1.23.09

I have a new hat for work that I ordered from the coffeegear site. Cost me more to have it shipped than the actual hat itself cost AND it took a WEEK to get here via UPS ground! I’m not really sure why they didn’t just drop it in the USPS mail. It would have gotten here in 2 days and cost 1/2 as much probably. I guess that’s BIG business, IDK. Anyway, this is a visor, so now I’ve ditched the pigtails for a messy bun 🙂 cute!

Weight Watchers last night didn’t go too well. I wasn’t really expecting it to. Basically, I’ve gained 14 lb. since I started working at Starbucks 5 months ago. Oh, it hasn’t all been “Starbucks”, there was Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, a lack of exercise, and just simply falling back into some of my old “not-so-good-for-you” eating habits YIKES! 14 lbs.

On my way home from the weigh-in a lot of thoughts went through my mind. Would I go back? I don’t have to. Would I just continue down this path to 170? Maybe I don’t “need” to go back, I know what to do… and on and on and on. By the time my head hit the pillow last night I had decided what to do. I told myself 4 years ago when I first joined WW that when [not if] I got to this point I’d start going to weekly meetings again– they’re kind of like a pep rally, he he. I’ve already had to do that once. So I decided last night that I would once again start going to weekly meetings, and this time I’ll have to pay, but probably just for the first week or maybe 2. But I’d rather pay $$ and get back on track than to pay with my healthy lifestyle that I’ve become accustom too and feel comfortable with.

So, today I started counting points again. I got back on the treadmill. And I’m thinking of setting some new race goals. Possibly the Silver Comet Trail 10K in March being the first. It’s nice and flat and would give me a time for Peachtree in July. I’d like to think I could at least do the ING 1/2 marathon in March as well– I knew a long time ago that the full was out. I did the first 2 and I’m somewhat disappointed with myself for not keeping it up Oh well, we just won’t think about that.

So here we go again… 🙂 actually, I feel pretty good about it.

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11.29.08

Got M.U.G.ged again today. This one reads, “I love your concentrated efforts to enhance your personal knowledge as well as our customer’s. 🙂 You’re doing a great job and it’s a pleasure working with you!” My apron is not big enough for all of these M.U.G. awards. 😮

The store is so festive and packed with red and gold Christmas trimmings! We even got a live Christmas tree last night, donated by a Barista who works for us and also works at a Christmas tree farm. It’s an exciting time of year and I can only but think that January, when all this stuff is gone, is going to be pretty boring!

The 1/2 Marathon on Thanksgiving morning went pretty good. No PR here but I was just happy to be able to complete the course considering how little I’ve run lately. It may very well have been my last race for a very long time at best. Standing on my feet all day and working 50-60 hours a week has taken it’s toll. I just don’t think I can work running in there as well. We’ll see… BTW, the shirt we got this year is a SUPER NICE, long-sleeved, technical shirt. I really like it.

Thanksgiving Day at my uncle and aunt’s 3-story log cabin on the BIG Cotton Indian Creek was a wonderful time with family. I think though that someone tainted the turkey with tranquilizers!

This is basically what most all of us did [or felt like doing] after the big meal in the afternoon– including me. I was worn out!!!

Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, meant extra hours at the store. We opened at 3:30 a.m. which meant my feet hit the bedroom floor at 2:15. It was a nice steady rush most all day [I wish it were like that every day!] and we beat our closest competitor store in sales for the day by only $39.00!!! YEAH!

I opened again this morning and will open every morning, Monday – Saturday, next week. Our probably most reliable shift is going to have a baby this next week which will more than likely mean more hours for some of us over the next 6 weeks while she’s out on maternity leave.

Any day now I should receive my “official” partner card in the mail! I can hardly wait and am looking for it every day. On Monday I can sign up for the stock options program — Bean Stock. I feel it’s really a good time to do so as Starbucks stock is at it’s lowest point ever I believe. It’s 1/2 of what it was the day I was hired– probably all because I don’t buy my drinks any more. 😮

Today, I had my store manager go to the Newnan store and pick up my Christmas present. It’s better that way. I can purchase it through our store and it looks good on our books.

She was REAL happy to do so. There’s a special going on now through the end of December and if you purchase this Starbucks® Sirena™ Espresso Machine you will save $110.00 on the Burr Barista Coffee Grinder– it’s regularly $150.00. + starting next week, our discount increases [just during the holiday season] to 40%. So, I’ll get a $150.00 coffee grinder for about $25.00. I’m not sure who needs a $150.00 coffee grinder. I was planning on getting one that cost $59.95, but this one ends up being even cheaper and I guess it must be pretty nice– you’d certainly think, right?

