I’m going to go a little “Hollywood” in this blog, and by Hollywood, I mean a little bit between Cinderella and Indiana Jones (the last crusade one with Sean Connery, not the one with the weird chanting or strange voodoo doll), and maybe a dash of Sleepless in Seattle and While You Were Sleeping thrown in for good measure. And since I’m covering my romantic comedy bases, I have to throw One Fine Day out there even though I didn’t like Michelle Phieffer, George Clooney swooned his caesar hair-cutted way into my heart with that film and I will find a way to reference it today.
So, once upon a time, that time being today, this morning, I started upon doing some early morning tasks outside the store. I was assessing the front of the building, the signage and the tables and chairs outside. I went to get the umbrellas to roll them into their perspective spots on the patio when LO AND BEHOLD, what should I find but masses and masses of CRICKETS guarding the base of the umbrella with their little black-shiny-metal-looking-armored bodies. They were starting at me all beady-eyed and prepared to pounce at the first sign of movement. I could hear it in their chirping, they were sending messages back and forth like warp speed morse-code, I just knew they were saying, “imposter alert, big tall monster kill us will she…step on us, monster will…” (I don’t know why the crickets talk like Yoda, but it seemed fitting). I know people would wonder why don’t I just step on these little guys, just kill them and put them out of MY misery…well, it’s like the scene in Indiana Jones where Indy has to go into the snakes and he says, “Snakes…it’s ALWAYS snakes…” and if I killed the crickets:
1. I wouldn’t be able to say this line everytime I see them and I LOVE that line because the word “snakes” can be replaced with ANYTHING, like, if it starts raining on a busy day, one could say, “Rain…it’s ALWAYS rain…” haha! Or, if someone JUST got their car washed and a bird poops, “Poop…it’s ALWAYS poop…” See, isn’t it great?!?!
2. I am SERIOUSLY, cripplingly afraid of them. It’s the same with roaches…not only can I NOT kill them, I can’t even get CLOSE enough to them to shoo them away. That whole saying about “they are more scared of you than you are of them…” whoever said that nonsense probably never was chased by a roach…and that is some SCARY crazy stuff that a person can never forget, I would imagine, at least.
My dilemma was made worse by the fact that I wasn’t even working on the clock yet. So, here I was, sacrificing my life among this army of morse-code talking crickets and I wasn’t even getting paid for this! I was just assessing how the “open” went before I took over the shift at 6 a.m. and it so happens that the chairs and umbrellas weren’t set up yet so out of the goodness of my heart, I was risking my well-being and my sanity fighting for the rights of the Starbucks umbrellas (aka- the beasts, as they two of the hardest monstrosities to maneuver) all while basically VOLUNTEERING my time.
I left well enough alone. It was too hot for customers to sit outside anyway, and I could send the barista, a young girl who doesn’t know to be afraid of crickets just yet, to set the umbrellas up later as I had more “important” manager duties to do, like restock the straws or something safe like that, haha.
Anyway, the other Hollywood things I was mulling today occurred because a very handsome (married) cop came in and said that his buddies were asking him about me (because he spends a lot of time on his patrol around our store). His buddies had been in several times, but they don’t work in the area, so I had never really chatted with them as I had with him before. I told him to “hook a sister up” (aka, introduce me sometime).
When I am working behind the counter, I’m always waiting for that amazing, God-inspired moment like from “While You Were Sleeping” to happen. And I don’t mean in a way of I’m waiting for God to bless me with some kind of miracle, not that I DON’T expect that, but like I’ve said before, I know that we are often the product of the decisions we make and I have been amazingly blessed with opportunity, but partly because of my own selfishness and blindness to the truth, I had let some things slip away in my life and even in other instances hurt people that were important to me, but I think we have all done this to some degree at different times in our lives, and if we turn our hearts inward or our heads away from possible blessings in the future, we may miss what God is wanting us to see.
All that to say, I’d love to just have some movie character moment where I can jump into the subway and save the life of the brother of the man of my dreams (While You Were Sleeping)…or maybe meet someone who is Sleepless in Dallas because I served them too much coffee! Haha. Or maybe, I can have One Fine Day that George Clooney comes in to order an Iced Coffee with cold half and half and Splenda and I can say, “That’s MY favorite drink, too!” and he can say, “When’s your next break…? Because I’d like to steal you away…” and I can say, “You already stole my heart…” Okay, hopefully it won’t be that corny, but meeting him would rock.
Most of the great romantic comedies and even adventure movies, these Hollywood fairyish tales start with the female being in some compromising situation. My job isn’t exactly “compromising,” unless, of course, we take into consideration the crickets. But, I think that I can still anticipate my Cinderella Happily Ever Cricket-free After. I may even get a "get out of jail free" for traffic tickets if I play my cards right! Between working at a hot spot for "chance meetings" and attending church on Saturday (singles) night, I think I stand a pretty good shot at my Happy Ending.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
"BEAN me up, Scotty!"
