Should I.....

[abeyance]

Right now I am considering changing my job to facillitate commuting to work. I bring rednecks sweet tea ( waiter) in a city 20 miles away. Riding there would be incredibly dangerous, as the only route there is a 2 lane highway, and I would be riding home at roughly the same time that the bars close. I want to bring different sweet tea to different rednecks in a city 7 miles away, which happens to be located on a bike path that goes right by my house. I used to commute by bike in when I lived in my previous residences, loved it, and truly miss it. There is also a grocery store and a Wal-Mart ( insert wise-cracks here) on the way home within 1/2 mile from my route. I am concerned with the money I would be making though, as tips at the other steakhouse are considerably lower. i would be making about 25 percent less. I figure I would be spending alot less on Camel Lights and gas though. Do you think I should do it?

[Roody]

I think you should just quit. The Camel lights and gas, that is.

Seriously, the new job sounds ideal. Your calves and butt will shape up form the bike commute, and then the tips will be much better!

[SpokesInMyPoop]

hmm... have you calculated how much it costs to commute to and from work?

biking will offset your smoking a bit, and you'll excersize every day that you work. There are benefits there.

I'm also a smoker (switched to drum rolling tobacco 2 weeks ago). My last bike got totalled in sept, and I didn't get a replacement until a month ago. During that time, I caught the bus/carpooled to and from work, and I smoked more cigarettes than I would if I were commuting 5 days a week. Now that I've been back in the saddle for 2 weeks, I smoke considerably less (a pouch of drum lasts me 8 days!).

So ya might be making less @ this other job, but you'll be spending less than you probably would with your current job. Good luck!

[xyz]

hmm... have you calculated how much it costs to commute to and from work?

biking will offset your smoking a bit, and you'll excersize every day that you work. There are benefits there.

I'm also a smoker (switched to drum rolling tobacco 2 weeks ago). My last bike got totalled in sept, and I didn't get a replacement until a month ago. During that time, I caught the bus/carpooled to and from work, and I smoked more cigarettes than I would if I were commuting 5 days a week. Now that I've been back in the saddle for 2 weeks, I smoke considerably less (a pouch of drum lasts me 8 days!).

So ya might be making less @ this other job, but you'll be spending less than you probably would with your current job. Good luck!

I always wanted to do a race and light up on the last lap so I could be smoking at the finish.

[abeyance]

I think you should just quit. The Camel lights and gas, that is.

Seriously, the new job sounds ideal. Your calves and butt will shape up form the bike commute, and then the tips will be much better!

Spoken like a true non-smoker, but I agree with you. I am not sure about the tips though, as......
1. I live in the South, and if people can see my calves, they might not like the hairless roadie look.
2. My calves and butt are fine, my belly needs work though, as I went from riding 300 miles a week to about 100. I ate the same amount, hence the belly.
3. I am not a 19 year old girl, but a 6'1" 210 pound bald man. No one is going to tip me because of my rear.
4. the RQ ( redneck quotient) is MUCH higher in the new store. More "You did a great job, here is 4 dollars on my 50 dollar tab" (Wow, after paying tip out, I get to keep $2.50, and pay about $1 in taxes. $1.50 for deading with you. Golly, thanks mister)
5. I will probably end up spending more on bicycles, as there is a bike shop on the way home too. I guess I really do "need" that track frame with 135 rear spacing.
6. Also a Taco Bell on the ride home. I don't think I will be able to quit the "gas"

But I really do think I will be happier. I might stay on with the old place for 2 days a week, and work at the one closer to me for the other five. Car-Lite, but not car-free. From the end of March to the end of June I was car free( had a car, just didnt drive it), and I loved it. I miss the feeling.

[humancongereel]

this is possibly my least helpful post of the day, though they're all contenders. but the "taco bell = gas" joke was fantastic!

[abeyance]

I always wanted to do a race and light up on the last lap so I could be smoking at the finish.

People always ask me " How can you smoke and ride a bicycle?" I tell them that Coppi, Mercx, and Anquetil smoked. They say "Who are they?"

[humancongereel]

i didn't know they smoked. but i know some people smoke and do just fine. i suppose it could be done, but think what they'd do without smoking...man. i've improved a lot since i quit.

still, smoking on the last lap would sure look cool...ha ha ha.

[xyz]

Maybe I could get sponsered by Marlboro.

[abeyance]

Mercx said that one should smoke cigs with low tar.... it's healthier

[mike]

Have you thought of asking the new place for more money to make up the difference? Tell him what is going on.

Good experienced and RELIABLE food industry help is hard to find. That 25% might seem like a lot of money to you, but not unreasonable to the resturaunt owner.

210 lb bald guys add a certain classiness to a place. You are probably worth the extra money.

[abeyance]

Have you thought of asking the new place for more money to make up the difference? .

