Service Animals - Ep. 8 - The Hangover

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Hello, and welcome to Service Animals. I'm your host, Chris Connors. Please grab yourself a seat and join me for episode eight. The hangover, oh my God, I'm feeling it today. This is gonna be much more off the cuff than usual, quite frankly, of all the promises I've made to myself that I want to keep is releasing an episode a week, and even if it's 3:56 AM on, uh, Friday night, Friday the 13th. Happy Friday the 13th, everyone. Was anyone else feeling a weird energy today? I know why, why I was, but, uh, it was definitely, um. Different vibe from, uh, from guests too. And there are just a lot more like mistakes and, and broken glass at the bar and in the restaurant. And you could definitely feel like energies change among, uh, people when it's like full moon or a, a weird date like today. So that's a real phenomenon. I do say so. But yeah, in particular, I'm feeling it today 'cause I am wickedly hungover. And it, it got better after I got home from work tonight and got some food, but holy shit, like. Uh, I, I'm just, I'm, we'll get to the story, but like, you know, it's just these decisions don't have to be made and, uh, sometimes you just want to go on adventures and see where they take you and they take you to a wicked, wicked, uh, morning and, uh, a pretty rough night anyway. But, um, yeah, we'll get to that. So, uh. Uh, this is a show for all of us to share our experiences and insights. So if you'd like to be a part of it, you can call in at (720) 515-7218. Uh, leave me a message. Lemme know if you have a story to share or advice to ask for, and if you wanna be on the show, uh, you can also email at Service Animals roar@gmail.com. Come be a guest on the show, anonymous or recognize. Share your best tales, promote your craft, and have a laugh with me. No big milestones this week. But I do wanna shout out the listener who, um, made my day. I, you know, every day I check the downloads for the PO or whatever, and you know, it's, uh, some days are more than o others obviously. But, uh, I was having a couple zero days in a row for a while and feeling a bit bummed about that. And then one day I had eight downloads, uh, in one day from, uh, someone who just went through every episode. So, uh, whoever did that. Thanks, uh, shout out to you. You made my day. And me keeping my commitment to releasing episodes, even when I feel like shit is, uh, for, uh, moments like that where I'm like, oh, cool, someone's connecting or, yeah. Uh, so thank you for that. I don't even have a story from the week honestly, about service. I'm not even gonna bullshit that. Most of this is a personal for, uh, personal stories this week. You may recall the, uh, married woman who was having a rough go of it with her husband that I have discussed and discussed last week, I believe, uh, leaving her card and, uh, shouting in the streets. Uh, you know, you wanna fuck me Chris. And uh, that was pretty rough, you know, always puts me in a weird state to kind of deal with people's baggage. 'cause you do, like I've said at the bar, a lot of it is some form of cheap therapy and a lot of these people that you serve feel very comfortable after a while just kind of unloading their most real selves. And when that's fun, that can be really cool. And when that's, you know, this product of abuse that is horrifying and makes me feel horrible. Uh, so this week, I saw her and her husband dressed up real nice on, you know, a sunny afternoon and, uh, walking down the street. I'm lucky enough to have really nice wide windows at my restaurant, so we get really good sunlight. And you get a ever changing view and people watching, which is nice. And I was happy for them. They looked happy and you know, from what I know, she's going through and experiencing the. Brief moments in between. The hard times are something I'm sure she holds onto. And it looked like this date was something of like, let's get out there and do it together. And then not two hours later, I think she was sitting at my bar crying and uh, telling me what a piece of shit he is and, uh, how he beats her, you know, so. This happened and, uh, she, you know, got quite drunk and was stumbling when she got up. So I just took the initiative to take her arm and say, Hey, do you mind if I walk you home? Like, I've done it before. She lives a block away. So, uh, yeah, she, she said, you promise? And I'm like, yeah, I promise. Like of course. So I walk her outside and, uh, we're walking across the street. And she says in this very sweet voice, like, I would like to make love to you. And I was, you know, I thought it, I thought it good to say back. Thank you. You're beautiful and that's very sweet. Trying to stay neutral, you know? I get her back to her place safe as I'm walking back, these two beautiful women eating ice cream on a bench, like out of a movie, just said, that was really sweet of you. Like, I. Like, thanks for doing that for her. And, um, that made my night. So yeah. And then later in the week dude, sorry, I'm fucked up. Like I'm so fucking out of it