El Sol, Babies, and the French Open

These last couples weeks have been so great. I thought summer would be really relaxing and chill, but in fact it has turned out to be filled with lifting and working out scheduled around class, studying, and my work schedule. I have to admit, I enjoy being busy... and there is also the French Open. I find myself completely obsessed with it and was devastated when Maria Sharapova got beat out for the SECOND time in a row but Safina. But these things happen. I am still utterly infatuated with the success of the sensational Rafael Nadal. He is unbelievably talented, yet humble and honest. In every match I have seen him play in, he is always working 110% and never does he let an opponent get in his head. Nadal has a passion for the game that unique and makes him so entertaining to watch. It would be such a treat to see him play live. I have always wished that I was good at tennis. Maybe one day I will be able to get on that court and give it a shot, until then I think I will stick with volleyball. I've discovered, however, that I am not the only one who appreciates watching and loving tennis. Dani, my roommate, is nannying our friend's 4 month old baby, Ellie, every day from 8-5. She is truly a little bottle of sunshine. When I walk in the door coming home from a long two hours of class, I am greeted by the smiles and giggles of this little angel watching the French Open. Dani and I predict that she has a passion for tennis that she cannot yet verbalize, but whenever tennis is on she is happy.

Here is Ellie watching the French Open in her favorite swing. It plays music when she pulls on the little toys on the side. She absolutely loves hanging out in it!

The wonderful Rafa Nadal. He has really cool shoes too, they say "Rafa" on the heel. So classy!

Other than going to class and watching the French Open, I have been working at El Sol as a server. It has been such a good experience and has really made me appreciate the money that I earn. I was talking with one of the dish washers the other night and he asked me if I liked working at El Sol. Without even thinking I just blurted out " oh yeah! I love it!." Now, I may have reason to be biased in why I love it so much, but I feel like there are some reasons that I love working other than my dad owning the restaurant. #1. I have never HAD to work growing up. I always wanted to because it was something I never had time for since I was constantly playing volleyball day in and day out. There was just not enough time in the day or the week for me to have a job. Now that I can have one, I really love it and appreciate it. #2. I love meeting new people. Just the other day this couple came in to the restaurant and they asked me if I was a new server. I told them I had worked here a year ago, but I just started up again for the summer. Turns out they are regulars at El Sol and they are such nice people. Frances, Martin's wife, is from London and has such a sweet and perfect accent. I loved being able to talk with them and get to know them a little bit. Last Saturday I worked a double and this lady came in that I had seen before. The other servers call her the Diet Coke lady because every time she comes in she always just orders a Diet Coke and sits there drinking away. Sometimes she will have 3 or 4 full glasses! She just loves the Diet Coke and says it is the best Diet Coke in Logan. I have had many other customers tell me that as well, so I believe her! #3. I enjoy being challenged. Being a server is not as easy as it sounds! There are so many things that you have to remember. The hardest part for me is remembering to grab extra napkins or get refills on drinks when people ask because I will have new tables that I need to greet and old tables that need their checks and boxes for leftovers and sometimes when you have 4 or 5 tables at once you can forget if someone needed soemthing else. I have gotten so much better at multi-tasking and I really love challenging myself to make better tips. It is such a fun thing for me to do, even though it wears me out so much! It has been great. If you ever are passing through Logan or want to come visit you should stop by the restaurant and have some Original El Sol Mexican food!