This week....

I'm on vacation. My first one in three years. It's a paid vacation, too, THANK GOD. I have a list going of the things I should be doing this week. Have I accomplished any of it?? No, not really. I'm still trying to keep up with the dishes! And, I get to do laundry, AGAIN. When you don't wear your work clothes, and just wear "civies" all week, suddenly there's a ton of laundry! We also did Vacation Bible School this week (MTW), so there's extra from there, as well. And, I'm back walking with purpose, so, there's clothing there from being so sweaty. Oh, yeah...extra towels from showering extra (yes, I do use the same towels for the body & hair, it's the wash cloths that are piling up rapidly), as well as scrubbing the makeup off my face from VBS --we were "Egyptians" this time...so I coated my face in copious amounts of bronzer & did a bit of detail work to look Egyptian...even wore a black wig! It was fun, but I'm glad it's over. My face has NEVER been this clean! However, we must get some serious work done today. SiSi & NiNi are coming up tomorrow for a sleep over, and there must be space figured out in KatieKatherine's room both for the sleepers and for walking in the middle of the night when I have to pee!! I'm also supposed to be making a dent in the hair swatch situation....haven't done very much, I must say. Cleaned up the mess I left from a couple of weeks ago and that was it! However, the sleep fairy deemed it necessary that I get up at 0:dark thirty this morning, so, perhaps I ought to get to it before the child gets up. Not that she interferes with my work in the first place!

And so, the battle continues.....

I posted, a couple back, about how KatieKatherine is to be doing chores now if she wants money. It's not going well. Today, she called me at work, to tell me she had SUCH a headache that she couldn't do her chores. However. She was well enough to eat the last of the Blondies, watch movies, mess around on the computer (which she denied), and play in general, as well as call me to tell me she was just too sick to do her chores. (insert dramatic pose here) I'm thinking she's hoping that if she comes up with the right angle, I'll just give up on her doing chores and just do them myself. No such luck, kiddo!

To tip, or not to tip...It's always the question!

I had an interesting conversation with my daughter a few days ago. It was her math teacher's philosophy regarding tipping waitstaff. It's a "theory" that's been around forever, and it's never been my favorite. It is this: If you receive good service, tip accordingly. If you receive horrid service (and every one's definition of either is open to interpretation), you leave a penny. This is to show the waitperson that they stunk. Now, while I'm not waitstaff (never a job I wanted), I am someone who receives tips (most of the time) for the services I render. Personally, I would rather receive NOTHING than a penny, if my service was horrid. A complaint to the manager would be in order, as well, from you, the patron, instead of leaving a penny. There are many courses of action to take, rather than leaving a penny. And, this is what I talked to my daughter about. Tipping in my industry. Many people ask me what is an appropriate tip. Jokingly, I'll tell them "$50!" Then, I'll seriously tell them "Tip us exactly like you'd tip waitstaff". Which means this: whatever percentage you generally tip your waitstaff is the same as you would tip your hairdresser. Waitstaff get paid minimum wage + tips. That's why tips are intensely important to waitstaff. Does this knowledge prevent them from giving poor service once in a while?? No. Stuff happens. We don't know what's going on with their day, and quite frankly, it's hard to leave your personal stuff behind and be "ON" for your patrons all day long. It's draining. Yes, it's the profession they've chosen, so they should just suck it up, I know. However, they're still people, too. With actual lives outside of their profession. And, occasionally, they overlap. Hairdressers get paid commission. Some employers are able to pay an hourly rate until you start hitting commission, some do not. So, those tips we receive are equally important. The owner of the salon is not supposed to receive tips. They own the place. The owner of my salon, Ginger, does not realize this. I know this because she gripes every once in a while about the $1 tips she receives (from the nice old ladies she's had for 25 years) for a $55 perm. She's owned the salon since 1988, and it makes a profit (although this year may be a bit interesting, numbers-wise), so, according to industry standard, her paycheck (and she should be receiving one) is a percentage (I have no idea what it is) off the top. I admit, I will gripe if I don't get a tip, particularly if the client was a bit "difficult"...either very demanding, or very indecisive, or their hair was quite a challenge on its own. However, I'm truly not in this industry for the tips. Because, I've learned (even before becoming a hairdresser), you will be disappointed, every time, if you count on them. Do I need my tips?? Sure. They're gas money, laundry money, extra groceries, lunch money, stuff for the child money, stuff for myself money, stuff to continue my education money, cat food money, you get the picture. Could I survive without them?? Yes. Do I want to?? No, not really. But, I would, if I had to. My other "beef" is this: If someone "squeezes" you in, manages to get you done, ON TIME, and gives you the same quality of service, don't be a snot and tip less because you felt "slighted" by the service getting done in less time than normal. There isn't a one of us that enjoys running behind for ANYBODY. It messes up our whole day and makes everyone cranky. Please appreciate the fact that we "squeezed" you in. Or, better yet, schedule accordingly so you have the time you need. Seriously. My point is this: If you like your service, please tip your service provider accordingly. 10% and up works well. If you didn't like your service, please leave NOTHING for a tip, and, if you feel it's necessary, talk to management about your poor service. Please do NOT leave a penny.