Saturday, January 22, 2011

End of a LONG, LONG Week......

This week has been an EXTREMELY long one!

My office is usually open 4 days each week, but because we were closed for 2 days due to snow a couple of weeks ago, we were open 5 days this week to try to accommodate all the patients that had to be rescheduled. It is amazing how much more demanding working one additional day can be!  AND...we are scheduled to work 5 days NEXT week, too!  I think my boss is already rethinking his decision to add these two additional days! We are ALL "pooped"!

In addition to my "regular" job, I also work several nights a week as a hostess in a local restaurant.  I started working here about a year ago,  knowing that there would probably be an upcoming wedding in our family in the near future. Sure enough, on May 4th of 2010, I came home from working that evening to this romantic sight on my patio:


My daughter's fiance', Josh, had built a fire in the outdoor fireplace and he had spelled out "Will You Marry Me" on my patio - in tea lights! How sweet and romantic is that!

Now, their special day is FAST approaching!  On April 2, 2011, my daughter, Grace, and Josh, plan to be married and our family could not be more excited!


As for my second job...what started out as a means to earn extra money that would be designated for their upcoming wedding, has actually turned into something I really enjoy! I call it my "No-Brainer" job....meaning that after my more stressful "day job", my working in this fine dining restaurant is really enjoyable. I love people and since my love language is clearly Acts of Service, it is "right up my alley".

Since I have been working in this local area for the past 11 years, I know many of the guests that frequent our restaurant.  I sometimes say it is like a "Cheers" setting because we have so many "regulars" that come in every week...some of which have their "set" table that they sit at each time they come in.  Some even come several times a week!  Our atmosphere is a very "family" atmosphere which has definitely led to the great success that our restaurant has experienced over the past 7 years.

Last night was the first night of  Queens Feast  - a semi-annual event here in the Queen City.  It is an opportunity for the people of Charlotte to "dine like royalty" for thirty dollars a person over a 10-day period. Many of the upscale restaurants in our metropolitan area participate, giving guests an opportunity to choose an appetizer, entree and dessert -- all for the $30 fare. It also brings a great boost to our local economy in the process--with the July 2009 event serving over 80,000 dinners for an estimated local impact of $3.76 million.


The first night of Restaurant Week was a great success...with our restaurant being on an at least an hour wait most of the night. Unfortunately, we also had to turn away many disappointed guests who waited to the last minute to make their reservations.   ) :

Now that this LONG work week has finally come to a close...I am so excited to have today off!
I have lots of projects that NEED to be done around the house...i.e. mail to sort, bills to pay, 2010 tax "stuff" to be filed away...you know, "fun stuff" like that!

Now... whether or NOT I will DO anything of those things....remains to be seen!


How about you?  
Do you have any exciting plans for the weekend?




9 comments:

Love Being A Nonny said...

So glad you posted about the Queen's Feast. I'll have to make sure my family knows about this!

LOVE how your future son-in-law proposed!!

LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE...GOD'S GRACE said...

I am taking it easy today...will do some necessary house cleaning, but other than that, it will be a pretty lazy day (I hope)!!

Have a great weekend!

~Beth

Jacquie Wallace said...

I had no idea you worked SO many hours a week!! You're one busy woman.

You and I are doing the same thing today, though. Bills, tax stuff, fun.

Robyn Beele said...

I LOVE the tea light proposal!! So sweet! Hosting does sound like a fun job!

Carol said...

Mimi,
It sure does sound like your week has been busy. Hang in there for next week. You can do it!

I love the "Queen's Feast" that your down does. It's a great idea on so many levels. Did you get to go out with your hubby to a restaurant of your choosing to enjoy a meal?

I hope you get lots done this weekend. My plan is to do a little quilting today. I also have our Saturday evening service to attend. We work with the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for their "Sunday" school only it's on a Saturday night, then we go to the 2nd service to worship and hear God's Word. After that, some friends invited our family over for chili. Sounds like fun.

And since we go to Saturday night service, we get all of Sunday to enjoy as a family.

Blessings to you,
Carol

P.S. Congratulations to your daughter. That sure was a romantic proposal.

petrii said...

WOW girl, I didn't know you worked two jobs. You are one busy lady!!!

What a wonderfully romantic way to purpose.

Have a Blessed evening,
Dawn

Jill said...

The restaurants in our area do something like this too. I've always wanted to take advantage and go out on one of the nights they offer it, but still haven't!

We have no big plans this weekend. Grocery shopping & a Target run were about as exciting as it got! :)

Enjoy your Sunday!!

His Doorkeeper said...

Thanks for the very kind words left on my blog about our 40th wedding anniversary!

I had read all about your daughter's proposal and I voted for her to get free wedding pictures......Have you heard anything more about that?

This would surprise anyone who knows me but I have always secretly wanted to try my hand at being a waitress. I love to wait on people and do little things to make them enjoy themselves and just generally help people out. I think I would have made a good nurse but it's a little late for that! But you never know!!

Thanks again for being so sweet! I was so happy that Faith and Kelly got to finally meet!
Blessings!

Tracie Nall said...

That is such a sweet proposal! Very cute.