Steve Dublanica - "Waiter Rant"

     Did I just stumble onto my own autobiography????  I wonder if anyone's ever thought that before?  Ummm, this may seriously be in my top three best books EVER!!!!  (After you count all of Francine Rivers' works, naturally.)  A little, personal side note about me:  I've been waiting tables now for about a decade (plus or minus a few months here and there while I tried my hand at other professions) and have been a server in the fine dining arena for over four of those years.  I ate this book UP (pun totally intended!), which was recommended to me by a waiter friend of mine.  I cannot wait to run out and buy Mr. Dublanica's second book.  Hubby had to literally tell me, "Babe, I'm glad you're so entertained, but you either need to stop reading or go in the other room." on not one, but TWO different occasions as I read through this book.  

     So a few years ago, "The Waiter" began his blog, www.waiterrant.net to detail and sometimes rant about his life as a server in one of New York's fine dining establishments.  He is a college educated middle-aged man who through a topsy-turvy stream of events finds himself thrust into the restaurant business aka service industry at the age of 31.  It's a great insight for those of you who've never worked in the retail or service industries.  Eventually his blog garners quite a bit of attention, which at some point leads to a book deal.  And here we are...

     Steve's memoiresque (yes I created a word... just go with it) book contains snapshots of what it's like on the other side of the table and in the typical commercial kitchen.  Now, do keep in mind, this is one person's take on it, but honestly I can say that in my nigh ten years of experience I've run into 85% or more of the exact situations.  Honestly, for the VAST majority of this book, I seriously wondered if someone had planted a bug in my brain.  I am fortunate in that I work for a great company with fair and respectable management and owners, and most days, I really enjoy my job, but that has not always been the case for me (or for Steve and probably the majority of waitstaff everywhere).  He has very accurately (and cynically - he warned you on the cover of the book...) relayed the "waiting experience" in an easy-to-read, relateable way that is laced with humor, honesty, and a super quick wit.

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter (P.S.)

   

     He articulates a lot of things that go on in an restaurant in a way that pretty much anyone can understand, relate to, and hopefully use to get a glimpse into the life of the average American server.  He is correct in saying that, "80 percent of customers are nice people just looking for something to eat. The remaining 20 percent, however, are socially maladjusted psychopaths."  If you have ever worked in a restaurant, you KNOW it's true.

     Throughout the book, Steve paints poignant portraits of life in a restaurant.  He talks sincerely and humorously, and cynically not only about the woes or working in as a server (of which there can be many) but also about the really great times and people he got to meet throughout the course of his employment as waitstaff.  I love that's he's given a voice to the 2 million servers in the U.S.  As a matter of fact, I think Mr. Dublanica should be nominated for sainthood; Server Steve - patron saint of waitstaff everywhere.  I think he's dead on when he "breaks down" the various types of guests as well as what it's like to work any of the major US holidays.  If you are a server, enjoy the camaraderie that you feel, and if you are a regular diner, see what it's like to wait on folks; you may learn something about something you didn't know before?

     One more note on my newest favorite book, there is a LOT of profanity in there.  It is a normal part of working in the industry, and the book would've lost a lot of it's true-to-form-nature had he excluded most of it.  Steve actually explains why he thinks this much profanity is part of the "behind the scenes" look at a restaurant staff in the book....  Just so you're warned, now, go and read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rhoda Janzen - "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home"

     I came by this book in a very round-about-way.  Mom and I were on a "girls' trip" to see my sisters in Atlanta, Ga, and our flight home got delayed by something like four hours.  Mom had finished the book that she brought and needed a little something to help pass the time.  Off to the book stand we go...  I had seen this book a few other places but hadn't really given it much thought until I was trying to help Mom find a little light reading that would be "up here ally."  Here was my thought process: 1. Well she doesn't really like thrillers or some of the darker mysteries (rule out the Stieg Larsson trio)  2. Romance is a no-go (rule out 70% of the books in the store)  3. Politics/business/economics aren't exactly light reading or are not in any way relevant to the situation (rule out the other 28% of the store's selections)  4. "Mennonite" hmmmmm...didn't Mom take us to visit a Mennonite community when we were kids???  They make great soap and DELICIOUS ice cream.  (Ahhh hah!  This seems like something she'd like)

     I have very little exposure to the Mennonite people, but probably more than your "average Joan;"  it was really an interesting look not only into the lifestyle that Rhoda Janzen grew up in, but also delightful insights into her own family.  She experiences a few major life-crises' (ie. Her husband leaves her for a man he met on gay.com), and she elects to move home for a while to regroup.  The memoir came about because during her time at home, she kept all of her friends up to date with some quaint anecdotes about her family and their unique culture.  Her friends were intrigued and suggested she put together a memoir.  I'm glad she did...

