Time to fucking Hustle

     It's a rainy Friday morning. I'm going to ride my bike to work. Double shift, b/c Carlos has to work for Johnny at Bomba, b/c Johnny has a tooth issue.

Have you, my reader, ever been to Salsa's Mexican Caribbean Restaurant?

Have you, my reader, ever been waited on, by me?

If so, you have likely seen "The Plate Trick".

The Plate Trick is a little action, but a big deal. It takes just a few seconds, but the mindblown feeling it can induce can last a lifetime. It shows I want to make a memorable experience. That waiting tables can be fun and inventive. That ANY job can be creative. That anyone can be passionate about their position in life, no matter how menial the task at hand.

So today, I hustle at 6 Patton Ave. For twelve or thirteen hours.
Today, I hustle slow roasted pork.
Today, I hustle rosemary limeades and circus tricks.
Today, I hustle foodies from near and far.

I've been working at Salsa's since 1999. And, have been doing The Plate Trick at LEAST 10 of those 15+ years. I certainly don't mind the job itself.
There's one big thing that's bugging me, though:

I make $$$ from tips. But, get paid $2.13/hour. (in general) I don't get a paycheck. The money from the paycheck is all kept as tax withholding. However that withholding from the paychecks never comes close to pay the taxes I owe. I know I should be better at saving. I know, it's not that I'm making poverty wage. I make slightly above poverty wage. It's that I feel like my employer values me so little. I think I'm valued, at some emotional level. But, that emotional value doesn't halp me pay taxes.

So, I'm going to ask for a raise.I'm going to have to develop a detailed negotiation strategy based on how extraordinarily "value-added" my entire being is.

There will be resistance, as .. If I get a raise, won't other servers want raises? But, the way I feel is, do they really deserve it? Why do people think they are entitled to raises by simply doing what they are required to do for their job for a length of time? Anyway..

I feel like I am worth more than $2.13/hour.

I bet $2.13 that the next minimum wage increase to affect NC, won't affect the $2.13 server minimum wage.

Time to fucking hustle...