Anyway, I’m excited about my Christmas present. I’ll wrap it and put it under the tree– that is IF we put the tree up, and open it on Christmas morning– or Christmas afternoon… Actually, I think I might be working Christmas morning. Since we don’t do the BIG “Christmas morning” thing any more– the kids being all grown up and all they don’t want to get out of be too early. So, I signed up to work at the store– it’s time and a half.

And the whole Christmas tree thing… Well, I just haven’t been in the mood to drag all that stuff out the last couple of years. So, if nobody else does, well… it just probably won’t get done. But trust me, somebody WILL! Then I’ll just have to put it all back. But that’s ok. I don’t mind that too much. I just don’t like messing with all those tangled lights and trying to figure out where to put everything and all. I’ll hang the stocking– at least I’ll do that much. 🙂

I wore my Santa hat to work today! 🙂

This is the BEGINNING OF TECHNOLOGY for me.
I think I was in like the 3rd grade and this is my very first TRANSISTOR RADIO!
Whoo Hoo!!!

11.24.08

Work today was slow. I guess with school being out, people have already taken off for the holiday. We had several regular customers come it and say, “goodbye”. They were off for their holiday traveling and wouldn’t be back until next week– one even tipped us $20! The rush was late today and didn’t come until about 10:30-11:00 a.m. I guess people were sleeping in. Speaking of sleeping in– I plan to do that myself in the a.m. 🙂

I’m going to work tomorrow for a co-worker from 10:00 a.m. – noon, then tomorrow night, starting at 5:30, the set up!!! I can hardly wait! The new Christmas stuff is SO beautiful. The Cranberry Bliss Bars and Mint Brownies are in along with the Ginger Loaf, and so is the Christmas blend and all kinds of nifty Christmas gifts.

BIGGER Tom is coming home tomorrow but he will head off to PCC on Wednesday with his second family We will miss him at Thanksgiving. I’ve had to get REAL creative with our Christmas card this year since it has been nearly impossible to get us all together for a photograph.

Thursday morning’s weather looks chilly but clear for the 1/2 marathon and I’m so excited. It may very well be my last race for some time. This standing on my feet is really tough on the running. We shall see…

10.23.08

Yes, I’m still alive. AND, I appreciate SO much friends who are concerned about me when I haven’t blogged in several days or Twittered in several hours 🙂 thanks Michelle!

I’m full time at Starbucks now. So, I’m working between 30-40 hours a week there and 20-30 for another job. Plus, I have two other clients waiting for a bunch of web updates, one waiting for a billboard, and one that I’m producing 4 sports programs for in the next two weeks.

I wasn’t in church [or Sunday School] Sunday morning because I went to pick up my running partner and her CPA at the airport. They didn’t both make the same flight so she and I waited there for his flight to come in. They were in Kansas City where she ran the KC Marathon on Saturday. Then Sunday night I WAS in church, however, I got stuck out in the lobby with my laptop doing some work– but that’s OK, cause I could hear the speaker just fine! As a matter of fact, he was so loud I had a headache by the time we left.

Monday there was a Starbucks store meeting from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in Peachtree City. So, I worked 8 hours and then went to that.

Tuesday night a Junior Class meeting at school…

Sometimes I seriously don’t know if I’m coming or going I didn’t even know about a friend’s mom being so seriously ill and in CCU until late Tuesday afternoon. I felt SO bad because I had been sending her all kinds of emails about stuff and she hadn’t responded to any of them. I had no idea! 😦

Wednesday I was off from Starbucks but trying to get 2 of the sports programs done. + clean a very messy house etc., etc., etc.

I do have a little break the next 2 weeks.

Next week I only work 2 days at Starbucks, unless I pick up a shift on Saturday. I will spend 1 day at a Chick-fil-A First 100 campout and 1 day at the hospital with my sister-in-law whose husband will have 6-hour surgery. But I do have the third of those sports programs due next week as well.

Then, the week after that there’s another program due [#4 of 5 to be exact]. We were going on vacation so I took 4 days off at Starbucks, will only work 2 days that week as well, unless I pick up some shifts. We’re not going on vacation now I don’t think– changed plans…

SO… that’s about it. Just CRAZY busy! But still alive…

I ran the Peachtree Classic 15K on Saturday and had a GREAT time!!! That is without a doubt my favorite race of the year and the weather Saturday was absolutely PERFECT!

Don’t I look like I was having fun!?! My time wasn’t as good as I had hoped– 1:40:03. I was hoping for 1:30. But it was fun nevertheless 🙂

November 1 we will do a 15-miler at the Rock in preparation for the 1/2 marathon on Thanksgiving Day.

Running really readjusts my mindset and attitude and gives me so much energy and stamina. I wish I had more time to run and that my running partner and I lived closer!

I’m really looking forward to the CFA First 100 next week! Just a day to hangout with family and friends. I can hardly wait!