Aaahhhh, the espresso machine. It’s the birthplace of all things “atte” and “atto” and “ccino!” Meaning, all drinks starts with that little machine…pulling the perfect shots of espresso to brew up the drinks. I have fought with it already many times…and yes…it won. The milk steamer, particularly…she’s a nasty little beast and all of us have the scars on our fingers and wrists to prove it. Baristas are easy to spot because they suffer the wrath of the milk steamer on a daily basis. Now it’s probably obvious why I like to work the register, ahem. The cash doesn’t bite…nor does it spit hot milk or steam at random moments simply because it’s backed up. There is a little digital screen that explains what is going on with the espresso machine and it lights up randomly- sometimes it says, “Fill Hopper” and that always makes me laugh because 1. It sounds funny and 2. The fact that the coffee bean holder is called a hopper just seems so fitting. There are many stories to come about the espresso machine. I thought I would just give it a little blog love, as I did suffer a nasty hiss from her yesterday when I was watching Charlie clean the machine before we closed for the night. I think the machine knows that I am avoiding it…and it is just waiting for the next opportunity that I venture near so that I can get burned…keep your enemies closer, and I’ve got my eye on her, that’s for sure.
On a different tangent, there’s a phenomenon called Reactance Theory. I haven’t done a ton of research on it, but I saw it used somewhere in a newspaper article and I read up a little on it…and I realized the more I learned about it, there are varying levels of it that I perceive every day in my line of work, especially on days when it’s just me and a barista and the barista is on break and I have more of a opportunity to really get one-on-one time to visit with our guests and how much “brighter” they become simply by receiving their Starbucks fix for the day.
This theory is just a simple, summed up version of “The grass is greener” combined with “forbidden fruit is sweeter” with a dash of “reverse psychology.” Together, the cause and effect of these themes form this Reactance theory. It’s a phenomenon of the brain that implicates people under pressure are more likely to make a decision that they have been told to NOT make, (aka, the reverse psychology, “DON’T you dare clean your room, you better leave that room a MESS!”) but only if under pressure from a source that also the power to entice a consequence. Basically, this theory kind of sounds like something that a lawyer came up to help with the insanity plea for criminals that committed a really stupid crime and needed a major cop-out to explain their actions…
Strangely enough, why this theory has even piqued my interest is because I equate many brain phenomenon to coffee, as it is a mood enhancer or stimulant. I am sure that caffeine has had its day in court (who can forget the McDonald’s case where the lady got burned on her hand! I mean, seriously! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! She’s gonna sue for hot coffee and I get yelled at every day by people that ARE BEGGING for their milk to be at 180 degrees!)…but I don’t think that we have really tapped into the full use of all that caffeine has to offer. The simple, basic coffee bean is such a concentrated little burst of energy, full of antioxidants and flavor! To sit and enjoy, to SAVOR slowly, the taste and abundant richness of coffee is an art form.
I do not take lightly the ability of a simple cup of coffee (that I drink for free now) to brighten my day. I have become more relaxed, laid-back, comfortable with myself, and downright happy since I took this job. Aside from the personal reasons that I enjoy my work, and enjoy being a shift manager, I attribute the simplicity of a cup of coffee to be something that I look forward to every day. I LIKE sinking into a chair, on my break or a couple minutes before my shift starts, and letting my taste buds soak up the rich, black coffee, sipping it to fully appreciate the complexity of the flavor. It is a great environment…I am so grateful at my dad for encouraging me to stick with this job, even if I thought it might not be what I wanted at first. I couldn’t have made a better decision. Starbucks has been like a small slice of home for me, it feels like a wonderful fit, like an old pair of tennis shoes…but without the stinky tennis shoe smell.
Sometimes, I think we forget to thank God for the things that work the way they are supposed to. Like when our car starts just like it is supposed to…and when our house is air-conditioned just the way it is supposed to be…and when our arms and legs feel good and our head doesn’t ache and our heart beats strong… These are all things that happen every day just like they are supposed to…and I never want to be so busy with other brain phenomenon like “reacting” to the world and all its craziness that I forget to look towards heaven and thank God for the little bitty simple things. For a God that is PHENOMENALLY huge, He calls us to use the simple abilities with which we’ve been blessed to bless others in HUGE ways.
I am striving, every day, to be a BIG BLESSER! Haha. Sounds funny, but I believe that because I am here, at Starbucks, I am supposed to use this forum to change lives. I don’t want to stop until I accomplish that! And lucky for me, the caffeine isn’t running low, so I don’t have to slow down any time soon!!! Fill up that hopper with some coffee beans- it's going to be a LONG ride!!!
On a different tangent, there’s a phenomenon called Reactance Theory. I haven’t done a ton of research on it, but I saw it used somewhere in a newspaper article and I read up a little on it…and I realized the more I learned about it, there are varying levels of it that I perceive every day in my line of work, especially on days when it’s just me and a barista and the barista is on break and I have more of a opportunity to really get one-on-one time to visit with our guests and how much “brighter” they become simply by receiving their Starbucks fix for the day.
This theory is just a simple, summed up version of “The grass is greener” combined with “forbidden fruit is sweeter” with a dash of “reverse psychology.” Together, the cause and effect of these themes form this Reactance theory. It’s a phenomenon of the brain that implicates people under pressure are more likely to make a decision that they have been told to NOT make, (aka, the reverse psychology, “DON’T you dare clean your room, you better leave that room a MESS!”) but only if under pressure from a source that also the power to entice a consequence. Basically, this theory kind of sounds like something that a lawyer came up to help with the insanity plea for criminals that committed a really stupid crime and needed a major cop-out to explain their actions…
Strangely enough, why this theory has even piqued my interest is because I equate many brain phenomenon to coffee, as it is a mood enhancer or stimulant. I am sure that caffeine has had its day in court (who can forget the McDonald’s case where the lady got burned on her hand! I mean, seriously! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! She’s gonna sue for hot coffee and I get yelled at every day by people that ARE BEGGING for their milk to be at 180 degrees!)…but I don’t think that we have really tapped into the full use of all that caffeine has to offer. The simple, basic coffee bean is such a concentrated little burst of energy, full of antioxidants and flavor! To sit and enjoy, to SAVOR slowly, the taste and abundant richness of coffee is an art form.
