You! Outta The Pool!

In my line of work, it's inevitable from time to time, that a guest will have too much to drink. They may have had a drink or two before they sit in front of me, they may be on medication that lessens their tolerance - or any number of variables that don't necessarily mean that they were over served by myself or one of my coworkers, but it's clear that they've had enough to drink. Very few people in their position ever take this news well, but the fact of the matter is that any establishment, the proprietors and staff can be held liable for a person's actions under the influence of alcohol. Not only am I looking out for myself and my employer, I also don't want to see any guest hurt themselves or someone else, nor do I want to play any part in someone getting killed. I also don't want to see anyone get in trouble - and let's face it: You've got to be careful with how much you drink if you're getting behind the wheel.

What most people fail to realize, is that the law in my state says that it is against the law to serve anyone I believe to be intoxicated. It doesn't say it's cool to keep serving them if they have a designated driver - or an Uber. From my standpoint, I don't want anyone getting hurt or getting in trouble on my watch. My approach at any hint of a problem has evolved over the years - and fortunately I work in an environment where people are not coming in specifically to drink, as much as they are to eat and drink.

I may notice someone appearing to be close to having had enough to drink. I always bring it to the attention of other bartenders, management and sometimes owners. Oftentimes I never actually have the problem that I have to anticipate us having, but my theory is to advise the powers that be in order to save anyone being blindsided and me having to hear something like, "Why weren't you watching this person? Couldn't you tell they'd had enough to drink?!"

My job is sales related, but I don't need the sales at the expense of anyone's safety, and my employer certainly doesn't either. When a guest has reached the point of no return, and by point of no return, I mean, they've had enough to drink and they aren't getting any more alcohol from us, things can get stressful pretty quickly. The worst thing a bartender can do at this point is to cop an attitude. Someone has to stay clear headed and on an even keel - and being sober while I'm at work makes my vantage point better than the guest's - or his friends who are trying to assure me that their pal is fine.

My job is a bit like being a lifeguard in moments like these: You! Outta the pool!

Guest Who's had a bit too much: But I can SWIM! And in the deep end! 

Me: No, no you can't. Let's get you over here on dry land, everything's fine - you just can't swim any more today...

Guest: But my friends are all swimming - I can swim! Can I go back in?? When can I go back in???

Me: Your friends seem fine, No...you can't go back in the water - not today.

Again, no one takes this well - at least not very often. Their judgement is clouded and they have no conception of the favor I'm trying to do them, which goes hand in hand with looking out for my employer's best interests here. In a scenario where no one gets hurt or God forbid, seriously injured or killed, it's still going to cost you thousands of dollars and some other serious consequences. You'd think that would matter at a time like this - and there's no way to walk things back to the bartender who cut you off once you get stopped. In a fog of alcohol - even a light one, this gets overlooked. Suddenly the bartender is being an asshole, so too might be the manager and the owners. While I've yet to experience, or hear of someone I know in this business being taken to court under such unfortunate circumstances, the reality is that it could easily happen. I don't want to offend anyone, but neither my employer, my coworkers or myself can have you getting hurt on my watch.

In my years behind the bar, I've had people in my face screaming at me for asking them to let me get them a ride home, take them myself, follow them home (and by the way, following someone home is only serving your own peace of mind - because I've seen a cop labor to put himself between the follower and the guy who shouldn't be driving, and it's not pretty.) and I know if they can't keep drinking at my bar, they will likely find somewhere else to drink. Fine - I can't do anything about your success rate at being someone else's problem, but I will be responsible when you're sitting in front of me.

Imagine you're out for an evening, at some point you've reached the point where you've had enough to drink. For the sake of the point(s) I'm trying to make here, let's say the last bartender cut you off. You probably didn't like it, but it's only a matter of degrees. By the time I cut you off, it's already too late for driving yourself home to be a good idea - you may very well get away with it, but that doesn't mean you should be driving. If you get stopped and arrested for driving under the influence, you can't roll back into could've/would've/should've land - now you're shouldn't have, had you known you would've and at some point you could've - but now it's too late. Hopefully no one got hurt or killed, but I guarantee it's gonna suck for quite awhile now. Even if you have enough money and influence to get yourself out of such things, I'd hope and pray you have the self-awareness to learn from this kind of mistake. The sad thing is, when it comes to substance abuse, too few people think like this until some serious consequences have been met with. Look, I'm Irish and I run a bar. I'm not by any means saying that I don't drink, or that I don't like to. I've had my own issues, but thankfully have had my own relationship with alcohol in a safer perspective - and I truly wish that for everyone. I can't stop you from getting to the point of being cut off most of the time - but I do pay close attention to how any guest is acting, how much they're drinking in my establishment and how I see it affecting them. I happen to work in an establishment that pours a good drink - but that doesn't mean we want you to get loaded. Guests who order doubles have always made me nervous - and they always will. They're basically telling me they want to get to buzzville and ignore the speed limit signs along the way. Think about it: You're asking me for  two drinks, before I've even made you one - I watch people who order doubles like they're going to steal something.

I have zero interest in getting anyone loaded as quickly as possible, or even at all - on the other hand, I have a passionate interest in playing part in giving people an enjoyable dining and socializing experience, and there's a difference between the two. I make my living pouring people drinks - so obviously I don't want to discourage anyone from drinking, I just want them to be smart about it. If you get refused service by me, or any other bartender, consider what we are trying to save you from - because we are trying to save you.