I’m looking forward to spending Friday with my sister-in-law although I’m sorry about the circumstances of her husband and his 6-hour surgery, days in the hospital and weeks of recovery. But I’m so glad that he has her to help him get through it all. She’s an excellent nurse 🙂

Oh, BTW, I got M.U.G.ged again, for like the sixth time, Monday night at the Starbucks store meeting by the store manager in front of all the other employees 😮 [I wasn’t the only employee to get M.U.G.ged.] This one says, “Thanks for jumping right in the trenches and making it easy to reward one another.” It’s for making the Green Apron display 🙂 how nice…

10.18.08

This morning I ran my very favorite race of the year– the Peachtree Classic 15K in Peachtree City. Most of the race is run on the golf cart trails, so its relatively flat and fast. My time was not what I hoped for– never is I had hoped to finish in 1:30 but my time was 1:40:23. This year instead of the usual sweatshirt, which I never liked anyway, they gave runners technical shirts. The shirt is very nice except for the fact that they were all printed with the words “VOLUENTEER” on them I’m sure someone spent some sleepless nights over that one! Evidently, all the $$ from the race goes to charity and because of that and the printing company’s unwillingness to take responsibility and correct the problem the race coordinators had no choice but to give the misprinted shirts to the runners. Sad.

My running partner ran the Kansas City Marathon this a.m. Wish I could have been with her 🙂

This has been a CRAZY week!

I’ve worked 30 hours at SBUX and 28 for BBM and I still have work to do for 2 other clients.

WHEW!

That’s why I haven’t bloged much Next week doesn’t look much better.

This is kind of what I feel like…

10.4.08

GREAT 10-mile run with my running partner at the Rock early a.m. She completed 10 miles before I arrived and ran another 10 with me. She will be running the Kansas City Marathon [26.2 miles] 2 weeks from today and I, at the same time, will be running the Peachtree Classic 15K [9.3 miles]. Hopefully, it won’t take me as long to run the 15K as it does her to run the marathon! But, you never know…

3 miles of our normal loop around the Rock was closed for paving, so we ran back and forth and back and forth and back and forth on a 2-mile stretch of the loop. Because everyone was condensed on this 2-mile stretch [runners, bikers, walkers, 3-Dayers, etc., etc., etc.] it was extra crowded and we spent much of our time dodging other people– because we’re so fast… ha ha ha ha.

Anywho… we saw the dogs in the station wagon and heard the guy yelling on the bike which I so totally, totally like! I wish I could get someone to run the marathon in March with me and yell at me like that, “COME ON BODY, LET’S MOVE, LET’S ROCK AND ROLL, LET’S GET IT GOING, COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT…” I love that! But, my running partner HATES it 😮

After our run we made a stop at Starbucks– a Vivanno for her and a Venti White Mocha with protein and caramel drizzle and a Berry Stella for me 🙂 Gotta have my Berry Stella or as someone I work with so lovingly refers to as a Belly Stera… he he he… She actually was suggestive selling through the drive thru one day and asked a customer if they would like to add a Belly Stera to their order. HA HA HA HA… it’s so easy to get tongue twisted when you’re working in the drive thru!

After that we parted ways– she to LA Fitness to train her first client 🙂 and I to JoAnns to purchase some heavy clear vinyl for a project I’m working on… that’ll be a whole other blog post next week probably.

This afternoon we went to Sari Beri’s volleyball game and I just have to say she started [sorta] and played extremely well!

Salmon for dinner, worked on “the project” for quite a while and did a boatload of laundry!

WHEW! I’m worn out!

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1.02.05

10.2.08

The second day of October already 🙂 Fall is upon us, the weather has turned cool and I LOVE IT!!! Time for festivals, caramel apples, kettle corn, hot cocoa, pumpkins, falling leaves and all things orange and black.

I’ve spent some time this a.m. tagging my latest blog posts and creating a Tag Cloud. The way the Tag Cloud works [ top right side of Blah, Blah, Blog’s home page] is that the more that word is tagged in the blog the larger it appears in the Tag Cloud. You can see how LARGE the word Starbucks is 🙂

Looking forward to 2 laps around the Rock on Saturday with my running partner. I’ve been so unmotivated as of late and my calves are actually sore from just standing on my feet all day at Starbucks. So, challenging it shall be!

I absolutely LOVE working at Starbucks! Who would ever know I could works so hard, get paid so little and love it so much! I should have done this 6 years ago!!!

Again today we were out of the status symbol Starbucks sleeve. I think the customers are getting used to it. Very few of them even ask anymore. They just know we’re out of them. I think it’s a problem at the warehouse or a drought in the Moroccan Rain Forrest or something like that. IDK

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1.02.05