Posted by
realetybytes on Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:29:58 PM
I fired up an obsolete computer today, an 860 with 512 KB. While checking some files, I came across a (successful) letter of defense I had to write, due to an incident with my immediate supervisor, (lets call him Bruce), at my old job.
I was the Head Bartender at a catering hall in Plantation, Fl, called Rolling Hills. (If you saw Caddyshack, that is where some of it was filmed, see credits at end of film).
One busy evening, an incident occurred which caused me to force a painful realization upon the cook, who, technically was my supervisor, and took great umbrage at this personal revelation.
It may bring a smile to your face.
To: CATERING OFFICE<CONNIE
From: Ron Reale 4.18.2003
My Defense, or, The Simple Task Requested of Bruce, and Why His Failure To Fulfill and/or Attempt Said Task, Led Him To Realize, of His Own Volition, That He Is An A-hole.
On the day in question, I had a request from the Mother of either the Bride or Groom at the function (I don’t remember which), for a drink containing grapefruit juice (GJ). Realizing after checking the coolers that I had no GJ, I went to Bruce and asked for some.
Bruce stated I needed a requisition for the juice. I pointed out that:
A) I truthfully would not know what his requisition forms looked like,
B) I would not know where to get one immediately and,
C) The Guest was waiting.
Bruce’s reaction was to stand in the doorway of the kitchen and pontificate upon what he saw as the cause of the problem, the failure of one of his fellow managers to follow his directives, so there was nothing he could do.
I cut short his diatribe, as it did not solve my problem. Bruce’s indifference was starting to irk me.
I tried one more time. I said, “ IF you cannot give me a bottle of juice now, so I can deal with this VIP, and write down that fact and deal with the inventory problem later, THEN you are an a-hole.
I can only assume, from his reaction, that Bruce had decided that he could not give me juice and write it down for later, so he must in fact be, an a-hole.
This self-realization must have struck Bruce hard, because he didn’t take it well.
Bruce ordered me from the kitchen.
I was good and irked by now.
I was determined that the fact that he was angered because he realized he was an a-hole, coupled with my anger at not being able to do my job in a timely manner, to the best of my abilities, because he was so unprofessional as to not care about the Guest, wasn’t costing me my nights employment, as I had done nothing out of line.
Bruce then ordered me out again, saying, “I’m not kidding”. I guess he felt it necessary to add that, because he has to know his attitude about service and this job is a joke to all the catering, banquet, and restaurant staff.
Regrettably, at this point, I told him to go and accomplish something that, to my knowledge, is not physically possible.
I am truthfully sorry about that.
Predictably, Bruce’s anger grew. Not at hearing the phrase, because the kitchen staff uses it regularly on the banquet and or restaurant staff.
Whatever the reason, Bruce ordered me out a few more times, and I went about getting what I needed for the Guest, repeating my anatomically impossible suggestion to Bruce every time he ordered me out. (I went to the bar and got GJ for the guest and continued the evening uneventfully).
Bruce, on the other hand, went after someone else, so his self-realization would not be the most important thing he had to report the next day.
Not being a trained physician or muscular therapist, I had no right to offer anatomical suggestions to another employee, and I shall endeavor to never again offer unsolicited physical advice.
Ronald Reale
I was never contacted again about the matter, and worked there until it closed the following year.