right now. I'm trying my best. Anyway, it was just hard, like the, the. It's an, it is an unappreciated or underappreciated aspect of service that you just kind of deal with, like the best and worst of of guests. And it can be really connective experiences or just feeling used and, you know, feeling like you're the dumping ground, uh, for whatever problem they're going through in their life. And, um. You know, I really try to be a good listener for people. It's something you kind of have to develop if you're gonna stay in this industry long. But it really made me feel dark, like for a while. Just, I don't know, being, being, you know, an unintentional focal point of such a situation is, is, yeah. Not my favorite thing anyway. Um. I don't know that. I know that's bummer. And that kind of led to me having a couple bummer days. I think I was just like, you know, feeling kind of directionless and I'm not working out as much and just not getting good sleep and, you know, obviously I'm up late a lot anyway, but, um, especially when I'm trying to fit in stuff like this or other things I'm trying to get done. Oh my God. Is there anything better for a hangover than weed? Holy shit. I love living in a legal state. Anyway, so that energy kind of brought me into a dark place during the week, and this led up to yesterday, right? So yesterday I got to work in, you know, I. I try to put on my best face every day, but you know, some days are harder than others and you're feeling it more than others, right. So it was one of those days for me, I just wasn't like feeling as into it. Right. But I decided the best thing I can do is just what I always say. It's like, be kind, put on a kind face. Try to make your default face like a gentle smile and inviting and just do the best skilled work you can. Right? That's kind of the baseline of what I set my, my goals for the day on. And. My night just kept getting more complimentary. Like people at the bar were just being very glowing and just saying how nice it was to watch me do my tricks and I got applause from tables, uh, across the restaurant and, you know, just, um, taken a bow for them and, and just, just delighting people is a, is a really nice thing that I relish in. You know, like if I do a trick and someone doesn't know how I do it, and they think it really is magic, like I remember that magical feeling. I, I talked about it previously with my uncle and his magic tricks. But yeah, man, it's a, it's a treat to be able to deliver even a small piece of that. So even if I'm feeling like down or not as into, um, my job that day, like. On the best days, like the day was like, people are really appreciating me and I'm really hearing it a lot and I really value verbal feedback and uh, and uh, appreciate that. So anyway, cut to this beautiful blonde that's down. Pretty much right in front of my well, and, um, I'm just, you know, performing and flipping and doing all the things. Turns out she's a restaurateur, former gm you know, of a couple places. Uh, some you know, travels the world. Her uncle owns a vineyard kind of thing, so it was really crazy like resume she was saying. But she was just being very kind and saying how impressed she was with me and everything. And, uh, it got kind of flirty. And then, uh, she invited me out, or she asked when I was getting done work and, uh, uh, I was getting done pretty soon. So, um, you know, she had, she had like, uh, you know, she's kind of a, an older woman, older than me you know, forties or fifties, and had that like, older woman twinkle in her eye. And she just said like, life's short, you know, and, uh. So, yeah, I ended up getting a, getting a drink with her and that was, uh, that is why I am hungover today. Oh my God, this episode sucks. I'm sorry. I'm, I, I'm, I'm gonna do better. Trust me. I mean, that's, that's the point of this, right? This, this is the, this is the part where I said, no matter what, I'm gonna release an episode. And even if it's bad, I'm gonna take that embarrassment. I'm gonna take the bad episode and be like, you know what? Those weren't my best. I learned from that. I know better. And that's what this night was. It was like, you know, you know, it's, it's rare to have women be forward at the bar. And she was European and very European. And that was super refreshing. 'cause apparently women over there are much more forward about what they want and, uh, verbally and otherwise, so. Yeah, that was, that was nice. And feeling wanted is nice, but I hadn't eaten all day. Like I have a spoonful of, you don't hear my weird diet. Okay. Let me, let me, listener, let me, uh, make you privy to this. I'm being super like, honed in on, uh, my diet right now and usually pretty much better about what I put in my body than what I have been. But I start my day with a spoonful of coconut oil. A spoonful of ghee. Uh, it's a type of clarified butter, and then a spoonful of honey and then a protein shake. And then if I'm rushing to work like a cliff bar and a banana, and if I'm not, I'll make oatmeal. But I, this morning I was rushing to work and had just had the cliff bar in early