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I think the whole idea of tipping is ridiculous: do you tip the toll collector for taking your money? Do you tip the gas man for reading your meter? Do you tip your IT guy for fixing your computer? Of course not. Now, obviously, they don't live on tips. GUESS WHAT: NEITHER SHOULD WAITERS! How insane is it that a customer has to pay basically twice: for the food and for the service? Can you imagine if we had to tip UPS person for delivering the package to your house? Here's another tidbit: are the dishes heavier at T.G.I. Fridays than they are in a fancy steakhouse with $100+ dishes? Where do you come off with a sense of entitlement to a $20 tip just because the food was $100, whereas at Fridays a $20 plate would only get a $4 tip? If restaurant you work at charges that much for food, let them pay you! Enough is enough!

@Everyone:

I don't know where some of you get off being so rude, so I am pointing this at everyone. I work in the service industry. Two jobs, seven days a week, and I don't make enough for it. Every rude comment pisses me off. Why? Because you seem to be forgetting that everyone is human, and everyone has these crazy things called feelings. Hannah is being honest. Why is that such a sin in this world?
Working in the service industry is very very difficult. You have to constantly be "on". She's describing her life as it is, giving many people who have never experienced this sort of life, a glimpse at what it's like to be a waitress.
Both her and her boss were at fault. Her boss should provide somewhere private for paperwork. Her boss shouldn't be sitting around drinking while his staff is dealing with a crowd of any sort. Doesn't matter who you are, you should be on. Hannah shouldn't have been in the dining area. She wasn't serving, so she deserves an area where she can do her work in peace. She needs to discuss this with her boss. Also, she shouldn't be drinking on the clock. BUT, as an exception, if her boss is doing it, she can too. But, again, neither of them should be drinking.
Overall, I think that people just need to realize the purpose of this blog. You all sit here, typing away, arguing over the stupidest garbage. All of you are old enough to know better. Why can't you just read, and comment on your feelings ONCE. There is no need to respond to those who insult others. If they want to sound like stupid jerks, let them. But by responding, you're just fueling their fires.
So, in the words of a Beatles song: Let it be.

And Hannah, you go girl!

I like going to the farmers' markets in Santa Monica, CA. Not only do you find unusual fruits & vegetables, but chefs from the top restaurants also shop there.

The obscure jams is what I always love to purchase.

My hometown has a farmer's matket every Saturday. There are lots of vendors selling fresh vegetablessuxh as tomatoes and corn when it is season.

Definitely the Ithaca Farmers Market in Ithaca, NY. It's fantastic! Great food, organice produce and Gimme coffee!

I love the famer's market at the North Market in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio - local producers without fail have a terrific selection of beautiful fruits (with exceptionally large and juicy strawberries) and veggies. It's a weekend tradition for me and my friends to visit it and stock up for the week.

I often drive over to the local farmer's market on Saturday mornings at about 11:30 AM to pick up a few dozen tamales to get me through the week; our market has the best pepper selection (hotter the better) in the whole state of AZ !!!

I live about 15 minutes away from a town that holds a huge farmer's market each Saturday from July through the fall, where I can find everything from fresh strawberries to homemade bread. Yum!

denio's farmers market in roseville

One of my favorite vendors is the guy who sells mellons in the summer. He has great prices, good produce, and tells a mean joke too

I don't have a favorite, but I love cookbooks and would love to win a copy of this one.