Pebbles, Rocks, and Boulders.

Palm Sunday! 
You'd Think, wouldn't you?  Um, no!
You know, we sometimes become complacent, spoiled even, because most of our guests are so wonderful.  Today was one of those days when we appreciated them all the more.  We were cursed with the table-of-four-from-Hell. 

Pebbles:
It all began with the request for our gluten-free menu.  That wasn't enough.  They had to see the label information of each product on the menu (which we keep in a binder for our own use as well), then wanted to see the packaging of said products to be sure we actually used that product.  I said no to that.

Rocks:
Next up, the menu choices weren't convenient to their tastes, so they wanted substitutions - which we do not allow for many reasons. The children's menu didn't offer enough choices for their darling little one. No substitutions was the answer.  By this time I was ready to ask them to leave, but they finally gave in and placed an order.

Next thing we know, two of them had gone to the bar and purchased drinks at Happy Hour prices, which are only available at the bar and lounge, (a tacky and calculated move since little ones aren't allowed in either area) and brought them back to the dining room.  They saved a whole $2.00 in the process, btw. I told the staff to feed them and get them out of the restaurant as soon as possible.  And they did.

As the group headed for the door I voiced my 'thank you'  no one said a word in response.  One woman simply reached into the huge urn of mints and came up with a fist full which she jammed into her jacket pocket while glaring at me.  So I smiled and repeated 'thank you and come again' then under my breath 'after we're all dead, please.'

Well, their server (a candidate for sainthood) went into a loud fit of hysterics as 2 of the party glanced back suspiciously, eyes squinting, then turned and walked away. It took a few minutes for the server to regain composure, but when he did, he gave me a big bear hug.  Yessir, those follks were Class!  Yessir, all the way.

As my shift ended 3 regulars arrived and I enjoyed my AS cocktail, a Tropical Long Island Iced Tea - suggested by the GM - with them before the walk home.  It was just what any doctor would have ordered.

Boulders:
Anyway, it's Palm Sunday - the US is the pack mule for the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya - Jesus is entering Jerusalem on an ass, and not one of these is going to end well.  Perspective, yeah, that's it.

And so it goes.
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