I love my line of work, I love dealing with customers who make me forget I'm even at work. I love being a favorable part of giving people a good dining out experience from start to finish. I love the food, I love the drink - all things in moderation. I'm thankful for the fact that it's not very often that I actually have to cut someone off, but it is a bit like being a lifeguard sometimes. You! Outta the pool!

Warm October Days, Seven Hellos in A Row

Today was my day off - and we've been having some August warm days this October, so I thought I'd get out on the bicycle for a few miles in Peninsula nice and early. Early didn't work out quite so well, but I was still going, nothing could stop me on a day like today. The good news is that during the week the Towpath parking lot is never at capacity, and even if it would be, there's no way the overflow lot would be full too.

I'm in love with the Cuyahoga Valley. I get excited just passing through Peninsula and I often go home from family functions at my sister's house in Medina the long way just so I can drive through Peninsula and up out of the valley. It's beautiful - and I'm grateful that we have such beauty so close at hand to enjoy.

I get to the lot at the Towpath entrance at 12:30. I thought I was going to leave less than five minutes later, having made short work of changing into my cycling shoes and getting the bike off the rack, setting the computer...then up rides this older couple. The first thing the woman says to me is, "Well that was a lovely ride, but now I need a nap - but it was so worth it!"

I ask her how far they rode and which direction - and then it becomes clear that they're not from around here because she's talking like they're visiting, which they were - on their way from Michigan to their Winter home in Florida. I spent the next 25 minutes talking with these delightful people about bicycling - and why I don't like to ride on the road. I could've easily stayed there talking with these people all afternoon, but it was time to get out there on the trails.

Regardless of whether I head North or South, it's always beautiful scenery. I opted to head North because there's a lot more sun on you for some very long stretches on the trail in that direction - and let's face it: We don't get a lot of near 90 degree days in October in these parts. North it was. On Sunday, the last day I rode prior to this afternoon, there were still a lot of turtles sunning themselves on the logs in the water that lines the right half of the trail. I saw one turtle today, and in the span of barely two days, Fall took some huge leaps forward with even more leaves off the trees. I know what's coming - and this year I'm more prepared (I hope) to push my riding well into the cooler months. Still, I'll take all the sunny and warm October days I can get!

Heading North on the trail the first thing to marvel at is the sound of the Cuyahoga River running over rocks not a quarter of a mile in. Sometimes I stop and listen for a few minutes, but the sound of that river running always makes me feel good. On the return trip it's a bit like riding past the finish line and hearing applause - at least that's what I tell myself.

I'm never certain how many miles I'll ride - I just stay out as long as I feel like it, particularly if I don't have anything pressing I need to get back to. Today I opted to keep my ride at just under 24 miles with a halfway point. On the way I passed a group of very young school kids - first or second graders I'm guessing. It's a little sad that the best example you see of trail ethic came from a group of school kids riding in perfect single file - and every one of these little kids gave me a cheerful hello as I rode past them. How could I not say hello back to every one of these kids? It was like a row of verbal high fives, and it was the high point of the first leg of my ride. If something like that doesn't make you smile and be glad you're alive and not sick, you may want to do the rest of us a favor and stay the hell home today!

When I reached my halfway point, it was time for a snack - nothing fancy, an apple and some nuts. When I stood up to gather my trash and get ready to mount up for my return ride, I saw a Bald Eagle - way up in the perfectly blue Autumn sky. No way I'd get anything close to a decent shot at a picture with my phone camera. Nothing to do but stand there and take it in. My goal is to get back down on the trails when it's early in the morning  - and take the good camera, because there was one morning this Summer when a Bald Eagle was just sitting in a tree in plain view across the river. I stood there for half an hour before he decided to leave - shortly after another one flew closer by. If I'd had the good camera with me, I'd have gotten some incredibly shots of one, if not both of those birds.

Onward, I'd decided that when I got back to Peninsula, I'd hit the Winking Lizard for a late lunch of wings - and a cold beer never tastes better to me than it does after ten or twenty miles on a bicycle. What I wasn't counting on, was a strong headwind that I rode into for a good seven miles. Nothing to do but press on through it, and it certainly could've been worse. I made relatively good time on the return leg of my ride and finally stopped in the art gallery at the Art Academy - I'm embarrassed to say that for all the times I've thought about going in, it's never happened until today. A retired woman was working and she was wonderful conversation, albeit in some rather unusual ways, as I looked around. I love walking through art galleries oftentimes as much as I like going to an Art museum, and today was one of those times.

My late lunch was great - although a bit less healthy than I've been eating these days, but cheat days are allowed...I hope. I made it to the bike shop in time to leave Fiona for some adjustments, grab some rack additions and get home in time to prep some veggies to juice, freeze the green bananas I bought and vacuum seal them, along with some stuff for work. All in all, a rather enjoyable and productive day off. I'm hearing that the temperatures are supposed to drop starting tomorrow - no complaints really, Fall is my favorite season no matter what it throws at us. I'm actually looking forward to riding on some cooler days, so Mother Nature can bring it. Nothing to see here good people, just a guy who's grateful for the things that bring joy to my life. I dunno what works for you, but for me...well, I'm gonna seek those things out and enjoy them - even if they aren't things that anyone else thinks are all that wonderful. Peace, good people - I'm gonna sleep like a baby tonight.