Today Sarah and I are headed for New York City to deliver some sports memorabilia. It should be a fun trip, and we are looking forward to it.
Things are coming along slowly but surely with the Colorado plans.
No new news per se.
Hope you all are doing well, I'll write more when we get back.
Jim
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
Hi everyone
Well, it's been a long time since I wrote, and I do apologize to anyone who diligently checks back here, only to find it empty of any new info... so here's a bit for those of you whose loyalty (or amount of free time) amazes me.
Sarah and I are now staying with her parents as we prepare to go to Colorado. Things with the apartment out there, and a transfer for me have not been going as well as I had hoped. BUT we perservere. I have had it with the Garden of the Gods Starbucks, and I am open to checking out any store out there with an opening. I was led to believe that they had one, but they apparently do not. Suckage. Anyway, I am calling around this morning, so pray that it goes well.
Other events taking place today... I should be going through my coffee master certification today, and will finally get my black apron. Very cool news for me, as I have worked pretty hard to get it.
Sarah is fine, and is working for the eBay guy still. We are probably going to run some memorabilia out to NY City for him next week. He is willing to pay us well, and the money will really help with the move. I have had some good side jobs graphics wise lately, and that is helping too.
Sarah and I went to Georgia last week, and saw some of my family that I haven't seen in a long time. We also visited my grandpa's grave. Good times. We were down there for a wedding, and while it was a long drive, it was totally worth it!
Well, I need to go, but I miss you all. Hope to be back up and writing again soon.
Jim
Sarah and I are now staying with her parents as we prepare to go to Colorado. Things with the apartment out there, and a transfer for me have not been going as well as I had hoped. BUT we perservere. I have had it with the Garden of the Gods Starbucks, and I am open to checking out any store out there with an opening. I was led to believe that they had one, but they apparently do not. Suckage. Anyway, I am calling around this morning, so pray that it goes well.
Other events taking place today... I should be going through my coffee master certification today, and will finally get my black apron. Very cool news for me, as I have worked pretty hard to get it.
Sarah is fine, and is working for the eBay guy still. We are probably going to run some memorabilia out to NY City for him next week. He is willing to pay us well, and the money will really help with the move. I have had some good side jobs graphics wise lately, and that is helping too.
Sarah and I went to Georgia last week, and saw some of my family that I haven't seen in a long time. We also visited my grandpa's grave. Good times. We were down there for a wedding, and while it was a long drive, it was totally worth it!
Well, I need to go, but I miss you all. Hope to be back up and writing again soon.
Jim
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
White Stripes and Headphones...
So I've been listening to the new White Stripes' release "Get Behind Me, Satan" and the Headphones debut album (self titled) like crazy lately.
Good music. Not quite the musical genius that "Elephant" was. As far as the White Stripes are concerned, but the Headphones album is equivalent to anything that Pedro the Lion has released lately.
In other news, my best friend Ryan's internet radio show is now available as a podcast on the iTunes music store. It is, as all podcasts are, free... and for those not faint of heart, feel free to check it out. For those unwilling to bridge the PG13 rating on their iPod, beware. Ryan has recently lifted his self-imposed ban on profanity, and has done so with gusto. The brave new world of podcasting seems to be dodging the bullets that all other radio has been riddled with this past year or so.
This administration seems to be so power drunk that they are taking on areas of free speech I never thought possible. All in the name of the public's safety... from what? Bad words? Let's try focusing on some REAL issues, like what people say, not how they say it.
And flag burning.... don't get me started!!! It's outrageous! Ryan and I actually agree on this issue, and if you do check out his show, be sure to download the latest show (July 10, 2005) and give his comments a listen. They're well worth it.
I really cut that rant down... deleted alot of screaming... self censored for the public good.
Anyway, hope all is well with you. We are busy packing, and getting ready for the changes on the horizon.
Peace and thank you,
Jim
Sarah
Just a pic of my lovely girl. I did a watercolor effect on it, but it's the look in her eyes that really makes the picture beautiful.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Apologies and Explanations
Hey all.
So I forgot that my computer existed.
Yeah... right... when hell freezes over.
The truth to the complete and utter silence that has reigned uncontested on my blog as of late is due to several very big things going on in our life. "Well" you would say... "If big things are happening in your life, and you don't write because of that, are you saying that you only write when nothing cool is happening?"
Yes. That is exactly what I am saying.
