To all you restaurant-goers:

The next time you're out eating at a restaurant, look at your server. Do you think they are really happy to be doing that job? The answer is no, they are not, but its what we do, and we do it for the money so please help them out. Its a tougher job than you think and you should pay them accordingly!

There are SO many people out there flooding the restaurants w/o any knowledge of how to tip. Here is a short guide for the gene ral public to follow. Feel free to print out and store in your wallet and/or purse.

1. CHILDREN "THE LITTLE DEVILS":
If you have children, DO NOT let them, open and dump anything on the table (ie; salt, sugar, etc). IF YOU DO, you must leave an extra $5 for the server to clean up YOUR CHILD'S mess & to restock the now unusable wasted items. Don't get mad if you ask for crackers and your server tells you they're out when you just saw another table eating crackers with their soup -- can you blame them for not wanting to clean up the mess afterward? We are neither their babysitter nor their parent. The least you can do is pay us for the extra work. Also make sure you control your kids and don't let them scream or run around the restaurant. It's very distracting not to mention dangerous if they get ran over by a server with hot food in their hands.

2. "THE CAMPERS":
If you feel the necessity to stay for longer than 15 minutes after you pay, its an extra $3 every 30 minutes. We make our money from the tables. If you are in one and we can't seat it, we don't make money.

3. COMPLIMENTS:
Telling a server they are the best server they've ever had is not a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We cant pay our bills on compliments. Its not that we don't appreciate the praise, its just that if you say that and then leave 10% it's an insult.

4. THE SALVATION PAMPHLETS: (I love me some Jesus, but this is definitely frustrating!)
Prayer cards and any other religious pamphlet is NOT a tip. It is insulting that you assume we are w/o religion and must save us. Again, like ..3, we cant pay bills w/prayer cards. We'd go to church on Sundays if it wasn't mandatory to work on Sundays because EVERYONE who goes to church follows it by eating out. Also don't try to preach to us while we are working. We don't go to your work and put you down so don't do it to us.

5. TIPPING:
It is not 1960. Cost of living has gone up dramatically since then. 18% is the MINIMUM amount of what you should be tipping your servers. Remember, that steak is $12.99 not $22.99 because restaurants aren't required to pay minimum wage in most states! We are taxed on 10 percent of your meal automatically anyway, not to mention we have to tip out a percentage of our sales - your bill - to the hosts, bartenders, and bussers. So if you dont leave a tip, WE END UP PAYING FOR YOUR MEAL!! So move that decimal one spot left and multiply by 2 and your server will never be disappointed. ($25 = $2.50 x 2 = $5)

6. THE COMPLAINERS:
If you get a discount because of your food was prepared wrong or something, do not take it out of our tip. We didn't cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us. And don't ever leave a percentage on the total after the discount or comp -- always tip on what the total would have been.

7. THE LATE ONES:
If you come into the restaurant10 mins before closing or any time near closing hurry up and order your food and get out. Closed means closed, not social hour. It is so rude to sit there and take your sweet ass time. We can't leave until you leave because we have to do sidework and clean the table you are sitting at. We don't want to stand there waiting for you for an extra hour just because you don't want to go home. We recommend 24 hour establishments such as Dennys or Steak n Shake if you wish to sit into the wee hours of the night.

8. THE TABLE HOGERS:
If you only come in for coffee or a dessert, to do paper work, or to have a meeting, don't sit there taking up our booths for hours. We are not Starbucks or a hotel restaurant. If you want to sit for hours, go there or else you better leave a good tip for us and camping fee included.


9. THE GREET:
When we come up to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing please let us know. We honestly want to know how you are doing. If you are in a bad mood we want to know that from the beginning. A confused stare or complete silence does not suffice as a reply to "How are you doing?". Also don't interrupt our greeting and say "I want coffee", "can we get some bread, or "what are the soups?"

10. THOSE DAMN CELL PHONES:
Don't ever talk on your cell phone in a restaurant. This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down in respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table we will walk away until you get off your phone. Just show some respect and give us your attention for a couple of minutes.

