Want good service? Be good to servers

Now that daughter Amy Dearest is safely beyond the clutches of the consuming public, I’ll tell you that she waited tables at Tomato Street and Chili’s during college breaks for three years. Also, she’s not impressed with some cuss-tomers. I’m not talking only about mooches who eat their meals, complain about their quality and refuse to pay. Or diners with gift cards in their tight little fists who tip off the deducted total. I’m including eaters with misbehaving kids who chintz on the tip to their harried waitresses. And ones who make servers wait valuable minutes while they decide what they want to eat. Amy wrote a list of do’s and don’ts this month. For diners. They focus on proper tips and ‘tudes toward servers. Who bust their tails to please an increasingly grouchy clientele. Tips include: Use full sentences to request something rather than simply bark, “Coffee!” And: Don’t stick around for hours after a restaurant closes because your server can’t leave until you do.” And if you’re a cheap repeat cuss-tomer? Don’t expect good service at busy times, Amy sez. Waiters keep tab of such things. And they talk.

Powerless

You may recall that as a student, Henry Johnston was instrumental in forcing Sandpoint High to reinstitute daily flag salutes a few years ago. Now, Henry’s in Moscow, experiencing the brunt of a tough winter. The fun began around 9:45 Tuesday night when the power went out, as wind and freezing snow pellets pounded his house. Henry unburied his SUV and rented a generator the next morning when he heard power wouldn’t be restored for 12 hours. He wanted to keep the fridge and freezer going. Once home, he realized he didn’t have a heavy-duty extension cord for the generator, resulting in a second trip to the hardware store. Then, he discovered he needed an adapter to plug the extension cord into the wall socket. So, he made a third trip out into the horrid weather – only to see that the lights were on when he returned home. After muttering something that isn’t printable here, Henry kept the adapter and cord, for a future emergency. The hardware store refunded his money for the generator. And winter continues.

Huckleberries

Ex-Hauser Councilwoman D.J. Nall (Frum Helen Back of the Hauser Thoughts blog) has declared that she’s going to quit the “feminazi crap” because it’s too much work. And she might let her hubby think he’s the boss around the house, too … Jodi Lauper raised eyebrows at Hagadone Central when she abruptly quit her longtime job in the Coeur d’Alene Press ad department to protest the way things are being run. Jodi? She’s the daughter of ex-publisher Roy Wellman and, therefore, brother-in-law Duane Hagadone’s niece. Read: This ain’t over … You might not be interested in the prez election yet but plenty of Idahoans are. County Clerk Dan English sez 20 to 40 voters contact his office daily, requesting absentee primary ballots … Overheard (by Cedar Post staffers at Sandpoint High): “In the afternoon, the bus smells like kindergartners.”

Parting shot

Ex-CPD Blue police chief Tom Cronin got the bum’s rush when he tried to use the public comments period at the Post Falls City Council to announce his candidacy for county commissioner. He told the council that he’d just filed his intent to run (reportedly for Commish Rick Currie’s seat) before being interrupted by City Attorney Jerry Mason. Who questioned the appropriateness of what amounted to a political advertisement. At that point, Cronin asked if he could give his business cards to the council. And was directed by Mayor Clay Larkin to give them to the city clerk instead. Translation: Don’t let the door hit you on the back side on the way out.