I do not take lightly the ability of a simple cup of coffee (that I drink for free now) to brighten my day. I have become more relaxed, laid-back, comfortable with myself, and downright happy since I took this job. Aside from the personal reasons that I enjoy my work, and enjoy being a shift manager, I attribute the simplicity of a cup of coffee to be something that I look forward to every day. I LIKE sinking into a chair, on my break or a couple minutes before my shift starts, and letting my taste buds soak up the rich, black coffee, sipping it to fully appreciate the complexity of the flavor. It is a great environment…I am so grateful at my dad for encouraging me to stick with this job, even if I thought it might not be what I wanted at first. I couldn’t have made a better decision. Starbucks has been like a small slice of home for me, it feels like a wonderful fit, like an old pair of tennis shoes…but without the stinky tennis shoe smell.
Sometimes, I think we forget to thank God for the things that work the way they are supposed to. Like when our car starts just like it is supposed to…and when our house is air-conditioned just the way it is supposed to be…and when our arms and legs feel good and our head doesn’t ache and our heart beats strong… These are all things that happen every day just like they are supposed to…and I never want to be so busy with other brain phenomenon like “reacting” to the world and all its craziness that I forget to look towards heaven and thank God for the little bitty simple things. For a God that is PHENOMENALLY huge, He calls us to use the simple abilities with which we’ve been blessed to bless others in HUGE ways.
I am striving, every day, to be a BIG BLESSER! Haha. Sounds funny, but I believe that because I am here, at Starbucks, I am supposed to use this forum to change lives. I don’t want to stop until I accomplish that! And lucky for me, the caffeine isn’t running low, so I don’t have to slow down any time soon!!! Fill up that hopper with some coffee beans- it's going to be a LONG ride!!!
Monday, July 26, 2010
No "ifs, ands, or buts" allowed...Unless you have Gold Card, that is...
It didn’t seem fair to come home and not blog again for the second night in a row. Plus, I really do have things to say today. Imagine that. Haha.
As I just mentioned, I obviously have been closing the store lately, working as manager on duty for the second shift of the day which means that all the closing duties fall under my jurisdiction. I have not done a perfect job the last couple nights, but I feel like I am getting my “sea legs” (aka- coffee chops) when it comes to getting everything ready for the openers in the morning.
It’s funny when I call the next morning, and I ask how was the “close” (meaning, was everything stocked, cleaned, prepped for the morning rush, etc…) and they tell me that I forgot to do something, it’s like, “Doh!” Because I will have thought it was perfect when I left and they will have a list of like 7 or 8 things that I will have forgotten! Shameful! Haha. Not really, it’s quite an extensive list to get accomplished in about thirty minutes as far as cleaning, sanitizing EVERYTHING from the bathroom to the espresso bar to the coffee machines to the pastry case, as well as closing down the safe, the registers, etc... I am sure as I get better, the list will be completed much faster! If only I would start doing things earlier in the evening instead of walking around talking to people! Haha! You would think I was trying to run a social club instead of a coffeeshop!
Yesterday and today were fairly focused days for me, as far as work goes. I was pretty in tune to my duties and not as connected to our customers. I do feel like I was making people feel at ease and comfortable, but as the clock gets closer to time to shutting down shop, I can feel my patience wear thin and I think I may not be as genuinely happy to see that big group come strolling in five minutes before we lock the door.
In fact, last night, I was pulling chairs inside and a lady walked up from her car and said she was “astounded” that we were closing so early. I told her we could make her a drink and she said, “No, I am meeting some friends here…sooooo….” As though she wanted me to pull the chairs back outside for her and her friends to stay and chat for a while. I am sorry, we can make exceptions, but staying twenty minutes after close so that some friends can reacquainted is not on my list of reasons to stay late. Seriously, could they not have done their research and met before 9 oclock?!? But I kept my “happy face” on and told her she could go to the Starbucks down the street because it was open an hour later than ours. (Aaahhh, the beauty of working for a business that is, literally, almost on every street corner!) The lady wasn’t happy because she said, “All of my friends are coming here!” and she said it all whiney, as though I was going to let her friends in and we were locking HER out… I told her that her friends would probably see that we were closed as I was turning the lights out in about ten minutes anyway. I mean, we were officially “closed” as it was 9 oclock, and she was stalling me from doing my duties. I continued to drag chairs in while she stood in the parking lot staring at the door, like I was going to say April’s Fool! I was thinking, “You should probably get on the horn and start rallying the troops, sister…” (I mean, isn’t that why they invented cell phones? And I could tell from the looks of this lady that she had a fancy cell phone, probably adorned with diamonds or something…) but I just told her I was very sorry and would she like a drink before we shut down the espresso machine? She told me “No” very snippy and got back in her shiny Caddy-lack and drove away. I laughed to myself because there was nothing else to do. And I pulled in the last of the tables and locked the door.