11. TAKE-AWAY OR TOGOS:
Always remember to tip the take-out order servers! They work just as hard as a server, and hardly ever get tips for it! THEY DESERVE TO BE TIPPED TOO!

SIGNED, YOUR FELLOW RESTAURANT WORKERS

My new favorite book is "No One Else Will Listen: A girl's conversations with God." Check it out! Here's some bits & pieces..

"Forgive me, Lord, but I'm turning to you because nobody else will listen. ... I prayed when I was just a kid, prayers I have been taught. It was all very innocent and simple. Well, I'm not so innocent any more and it isn't simple any more. It's real, very real. And even if I never see you, never hear an answer, I know that you too are real."

"Sometimes it seems nobody loves me, Lord. And to be quite frank, I don't see how they can. I am so clumsy so much of the time. My hair looks awful, I'm having trouble with my skin. I eat too much, I often stuff myself when I feel ashamed. I say and do stupid things. I cry for no good reason. I lash out at people and feel sorry for myself. Lord, help me remember that no miracle is beyond you if I will just relax and stop fighting life the way I do. Nobody can hurt me half as much as I've been hurting myself. Thanks for not despising me even though I'm such a mess."

"I get so discouraged about myself sometimes. All these faults. I keep trying to correct them, but just when I think I've got some of them licked, a couple of new ones, worse ones sometimes, pop up. Or I'll do or say something I thought I would never do again. I'm shocked at myself. I could kick myself. WON'T I LEARN?! Please be patient with me Lord, and teach me to be more patient with myself. Knowing you still love me despite these faults and setbacks helps a lot. Help me not to get too discouraged with myself."

50 Things Admissions Never Told You About College

50 THINGS ADMISSIONS NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT COLLEGE

1. Quarters are gold.

2. Two meals per day is the standard.

3. Road trip whenever possible.

4. Going to the mailbox was never an ego booster/breaker before.

5. You will begin to nap again.

6. Your bookstore bill will almost equal tuition.

7. Squirt guns = Stress relief.

8. Instant messenger becomes an addiction.

9. E-mail becomes your second language

10. College students throw paper airplanes too.

11. You never realized that so many people were smarter than you.

12. College football is the coolest thing on the planet.

13. Western Europe could be wiped out by a horrible plague and you wouldn't
know, but you can recite last week's re-run of The 70's Show verbatim.

14. Cartoons are for all ages.

15. Disney movies are more than just classics.

16. You will never rent/buy more movies in your life.

17. No one is too old for video games.

18. Procrastination is an art form.

19. SNOOD is more addicting than pot.

20. Thanks to Kazaa/Audiogalaxy/Morpheus, you will never listen to any of
your CDs ever again.

21. It never hurt so much to get sick.

22. The health service nurses are there because they couldn't make it at a
real hospital. Never, don't ever forget that.

23. Care packages are right up there with birthdays.

24. Campus is only clean for Family Weekend and Freshman Orientation.

25. Nothing you want to register for will be open.

26. Classes... the later the better.

27. You are no longer thankful that the fire alarms are here to protect you.

28. Jeans may be worn as many times as the wearer desires.

29. The only time to dress up is when your jeans are dirty.

30. Showers become less important; sleep becomes more important.

31. Asleep by 2:30 am is an early night.

32. Creativity in the dining halls is KEY...

33. The freshman 15 is NOT a myth!!!

34. If it's snowing out, the only reason you will leave your room is for food.

35. Dishes smell after days of piling up.

36. Cereal makes a meal any time of the day.

37. You will eat anywhere that is a buffet.

38. You will eat anything that is free.

39. New additions to food groups: pitapit and pizza.

40. Stealing from the dining hall will become second nature.

41. ATM's are the devils advocate. ATM= another Twenty Missing.

42. Keys have never been so important, yet you seem to lose them or lock
yourself out of the room even more.

43. Duct tape heals all wounds.

44. If they say you can't have it in your dorm, they are just kidding.

45. You will come to hate hallways/elevators with a passion. (STAIRS ARE THE
DEVIL)

46. Those ugly cinderblocks are not sound proof.

47. Pictures, posters, emails or anything else to cover the ugly cell we live
in will be transformed
into wallpaper.

48. Everyone is only nice for the first week. After that, no matter how nice
you are, some people just won't smile back. Get used to it.