The majority of my posts in the past are basically me making a big deal out of the many little quirks and funny events that happen in everyday life. If I wrote only when something big, cool and unusual happened, I would post once every couple weeks... sort of like lately...
ANYWAY... on to the news.
Sarah and I have decided to move to Colorado. Our lease is up at the end of July, and we are planning on heading out to Colorado Springs, Colorado in the early weeks of September. For the month of August, we are currently looking for a place to stay, but flying by the seat of our collective pants feels really good right now. I trust that God is looking out for us, and that everything will work out for the best. He is so good to us.
A little background on the decision, and I won't bore you, is that Sarah has always wanted to be adventurous and move away from everything that she has grown up around... to break out and discover a place of her own. I've had the opportunity to move around a bit in my life, and I'm ready to pick up and trailblaze a new chapter in our life together. Colorado Springs provides a great area for jobs for both of us, it has a lower cost of living, and is incredibly beautiful. I have had the opportunity to see the area twice in my life, and look forward to waking up to the majestic view of the rocky mountains every day.
In other news, I have a new manager at my Starbucks. He kicks butt, and will hopefully kick mine enough to transform me into a truly impressive barista before I transfer out to Colorado. I am a good worker, but lack certain skills and information that would make me truly outstanding. I hope to rectify that.
Anyway, I'm tired, so this is all for now. Sorry all. I promise to try to write more in the next few weeks.
Peace!
So I forgot that my computer existed.
Yeah... right... when hell freezes over.
The truth to the complete and utter silence that has reigned uncontested on my blog as of late is due to several very big things going on in our life. "Well" you would say... "If big things are happening in your life, and you don't write because of that, are you saying that you only write when nothing cool is happening?"
Yes. That is exactly what I am saying.
The majority of my posts in the past are basically me making a big deal out of the many little quirks and funny events that happen in everyday life. If I wrote only when something big, cool and unusual happened, I would post once every couple weeks... sort of like lately...
ANYWAY... on to the news.
Sarah and I have decided to move to Colorado. Our lease is up at the end of July, and we are planning on heading out to Colorado Springs, Colorado in the early weeks of September. For the month of August, we are currently looking for a place to stay, but flying by the seat of our collective pants feels really good right now. I trust that God is looking out for us, and that everything will work out for the best. He is so good to us.
A little background on the decision, and I won't bore you, is that Sarah has always wanted to be adventurous and move away from everything that she has grown up around... to break out and discover a place of her own. I've had the opportunity to move around a bit in my life, and I'm ready to pick up and trailblaze a new chapter in our life together. Colorado Springs provides a great area for jobs for both of us, it has a lower cost of living, and is incredibly beautiful. I have had the opportunity to see the area twice in my life, and look forward to waking up to the majestic view of the rocky mountains every day.
In other news, I have a new manager at my Starbucks. He kicks butt, and will hopefully kick mine enough to transform me into a truly impressive barista before I transfer out to Colorado. I am a good worker, but lack certain skills and information that would make me truly outstanding. I hope to rectify that.
Anyway, I'm tired, so this is all for now. Sorry all. I promise to try to write more in the next few weeks.
Peace!
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Random Quote
"I no longer need to punish, deceive or compromise myself. Unless, of course, I want to stay employed." -The man known as "Jim" who posts in the comment sections of this blog. Not to be confused with me.
Only for the geeks out there...
Oh... I just realized that I should mention this, as it is some of the biggest news in Apple history. Apple has announced that it will be transitioning to Intel Pentium processors over the next few years. This will be the third "major" transition for the company since its founding in the seventies. The first was the switch to the power pc processor in the mid nineties, the second was the "brain transplant" that was the switch from OS9 to OSX. If I were to say anything at Apple has been "dragging" the past few years, it would be the speed and availability of their processors. But the whole processor industry has slowed down dramatically in the past few years, so I've been excusing it. This however looks to turn that around. Apple hopes to have Intel using machines on the market by next June, and a complete changeover of their lineup by the end of 2007. The idea of this happening was so incredibly remote, that many thought it impossible. For Apple to switch their Operating System to work on a different processor would require a complete re-tooling of the entire system. The feeling out there the past few weeks in response to the rumors of an Apple/Intel partnership was "there's no way that Apple can do this... for that to happen, they would have had to have built it to be processor independant over the past 5 years... they would have had to have been planning this since OSX debuted!" Well... uh.... they did. Apple has dedicated an entire division of their company to making OSX work on Intel processors for the past 5-6 years. The switch is going to be easy. For most developers, they will be able to adapt their products to run on the new system in literally, a matter of weeks, and in some cases, days. Not that they'll need it for a year, but they have the time. In the case of applications that aren't ready or don't try to get ready by the release of the Intel run mac, Apple has created an algorythm called "Rosetta" that, get this... LIVE TRANSLATES from power pc to intel. I watched Jobs run Word, Excel, Powerpoint and a few other apps on an Intel mac, these are programs as they are today... with no tweaking, and they ran at a speed that was an almost unnoticeable difference from the norm. This is going to allow every application to be used on the new macs that was on the old, until they adapt their apps to run on the Intels themselves! Very cool. In other news, the next big cat is going to be "Leopard" and it will come out about the same time that Windows is promising to have Longhorn out by. I would not want to be that cow.
