Your Hostess Loves Spoofs of Restaurants!

Since becoming a hostess a year ago, I've realized that not only do a lot of people misunderstand the hostess but also they misunderstand that it's not the hostess making the rules, it's the restaurant. I feel almost as if the restaurant is the government/legislature and the hostess are the police officers but when stuff hits the fan, the legislature throws the police officers under the bus every time.

Digressing from my bitterness, I have seen many spoofs of full service restaurants such as the one I work at but here I have, a prime example of one that really hit home for me. This is the episode of TV sitcom My Wife and Kids where the Kyles take a reluctant trip to a Japanese restaurant where everything seems to be going awry.

In an attempt to get the whole family to high tail it back home so he could watch a very popular basketball game, Michael [the father] tries everything in his power to destroy the night so the family can go home. First, Michael pushes Kady [youngest daughter] into a Koi Pond at the restaurant and she gets all wet causing Janet [the wife] to buy her a $60 sweatshirt just so that she could be dry. Second, Michael finds that there is a long wait for a table and the hostess offers the family to hang out inside the Toko Lounge while they wait, Michael accepts and goes to purchase an overpriced drink and is becoming increasingly annoyed. Michael then walks over to the hostess stand to check on his table and the hostess tells him that his table was ready 20 minutes ago and that she buzzed his pager 82, twice. Michael then rebuts that the buzzer never rang and the hostess then recalls; his buzzer doesn't work-she gives him a new functional buzzer, pager 140. After getting seated, Michael realizes that he is sitting with a man he'd had a confrontation with at the gas station earlier that day and becomes infuriated. He realizes that the hostess took a sip of his drink and asks that he receive a new one free of charge while the manager steps in to diffuse the situation Michael also reports that the price of the sweatshirt is entirely outrageous and he learns that it was actually more expensive than he was charged. At the end, there is a blowout between the Kyle family and the family unwillingly sitting at their table.

I found this episode hilarious because these things are some of the situations I encounter in my everyday work experience, it's easier to laugh at it when it's not happening to me and I want to share my love of restaurant spoofs with everyone.

Here is the episode in case you haven't seen it: My Wife & Kids: Table for too Many

The Hostess May Hate You But She Loves Giving Back!

I don't usually write about things like this in my blog but I attended this great event supporting the spread of awareness of HIV/AIDS. The event was planned and carried out by cousin Todd Bethell. I was personally honored to be invited to this event because of the cause but also the fact that he made his very own awareness day and he made it fun. For those of you who may or may not know, World AIDS day is December 1, 2014.

The event was held at the Biscayne Shores and Gardens Park on February 28. The park is a great spot, my dog loves it there. I was kind of scared at first because although we posted flyers almost everywhere in Miami Shores, the turn out was small--at first. There were a couple people who showed up because they saw the flyer and they brought red items some even going as far as to bring Doritos chips, Twizzlers and I've even seen a red light bulb go up. Then we had a couple passers-by that saw what we were doing and wanted to be a part of it so they went and got their red items and joined our event.

I had a great time while also getting some helpful information including websites to get the latest statistics about HIV/AIDS and also information about where I can get tested. One of the speakers also did a great game with trivia about HIV/AIDS and dispelled common myths and stigmas about HIV/AIDS. All in all, I think Project X-Out AIDS was a success and a Friday well spent.

Here are a couple websites that I got from the event:
• Latest statistics about HIV/AIDS, information about the disease and events supporting awareness of HIV/AIDS: AIDS.gov
• Thrift store, donate to AIDS Healthcare Foundations, get a prescription filled, FREE HIV Testing: Out of the Closet
• General gynecology information, STD Testing (as well as HIV testing), Obstetrics and Cosmetic information: Women & Teens Healthcare
• Pregnancy/parenting advice, STD/HIV Testing, STD/HIV information and pregnancy and sex information: Planned Parenthood

And lastly, I will leave you with these awesome shots I got at the park during the event.

Project X-Out AIDS Flyer on local wire pole

Participant holding Project X-Out AIDS flyer before event

After the ribbon was finished, young girl eating left over Twizzlers candy

Todd Bethell, my cousin and creator of the event, posing in front of the finished product