49. You are never alone!

50. You realize college is the ideal lifestyle, except for those pesky classes

TOP 10 REASONS THAT COLLEGE IS LIKE PRESCHOOL

10. You cry for your mother.

9. You cross the street without looking for cars.

8. Snack time is a necessity.

7. You bundle up for the outdoors without caring what you look like because
everyone else looks as stupid as you do

6. You stay at home and play games with your friends.


5. You wear your backpack on both shoulders.

4. You wear big mittens.

3. Playing in the snow is a legitimate activity.

2. You take naps.

1. You look forward to grilled cheese sandwiches.

YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN COLLEGE TOO LONG WHEN...

You actually like doing laundry at home.

Two miles is not too far to walk for a party.

You'd rather clean than study.

"Oh man how did it get so late!" comes out of your mouth at least once a night.

Mom's Meatloaf and potatoes become something you desire, not avoid.

Half the time you don't wake up in your own bed and it seems normal.

You schedule your classes around sleep habits and soap operas.

You know the pizza boy by name.

You go to sleep when it's light and get up when it's dark.

You live for getting mail.

Looking out the window is a form of entertainment.

Prank phone calls become funny again.

You start thinking and sounding like your roommate.

Black lights and highlighters are the coolest things on earth.

Rearranging your room is your favorite pastime.

The weekend lasts from Thursday to Sunday.

BEFORE I CAME TO COLLEGE, I WISH I HAD KNOWN...

That it didn't matter how late I scheduled my first class, I'd still sleep through it.

That I could change so much and barely realize it

That you can love a lot of people in a lot of different ways.

No matter how 'cool' you were in high school, no one here cares.

That if you wear polyester everyone will ask why you are so dressed up.

That every clock on campus shows a different time.

That if you were smart in high school, so what? It doesn't matter here.

That I would go to a party the night before a final.

That Chem. Labs/Art studios take up more time than all my other classes put together.

That you can know everything and fail a test.

That you can know nothing and ace a test.

That I could get used to almost anything found out about my roommate.

That most of my education would be obtained outside of class.

That friendship is more than getting drunk together.

That I would be one of those people that my parents warned me about.

That Sunday is a figment of the world's imagination.

That Psychology is really Biology. That Biology is really Chemistry, that Chemistry is really Physics and that Physics is really Math.

That my parents would become so much smarter in the last few years.

That it's possible to be alone even when friends surround you.

That friends are what make this place worthwhile!

In case you wanted to know...

10 Random Facts about me
*I go to school at Appalachian State University.
*I wish I had a car.
*I miss my girls!
*I have the spawn of Satan in the form of a puppy at home. But I love her. :)
*Being away from home made me realize how much I love my Mom.
*I definitely think smoking is bad.
*I regret a number of things.
*I have a current Nip/Tuck fetish.
*I drink Mello Yello like I don't need my kidneys.
*I'm so ready to get out of school!

9 Places I Want to Visit
*Hawaii
*Mexico
*NYC
*LA
*Disney World (again)
*Italy
*Costa Rica
*Paris
*London

8 things i want to do before i die
*STUDY ABROAD
*get married
*have 4 or 5 kids...yeah I'm crazy!!
*drive my convertible bug!!
*visit my top 9 places
*decorate my parents' house
*be wealthy
*SEE JULIE MAKE IT BIG!