Well, that's it for the geek-fest, Ladies and Germs...
See ya.
Well, that's it for the geek-fest, Ladies and Germs...
See ya.
Woodridge
Hey all.
It's been awhile, so I'll catch you up.
I'll be heading back to Woodridge this week as far as work's concerned. I've learned alot during my time in Hinsdale, and quite frankly, I've been pretty wiped and that's why posts to the blog have slowed to a standstill. As I head back, I anticipate stepping up what I was doing at my home store before I left. I think that in the last two months I've really tightened up the shifts I'm on. No more guesswork, I know what needs to be done, and I feel much more confident getting things done.
We had our small group from church over to our apartment on Sunday. It was a really good time, and we even gave a little tour of our area... When you attend a church of thousands, it's sometimes hard to feel that "personal" touch, not to mention that there's no accountability.
We've really been blessed by the support and friendship of these folks.
Sarah is working full time now. She will be cranking out resumes soon. I look forward to seeing what kind of career she will get into. She's so smart and sincere, and I really anticipate a great job for her. One where she can truly help others, and take home some fulfillment for herself. I remember the feeling of pride in my work that I had at the newspaper, and the idea that "I did that" with different ads in the newspaper. It's something that you don't get in many jobs, but is a definite plus. I get that feeling to a certain degree at Starbucks as I continue to build relationships with customers, and people within the company. I'm sure that if I continue down this path, that "I did that" feeling will increase when I can see places I've helped make better. But for now, I'm praying that Sarah finds a job that she can be challenged at, and be proud of a job well done.
My parents found a new house in Ohia. They are moving soon, and hopefully this will be a great place to live. I've always liked the town they're moving to. The boys seem to be doing well, and while my Dad's health is a little shaky at times, I'm really happy for them at this point in their life. You can really see God's hand on their lives, and I feel that they will be able to look back and say "We didn't waste our lives, fiddling around, trying to make ourselves happy..." That's really what I want, when I think about it. I want to be able to look back on my life and see people I was able to help, sacrifices I was able to make, unselfishness... of course, every day I see evidence of the opposite in my life. I see the decisions made for me, manipulations of loved ones, and things I'll regret. Ah, regret. We love to dodge it here in America. Act like it doesn't exist... say you don't have them... Bull... You have them, as do I.
Regret is the wonderful device that tells us to NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. If faced with similar circumstances "I will do the right thing" next time. My advice, regret's not going to go away any more than gravity, and so next time it rears its head, listen to what it says, and make the decision to do what's right if that situation ever happens again. Pretending that regret doesn't exist is unfortunately something that few people are able to do at the end of their lives, and had they listened to its voice of warning earlier, they'd have alot less to regret. Period. For details, watch Magnolia.
Well, that's enough for now.
I hope this wasn't too heavy, but I'm so tired of people happily skipping off of cliffs in their lives. WAKE UP! Life is fragile and short! Live it right!
Peace and thank you,
Jim
It's been awhile, so I'll catch you up.
I'll be heading back to Woodridge this week as far as work's concerned. I've learned alot during my time in Hinsdale, and quite frankly, I've been pretty wiped and that's why posts to the blog have slowed to a standstill. As I head back, I anticipate stepping up what I was doing at my home store before I left. I think that in the last two months I've really tightened up the shifts I'm on. No more guesswork, I know what needs to be done, and I feel much more confident getting things done.
We had our small group from church over to our apartment on Sunday. It was a really good time, and we even gave a little tour of our area... When you attend a church of thousands, it's sometimes hard to feel that "personal" touch, not to mention that there's no accountability.