People can be pretty high maintenance, but places like Starbucks with our “do-it-yourself” Frappuccinos and made-to-order-however-you-want-it drinks have created these monsters, so I guess we must cater to them. I am no exception to the rule, as I probably am the most demanding customer that most of the Starbucks employees have to deal with my customized drinks and picky preferences. After all, I know what goes into making these specialized creations, so why shouldn’t I get exactly what I want…and nothing less. Thank you very much and have a nice day. And yes, I do want that extra espresso shot while you’re at it…it’s going to be a long night. At Starbucks- we leave the light on for you…until it’s closing time, that is. Haha!
As I just mentioned, I obviously have been closing the store lately, working as manager on duty for the second shift of the day which means that all the closing duties fall under my jurisdiction. I have not done a perfect job the last couple nights, but I feel like I am getting my “sea legs” (aka- coffee chops) when it comes to getting everything ready for the openers in the morning.
It’s funny when I call the next morning, and I ask how was the “close” (meaning, was everything stocked, cleaned, prepped for the morning rush, etc…) and they tell me that I forgot to do something, it’s like, “Doh!” Because I will have thought it was perfect when I left and they will have a list of like 7 or 8 things that I will have forgotten! Shameful! Haha. Not really, it’s quite an extensive list to get accomplished in about thirty minutes as far as cleaning, sanitizing EVERYTHING from the bathroom to the espresso bar to the coffee machines to the pastry case, as well as closing down the safe, the registers, etc... I am sure as I get better, the list will be completed much faster! If only I would start doing things earlier in the evening instead of walking around talking to people! Haha! You would think I was trying to run a social club instead of a coffeeshop!
Yesterday and today were fairly focused days for me, as far as work goes. I was pretty in tune to my duties and not as connected to our customers. I do feel like I was making people feel at ease and comfortable, but as the clock gets closer to time to shutting down shop, I can feel my patience wear thin and I think I may not be as genuinely happy to see that big group come strolling in five minutes before we lock the door.
In fact, last night, I was pulling chairs inside and a lady walked up from her car and said she was “astounded” that we were closing so early. I told her we could make her a drink and she said, “No, I am meeting some friends here…sooooo….” As though she wanted me to pull the chairs back outside for her and her friends to stay and chat for a while. I am sorry, we can make exceptions, but staying twenty minutes after close so that some friends can reacquainted is not on my list of reasons to stay late. Seriously, could they not have done their research and met before 9 oclock?!? But I kept my “happy face” on and told her she could go to the Starbucks down the street because it was open an hour later than ours. (Aaahhh, the beauty of working for a business that is, literally, almost on every street corner!) The lady wasn’t happy because she said, “All of my friends are coming here!” and she said it all whiney, as though I was going to let her friends in and we were locking HER out… I told her that her friends would probably see that we were closed as I was turning the lights out in about ten minutes anyway. I mean, we were officially “closed” as it was 9 oclock, and she was stalling me from doing my duties. I continued to drag chairs in while she stood in the parking lot staring at the door, like I was going to say April’s Fool! I was thinking, “You should probably get on the horn and start rallying the troops, sister…” (I mean, isn’t that why they invented cell phones? And I could tell from the looks of this lady that she had a fancy cell phone, probably adorned with diamonds or something…) but I just told her I was very sorry and would she like a drink before we shut down the espresso machine? She told me “No” very snippy and got back in her shiny Caddy-lack and drove away. I laughed to myself because there was nothing else to do. And I pulled in the last of the tables and locked the door.
People can be pretty high maintenance, but places like Starbucks with our “do-it-yourself” Frappuccinos and made-to-order-however-you-want-it drinks have created these monsters, so I guess we must cater to them. I am no exception to the rule, as I probably am the most demanding customer that most of the Starbucks employees have to deal with my customized drinks and picky preferences. After all, I know what goes into making these specialized creations, so why shouldn’t I get exactly what I want…and nothing less. Thank you very much and have a nice day. And yes, I do want that extra espresso shot while you’re at it…it’s going to be a long night. At Starbucks- we leave the light on for you…until it’s closing time, that is. Haha!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Service with a :)
Carrying on about traits, in the fashion of yesterday’s blog…I came to the conclusion, like a dozen light-bulbs going off in my brain all of the sudden…I get my servitude ability from my parents!
This may not seem like much of a revolution, but let me elaborate upon this from the beginning.
I had a training today at the corporate office near downtown Dallas. The trainings are so fun and very informative, and I will be talking about this one more in blogs to come. I posted a picture. I received an abundance of information about the specifics of the company as a whole and impact of Starbucks on the community and the world at large…found out some interesting facts about how to incorporate some of my big ideas into reality starting with the local stores and moving onto bigger avenues of influence…(like TOTAL WORLD DOMINATION…muah-hahaha! That was my Dr.Evil laugh)…
So, later this evening, I was standing in line at WalGreens. The line was very long and at the drugstore, whatever a person is buying is EASILY on display for all to see and since the line wasn’t moving very fast, there was quite an audience of people watching the lone cashier who looked more than ready to go home for the evening (or at least like he wanted to call over "Cindy" the photo shop worker who was simultaneously smacking her gum, flipping through a magazine, and texting, while informing him she was "...on her ten, kid." aka- she's not helping you, buddy).
