heroes and villains
Heroes and Villains throughout history that have defined their industries and workflow as we know it today. Those we look up to, and those we learn mistakes from.
“Can I Get You Anything Else, Sir?”
“Can I get you anything else, Sir?” Every night I ask the question and receive a similar answer, ‘Just the check’, or ‘No, that’s all’ accompanied with a falsely sincere smile and a bitingly pleasant tone. I’ll retreat to the kitchen and find a nook in back stock to check my grades, pray that my electricity bill is affordable this month, or listen to the overexaggerated stories of nightly bar crawls the line cooks loudly trade. While these moments of rest in nearly twelve hour shifts are partially for my own benefit, the couple on their anniversary dinner receive some solace in my absence as well. Apparently, the general duties of my job, such as checking in and “everything alright over here folks?”, can come off as pushy. Not to mention my stained apron and disheveled ponytail after chasing down salt shakers and appetizers may put a slight damper on their evening. I suppose when you’re only eating half of a 60$ filet, simply because you can afford to, the sight of a server’s fraying black notebook and slacks with tiny holes could cause discomfort.
By Jahnney Cantrell5 years ago in Journal
Unpopular Opinion: F*ck Your Writer Rules
If you've been on Vocal long enough, you ever so often come across an article on how to become a successful writer. Topics "How I Made A Million Dollars Writing About Cats." In the beginning, I attempted to follow these articles like a handbook but, I noticed that I started to lose who I am as a writer. People often slid in my DMs with questions on becoming a better writer and what they should be doing. I don't know what to tell them. I didn't follow any rules; I just started writing. Whatever stuck on the wall is what I tend to write about, and what I mean by that is I write what's on my heart. I want to be a successful writer, and I want millions of people to read and respect my work. Every once in a while, I have to remind myself why I'm writing in the first place. I've joined a handful of Writer's Clubs on Facebook and the internet. I haven't been delighted with what I've seen thus far, which is why I created the Vocal Creators Saloon Facebook group. What I may say might piss many people off, and to that, I say GOOD. This article is about my unpopular opinion on the matter.
By teisha leshea5 years ago in Journal
The Transition by John Trewin
It was in the later 1950s as I recall Harold Macmillan the British Prime Minister had given his speech concerning the ‘Winds of Change’ that were blowing across the World. India and Burma had achieved then independence and many of the African Colonies were clamouring for the same thing. The general manager of our family company called me over.
By John Trewin5 years ago in Journal
Bad Boss
My boss who hired me was fired recently back in June, when we got back from Covid. This boss was manipulative and nasty. The final straw to getting her fired was her yelling at the cooperate IT guy and also the fact that I, oh readers, submitted a long nasty anonymous report about every little thing she had done in the 6 months since I started working for her. Following suit, the company hired the Assistant Manager to step up into the Store Manager roll. This was fine with me because not only did I love the assistant manager but I also was next in line to become the Assistant Manager! Little did I know that this is when the bull crap really started. Not only did I find out I was pregnant shortly after but the new Store Manager's attitude totally changed once she got promoted. She started being racist, mean, nasty, short, and just plain rude to everyone including workers and customers. The first thing she did to me that made me raise my eyebrows, is she told me I was being too much, that it wasn't the baby making me pee it was something wrong with me. Next she decided to cut my hours due to me peeing too much. Mind you, I had a small bladder to begin with. You also might be wondering how I knew she had cut my hours because of that reason? Well, she told my coworker and my coworker told me. She also has hired a racist, who we promptly got fired. She is one of those bosses who hates confrontation, but will leave passive aggressive notes and text messages around the office and store for everyone to find. She is the type of boss who does nothing around the store or talks to customers but will find every single thing wrong with the things her workers do. Instead of talking to her workers, she will make little notes and then call HER boss about it, giving her workers a write up from things they did not even know was wrong while also making HER boss think you do not know how to do your job. Oh readers, do you remember me saying I was next in line to be promoted? Yeah well of course that did not happen. I got promoted but not for the position I deserved and purely so I would not quit and sue the company for discrimination.
By Cheyenne Patterson5 years ago in Journal
My First Encounter with the LB Union Weekly
This was originally published in the Long Beach Union Weekly in 2015 I was on my usual Friday afternoon walk from the dorms to 7-11 to get scratchers and starbursts (as you can see I am a man of vice), and on my way I grab a Union Weekly to read as I walk. Within the classifieds I encounter this advertisement:
By Gus Krider5 years ago in Journal
Thank you to all postmen and postwomen
Heroes are a type of person. They have a choice, but fundamentally they are just us. The choice is how they live their life and for what. It might be conscious, unconscious or out of their control. A quick thought might be one of those famous faces on the movie screens and a common concept of what a hero might be defined from many films. Those personalities I believe to be present before the person made a choice in or out of their control, to act for others. Those personality traits remain with the person as the film plays out. But that’s still true in reality.
By Peter Mason6 years ago in Journal
Thank you.
Dear Patty, Forgive me. Please forgive me. Forgive my ignorance. Forgive my carelessness... my frivolous antics... You are always so kind to me. From the moment you hear the whoosh and *ding dong* of the doors alerting you of my presence to the moment you send me off with my purchase, you are never anything shy of pure kindness.
By Heather Lee6 years ago in Journal
Meals on Wheels: Nourishing and Strengthening the Community. First Place in Everyday Heroes Challenge.
It is 4:42am. I awaken to the familiar vibrations of an iPhone and the feeling of cold air on my cheeks. “Could you turn the light on so that we start to wake up?” I ask my partner as he grumbles a response of acceptance. I reach for my phone on the bedside table and reflect on the time once more. Alex has always had a strange tendency to set alarms at unusual hours. Why couldn’t it be 4:45am, or even 5? I leave my internal monologue as a topic for another day. After all, there are more important concerns to contemplate.
By Nikita Jenkins6 years ago in Journal
To the animal rescuers.
I don't believe anyone would have thought, or even guessed that mere months into 2020 the world would suffer such a massive hit and countries would be on lock down. People’s lives turned upside down and losing family members and not even being able to say a proper goodbye to them.
By Nicola Jackson6 years ago in Journal