     Ms. Janzen talks about her life growing up as part of the Mennonite culture.  I loved the chapter about "shame-based-foods."  She tells of being "that kid" who opens her lunch bag to a thermos full of delicious, but odorous Borscht.  There is nothing like already dressing differently than your whole school, but also having the "smelly lunch."  I love the way she talks about her perky, peppy, ultra-honest-to-a-fault mother.  The same mom who despite the heightened sense of modesty, has no problem examining a rash on the undercarriage of her future daughter-in-law just as they've met for the first time.  You have to love the irony there. 
   
     I experienced smirks aplenty as well as more than one belly laugh whilst immersing myself in this literary delight.  I love her honest, tongue-in-cheek wit and sense of humor, and the fact that she can look back at her roots and see the pro and cons of her childhood lifestyle.  The author is no longer an "active" member of the community; as soon as she was able, she high-tailed it into the life of academia and never looked back.  I do have to say that it was I little disappointed in the fact that she very blatantly slams some of the spiritual beliefs that are held so dearly by her family.  While I do understand that different people have different belief systems, I also think that maybe she should show a little more flexibility on the matter.  She fled the lifestyle and belief system in search of "freedom" so, following that same logic, shouldn't she allow freedom to her still-practicing family.  It's clear that, despite the differences in her spiritual beliefs and her family's, there is a lot of love between them all. 

     I found the book to be a good mix of hilarity, eccentricity, as well as some sadder moments.  I think it's a great thing that she included all these different aspects because that's exactly how life is; it's a mixture of both the up's and down's.  Also, as a side note, keep your dictionary handy throughout your reading.  Her vocabulary is EXTENSIVE; she is an English professor and all.

Seriously, if you get a chance, check out the ice cream...

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home

Ron Hall and Denver Moore - "What Difference Do It Make?"

    Yeah, what difference DOES it make????  Sit back, relax, and find out exactly what kind of difference one person can make.

    What Difference Do It Make?: Stories of Hope and Healing
   
     This is the second book by these two fine gentlemen, the first being "Same Kind of Different as Me."  A man in our church, passed a copy of each of these books around for all to read, and both of them rocked me.  They are a true testament to the ultimate sovereignty and goodness of God.

     Their first book was the story of Debbie Hall, Ron's wife, and how one single, radical person can drastically change the world around them.  Debbie was passionate about loving God and loving others, and through that, she changed the face of Fort Worth, Texas, and the lives of Ron, Denver, and many more, forever.  YOU SHOULD READ IT!  http://samekindofdifferentasme.com/video.aspx

     "What Difference Do It Make" is a follow up to show how the Lord has used that story to make a difference.  It's composed of two different types of content.  1. Biographies: it delves even deeper into the lives of Ron, Denver, and Debbie, both past and present.  2. Real Life Stories: it has passages from readers detailing how "Same Kind" impacted their own lives.  Stories of children reaching out to make a difference, marriages being saved, and entire churches banding together to impact their communities.  Both kinds of content blend into one another to create a heartwarming and inspiring read.

     It illustrates, in real lives, God's perfect plan.  His mercy, grace, and forgiveness are unending, and powerful.  He can use the most "unlikely" people or events to accomplish amazing things.  Things beyond your wildest dreams.  These stories are proof; don't take MY word for it, READ THESE BOOKS!!!!  I love how, like the parables in the Bible, God uses our past experiences and our own unique perspectives on life to reveal magnificent truths to us; He is a personal God.  Denver is one clear example of how the Lord does this.  (The story of Jose in the book is a beautiful illustration of finding the profound in the ordinary.)

     Both works by Ron and Denver are written in an "easy to read" language, that expresses profundities and wisdom everywhere, while still being "real" and letting you in on the weakness of man.  The transparency of the authors is bold and beautiful.

For real, Read these books, and keep a box of tissues handy!