There was one little Hispanic man in front of me who had two items, batteries and adult male diapers (and I only know this specifically because the man had kind of whispered to the cashier that the newsletter he had for them said they were on sale and they didn’t ring up that way, so naturally I looked to see what the item was…and I saw the specific name of the product “Adult Male Diapers” size medium). Immediately I start to get a nervous feeling in my stomach as the cashier can’t figure out why they won’t ring up…and sure enough, he picks up the “intercom” phone and calls for management…thank heavens he didn’t ask about a price check on them, I’m thinking. However, the whole line starts to get fidgety and they are getting curious about what is going on. I try to think of ways to help my “line” buddy by covering the product, but I am only buying a small package of Neosporin and that isn’t embarrassing and won’t help distract the line. Plus, the cashier is holding it up all high in the air. I hear two guys behind me snicker and I get upset. The Hispanic guy is facing the door like he wants to disappear and he isn’t really understanding what the cashier is saying to him. I think he just wants to grab his batteries and be on his way, but at this point, there are three people at the register trying to fix the price (apparently the guy got the ad from the “Sunday Paper” and the ad didn’t start until tomorrow). I’m looking around for something embarrassing to buy, but there’s nothing around the register except gum and chap stick and weight loss stuff. So, finally, they get it sorted out and the guy leaves, it’s my turn and the cashier kind of looks at me like he thinks we’re all gonna share a laugh about what just happened. The guys behind me are laughing louder now and I just know they are about to say something, so before they can, I open my big mouth and say, “Ya’ll think it is funny or something? People wet their pants. That could be you one day and I hope that people are compassionate enough to not laugh…” And I walked out to more laughing. Which who cares…those jerks.
And all this story-telling to bring me back to my parents…that’s where I get my compassion for people and my passion for serving others. My mother has served our family, selflessly (and without ever receiving ONE tip for it, haha!), for all of my life. She would constantly go out of her way to set up perfect dinners, cook wonderful food, maintain an immaculate house, all because that was her nature. She was a servant to us, her family. She had a deep compassion for putting others before herself. She instilled in my sister and myself the ability to serve others as an outpouring of our hearts. In effect, it is something that I ENJOY immensely. When I see that others are happy, I am pleased.
Now, couple that with my dad’s influence. My dad was a servant in occupation. He TEACHES people how to serve, not just through example, but through practice. My dad serves people in surprising and engaging ways. He taught me how to appeal to people’s needs by actively searching out ways to meet them WHERE THEY ARE. Meaning, he showed me how to serve others by seeking to find creative means to extend assistance and help alleviate hardships of others.
Through these two influences, I have found myself thriving in situations where I get to interact with people that have needs. Whether or not those needs are necessary (education) or just cravings (coffee), I love enlightening people and helping to serve them WHERE THEY ARE.
So, if it’s coffee they are after when they walk into Starbucks, I am proud that I can tell them that we buy our coffee beans from farmers that are being paid higher than any other coffee bean farmers in the world. From the tree, to the roasting plant, to the bag, to the store, our beans are treated like fine jewels and that is why we can guarantee that if people brew our coffee properly, they won’t find a better cup anywhere. The next time you go into a Starbucks, nicely ask the barista to brew you some of the Pike Place blend (or Guatemala Antigua, which are two of my favorite milder blends) in a coffee press and drink it out of a porcelain tasting cup, to truly savor the full aroma, acidity, and body of the coffee. I think you will agree that it’s worth it to sometimes, slow down and stop and smell the coffee-flavored roses.
Friday, July 23, 2010
You Say Tomato...I say, Ketchup...
So, I’ve never been good at admitting when there are certain qualities in which I may be deficient. Tonight, I realized that despite the fact that I laud “being observant” as something in which I have always excelled, I don’t. Excel, that is. In fact, I’m really not that observant at all.
It’s one of those qualities like “being a good listener” that people always claim (and the “claimers” are always the worst listeners anyway) because being observant isn’t really something that a person can use to describe themselves- meaning, the observing is always going to be relative to them, unless they actually NOTICE something about someone else and that person says, “Wow, you are observant”…
Tonight, I had a couple instances of NON-observance. A customer was very impressed when I remembered his name (he was good looking) and another customer, a female (she was wearing a TON of jewelry), was impressed when I remembered her drink. They both commented on me “being observant” and I was left thinking, “No, that is having a good MEMORY” not actually noticing something outside of what is going on around me. I do have a good memory…that is a quality in which has come in handy for me to make up for deficiencies in other areas, like having a short attention span.
I know that I am not observant outside of my own surroundings because I had to close the store with a barista tonight, and I realized that I hadn’t really been WATCHING what the other shift managers did when they closed to prepare themselves to be ready to shut down shop. In effect, tonight, we got out the door much later than I had anticipated because of my own lack of preparation. It ended up being fine, but I was thinking, all these years that I have “claimed” be observant, I have actually been living a lie. Haha. It was a harsh realization mainly because I had taken great pride in being able to describe myself using this term that I thought was a notable trait. It is with great displeasure that I come to tell all my loyal readers- I am not observant, people. I am disciplined and I am motivated, but I will have to think of another adjective in which to use to describe myself in interviews when a potential employer asks me the “use three adjectives to describe yourself” question.
Last note on Starbucks- consistency does not exist when it comes to coffee cravings. Fridays are supposed to be slow evenings. Today, we did more business in the evening and had more people hanging out in our lobby than I have ever witnessed in our store. It was exhilarating and exhausting all at once, and I will have to remind myself to never request the closing shift on Friday again. My idea about date night (when I am working) will have to be filed under the list of “Give this idea after I have retired.”