7 things you can do to win me over
*buy me a car, lol
*make me laugh
*make me feel safe
*understand me & where i'm coming from
*listen to me
*don't act like you're my daddy
*be alex mullen :)

6 things i believe in
*GOD
*everything happens for a reason
*love
*being totally honest
*keeping your true friends through everything
*money is everything. (oh so sad but true) :\

5 things im afraid of
*the dark
*losing someone i love
*someone i love getting Alzheimer's
*i'll drive the stratus til i die.
*not getting to do everything on my top 8 list

4 of my fave possessions
*my pink iPod (thanks to my mullen)
*pictures...all 25 million of them.
*my FRIENDS DVD collection (it's still growing..)
*anything my grandmother gives to me

3 things i do everday
*nap
*pig out like there's no tomorrow
*talk to God

2 things im trying to do right now
*NOT do any homework or study
*pass biology. ironic, huh?

1 person who always makes your day better
*Alex. No matter what.

30 Things Guys Should Know About Girls

30 Things Guys Should Know About Girls
Written by a guy. After years of experience.

1. Whatever you do, don't just show up at their house...they run around in their underwear just like we do.
2. Don't cheat on them. It may seem foolproof, but girls tell each other everything about everything. Trust me, they WILL find out and you will be mud.
3. Beware of every single male relative and all guy friends. Any of them would kick your tail at the drop of a hat, and a lot of them wouldn't even wait for the dang hat.
4. Never miss an opportunity to tell them they're beautiful.
5. Kiss her in front of your friends without her having to ask you to.
6. If they slap you hard, you deserved it.
7. Don't be afraid to touch them if you want to. If they're going out with you in the first place, it's because they like being in your arms.
8. If you don't sleep with them, do NOT tell your friends that you did.
8.5 If you DO sleep with them, don't tell your friends that you did.
9. You can be dirty minded in private, really...most of them are not offended by it...
10. Not all of them eat like birds, a lot of them can eat like whales.
11. Most of them don't mind paying half of everything, but they do discuss these things with their friends. Realize that if you make your girlfriend pay half all the time, everyone will know about it and your friends will know you're a pussy. =]
11.5 Do you honestly need all your money that much? Be a man, pay all the time!
12. Every girl should eventually get three things from her boyfriend- a stuffed animal, one of his sweatshirts, and a really pretty ring. Even if it's not a serious relationship.
13. Make sure she gets home safely as often as you can. If you're dropping her off, walk her to the door. If you aren't dropping her off, call to be sure she's home safely.
14. If a guy is bothering her, it is your right to take care of it.
15. If you're talking to a female friend of yours, pull your girlfriend closer.
16. Never, ever slap her, even if it's just in a joking way. Even if she swats you first, and says, "Oh, you're so dumb" or something, never make any gestures back.
17. Go to a chick flick once in a while. She doesn't care whether you enjoy it or not, it just matters that you went.
18. You're dead meat if you can't get along with their pets, parents and best friends. Be prince charming to their friends, Mr. Polite to their parents, and make sure to be nice to their animals.
19. Don't flirt with their moms...that's just freaky.
20. Don't be freaked out by PMS. It's not gross, and it really does make them feel like crap, so be understanding.
21. If you don't like the way they drive, you do it.
22. If you're officially dating, and you're introducing her to your friends, you'd better freaking introduce her as your girlfriend.
23. Don't stress where you go for every date. They really only want to be with you.
24. If they complain that something hurts, rub it for them without being asked.
25. Girls are fragile. Even if you're play fighting/wrestling, be very gentle.
26. Memorize their freaking birthdays. You forget her birthday and you're basically screwed for life.
27. Don't marinade the cologne, but smell good.
28. Don't give her something stupid for her birthday or Christmas or Valentine's day. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be meaningful.
29. If you think the relationship isn't going to last, don't wait to find out. It will only hurt you more if you draw it out.
30. After you've been dating for a while, realize that they really have started to trust you. When you have a girlfriend who truly trusts you, you have a lot more responsibility, priviledge and control than you would think. Be careful with it, most guys would kill for that kind of power, and it can be lost in a nanosecond.