he listened, thankfully).
I had to speak to RJ about Thursday. This day was tough for me emotionally. Thursday, 5 firemen from Brooklyn came in early (after a funeral of one of their fallen 9/11 brothers sons who passed due to cancer [RIP] at a very young age) to drink beer and toast both father and son. A sad day for them, but I had mixed feelings, I was glad to be there for them even in my non-significant role as bartender. I hurt for them, I didn’t quite know how to feel. RJ reflected on this when I spoke to him, of course he got kind of deep.
“The Church and the Bar are the first and last refuge for hurting hearts and not necessarily in that order. The bar is where some come to sit quietly and calmly float away in their beer. Some bring friends to share their pain and grief, no matter how proper, decent, comforting or righteous the ‘religious ceremony’ was for the departed. The bar is where quite a few tortured, grief scalded souls end up.
Having a bartender who understands that can be a good thing for the bar and the patrons, for the patrons in feeling comfortable to grieve with friends and strangers, for the bar in providing sensitivity and empathy enough to be a place where more patrons stay and buy drinks.”
“The ‘Lounge’ should never use someone’s grief as a means to seek a profit opportunity, but a sharp bartender should make every effort to make the hurting feel like the ‘Lounge’ is their place and to encourage other patrons to be supportive. It starts and ends with the bartender. Back in 2002 Bear had a night where a few bikers came to drink to their departed friend. Bear made them feel like they were his family. Before you knew it the place was jammed and stayed that way all night. Bear rang up nearly two grand for the bar.” “Kindness and Empathy are assets to a good bartender” said RJ.
Two other people came in, one an older woman bartender from Freeport's Nautical Mile and her perverted older gentleman (?) friend, very nice, down to earth people. Then there were two younger people from Lindenhurst and a bunch of other people I have never seen before, not to mention all my regular customers who were there. If ever there was a time that I needed reassurance, Thursday pulled through for me. Friday, although busy early in the day, was only okay. I know this was because I was busy for four days before, moving quickly and thriving on it.
Given the way things have been I wasn't feeling very wanted lately but, "Que Sera, Sera". I am a loyal, honest, team player for Mr. E, and he appreciates it. I'm not just all about the "Benjamins", success is prosperity for the boss and the bartender. Given the turn in business and the growing clientele, the return of the regulars and the new attitude from the change in the scenery and feel of the ‘Lounge’, I am seeing that things really are ‘better than ever’.
From RJ:
For the 'Lounge' its a time of new beginnings but this is still a place where we don't forget those who have gone from time or support friends and neighbors when they are down. I hope for all of us 'Lounge' goers things get 'better than ever.'
Love!
3 comments:
So Dino and Evie were in. Lets see if I can figure that one out. If its the same pill popper who lives on the water in Far Rockaway (or at least used to) he's good for spending what little money he has when he has it. The fact he had a woman with him means he ran out of money that same night.
If the new Corner Bar is gonna bring back old faces depend on holes in the bar. DINO loves to kick the bar, pick up the pool table and piss off whoever is there. New beginning...HA!
Its another chapter to the same old shit.
Any profit made in this hole will go to repairs. As far as that 'sentimental shit' remembering those who are dead, bullshit - they got dead from going to this hole. Some others will too - wait and see.
Thanks for the positive thoughts regarding the "Lounge".
As for Dino, well, let's just say that he's off the pills due to bad health which if you know him, leads him right to the "Martyr" bottle. Woe is him, etc.
Evie can push his buttons without concern for the consequences. Hers or anyone elses. She just keeps going and going and going....until you want to kill her. In Dino's case, he wants to take it out on the pool table, so let's just say that he'll be allowed back when he learns how to control himself. End of story.
Limpin' Pimpin" on the other hand, does his dirty deeds by spreading nasty rumors about everyone. He gets so drunk that he doesn't remember saying things to people who tell other people and so on. Another one who might be welcomed back when he learns to control his disgusting mouth and stops spreading crap about people. I think he's worse than Dino by spewing garbage that is so far from the truth and is actually slanderous and hurtful. Just because he doesn't remember saying these things is no excuse for being a jerk. (Pot, kettle, black - get it?)
No, the old trouble is not going to get away with anything that happened in the past. They don't need to break stuff to get kicked out or talk shit about people...they just need to disappear. No one is depending on them for anything.
As for anyone dying, it's not from coming to the "Lounge" or the "Corner", it's either G-d's will or their own doing that did them in. You can't blame a place for someone dying. We're all going to die sometime. Who knows, maybe you'll walk outside one day and get hit by a truck. Are you going to blame it on the bar? It's ridiculous to even think that way.
I guess you should stay out of the bar before someone drops a house on you too.
There's no place like home. Stay there.
To Anonymous 10/25/08:
First of all, Dino wasn't there with Evie, she showed up later on. By that time Dino already had his load on (7 & 7, V.O and whatever else). So she pissed him off, big deal, she pisses everyone off and is very assertive about asking why people are mad at her.
By the way, since you know all the acronyms, you must be or have been a regular at one time or another so you have no right to put anyone down. Dino would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it.
If Dino had a little money at the time and came to support the day bar business then G-d bless him. I can imagine what a cheap jerk you are since you automatically went for his jugular. He is generous to a fault and I hope he never bought you a drink, you don't deserve it. You are not worthy of anyone's generosity. You sound like a real hater.
And by the way, if you could read, it's not the "New Corner Bar", it's the "Broadway Lounge" now. We like the old faces and the new ones, too. We depend on neither of them to make it work. It just does.
The new upbeat attitude and nicer surroundings are working for us. The bad attitude (which you displayed in your comment) are not needed. Please stay home or go elsewhere. You're ruining the good vibes we are trying to put out there.
Oh, and FYI, there are no profits going towards any repairs because none of our patrons are damaging anything. If it was broken before it is being fixed now and staying fixed. BETTER THAN EVER!! Probably because you aren't there.
Thanks for not coming in.
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