Hi Brad. Maybe you can contact Esperanza magazine or other publications and sell your articles. You are a fine writer.
I've done cocktail and food waitressing and it's very stressful. People don't understand that either. One table wants coffee, one their bill, you've got an order up ect.
Read as much as you can. Teach yourself C BT. Listen to uplifting DVDs You can buy used stuff at most library's.
Take it easy and know that you are loved.