We've really been blessed by the support and friendship of these folks.
Sarah is working full time now. She will be cranking out resumes soon. I look forward to seeing what kind of career she will get into. She's so smart and sincere, and I really anticipate a great job for her. One where she can truly help others, and take home some fulfillment for herself. I remember the feeling of pride in my work that I had at the newspaper, and the idea that "I did that" with different ads in the newspaper. It's something that you don't get in many jobs, but is a definite plus. I get that feeling to a certain degree at Starbucks as I continue to build relationships with customers, and people within the company. I'm sure that if I continue down this path, that "I did that" feeling will increase when I can see places I've helped make better. But for now, I'm praying that Sarah finds a job that she can be challenged at, and be proud of a job well done.
My parents found a new house in Ohia. They are moving soon, and hopefully this will be a great place to live. I've always liked the town they're moving to. The boys seem to be doing well, and while my Dad's health is a little shaky at times, I'm really happy for them at this point in their life. You can really see God's hand on their lives, and I feel that they will be able to look back and say "We didn't waste our lives, fiddling around, trying to make ourselves happy..." That's really what I want, when I think about it. I want to be able to look back on my life and see people I was able to help, sacrifices I was able to make, unselfishness... of course, every day I see evidence of the opposite in my life. I see the decisions made for me, manipulations of loved ones, and things I'll regret. Ah, regret. We love to dodge it here in America. Act like it doesn't exist... say you don't have them... Bull... You have them, as do I.
Regret is the wonderful device that tells us to NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. If faced with similar circumstances "I will do the right thing" next time. My advice, regret's not going to go away any more than gravity, and so next time it rears its head, listen to what it says, and make the decision to do what's right if that situation ever happens again. Pretending that regret doesn't exist is unfortunately something that few people are able to do at the end of their lives, and had they listened to its voice of warning earlier, they'd have alot less to regret. Period. For details, watch Magnolia.
Well, that's enough for now.
I hope this wasn't too heavy, but I'm so tired of people happily skipping off of cliffs in their lives. WAKE UP! Life is fragile and short! Live it right!
Peace and thank you,
Jim
Friday, June 03, 2005
Keanu = Wisdom
I know I haven't written alot lately... and here's an unlikely post at that...
I heard a quote tonight worth repeating, and it comes to you thanks to Keanu Reeves.
"Pain heals, chicks dig scars, and glory lasts forever." - K.R. in The Replacements
I heard a quote tonight worth repeating, and it comes to you thanks to Keanu Reeves.
"Pain heals, chicks dig scars, and glory lasts forever." - K.R. in The Replacements
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
These boys aren't that bright...
Here's to Lion Video. The dumbest people on the planet, and their ample DVD selection...
Sorry for the gap in posts...
Alot's been happening lately. Sarah had her graduation ceremony on Saturday, and her party on Sunday. My family came out for the weekend, and went home yesterday.
Last week went real well. I had some difficulties at work with a no-call/no-show. Which I take very seriously... I also got to work with Hinsdale's Laura for the first time. Laura is a professional barista. I think that's the best way to put it. Easily the most structured shift manager I've ever met, and I was a bit nervous working with her, but it turned out great. Just do everything she says, and you'll be good. It sounds bad, but she makes it really easy. You don't have to worry about what's going on, or what you should be doing... it was a really nice break, as I have been the shift on duty every shift I've worked for the past several weeks. It was pretty relaxing actually, even though we were swamped. I hope that at some point I can measure up with these great people that I am learning from.
Sarah's graduation ceremony was really cool. It was SO good to see her cross that stage. She wore a black cap and gown, a gold sash for her title of "Summa Cum Laude" (Which is awesome!!! That means "with highest honor" in latin) and black and red sashes for her participation in Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society). Afterwards, we went to a really nice reception where she was congratulated by her professors and coworkers from the school. We took some really good pictures there, which I will post later, and then we stopped at a local hotdog place (not Portillo's, Erina... I wouldn't do that to you...) and headed home.
Sunday was the party for Sarah at her parent's house in Midlothian. We went to church in the morning, and then headed over to start decorating. The night went great, and Sarah got a ton of really nice gifts. The most complex of which was a vacation for us in October. She got airfare, and a weeks stay in a relative's condo on South Padre Island off the coast of Texas. Other family members donated certificates to restaurants, and Sarah's parents set us up with parasailing tickets... It's going to be wonderful. Sarah needs a break so bad. There were lots of other great gifts all around. From my parents and brothers, and Sarah's close friends... It was a great time. The food was really diverse and delicious, and the weather couldn't have been better.