My favorite couple that came in- Johnny and June* (*names have been changed to protect the innocent) who were headed to a tango dance hall to practice ballroom dancing. They were dressed impeccably (sarcasm being used here) and they ordered a caramel macchiato with an extra shot and a skinny vanilla latte, respectively. Yeah, Johnny, no amount of extra shots is going to make your tucked in pearl-snap button-down look attractive with those tight jeans.
Furthermore, when I got home and was in my bathroom getting ready for bed, I overhead a commercial for eharmony advertising another “free weekend” of matches and I couldn’t help but laugh because who wants to meet a person they know was checking matches on a “free weekend????” I mean, I want to know that a guy shelled out BIG BUCKS to meet me online, right? I might meet someone like Johnny, otherwise! Right? Are you with me, girls? That’s all I have for this TGIF!!!!
It’s one of those qualities like “being a good listener” that people always claim (and the “claimers” are always the worst listeners anyway) because being observant isn’t really something that a person can use to describe themselves- meaning, the observing is always going to be relative to them, unless they actually NOTICE something about someone else and that person says, “Wow, you are observant”…
Tonight, I had a couple instances of NON-observance. A customer was very impressed when I remembered his name (he was good looking) and another customer, a female (she was wearing a TON of jewelry), was impressed when I remembered her drink. They both commented on me “being observant” and I was left thinking, “No, that is having a good MEMORY” not actually noticing something outside of what is going on around me. I do have a good memory…that is a quality in which has come in handy for me to make up for deficiencies in other areas, like having a short attention span.
I know that I am not observant outside of my own surroundings because I had to close the store with a barista tonight, and I realized that I hadn’t really been WATCHING what the other shift managers did when they closed to prepare themselves to be ready to shut down shop. In effect, tonight, we got out the door much later than I had anticipated because of my own lack of preparation. It ended up being fine, but I was thinking, all these years that I have “claimed” be observant, I have actually been living a lie. Haha. It was a harsh realization mainly because I had taken great pride in being able to describe myself using this term that I thought was a notable trait. It is with great displeasure that I come to tell all my loyal readers- I am not observant, people. I am disciplined and I am motivated, but I will have to think of another adjective in which to use to describe myself in interviews when a potential employer asks me the “use three adjectives to describe yourself” question.
Last note on Starbucks- consistency does not exist when it comes to coffee cravings. Fridays are supposed to be slow evenings. Today, we did more business in the evening and had more people hanging out in our lobby than I have ever witnessed in our store. It was exhilarating and exhausting all at once, and I will have to remind myself to never request the closing shift on Friday again. My idea about date night (when I am working) will have to be filed under the list of “Give this idea after I have retired.”
My favorite couple that came in- Johnny and June* (*names have been changed to protect the innocent) who were headed to a tango dance hall to practice ballroom dancing. They were dressed impeccably (sarcasm being used here) and they ordered a caramel macchiato with an extra shot and a skinny vanilla latte, respectively. Yeah, Johnny, no amount of extra shots is going to make your tucked in pearl-snap button-down look attractive with those tight jeans.
Furthermore, when I got home and was in my bathroom getting ready for bed, I overhead a commercial for eharmony advertising another “free weekend” of matches and I couldn’t help but laugh because who wants to meet a person they know was checking matches on a “free weekend????” I mean, I want to know that a guy shelled out BIG BUCKS to meet me online, right? I might meet someone like Johnny, otherwise! Right? Are you with me, girls? That’s all I have for this TGIF!!!!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Romancing the "Bean"
Something strange happened this morning. When I woke up, I wanted coffee and I realized I didn’t have any here at my apartment. Hhhmmm, quite a dilemma. And quite ironic. Actually, it’s usually not a big deal because when I work mornings, I stop at 7-Eleven to get my coffee fix on my way to work. Haha, I’m kidding…I don’t do that…anymore.
On a serious note, I have tried not to drink too much coffee outside of work, because I do spend time at work doing tastings and checking shots that come out of the espresso machine. I don’t want my palate to be completely diminished by drinking substandard coffee. Not that 7-Eleven coffee in and of itself is inferior, just the preparation and serving process remain mediocre compared to how we rock the “bean” at Starbucks. We are VERY encouraged to drink our coffee, through different preparation methods (the regular brewers, the coffee press- which is the most pure way to experience coffee in its truest form, the espresso shots, etc…) and to try all the different roasts that we sell. We want to be informed for our customer, to really be able to describe what the coffee “feels” like in our mouth. I have to be honest, I do LOVE coffee, but NOTHING compares to the SMELL of the beans when we open up a new bag of beans. That’s what I was craving this morning. Waking up to Starbucks in my cups. Folger’s who?
Anyway, this morning, I had a little bit of plain cream and some tea that a customer had given me. I like TAZO tea (that Starbucks serves) but a customer came in one day and was talking about the “purity” of certain teas and the next time she came in, she gave me a brand new box of super nice tea bags. So, this morning, I brewed up a batch of hot tea and added some cream to it with a little bit of Splenda. I have been sipping on it all morning, and I will admit while my quiet time was amazing and uplifting and is definitely contributing to my positive feelings…the savoring of this simple tea has also helped me to feel really wonderful. It’s just an Oolong Tea, nothing “special” or necessarily energizing. I guess it was the whole experience of brewing it and then just sitting and enjoying it, no distractions, just me and my prayer journal.