in the day. Right? So I have a full day of like flare bartending. I'm on my feet for like seven, eight hours and, it's a long one, you know, not that usually it's like, probably like six and a half to seven. Probably like average seven anyway yeah, I was tired, but I'm like, I wanna be up for adventure. I still wanna be that guy. I know I haven't eaten anything. So I'm driving to the restaurant, I'm meeting her at, and like downing some of the nuts that I bring in this little, uh, container. So I was trying to get something in my stomach wasn't enough. I ended up having, I am not proud of myself. I was in the mood for margaritas, so I ended up having two at this restaurant, and she had won. Now she asked for extra shots of tequila on top because she didn't think it was strong enough. She goes to the bathroom, they bring the check. I would like you to guess how much the check was. Okay. And, and I'm so not complaining about like service industry prices usually, but I've never experienced sticker shock like this. It was $130 for three drinks. Okay? Now they put 20% gratuity on. On automatically. And for two people I've like never heard of that. So that was kind of weird. But with the extra shots and like the Grand Marnier and the whatever, you know, Reposado, they chose to use, I mean, they really hammed it up. It's, it's like that's one of the dangers of going to a a bar and. Just saying like, oh, give me whatever your favorite is or give me what you know, whatever Rapsodo you like, or something like, they could have picked a, you know, some like 30, $40 a shot kind of reposado that, you know, I've never heard of and used that for my margarita. Now they were good margaritas, you know, but they weren't like. The bomb.com. It wasn't like the best I've ever had. And I'm a margarita snob and I make what I consider to be like some of the best margaritas I've ever had. 'cause I, I just, margaritas Summer Jam, I just take pride in that drink. So yeah, I ended up having two there and some extra shots that was expensive. You know, this woman who had initially said like, oh, let me buy you a drink, said that I should take care of the first tab, and then she would take care of the next bar. And I was like, okay. So I ended up paying the tab, but then she saw how much it was and then, uh, talked to the manager and split it with me. So it was, uh, it was cheaper, but, um. Just kind of funny. And then from there we went to another bar where we met a guy who told us he was on cocaine, Adderall and proceeded to talk within six inches of my and her face for about an hour and a half, two hours. So I think I got drunker there just to deal with that. You know, I was, I was having a good time with her and you know, we were making out by that point. So that was pretty sweet. But this guy was just the most aggressive energy and completely like. Guys, people don't always know when they're unwanted in a conversation or a situation. Certainly a guy just butting in and talking to a woman who came with a guy and they're clearly together at the bar. I don't know. That should be noticeable and weird to keep doing. But no, it was, you know, and he was kind of funny. So I was like, whatever. I'm mostly just be bemused at this point, you know, of like. People's behavior and what goes on at bars. I think it's such like a, a, a proving ground of oddities and just the kind of eccentricities of, of people and how they, you know, mating behaviors mixed with like, just pure dancing or just drinking or, you know, there's, there's so many moods. Anyway. Yeah, this was just one of those nights where I was just like, bemused watching this guy hit on the woman I came with. You know, and, and she was, she was being kind to him, I think. But um, yeah, anyway, that was just weird. And then I drank, but oh my God, it was like this guava margarita with mescal and I was just like, Hmm, you, this is my jam. The best kind of margaritas that I like to drink are made with ingredients that my bar does not have. You know, 'cause then I can at least try something a little more exotic. So yeah, I probably had like five drinks. Maybe more like six. Uh, it's hard to tell. I mean, the alcohol was so mixed, you know, like I definitely ordered like two or three drinks from the one bar and I ordered two from the, so at least like five. But with added shots and everything, who could say I. But I got myself home safe and that was good because once I got upstairs, man, like it hit, it's like alcohol like sneaks up on me because I used to drink a lot and, and I hadn't drank in like 16 days, you know, until yesterday. So I've been really like healthy and just like taking it easy and saving money. But uh, yeah, it just all hit me at once and like. You know, that kind of drunk, like, I usually try to get home and I, I made it a rule since college, like always eat something. Like usually pbjs are my jam, but I'm not eating wheat right now. So, uh, yeah, I just kind of came home and started to make food and then realized like I was too drunk to even like, try to stay up and eat, so I just had to pass out and then, uh, woke