My family hung out until yesterday afternoon when they headed back to Ohia. After they left, Sarah and I watched "West Side Story" and then went for a nice long walk. She is so nice to live with... the best partner I could hope for. Life is so nice... I look forward in anticipation of what the future holds.
Well, that's it for now. I am going to work on some projects I have lying around. I think that Sar and I have our date night tonight, so that should be fun.
Peace out.
Jim
Word to your mother.
Last week went real well. I had some difficulties at work with a no-call/no-show. Which I take very seriously... I also got to work with Hinsdale's Laura for the first time. Laura is a professional barista. I think that's the best way to put it. Easily the most structured shift manager I've ever met, and I was a bit nervous working with her, but it turned out great. Just do everything she says, and you'll be good. It sounds bad, but she makes it really easy. You don't have to worry about what's going on, or what you should be doing... it was a really nice break, as I have been the shift on duty every shift I've worked for the past several weeks. It was pretty relaxing actually, even though we were swamped. I hope that at some point I can measure up with these great people that I am learning from.
Sarah's graduation ceremony was really cool. It was SO good to see her cross that stage. She wore a black cap and gown, a gold sash for her title of "Summa Cum Laude" (Which is awesome!!! That means "with highest honor" in latin) and black and red sashes for her participation in Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society). Afterwards, we went to a really nice reception where she was congratulated by her professors and coworkers from the school. We took some really good pictures there, which I will post later, and then we stopped at a local hotdog place (not Portillo's, Erina... I wouldn't do that to you...) and headed home.
Sunday was the party for Sarah at her parent's house in Midlothian. We went to church in the morning, and then headed over to start decorating. The night went great, and Sarah got a ton of really nice gifts. The most complex of which was a vacation for us in October. She got airfare, and a weeks stay in a relative's condo on South Padre Island off the coast of Texas. Other family members donated certificates to restaurants, and Sarah's parents set us up with parasailing tickets... It's going to be wonderful. Sarah needs a break so bad. There were lots of other great gifts all around. From my parents and brothers, and Sarah's close friends... It was a great time. The food was really diverse and delicious, and the weather couldn't have been better.
My family hung out until yesterday afternoon when they headed back to Ohia. After they left, Sarah and I watched "West Side Story" and then went for a nice long walk. She is so nice to live with... the best partner I could hope for. Life is so nice... I look forward in anticipation of what the future holds.
Well, that's it for now. I am going to work on some projects I have lying around. I think that Sar and I have our date night tonight, so that should be fun.
Peace out.
Jim
Word to your mother.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Channeling Grampa Hutchins...
So I made a total tribute to my Grandpa Hutchins this morning. I ate pie for breakfast. He was a fan.
I'm taking Sarah downtown to the Art Institute today. It'll be a good time. She doesn't know yet.
I mean, she probably figures it'll be a good time... she just doesn't know where.
Sarah discovered a really good band this week. They're called Eisley. Young band, with one to three female vocalists. The two boys in the band apparently just play instruments. Their sound reminds me of a young Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer. Really good. Check em out.
Well, I gotta get moving... bye for now!
I'm taking Sarah downtown to the Art Institute today. It'll be a good time. She doesn't know yet.
I mean, she probably figures it'll be a good time... she just doesn't know where.
Sarah discovered a really good band this week. They're called Eisley. Young band, with one to three female vocalists. The two boys in the band apparently just play instruments. Their sound reminds me of a young Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer. Really good. Check em out.
Well, I gotta get moving... bye for now!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Dreamin... Dreamin is free...
We just had a great night! Very restful sleep... thunderstorms early this morning helped that even more. Although, I had some weird dreams... the last of which I won a piano in a contest, by outsmarting baby Daffy duck and baby Bugs bunny in a maze. The piano was an upright that looked like an oblong blue "church shape" building. The hard part was pushing it through the giant building I was in, to an exit where I was going to try and fit it into the Civic. Apparently, this whole contest was sponsored by a southern televangelist, whose wife was trying to record her incredibly bad music video when I pushed the piano through the room they were in. Her dress had gotten caught in the back and the recording studio audience (that all music videos have... duh!) thought it was very funny. This embarrased the wife of the televangelist, and she ran out of the room. The dream ended with me finally finding the exit of the building, only to discover that the parking lot and outside world was being rampaged by giant mammoths. (Possibly due to me reading the Silmarillion lately.)