Plus, I will get my fill of coffee beans later in the day. I am the closing shift again today which is what I did yesterday. I like opening the store better, as there is not as much cleaning involved. Plus, I am a morning person. Being closing shift, I find myself wanting to go out in the café and sit with the customers and shoot the breeze. My breaks are never long enough in the evening. Dusk is probably my favorite time of the day, and I’d rather be doing something romantic at dusk… Not that hauling out our trash bin to the dumpster isn't romantic, but it's just not my idea of a perfect evening. Oh well, at this point in my life, a romantic evening needs to be the last of my focuses...I should just be happy that the coffeebean will be consistent and bold in flavor when I need it to be. That's about all the romance I can handle right now! haha!!
On a serious note, I have tried not to drink too much coffee outside of work, because I do spend time at work doing tastings and checking shots that come out of the espresso machine. I don’t want my palate to be completely diminished by drinking substandard coffee. Not that 7-Eleven coffee in and of itself is inferior, just the preparation and serving process remain mediocre compared to how we rock the “bean” at Starbucks. We are VERY encouraged to drink our coffee, through different preparation methods (the regular brewers, the coffee press- which is the most pure way to experience coffee in its truest form, the espresso shots, etc…) and to try all the different roasts that we sell. We want to be informed for our customer, to really be able to describe what the coffee “feels” like in our mouth. I have to be honest, I do LOVE coffee, but NOTHING compares to the SMELL of the beans when we open up a new bag of beans. That’s what I was craving this morning. Waking up to Starbucks in my cups. Folger’s who?
Anyway, this morning, I had a little bit of plain cream and some tea that a customer had given me. I like TAZO tea (that Starbucks serves) but a customer came in one day and was talking about the “purity” of certain teas and the next time she came in, she gave me a brand new box of super nice tea bags. So, this morning, I brewed up a batch of hot tea and added some cream to it with a little bit of Splenda. I have been sipping on it all morning, and I will admit while my quiet time was amazing and uplifting and is definitely contributing to my positive feelings…the savoring of this simple tea has also helped me to feel really wonderful. It’s just an Oolong Tea, nothing “special” or necessarily energizing. I guess it was the whole experience of brewing it and then just sitting and enjoying it, no distractions, just me and my prayer journal.
Plus, I will get my fill of coffee beans later in the day. I am the closing shift again today which is what I did yesterday. I like opening the store better, as there is not as much cleaning involved. Plus, I am a morning person. Being closing shift, I find myself wanting to go out in the café and sit with the customers and shoot the breeze. My breaks are never long enough in the evening. Dusk is probably my favorite time of the day, and I’d rather be doing something romantic at dusk… Not that hauling out our trash bin to the dumpster isn't romantic, but it's just not my idea of a perfect evening. Oh well, at this point in my life, a romantic evening needs to be the last of my focuses...I should just be happy that the coffeebean will be consistent and bold in flavor when I need it to be. That's about all the romance I can handle right now! haha!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
After These Messages...We'll Be Riiiiight Back!
I’m not necessarily proud of the fact that I spent my free-time doing this, but I listened to the Fraggle Rock theme today on youtube. ("Throw your cares away...leave them for another day...come to Fraggle Rock!" I was oddly trusting of the Fraggles, even though, to this day, I have no idea what a Fraggle is...). For some reason, I wanted to hear the song out of sheer desire to relive that small part of my childhood to see if I was remembering it correctly. I miss things like cartoon theme songs in the same way that I miss the ignorant innocence of not knowing how unpredictable the world can be. The simplistic awe of a child can bring me right back to a time when cartoon theme songs were the soundtrack of my life. When my sister and brother-in-law came to visit me, my nephews and niece thought that the whole apartment complex was my home. I practically lived in a chateaux in their eyes. I miss having that incorruptibility, the lack of knowledge that contributes to having a dynamic imagination about everything in the world around me. Apartment complexes become palaces and hotels (no matter how ratty tatty) are like amusement parks if they had a pool!
Hearing the Fraggle Rock song reminded me of a time when I would wake up on Saturday morning with the sheer intention of watching cartoons- my whole morning revolving on that axis, on the existence of characters full of life and laughter. Simplicity at its best. Fraggle Rock, Garfield and Friends, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Inspector Gadget, and, on some of the more indulgent mornings- Care Bears or Ducktales. And I wasn't even a TV-watching kid...on Saturday mornings, though, for about an hour and a half, cartoons were my world!
Nowdays, kids don’t even have to watch commercials. Parents can DVR the show and run through the lapses in programming. Who am I kidding? The KIDS can work the DVR just as adeptly as the parents. I should know, I watched my nephews and niece maneuver through the menu on their TV faster than I could say, “Don’t change the channel!”
As I think about the way things “used” to be, even when I was younger, I’m astonished at how fast the world changes and adapts. It makes me nervous in a way that I am glad I have a Faith that isn’t affected by all this change, I stand on a foundation that is firm. Whew- good to know!!
However, we can’t ignore the fact that development exists to help us be more productive individuals, so I have decided to not only embrace change, but also think about ways, at Starbucks, that change or even a revert back to the more simplistic could be more helpful.
1. When people come up the register, the pastry case and the menu are often overwhelming to them, even veterans who know what they want, sometimes people look dejected before they even order, and many times the workers are asked, “What do you suggest?”… People can find themselves just ordering what they always order because they don’t know what else to get and they don’t feel like having to really “think” about it too hard.