up, had to throw up, and that's terrible, right? Like. No one wants to wake up out of a dead sleep and feel nauseous and immediately know you have to run to the bathroom. And I'm an adult, like I know what I have to do and like, you know, adult throwing up is different than kid throwing up. It's much less terrifying. And you're more just like annoyed with yourself. So I'm just like fucking half asleep, just like, oh God, are we doing this again? You know? And I've like thrown up from drinking probably, I don't know, like two or three times in the last. Year, I'd say, but that's two or three too many, you know, I'm like 37, almost 38. Like, it's, it's just when I don't have any food in me, you know, that's, that's the lesson of this for me is like, don't, don't make promises your body can't cash the checks of, how does that go? Okay. So ended up throwing up most of the night. Almost called in sick to work today. I was sitting there with like 20 minutes to get to work and not feeling like I wanted to stand up and um, yeah. I ended up having a good night tonight too, actually. Like people were still kind and, um, I got a lot of a lot of compliments tonight too. So even hungover, Chris', still trying, you know, put my best, uh, my best foot forward out there. Yeah. But, uh, anyway, this is a, this is a cautionary tale. This is my. Episode of Shame. This is my look at how much worse it is when I don't have enough sleep. I haven't eaten enough. I drank too much. Oh, oh, hold on. I didn't even finish the story. So then tonight, I. There was a going away party for someone that is a beautiful person who's leaving work. And she's moving. So I wanted to make it to this party, but I was feeling so hungover that I really wasn't gonna go I was just gonna like, you know, say goodbye. But, uh, this other friend from work she knows who she is, invited me down. She's like, you have to come. You have to come. I like never drink with, uh, coworkers. Like we all, we have to go out. So I drive. From a going away party that was supposed to be at the bar, a block away from us, which is great, to, uh, it was like six miles. It was like a 15 minute drive going 80 m the highway. Just downtown. Downtown, right. So I'm like, okay. Which is fine. I wanted to see her send her off. It's fine. But this friend was like, I'll buy you a drink. So I'm like, okay, I don't even want to drink, but I ate some food. I felt better. And I'm like, you know what? Maybe I'll go down and have an IPA, you know, just hang out for a bit. Mostly probably just hit my weed pen, quite frankly, because that's the best thing for a hangover day. And, uh, it's, uh, definitely cheaper. But, uh, we went back to the speakeasy that I went to with my friend that I was talking about. I. In the previous episode, the, uh, kind of secretive one, so I couldn't find the entrance again. I had to ask to get let in. And then, uh, once you get let in, it's like five bucks, a $5 drink. So it was awesome. But, um, this friend who invited me down and said she would buy me a drink even though I wasn't even trying to drink tonight, 'cause I'm fucking hungover, didn't have any money and I ended up buying her a drink. So that's what it's like being a guy. That's what it's like. You get invited out for drinks and a woman will say, Hey, let me buy you a drink. And then somehow you end up with 20 less dollars in your wallet at the end of the night. That's my, that's my cautionary tale as well. Drinking's expensive, man. And I don't mind being generous and I certainly don't mind buying cheap drinks for friends, but it was just a funny situation where I'm just like, man, like I wasn't even gonna come out tonight and now I'm drinking downtown and I'm just like, I love this space and I love these people, but I'm. I don't know, you know, like I'm in this weird, like, transitionary stage right now and I feel it, and it's part of it is getting older, but part of it is just like, you know, like I'm, I'm gonna wax philosophical a little bit here, but like, I really feel like I've been exhausting the former avenues for pleasure and happiness that used to satiate me. You know, like I've, I find it very useful to go about. My day and really tune into the quality of my mind when I get enough sleep. Like the day where I was really slaying with the initial, like attracting the beautiful European blonde that was me on like eight hours sleep and like really just like feeling refreshed and like, you know, charming and like on point, you know, conversationally, stuff like that. And hangover day, man, you're a totally different person. You know, I'm, I'm, I like if I'm tired or if I'm, you know, I'm just like, you know, I was more sensitive. I'm just like, you know, I was fine. Like I did my job fine, but I'm just like, I didn't want to talk to people and I just didn't have the energy to like, carry on conversations. Like my flare was attempted, it was fine. It was just like so uninspired and like obviously I'm not moving as well today. But yeah, I just, anyway. I feel myself going through this transition where I am like, I'm really glad I had a pretty