Now, on to a weird story... last night I closed Hinsdale with a summer barista named Catherine. We had a decent close and were on our way out, when the alarm got tripped. So sirens blaring, lights flashing, I tried to disable the alarm, to no avail... When the cops showed, all he wanted was my ID, and then he left. Never even spit out his chewing tobacco. Nice guy.
So I ended up on the phone with ADT for the next half hour. Disconnected three times, and I called THEM back! Not THEM calling ME back. If I worked for a security company, and I got disconnected, I'd call the client back... might, by some stretch of the imagination, be a security issue! Anyway, after my third tech support person... pause... TECH SUPPORT!!! (yelled in Tom Cruise voice)... I finally got the alarm disabled. And we drove off our separate ways.
I think that the readership of the blog is increasing, and that's a good thing. I've found myself giving out the address to more people lately. I hope this entertains you, and brightens your day. Establishing that you indeed are not crazy... not if there's someone like me out there.
To the loyal "old school" readers, thanks again for supporting this... uh... project. You rock!
Peace, yo.
Now, on to a weird story... last night I closed Hinsdale with a summer barista named Catherine. We had a decent close and were on our way out, when the alarm got tripped. So sirens blaring, lights flashing, I tried to disable the alarm, to no avail... When the cops showed, all he wanted was my ID, and then he left. Never even spit out his chewing tobacco. Nice guy.
So I ended up on the phone with ADT for the next half hour. Disconnected three times, and I called THEM back! Not THEM calling ME back. If I worked for a security company, and I got disconnected, I'd call the client back... might, by some stretch of the imagination, be a security issue! Anyway, after my third tech support person... pause... TECH SUPPORT!!! (yelled in Tom Cruise voice)... I finally got the alarm disabled. And we drove off our separate ways.
I think that the readership of the blog is increasing, and that's a good thing. I've found myself giving out the address to more people lately. I hope this entertains you, and brightens your day. Establishing that you indeed are not crazy... not if there's someone like me out there.
To the loyal "old school" readers, thanks again for supporting this... uh... project. You rock!
Peace, yo.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Remember the 80's???
Ok. Today, my lovely wife was looking through a catalogue when she shuddered uncontrollably. I quickly rushed to her side... and FOUND THIS!!!!! This is the latest in the signs of the end times! As it says in the book of Revelation, "After this, I looked and behold, a great multitude were drowning in layers of spandex and leg warmers. 'This' the angel cried in a loud voice 'is the punishment of those who would dare to wear such material after the year of nineteen hundred eighty-four!!! For great is God's anger with the material spandex!'"
I think that's in there at least... and if it's not, it should be.
Anyway, on to bad things that I like...
I was introduced, via that fantastic invention Al Gore likes to call the "information superhighway" to a band that no longer exists, but did for a short time in the faraway land of Norway. (Which, as everyone knows, is a make-believe place that Peter Pan is from...)
Annnnnyway... This band broke up in the late nineties, but not before releasing what is quite possibly the best and worst thing these old eyes have ever seen: their cover of Bonnie Tyler's classic hit "Total eclipse of the heart." Their name... "Hurra Torpedo."
It is astoundingly bad, and not just because the band consists of a lead guitarist and two percussionists... nor simply because those percussionists are playing nothing but kitchen appliances... nor simply because the guitarist sings monotone... ok, the main reason is that their pants are sortof falling down in the back while they play, and THAT is indeed badong.
If you have the time, the interest, and no impressionable children around, email me and request the video, and I promise you entertainment galore!
Well, that's it for now... Oh, except that I just got a call from my store manager in Woodridge to say that a secret shopper or "snapshot" as we call it, came in on my shift a few weeks ago. Massa, one of my favorite coworkers, and a reader of this blog, was on shift as well, and we got a five star rating on service!!! Awesome! Our store can get high percentages of excellence in the store, but that star rating always seems to hit the ceiling at 4. Very cool stuff.
Bye for now
I think that's in there at least... and if it's not, it should be.
Anyway, on to bad things that I like...
I was introduced, via that fantastic invention Al Gore likes to call the "information superhighway" to a band that no longer exists, but did for a short time in the faraway land of Norway. (Which, as everyone knows, is a make-believe place that Peter Pan is from...)
