Opening A Restaurant: the hours, the lists.

You know you're opening a restaurant when:

you leave for work at 8 am and come home at 10 pm
you feel every emotion you own in 12 hours
you blow up at a meeting and your team supports you
you look into hiring a pick up/drop off laundry service
you turn down job after job and wonder where they were 6 months ago
you become elated at the sight of your goods in containers
you have more fun than you care to admit labeling those containers
you arrange and re-arrange your station, like a future bride trying on dresses
you walk 10 miles within a 1000 square foot space
you call your friends at the beginning and end of your 14 hour day
you email your dad and ask him to set aside time for you, like one specific day and time
you forget your name
you consider getting rid of your email because you can't answer them thoroughly enough
you wake up every morning earlier than the next
    even though you go to bed later and later
you miss blogging
you worry you'll lose your friends
you engage in a flirtation you know you can't "do" anything about
you start making plans for the next calendar year
    and you tell people you can't make any more commitments for this one
you start looking to hire a girl-friday for your home-life even though you have no time to interview anyone
you shelve all novels and take cookbooks on the train
you are made way happier than you want to share that your neighborhood now has city-composting
    so that you can clean out food that has been in your fridge decomposing for over a month
you apply for BART's EZ Rider program and you feel like a Rockstar using it
your stomach always aches
you look forward to going into the kitchen every day
you go to the farmers' market in your new chef's jacket
you read the comments on your blog like they're missives from outer space   
    holding onto every word like it's water in the desert
you look at your photos from a few days ago feeling like you took them last year
you cry at strange times
you worry you'll have no time to water your beloved plants
you see a spike on an orchid and can't remember when the last time it bloomed was
you make lists and write schedules at 2 in the morning
you wish you had the iphone
you wish you had a housekeeper
you wish someone could design a vacuum that fits in your back pocket
you miss people you hardly know
you wish you lived during a time where people just stopped by and didn't wait for an invite
you take unplanned interviews
you give advice to every interviewee you're not going to hire
you become nostalgic for the time when you had days off
you can't wait to work another 12 hour day
you plot affectionately about what you will bake in your oven first

you wish people could feel you thinking about them

Comments

[Anita]

Oh, I definitely understand the containers/labeling joy. Organizing ingredients is one of my absolutely favorite things... If you ever need help, let me know :D

[jennywenny]

Yes, getting everything all neat and labelling stuff is very fulfilling, and very timely with everyone going back to school at the moment.

Good luck with it, make sure to get some fresh air, deep breaths and lots of fruit and veggies in the hope you wont get that first autumn cold.

[Aaron]

People can feel you thinking about them. I firmly believe that. They might not pinpoint the emotion or the feeling, but somewhere, they know.

[Tana]

I love the whole list, walking around inside your brain, but you had me a little worried at "your stomach always aches."

That speaks of stress, and I know it's inevitable, and I know you take care of yourself pretty well....so please accept my good wishes for your stomach to get what it needs so that it is not on your list.

[Josh Rosenberg]

I read this and was surprised by your attitude, business like but down to earth.

I say keep the good work up.

-A random reader

[Steamy Kitchen]

aawwww...honey! I'm giving you a virtual hug now!

you should prob invest in name tags for yourself or at least wear your embroidered jacket at all times.

or do what I do with my kids. when we go to Disney, I use a permanent Sharpie and write their name and phone number on their bellies.

[hungry girl]

lovely list, especially the last line.

as i also enter into a new job and especially busy fall season, I can tell you that....I have No idea what to tell you!

I had a dream that I had to fill my cupboards with food supplies. Perhaps it was a metaphor. Perhaps it wasn't.

what I tell myself about writing, teaching and meditating: You'd feel worse if you weren't doing it

[Garrett]

This was a truly great post. I'm glad you're sharing all of these experiences with us Shuna. *hugs*

[McAuliflower]

Ahhh poignant!

favorites:
"you wish you lived during a time where people just stopped by and didn't wait for an invite"
- I wish I could do that.

"you wish people could feel you thinking about them"

[Raspil]

hire me. please.

[melissa]

i had a dream about seeing an aga stove the other night. i can't remember the specifics, but i felt all warm and happy in the dream, like hugging an old friend. maybe it was you thinking about me.
i wish you could feel us thinking/talking about you, which we do often.
thanks for the beautiful pics.
melissa xo

[Jennifer]

Add to the list:
*you forget day to day where your car is parked so you have to write it down when you get home.
*you are so tired that when you finally do go to the bathroom, you forget to pull BOTH your pants and your undies down, thus soaking yourself. (true story and the longer version is even sillier)
* you knowingly park in a tow zone because you are too tired to care.
* the only thing that sounds good to eat (during the raw part of actually being open) are vanilla milkshakes (i was lucky; Eric Shelton used to make them for me!)
Just a few to add to the list!
But OOOOHHHH the fun and rush of it all, heh?

[monica glass]

wow thank you for sharing your experiences with us! i wish i could help you, but i'm across the country....but please know you'll always have my support! best of luck with everything