Mexican food is my favorite. It’s no secret, I mean, between late-night taco feasts at home and first-meal-of-the-days at the best little dive in town, I guesstimate there’s Latin cuisine in my system about 5 out of 7 days a week.

So I guess it’s appropriate that I find myself studying a Mexican cuisine menu. I cruise down the list of botanas (appetizers) and make my way up to entrees like Bandera Steak and Chipotle Honey Salmon, trying to train my brain to revert to server mode and memorize what comes with what and when you can offer “rice and beans” for an upcharge.

All this, and I quite clearly remembering saying two years ago “I can’t wait until I don’t have to serve anymore.” But that was after spending 4 1/2 years working at a national franchise, hating the side work and not seeing enough green to make it worth the stress. Not that I’m positive this job will pay off, either. But it’s a second gig, I rationalize. Anything I make is extra. So, no stressing, I chide myself. Just roll with it.

Still, a Mexican restaurant? It’ll be strange to be on the other side of the table, and it’s going to make me huuuungry. I suppose I should feel most at home in that atmosphere, though. Love the type of food, so hopefully their version of Mexican is good.

I start training tonight, folks, and I’m only a tiny bit apprehensive, which is ridiculous, I know. But I dread starting new jobs. It’s that whole timid thing I get going on, when really I should just suck it up, be outgoing and realize serving’s a lot easier than what I do for my career job.

I mean, it’s not like it’s some Tex-Mex bar where they blast Duranguese all night. [Shudder] Then I’d feel dreadful, and probably call in sick my first day. Wish me luck…