Opening Day Weekend Chaos - Tigers and Wings Win, and So Do I!
After all the chaos, I left work on Sunday around 11:45 AM after getting sent home, then dove straight into a PowerPoint presentation for Mindy’s masterclass. I didn’t wrap it up until about 10:00 PM, but I made it through the day.Saturday morning, my calves were wrecked. I rolled out of bed around 8:30, already questioning my life choices, and ran a hot Epsom salt bath just to get my legs working again. As I soaked, I mentally braced myself for another long shift. Somehow, though, Saturday ran smoother than Friday. The bar was still buzzing, but the chaos felt more manageable. My body was hurting, but my rhythm was solid. After my shift, you’d think I’d finally get to crash—but nope.
A friend reached out earlier in the week about a new APHL hockey team coming to Detroit. He asked if I’d be interested, and when they got the green light, the meeting was set for Saturday—of course, I said yes.
I got there six minutes late—had to take my dog, Lena, out first. Derrick talked about his vision for the team—what he wants it to look like and where we’re headed—and then introduced me to the group. After that, he turned to me and asked what I could bring to the table.
Now, I hate talking about myself. I always joke I wish I could hype myself up like Professor Wade does. If I had that kind of confidence, I’d be unstoppable. But I did my best—stumbling a little as I explained I could help with media, marketing, and sponsorships. I ended with: “Whatever role you think you need me to fill, I can.”
During the meeting, my phone blew up—six missed calls from all three managers and texts from the manager in the tip pool on Friday about the tip split. I replied saying I was in a meeting and would call back afterward.
Meanwhile, my phone is still lighting up while I’m sitting there in a meeting that actually means something to me. A meeting that could potentially open doors for me to work in the NHL one day. This is the kind of experience I need if I want to even have a shot at that. But I guess it didn’t matter that I said I’d call after the meeting and get it all sorted out—because clearly, “I’m in an important meeting” wasn’t taken seriously.
Bartenders texted saying they couldn’t get their tip money until I brought mine back. The manager then asked how one bartender made more than the other when they worked the same hours. I explained I didn’t change anything; I just used the hours given. It was a long day, and I asked someone to write down the hours so I didn’t have to try figuring out in and out times myself.
The kicker? The manager texting me was in the tip pool that night and had the nerve to say, “We go through this every year.” Funny how the only time there’s an issue is when they’re bartending.
Back to the meeting—as we talked about what was needed for the team, I was processing everything and thinking about where I could be an asset. I made a mental note of people I know who could help fill some of the gaps. The meeting lasted about four and a half hours and felt productive! I had a list of things to look into and was excited about the possibilities.
But then it was time to deal with the fire at work. After the meeting, I called the manager I’d closed with the night before to see if we could handle the tip split in the morning. Between the weekend shifts and the meeting, I hadn’t even started the presentation due Monday—and I was already scheduled to work Sunday. They agreed but then called again after I got home and changed, asking if I could come in right then. I told them not to judge me—I was already in pajamas and wasn’t about to change again just to come back up there.
By Sunday morning, I was texting the manager in the tip pool again, asking direct questions about what they’d said. Still, no real answers. They seemed to think I wasn’t on board with splitting tips by hours, but honestly? I gave up on pushing for tips by the cut a year ago. It’s just not worth the argument.
I messaged the manager I worked with on the tip situation, asking to have a conversation about the procedure. The manager in the tip pool said, “That’s how we always do it,” so I asked if they knew that. I’ve been handling it the same way for a while without any issues. I assumed they forwarded the message to the other manager, because shortly after, the manager that was in the tip pool walked up to me and told me I could go home. They didn’t say anything—just assumed it was because of my text. I sent that message because there needs to be a consistent standard. We can’t change things just to suit one person’s convenience.
After all the chaos, I left work on Sunday around 11:45 AM after getting sent home, then dove straight into a PowerPoint presentation for Mindy’s masterclass. I didn’t wrap it up until about 10:00 PM, but I made it through the day.
Looking back on this weekend, it definitely tested me—physically, mentally, and emotionally. But honestly, I came out of it with more than just relief. I got a solid dose of perspective. I handled the chaos, stayed sober, and worked through everything at the bar without letting it throw me off. Even when the tip situation got messy, I kept my cool and focused on handling it calmly, instead of letting frustration take over. It wasn’t flawless, but I got it done.
And to top it all off, I walked away with an exciting opportunity to possibly join a new APHL team. Life’s unpredictable, but sometimes it’s the hardest moments that lead to the best things.
Here’s to getting through the tough days and looking ahead to what’s next.
