I'm a Chilihead!!

Check out my new shirt!  

Back in the spring I started working as a server at Chili's here in Japan on base.  It was about 13 years since I had a job and it has been amazing.

On the one hand its not about the money, but it is also totally about the money.  I didn't get the job to make a bunch of money because we are living fine off of bob's income.  But I love to have my work valued in the form of $$$.  It is nice to have other people telling me thank you and nice things while I am working for them instead of getting whined and complained at when I tell the kids things.  Plus it is totally exciting when I get a big tip.  I'd say on a normal night I make about $150-200 in tips.  But we have been busy and just over the past two weeks one night I made $300, once $400, and even $500 one night.  What are we going to do with the money?  I have no idea.  I want it to be something special instead of going into our regular savings account and just getting lost with our retirement/house fund.  I'm thinking about having it be for vacations, or for me to get my doctorate.  

Another great thing about it is that it is crazy busy.  I usually work three nights a week.  I go in at 3pm and usually end around 11.  But there have been nights when I don't leave until after midnight. Most of the time I'm there is nonstop, at least until the customers leave around 9:30.  I don't take breaks and often don't have time to go to the bathroom.  I can usually get a sip of water and once in a while I eat a few bites of messed up food in the back.  I like being so busy, because it is time when I am living completely in the present.  I do not have time to think about the future or worry about anything.  Sometimes I can get a nice flow going and the time just flys by.  

Bob has been doing a lot around the house on the nights that I'm working and I'd say it has been a nice balance shift.  He never complains about it or anything he has been really great about it.  I just feel more balance because now we are both solo parenting at times and also both working outside of the home.  The kids have been doing just fine.  At first they didn't like me being gone, but they can just deal with it.  I'm honestly a little tired of my life revolving around six little people, now I have my own schedule that needs to also be worked around.

I have no idea how long I will work there.  I wouldn't say it is my dream job or anything like that.  In fact we just got shut down last night for Covid.  Hopefully we will open back up soon.  The main things I don't like about it are that my feet hurt, and I'm really tired almost all the time.  I still have to get up at 6am to get some kids off the school, then we homeschool, put the littles down for naps and I get ready for work.  Its a busy schedule, but that only makes the days I don't work so much sweeter.

And now it totally makes sense as to why I barely ever post on here anymore.  I like blogging mainly for journaling purposes, but it will just have to happen when I have time.