Throwback Thursday--First Job

Today is another Throwback Thursday! 

This week, you get a double answer! Justin and I both will be talking about our first jobs! Yaay!

Tayler's First Jobs
My first, first job was Quiznos. When I got my driver's license, Mom led me out to the car and said, "Don't come back without a job." So, I pounded the pavement. I really wanted to work at a local pizza buffet called Cici's, but they just put my application in a pile. I went on the Quiznos, which was nearby and they hired me on the spot. The manager was Indian, and his wife, daughter, and son all worked there. I was the only white girl and the only one who couldn't speak Hindi. I worked there about a week, and I hated it. Even though I told them I was a student in high school and I had religious class (seminary) at 6AM on weekdays, he still made me work up until like 10-11pm. 
So, I went back to Cici's. I asked to talk to the manager, was actually able to sit down with her, show her the application I filled out, and told her I was friends with a Mormon employee. Based on that, she hired me! I called Quiznos to tell them I quit. (The money I earned at Quiznos that week allowed me to buy my first iPod ever--a 2GB nano!!!)

Cici's Pizza was a great job for a 16 year old! It was an all-you-can eat buffet for $5! It included a salad bar, pasta bar, pizza bar, and dessert bar (cinnamon rolls--they're famous, apple pie pizza, and brownies). The best perks were at this job as well--I got free food anytime I want, my family got free food anytime they wanted, and my friends (if they were eating with me) got free food as well. The reason they were able to allow this is because of how popular Cici's Pizza was! Friday and Saturday nights were full to bursting, sometimes, people would have to wait in line to be seated. Cici's was also the place to hold parties: birthday parties, sport team trophy dinners, etc. Schools also used it almost every month for fundraising. These were the best nights. True, they were full to bursting, with little kids running all over the place, pizza everywhere: on the buffet, racing through the oven, on the floor, all over the tables. Noise level was insane, the lines were out the door, our busboys could barely keep up. But, it was great because of how strong the community was. No one really complained--they had fun talking and sharing stories, knowing they would eventually get their fill on pizza. I saw so many of my friends and would talk to them over the buffet. If it was slower, and I saw friends, I could sit and eat with them for a while. 

What was also great fun was the shout outs we did for each fresh pizza:

Cheese pizza--"I say smile, you say cheese! Smile!" "Cheese" shouts the customers.

Mac&Cheese pizza (It's actually quite yummy)--"It's not easy being cheesy."

BBQ pizza--"1,2, BBQ, YEEEHAW!!"

Pepperoni--"It's not bologna, it's pepperoni!"

My favorite is still the Buffalo pizza. We were training a new girl to stock the buffet and the shoutouts. Up came a buffalo chicken pizza. She asked what the shout out was. My manager said, "Oh, you shout, 'fresh hot buffalo pizza is on the buffet' then make a loud buffalo noise."
So, she did and boy, was her buffalo grunt the funniest thing in the entire world.

I also loved my coworkers: Jessica, the manager who was engaged to a marine. Brittany, who said, "That's my JAM!" every time a new song came on the radio. My Mormon friends who worked with me. The Mexicans who prepped, cleaned, and made the pizzas who would teach me Spanish words (like the infamous "Chaga-Chaga") and bring homemade Mexican food (the first time I tried Mole and I loved it!). 

I worked there from 2006-2008, from the time I got my driver's license until I graduated high school. I miss Cici's Pizza. 

Justin's First Jobs
My first official job was at a family owned (not mine) diner/dive in the town of Lancaster, Pa called Freeze and Frizz..  One of those old school 50s style diner looks known for their soft serve ice cream and their BBQ sandwiches.  The BBQ sauce was a secret family recipe that to this day I can't fathom what was in it (although I was able to figure out one of the ingredients was Pickle Relish).  I work there for the summer of 2006 and throughout my senior year of high school.

My family had spent countless evenings driving up and getting ice cream and french fries at Freeze and Frizz throughout my life and I was thankful they hired me to work there (it was within biking distance). After several months there, they hired my little sister as well when her job at ice cream stand in an amusement park wasn't going so well.  They were more than accommodating to let me have Sundays off and it was a very nice environment.  My boss, Dan, was one of the most relaxed and honest men I had known.  He was always smiling and constantly looked out for the welfare of his employees, which were mostly high school kids.  One of the best memories I have is when the Justin Special was invented.  Through trial and error over a few months, I had concocted the perfect sandwich that I proceeded to make for myself every day I was on shift.  It was a simple ham and cheese sandwich with a little cajun seasoning, pickles, and occasionally some of the BBQ sauce for dipping.  My boss quickly picked up on the habit and would have one made for me before I went on my lunch break (more often or not, he would make one for me as a hint that I should go on my break, as I typically didnt like sitting in the back whilest everyone was out working).  Soon, other employees started getting the sandwich a few times for their lunch, and my boss even caved a few times as well.  There was a time you could go to Freeze and Frizz and ask the cashier for a "Justin Special" and we'd grill one up.

It was a great place for a first job and I'll cherish the memories and friends I made there.