wild like twenties, and I'm glad that I went to college and had the experiences there I had, because some of those things really don't ever come back. And then. A lot of those things start feeling like, you know, you've gotten all the juice from that experience, you know, like you, you've squeezed it all. Like, like being downtown at this bar. I'm like, alright, cool man. Like this is what a bar is like, there's beautiful women here. Cool. There's, there's, you know, there's jocks laughing over there. Alright, there's music I actually liked. That was cool. But I was just like, what am I doing? Like, what am I. Like, what is the end game? You know, like I'm, I'm, I guess I'm trying to like continue to figure out what the end game is for me in general, but like, man, like when you're hung over and you don't feel like being in a bar and drinking, like, you start to look at it a different way of just like, what are we all doing here? Like, wanting this is, this is 'cause this is silly. But of course I'm just being a fucking, like, tired curmudgeon I'm sure. But, uh, and it ended up being fun anyway, so I'm glad I went. But, um. Yeah, I just, I just know that like in general in my life, I'm noticing that when I do behaviors that aren't conducive to my growth or my cutting out negative habits, it just is noticeably less happy. Making and drinking definitely has proven itself once again to be that yesterday and tonight. You know, just, just seeing the, the cost and the physical cost and the cost to your mind and just who you are can show up to be in your day when you're feeling so hungover and just, just dull, you know? It's just not interesting. Like I wanna be far more interested in what I do and where I spend my time now, and I'm glad I've tried so many. Things to be happy. You know, I'm one habit I'm trying to cut outta my life right now is like snacking late at night on popcorn. And I. I take notice of like how do I feel the next day if I like ate too late in the night and then all that like, you know, honey on there and there's whatever. Like, it all makes me feel a little more like bloated in the morning. I just feel like I didn't sleep as well. Maybe 'cause I did like didn't I was digest. When you digest it, when you sleep, your uh, body is more awake than it should be and it's using systems that should be more shut off. Anyway, so like feeling the effects of things and. Really trying to just turn the wheel of the ship and to stop hitting the same icebergs over and over again. Right. That's something I'm, I'm noticing and I'm, I'm thankfully noticing in my thirties, 'cause I feel like you can go quite a long time in life and just not stop. But yeah, I'm, uh, I'm, I'm kind of getting done drinking. Like I, I have so many really intense fitness goals that I really want to succeed in. Like, I would love to do like long distance races and triathlons and, and mud runs and, and obstacle horse stuff. And you know, there's a lot of cool stuff to do with your body out there. And I just don't have time to like put toxic shit in it anymore. And I am someone who makes a living selling that, you know, product. So it's. I'm obviously going through transition. I'm obviously figuring out like the rest of my life and where am I going? 'cause I'm really skilled at this thing. But this thing inherently is selling something that isn't very healthy for you. You know, it has its purposes, it has its good effects for moments in time and experience enhancement for sure. Food enhancement, definitely. Social enhancement of course, but um, yeah, it's just. I don't know, man. I know I'm, I'm know, I'm like in the belly of the beast right now in terms of like personal development and like figuring all this stuff out and just being on a path and not being able to see. Every step forward, past the one I have to take in the moment, but I'm really just trying to focus in on the one I have to take in the moment and drinking less, working out more, and, and being more cognizant of my health. And even on one-off nights, like, you know, even if I'm only drinking once or twice a month, I. It's still not acceptable to get in such a state and be in such a state. So I released this podcast as a testament to, I did my best and maybe this was something, maybe you got something out of this and I appreciate it if you did, but you know, obviously I'm not feeling my best and this was me trying my best to, to keep my word. So, yeah. Alright. Please subscribe and rate the podcast on whatever app you're using. Be a part of the pride and help it grow. Feel free to leave a review and please share with someone you think would like the show. You can call in at (720) 515-7218. Leave a message and let me know if you have a story to share or advice to ask for. You can also email at Service Animals roar@gmail.com. Thanks so much for hanging out with me. I don't take your time or attention for granted, and I hope you feel respected and better for sharing it with me as imperfect as I have been this episode. Yeah, showing up, doing our best as best we can do, right. All right. Until next time, stay wild my friends.