Every couple of weeks or so, I scroll through the Facebook pages of various restaurants to see if there are any commenters who are in need of my advice or wisdom. Many times, I discover someone who is need of support, for they have gone through something that no human being should have to endure. Today, I need us all to grasp hands and send out some positive energy to Theresa who went to a TGI Fridays in Jacksonville, Florida and had something horrible happen. No, I’m not talking about her order of loaded potato skins that didn’t have enough load on them. I’m not referring to the crispy chicken fingers that tasted like freezer burn. I’m not even referencing the crispy green bean fries that tasted too much like green bean and not enough like fry. While Theresa was at the restaurant, she looked out the window and saw a rat. Yes, outside of the restaurant, she saw a rat. No, the rat wasn’t climbing on her table and asking for a sip of her Crown Apple Cooler. The rat wasn’t underneath the booth gnawing on a baby back rib bone. The rat wasn’t even in the restaurant. It was outside. You know, where rats live. When she told her server about it he told her, “at least it’s outside.” Truer words have never been spoken.
Y’all, Theresa needs a prayer circle right now, for she looked outside and saw something that belongs outside. Who knows what else she spotted while looking out the window. Maybe a tree or a cloud? Or maybe even a bird. My, God, a bird might be out there! I hope when Theresa left, all of the TGI Fridays team gathered around her and created a human shield to protect her as she walked to her car. I hope they gave her a sanit rag to use as a blindfold so her eyes were not assaulted by any other horrific images of things that happen outside. Like a leaf or another car.
“Look out, Theresa! Wind! And the blindfold isn’t going to help you because wind is invisible!!”
After she got past the horror, Theresa went to the TGI Fridays Facebook page to alert them of this experience. Because, you know, the people who run the TGI Fridays Facebook page are going to be able to do something about a rat that she saw several hour earlier. Oh, wait, no they can’t. They are not able to zoom on over to Jacksonville, Florida to investigate the appearance of a rat doing his thing. All they can do is offer her a gift card to come back. Which is probably what they will do. And Theresa will go back because she cannot resist the lure of warm pretzels with craft beer-cheese. She will venture out again, taking the chance that she might see something while looking out a window.
Here is my advice for Theresa: if you don’t want to see what’s happening outside the window, then don’t sit next to a window. Problem solved. Let’s just hope the rat stays outside and isn’t going to be smothered in a Jack Daniels glaze and tossed on top of a piece of flatbread.
Cooke
You all can stop with the sarcasm. If I were at a resteraunt and saw I RAT right on the window ledge where I’m preparing to order and eat a meal I would be a bit upset also. If the rat is that damn comfortable and close then I think it’s safe to assume they live pretty close by and it’s quite likely that they have located a way into the resteraunt. There varmin and it is the responsibility of that establishment to ensure they are varmin free. Now, I’m not so naive to think Rats can’t get around and Yes they live outside but come on people. Your acting as thought this lady had absolutely no reason to be alarmed or bothered. Stop using her experience as an excuse to make fun of someone. Most of u aught to be ashamed of urself. Get off ur high horse. To the author of this article, you should be MOST ashamed for putting her out there and ensuring she is tackled by nonsense and cruelty for simply voicing a VALID concern .
Amanda
Hi Theresa’s Mom!!!!
Crysta Dietz
Hahaha i work at a very old reaturaunt in buffalo ny in the historic allentown district. They call it hostoric because its old and dingy but indeed old enough to hold aome historic significance. The problem with having alot of Resturaunts crammed into one small historic part of a city? Rats. They are on the patio. They are all around the building and i dont dare say where else they have been found. Our customers offer eachother advice about what to do when they see one. Thats how common it is. ” just throw ur ice it spooks them” “dont drop food near ur feet ” im proud of my customers. Way to go buffalo!!!
Amanda
CNY and WesternNY folks are the best.
Sonyaa
I love this. My favourite thing to hear while serving the patio, “excuse me miss, there’s a (insert outdoor thing) on the patio”. Bugs, rabbits, chipmunks. I heard leaf once. I always respond with, “That’s because you’re outside.”
Leanne Tang
The comments are shredding this woman apart. Calling out corporate, telling them not to comp the stupidest complaint ever heard, ever. She is doing a piss poor job of defending herself, too.
christopher e cagle
I wish I was there that day. I truly do..i would have smacked Theresa so hard for her stupidity..i cant stand how ignorant southern people are..if I were your server that day Theresa and saw how you acted I would had to politely tell you to please feel free to fuck off
freewhitebaby
I would like to politely tell you to fuck off. You can rest assured that most “ignorant Southerners” that have had the stomach-heaving displeasure of meeting you probably think you are the stupidest, ugliest, most annoying bastard on the planet. But we’d be too polite to tell you.
Bless you heart.
Barreleh
‘The hostess as we were leaving made the statement.’
WHAT statement?
I’m hoping it was, ‘Oh, honey, don’t you know that Special Snowflake Hour doesn’t start until 4:00? See, you got here too early, because we de-rat the perimeter starting at about 2:00, and that’s after we de-roach, de-pigeon, and de-homeless people for the day.
colleen
Apparently she does not reside in FL. Due to the weather, overpopulation and easy access to meth, vermin are everywhere here. If you can keep them outside, you’re winning the battle.
I’m guessing the rat probably went to its friends and said “Ugh…..lets pick another dumpster to have dinner at. I just saw a disgusting Theresa through that window!”
Mary Duncan
I bet you a million dollars they have WORMS out there too! ????
Jenni R.
Bless her poor, fragile heart. I bet anytime she goes outside all bugs, reptiles and woodland creatures stay out of her way because she is oh, so, such a special and unique individual. I would also venture to guess that when she goes out to eat she asks that a rush be put on her order because, and as the server should know this ahead of time because we are all psychic, she is special…because her mommy told her so one time a long time ago…
Jesus H. Christ people…
Al
If I were the manager I would reply with the statement…” Was there a point to your story?”.
Deborah stewart
Boo Who!!!!!!
Margaret
Isn’t outside (as in, “not in the restaurant”) where you WANT rats and other vermin to be?
Donna
No s*** at least it was outside everybody wants something for free did she want them to do I mean really what what what what what I hate people