Annnnnyway... This band broke up in the late nineties, but not before releasing what is quite possibly the best and worst thing these old eyes have ever seen: their cover of Bonnie Tyler's classic hit "Total eclipse of the heart." Their name... "Hurra Torpedo."
It is astoundingly bad, and not just because the band consists of a lead guitarist and two percussionists... nor simply because those percussionists are playing nothing but kitchen appliances... nor simply because the guitarist sings monotone... ok, the main reason is that their pants are sortof falling down in the back while they play, and THAT is indeed badong.
If you have the time, the interest, and no impressionable children around, email me and request the video, and I promise you entertainment galore!
Well, that's it for now... Oh, except that I just got a call from my store manager in Woodridge to say that a secret shopper or "snapshot" as we call it, came in on my shift a few weeks ago. Massa, one of my favorite coworkers, and a reader of this blog, was on shift as well, and we got a five star rating on service!!! Awesome! Our store can get high percentages of excellence in the store, but that star rating always seems to hit the ceiling at 4. Very cool stuff.
Bye for now
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Left and Leaving
Ahhh... home.
I thought this week was going to be a breeze, but it has turned into a tropical storm.
Yesterday my manager approached me with an odd question, but before I go on, I need a bit of a backdrop to our conversation...
Several weeks ago, our store started cutting the hours of the shift managers, due to low sales, and too many managers... We all started seeing 24 hour workweeks and the like, and while I filled the other hours by working at other stores, I wasn't getting what I wanted which is a 40 hour week in my store. Several weeks later, I was offered 16 hours a week at a nearby store, and it made sense to do, so I went with it. In the time since then, I have enjoyed working at this other Starbucks, but I have had mostly closing shifts, and it is a bit of a drive. I was anticipating going back to full time at my Woodridge store soon, but yesterday's conversation with Dave, my store manager, changed that.
Dave approached me with the question of how I would feel going to Hinsdale, the other store, full time for 1-2 months. I was stunned. And frustrated. And I felt a bit alienated... However, as he explained my store's situation, I realized how much sense it made for me to be the one to go, and I agreed with him, and agreed to do it. Hopefully, at the end of the 2 months, I will be able to return to a 40 hour a week schedule at Woodridge, but for the time being, I get to work with some really great people in Hinsdale, and I will be seeing some much welcomed 40 hour workweeks... all at one store, to boot! So I go, partially happy, and partially sad, to Hinsdale for the next month or two. I hope it goes well.
Other than that, not much has been going on. Sarah is heading into her final weeks of school before she graduates later this month!!! I am SOOOOOOO proud of her! She has been such an amazing student, and deserves this degree so much! Emails of congratulations can be sent to saremil@yahoo.com.
For now... I'm done.
Jim
I thought this week was going to be a breeze, but it has turned into a tropical storm.
Yesterday my manager approached me with an odd question, but before I go on, I need a bit of a backdrop to our conversation...
Several weeks ago, our store started cutting the hours of the shift managers, due to low sales, and too many managers... We all started seeing 24 hour workweeks and the like, and while I filled the other hours by working at other stores, I wasn't getting what I wanted which is a 40 hour week in my store. Several weeks later, I was offered 16 hours a week at a nearby store, and it made sense to do, so I went with it. In the time since then, I have enjoyed working at this other Starbucks, but I have had mostly closing shifts, and it is a bit of a drive. I was anticipating going back to full time at my Woodridge store soon, but yesterday's conversation with Dave, my store manager, changed that.
Dave approached me with the question of how I would feel going to Hinsdale, the other store, full time for 1-2 months. I was stunned. And frustrated. And I felt a bit alienated... However, as he explained my store's situation, I realized how much sense it made for me to be the one to go, and I agreed with him, and agreed to do it. Hopefully, at the end of the 2 months, I will be able to return to a 40 hour a week schedule at Woodridge, but for the time being, I get to work with some really great people in Hinsdale, and I will be seeing some much welcomed 40 hour workweeks... all at one store, to boot! So I go, partially happy, and partially sad, to Hinsdale for the next month or two. I hope it goes well.
Other than that, not much has been going on. Sarah is heading into her final weeks of school before she graduates later this month!!! I am SOOOOOOO proud of her! She has been such an amazing student, and deserves this degree so much! Emails of congratulations can be sent to saremil@yahoo.com.
For now... I'm done.
Jim
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