I suppose introductions are in order.
I am a woman in her forties, who owns a small restaurant (dive bar, really) in a vibrant tourist city on the North Shore of Massachusetts. I live in a constant state of stress, sleeplessness and anger – but I would take this over a desk job any day.
I am a Chef. In my Former Life I was a photographer and a barista, but shit happened and I found myself at Johnson & Wales University graduating in my mid-thirties with high honors; super nerd cred and zero street cred. Buying a restaurant jumped me to the front of the line; graduated in ‘03, bought the bar in ‘07.
You could call me naive; I know that I always see the good in people before the bad. Being this clueless gets me into trouble sometimes because I don’t see problems until they become full-blown crises or until someone kindly (or un-kindly) points them out to me. I’ve learned many things the hard way, and I think that this makes me a better person. If it doesn’t make me a better person then color me an idiot. Pain is growth, bitches.
Owning a bar certainly does give one a different outlook on life. Over the past few years I’ve learned to trust my instincts; you know that feeling right away when someone walks in the door and you think “I do NOT like this guy!”? Go with it, you’ll probably be right most of the time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve kicked myself for ignoring that instinct when the inevitable douchebaggery ensued.
I will try not to use this blog to piss and moan about things, though it is bound to happen now and then. Mostly I want to share the gory beauty that is business ownership, community leadership, and the fucking daily grind of operating a restaurant. If nothing else, you can take solace in simply not being me.
I think that might be all in the way of an introduction, the rest will reveal itself in due time; until then – peace. Oh, and pull up your fucking pants.
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Di, I love it!
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