I sincerely doubt that would work, not trying to be condesending. Most of the food service industry looks at their employees as somewhat disposable. From my years working in the industry, I sort of look at resteraunts as halfway houses with food. Many of the employees work there because they couldn't pass a drug test ( not that there is anything wrong with that), couldn't work anywhere else, or don't have any marketable skills. I do it because of my self-diagonosed ADHD. I coun't deal with a desk job.
But if I went into texas Road House and asked for 5 or 6 dollars an hours rather than 2.13, which is what the difference in my earnings would be, i would probably be laughed out of the place. They probably only pay their cooks 7 to 9.

[Roody]

Get a job at the LBS you said is on the commute. Sounds like you're burned out on food service.

[mike]

I sincerely doubt that would work, not trying to be condesending. Most of the food service industry looks at their employees as somewhat disposable. From my years working in the industry, I sort of look at resteraunts as halfway houses with food. Many of the employees work there because they couldn't pass a drug test ( not that there is anything wrong with that), couldn't work anywhere else, or don't have any marketable skills. I do it because of my self-diagonosed ADHD. I coun't deal with a desk job.
But if I went into texas Road House and asked for 5 or 6 dollars an hours rather than 2.13, which is what the difference in my earnings would be, i would probably be laughed out of the place. They probably only pay their cooks 7 to 9.

That is my point exactly. Imagine yourself as an EMPLOYER rather than an employee. Out of the train of washed out druggies, teen-agers, and others either fallen or just getting back up, you really REALLY wish you could find at least one good solid employee. I bet you would be willing to spend $15 bucks more per day to have a solid, reliable employee. I know I would. I have hired people for 20% to 30% more pay than others because I didn't want to screw around with an average quality employee. I wanted somebody good and was willing to pay for it. By your own description, the competition isn't that tough.

It sure doesn't hurt to ask. My teen-age son just got another retail job at the mall. He went on the job hunt, applied to several places, interviewed, and then got offers. He took one job, then another place offered him a job. He said, well, I already have a job at the other store, but I will work for you for $1.00 more per hour. He got the raise and the job right then and there. Now that is a teen-ager working retail. If he can do it, so can you.

[xyz]

At the places I have worked they will not pay you more even after you have spent a year or more doing twice as much work as everyone else.

[abeyance]

Get a job at the LBS you said is on the commute. Sounds like you're burned out on food service.

I appreciate your comment. if it was only that easy. There is no way that shop could afford to pay me anywhere near the amount I require to live. I am really not burned out on food service though. I just hate dealing with the people who run you to death and barely pay you more that what it costs to wait on them in the first place. For example, lets say a group of four people come in and spend 100 on food ( this actually happened today, 115, but for the sake of easy math, we wil make it 100) One person says they will take care of the tip. he leaves $7. For every 100 in food I sell, i have to pay out $3 ( 1 to the hostess,1 to the busboy, 1 to the bar). Now I am down to 4. The IRS assumes you make an average of 8 percent of sales. With a 25% tax on my tips, that is $2. now I am down to $2. If i have two of those tables at the same time ( its happened before), I make $6 an hour running my ass off.

Not burned out on food service, just cheap Mother f##kers.

Not burned out on my current job, burned out on driving there.

But I will "intern" at the bike shop. What else do I have to do between 10 and 4. Work for free, get the discount, and if it works out, I could work there as well. Maybe go to Interbike next year.

[lilHinault]

Remember you pay for your car, gas, and cigs with after-tax money, I think the estimate is the average american needs to earn an extra $13k to come up with the average $8k they need to support a car. Add up the cost of gas, the car itself, insurance, repairs, carwashes, all of it. You may find getting rid of the car is a huge boost in income!

Spend less, keep more. This is why some ppl on $5 an hour are able to save more per month than those making $50/hr, who are often up to their ears in debt.

Good luck!

[tacomee]

Most of the time, I'm against people moving to solve problems-- because most of the time, your problems fallow you to the new place.

But.... what the heck are you doing waiting tables in hicksville when the big money is in the city? Pick a good Left Coast cycling mecca and move! Pro waiters like you make $$ in Portland or Seattle and you can ride your bike everywhere.

Of course I must admit that I'm married to a wonderful women with a big time career so I'm kind of stuck job-wise, working in local bikeshops and waiting tables because I have a morgage to pay. I really don't mind being trapped :)

If I was single-- things would be a lot different! Although I doubt I would be as happy and relaxed as I am married.

[abeyance]

I also am trapped, although I don't mind it either. About to be married to a wonderful woman, so I too am stuck waiting tables in Hicksville. I could commute to Atlanta ( about 1 hr away), but I can't deal with having to spend 14 plus hours a week in a car. I am barely hanging on spending 6 or so hours in a car a week. If i get the job closer to my home, i'll be doing the exact same thing you do, waiting tables and working in a bike shop. I appriciate your input.