Friday Potpourri Vol. 17
Let’s talk about an assortment of things today.
Waitress Gets Fired After Outing Cheap Pastor
A female pastor went to Applebee’s with a large group. They automatically triggered the 18% tip charge. The pastor wrote on the bill, after trying to get around the charge by saying they were using separate checks, “Why should you get 18% when the Lord only gets 10%?”
The waitress showed it to a co-worker who took a pic of it and posted it on the internet. Somehow, this got back to the pastor who then wanted everybody on that shift fired. Applebee’s fired the person who posted the pic.
Understand this, the customer is not always right. That is a load of crap. Especially in this case. The person the pastor should be mad at is Ronald Reagan.
That’s right, Reagan. When Uncle Ronnie was President, his people figured out that tip income was not taxed. So, while lining the pockets of millionaires with tax cuts, tip income became taxable. Which meant you have to have a method of keeping track of it. Which meant using the software for the cash registers as a way to keep track of tips by using a separate line on the receipt.
So the cheap pastor had the writing room necessary to show what a classless individual she is.
What else is there to talk about?
My Spaghetti Is Better Than Yours
I found myself in a discussion about spaghetti on Twitter a few days ago. Seems innocent enough, right? I should have known better.
Spaghetti is one of those things that everyone has a very distinct opinion about.
At our house, we have finally settled on a sauce (Classico Traditional Sweet Basil), store brand thin spaghetti, and store brand garlic breadsticks. Just add some ground beef for the sauce, sprinkle in Italian seasoning, voila! We keep it stocked in the pantry as an easy go-to meal.
My mistake was to mention that in front of a do everything from scratch person.
I have been known to make things that take a lot of preparation.
I can make a German Chocolate cake from scratch. No cake mix box. From scratch, baby. Cake flour. Double boiler for melting the chocolate. Homemade icing.
I just don’t see the need for all that fuss to make a simple pasta dish.
New Shiny App
In other news, there is an app called Vine.
It is a way to make a six second video.
Yep, that is all it is.
Even a technologically challenged guy like me knows you could do that already. Do a video and stop at six seconds.
Finally
The video I was a part of (see my last post) has around 300 views on YouTube.
I am particularly happy with the support from you wonderful folks.
Thanks again
Peace
Bellbottom Blog 
Compelling stuff, as usual! Spaghetti and TJ’s ragu sauce is my “easy cooking” night menu as well.
“Easy cooking” has to be a part of menu planning or you would give up and order out eventually.
I had to have regular thick spaghetti the other night since we were all out of capellini. Still haven’t quite gotten over the shock and horror.
And I cheat with ready made components if I can or I’m in a hurry. Nothing wrong with that, as long as it tastes good.
There it is! As long as everyone is happy and full, mission accomplished.
I like that you have taken all the complication out of choosing a spaghetti sauce. All those sauces perplex me.
Way too many options.
Oh… And that pastor sounds like a real jerk.
Yeah, I bet the pastor was a real treat to wait on.
I was a waitress for 8 years. And a damn good one, thank you very much (I was named Most Productive Waitress in the ENTIRE Bob’s Big Boy company….ooohhhh, aaahhh). I have waited on groups like this. They would come in every Sunday, drive their waitstaff into to ground with their constant demands, and then they’d leave a gospel tract that looked like a twenty dollar bill on the outside (but full of save-your-soul scriptures on the I side. Yup, they NEVER tipped. EVER. That waitress has my upmost sympathy. And Applebee’s ought to be ashamed for not standing by their staff.
As for spaghetti, we use Classico as well. We like the taste and the jars fit canning lids so that’s an extra bonus. We brown Italian sausage for the sauce, and use store bought angel hair pasta.
When I read the story, I could picture exactly how the meal went. It was probably just like you described it based on your experiences.
The waitress probably shouldn’t have posted it on Reddit…but the pastor was still an ass. She’ll get hers in the end, though. People like that always do. I’m sure of it.
I mostly like macaroni instead of regular spaghetti. Andreas says that means I have panache.
If I have time, I cook penne and mix it with the meat sauce, add ricotta and any other cheese I have on hand. Place it in a pie pan and bake it for a few minutes.
By the way, this is your 50th comment on my blog. Thanks, Amy.
Fifty comments! I’m a wordy one, aren’t I? Whoo, go me!
I usually end up using alfredo for the sauce. I’m not a huge red sauce fan. Except for if it’s my mom’s homemade sauce. Hers is wonderful.
Haha! I’d eat spaghetti at your house any night of the week. Sounds exactly like our go-to dinner. 🙂
Agreed on the Pastor thing – what in the world would make her think it’s a good idea to be rude like that? What goes around comes around, right? Sheesh.
Thanks for stopping by. I was a little nervous about commenting on your post but it was such an interesting topic considering what I had been talking about with the dad group, I couldn’t resist. There were a couple of moms chiming in there as well. Maybe solutions are closer than we realize at times.
Exactly. It’s all about the little things. Thanks for chiming in for sure!! It’s good to get the male perspective on things as well. 🙂