Tip: How to Get the Best Table at a Spa

New Friend turning 50 and deserves Fancy Lunch.
Open app to make reservation at Fancy and no tables for 2 at 12:30 available.
No tables at 12, 12:15, 1pm or 1:30.
Reservations for 2 people not available on app.
Tell New to meet me at Fancy anyway, will figure something out.
Get there early.
Do you have a reservation?
No. There were no reservations available but I thought I would try my luck (smile).
Let me see what I can do (no smile).
Server wearing catsuit and mink eyelashes sees me to table and just as other server pulls out chair, a guy comes over and says. She had no reservation.
Mink says Yes but we have this table available.
Other guy says Without a reservation you can sit over here (less desirable part of Fancy restaurant).
Thank you I say. But there was no way to make a reservation because we are two people and the app doesn't take reservations for two.
Guy looks at me like I am dim witted.
That's right he says. The app doesn't take reservations for two. That's why you pick up the phone and call us to reserve your table for two.
Oh.
Never even occurred to me. App said No and I took No for an answer. No Questions Asked.
Pick up my coat and purse and slink over to less desirable section of restaurant which was still extremely Fancy and had a lovely time.

Couple of weeks later Someone Else is turning 40 and spa day is proposed. E-mail suggests that we book our own spa treatments and meet up after to chill and whatnot.
Open app to make reservation for river rock stone massage and no reservations are available for that day. No herbal wrap facials. No aromatherapy reiki sessions. Everything fully booked.
Oh, hey, I know this one.
Pick up phone and ask for reservation for exact time and date that I want. I say nothing to them about the app or possible lack of available reservations online.
They don't mention it either.
Sure, let me book you right in here, says chirpy voice and e-mail confirmation pings before goodbyes are said.

Soon after that, I miss important 45th birthday party and Friend deserves Fancy Lunch just the two of us.
Call Fancy and ask for hot stone seaweed wrap.
Just kidding.

Things to Remember:
1. Apps are convenient but sometimes they are liars.
2. Alexander Graham Bell went to a lot of trouble to make sure we could get tables for two and sometimes he is under-appreciated.
3. If all your friends have birthdays around the same time, you are going to live like a king briefly and spend the rest of the year at Tim Horton's.