Solution: What if people could walk in and say, “I feel like something slightly sweet, cold, with vanilla in it.” And the person at the register, armed with an abundance of information, could offer up a couple of comprehensive suggestions for them. The customer would not only be introduced to new delicious drink alternatives, but they would be given an opportunity for their current craving to be met. It’s really a win-win situation and it puts the “home” feeling back into coffeehouse. I know that the drawbacks are that some people want to be in and out with no personal connection, which is why we invented drive-through and online banking so that we could do everything without having to see another human being as long as we live. Human connection is part of what makes the day enjoyable, otherwise, we are all just moving along in our bubbles, never having any solid interaction or building meaningful relationships. Our days are becoming increasingly devoid of external growth. We are encouraged to become more and more introverted and self-concerned which isn’t always a bad thing, but can lead to an unfulfilling life.
Confession: I found out today that I didn’t win a contest in which I was entered. While I shouldn’t have cared because it wasn’t my idea in the first place, I was still disappointed in a way that mentally highlighted my deficiencies. I began to realize that, wow, we are such delicate creatures that teeter on a balance between resilience and resignation.
One day, I may feel like no one can touch me and my childlike wonder fills me with the limitless possibility of potential and imagination, and other days, I feel like one bad encounter can cripple my mental capacity to do ANYTHING worthy or valuable. Losing is losing is losing. Losing a contest, losing a relationship, losing a job- it’s all the same, it leaves a void, even if it is a good thing that we needed to “lose.” Ironically enough, my devotion this morning was about loss. It’s how we view our loss that will ultimately determine how we deal with our loss. We should view our loss as a gain of a new opportunity to put something good back into our life.
The fact that I took this job at Starbucks, as a result of a couple of different losses in my life, has been a perfect example of being “better off” than I was with the things that I “lost.” I lost a relationship and a job, but I gained a whole new lease on my future. I leaned on God harder than I had in a long time, and, as always, He proved steadfast and true. He provided me with a job where I flourish, and where I get to play “mad scientist” with coffee and chocolate and whipped cream all day. Not bad, not bad at all.
Hearing the Fraggle Rock song reminded me of a time when I would wake up on Saturday morning with the sheer intention of watching cartoons- my whole morning revolving on that axis, on the existence of characters full of life and laughter. Simplicity at its best. Fraggle Rock, Garfield and Friends, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Inspector Gadget, and, on some of the more indulgent mornings- Care Bears or Ducktales. And I wasn't even a TV-watching kid...on Saturday mornings, though, for about an hour and a half, cartoons were my world!
Nowdays, kids don’t even have to watch commercials. Parents can DVR the show and run through the lapses in programming. Who am I kidding? The KIDS can work the DVR just as adeptly as the parents. I should know, I watched my nephews and niece maneuver through the menu on their TV faster than I could say, “Don’t change the channel!”
As I think about the way things “used” to be, even when I was younger, I’m astonished at how fast the world changes and adapts. It makes me nervous in a way that I am glad I have a Faith that isn’t affected by all this change, I stand on a foundation that is firm. Whew- good to know!!
However, we can’t ignore the fact that development exists to help us be more productive individuals, so I have decided to not only embrace change, but also think about ways, at Starbucks, that change or even a revert back to the more simplistic could be more helpful.
1. When people come up the register, the pastry case and the menu are often overwhelming to them, even veterans who know what they want, sometimes people look dejected before they even order, and many times the workers are asked, “What do you suggest?”… People can find themselves just ordering what they always order because they don’t know what else to get and they don’t feel like having to really “think” about it too hard.
Solution: What if people could walk in and say, “I feel like something slightly sweet, cold, with vanilla in it.” And the person at the register, armed with an abundance of information, could offer up a couple of comprehensive suggestions for them. The customer would not only be introduced to new delicious drink alternatives, but they would be given an opportunity for their current craving to be met. It’s really a win-win situation and it puts the “home” feeling back into coffeehouse. I know that the drawbacks are that some people want to be in and out with no personal connection, which is why we invented drive-through and online banking so that we could do everything without having to see another human being as long as we live. Human connection is part of what makes the day enjoyable, otherwise, we are all just moving along in our bubbles, never having any solid interaction or building meaningful relationships. Our days are becoming increasingly devoid of external growth. We are encouraged to become more and more introverted and self-concerned which isn’t always a bad thing, but can lead to an unfulfilling life.
Confession: I found out today that I didn’t win a contest in which I was entered. While I shouldn’t have cared because it wasn’t my idea in the first place, I was still disappointed in a way that mentally highlighted my deficiencies. I began to realize that, wow, we are such delicate creatures that teeter on a balance between resilience and resignation.
One day, I may feel like no one can touch me and my childlike wonder fills me with the limitless possibility of potential and imagination, and other days, I feel like one bad encounter can cripple my mental capacity to do ANYTHING worthy or valuable. Losing is losing is losing. Losing a contest, losing a relationship, losing a job- it’s all the same, it leaves a void, even if it is a good thing that we needed to “lose.” Ironically enough, my devotion this morning was about loss. It’s how we view our loss that will ultimately determine how we deal with our loss. We should view our loss as a gain of a new opportunity to put something good back into our life.
The fact that I took this job at Starbucks, as a result of a couple of different losses in my life, has been a perfect example of being “better off” than I was with the things that I “lost.” I lost a relationship and a job, but I gained a whole new lease on my future. I leaned on God harder than I had in a long time, and, as always, He proved steadfast and true. He provided me with a job where I flourish, and where I get to play “mad scientist” with coffee and chocolate and whipped cream all day. Not bad, not bad at all.
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