The other day at work my coworker and I found something in common – we both liked the song that was playing in the store. This is small I know, but I really dont have much in common with her. Our work styles are completely different. She gets offend really easy and sometimes I simply dont know what to do when I work with her. So when we made a connection of liking music (it was a song off of Jason Mraz’s new album) I felt like there a little bit of hope for us. Not that Im wanting this deep relationship with her, but 5:14 is based on Galatians 5:14 which is about loving our neighbors. Where I live, I dont really have typical neighbors – I have business. My ‘neighbors’ in my life is the communities I find myself in, one of them being my coworkers. When this coworker said she is wanting new music and liked (so it seemed) the same type of music I offered to make her a mix CD. She seemed very greatful for the offer, so I made it a point to put it together before I leave next week for Ohio. Not that I listen to a lot of Christian music these days, but I find it interesting that I really didnt add a lot of Christian music to this mix. I wasn’t avoiding it, but Im also not trying to had her a track in the form of a CD. I just want to share with her a little bit of my life which I think this CD reflects, if not my little sound bites of my connections on her play list I wrote up for her. I think opening myself up a little more than I normally do will hopefully show love to her.

1: Behind Your Eyes – Jon Foreman
Jon is the front-man for the band Switchfoot (who you may or may not have heard of) who released four EPs (one for each season, which I find amusing since hes from San Diego like myself, and we do not have seasons there) this past year of his music away from the band. Switchfoot’s music is much more rock, where as his EPs are simple yet amazing singer songwriter style songs. This is one of my favorites.

2: 100 Miles to Charlston – Martha’s Trouble
When I moved from California to North Carolina two years ago this month, my friends Mike and Kari made me a three-disc road trip mix. This is one of the songs Kari picked out for me. I really like Martha’s Trouble music, but this song is where I started.

3: Please Forgive Me – David Grey
David Grey has been a long time favorite of Jason’s. He put this song on a mix CD for me when we first started dating. I have grown to really enjoy David Grey’s music a lot over the past year.

4: Rangers – A Fine Frenzy
We actually play (or did play) this song at Starbucks. She was even a free pick of the week at one point. When I got this CD I wore it out. I really love her voice and music. This is probably my most listened to song of hers.

5: New Life – Todd Martin
I went to see Peter Bradly Adams (who you will met later on this CD) and Todd opened for him. I really enjoyed his personality on stage and bought his CD, even exchanged a few emails with him. Its singer songwriter type stuff again, but a little more pop than normal.

6: Scythian Empires – Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is another guy who Jason really likes who I have gotten into because of how much he listens to his stuff. Andrew likes to whistle a lot in his songs, I like that little touch he adds to his music that’s different than what is out there.

7: Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
I had a really hard time picking which song of theirs to share with you. If you have not seen the movie Once, go right now and rent it. It’s a wonderful movie staring these two people. This song was written for the movie, and it won an Oscar! Jason and I traveled to Richmond just to see them live and it was so worth it. Their music is just amazing.

8: Everything But You – Glen Phillips
Back in the 90s there was a band called Toad the Wet Sprocket who Glen was the front-man for. Apparently they are back together now, but I haven’t heard any music from them yet. Glen between now and then made a little solo career. He’s a very honest song writer.

9: How Lucky We are – Meiko
This past Christmas went I went to California a friend of mine got married. She played this little song at her reception and I’ve loved it ever since.

10: High and Dry – Jamie Cullum
Yet another guy Jason turned me on to. Actually, the day that Jason and I met Jamie Cullum’s CD was the soundtrack to our day as we drove around getting to know each other. This is a wonderful cover of a Radiohead’s song.

11: Tomorrow is a Long time – Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek is a great bluegrass band that you should buy every single one of their albums if you don’t already own them. I maybe love them a little more than most fans because they are from my hometown in California. This is a Bob Dylan cover and I just adore. I usually love Bob Dylan covers more than his originals… I just cant get past his voice. His words on the other hand I could listen to all day long.

12: Chinese Translations – M. Ward
I have to give full credit to my friend Mike for his guy. For his birthday Mike went to see M. Ward live, and I only knowing a few of his songs went along. Seeing M.Ward live put me over the edge and I have been a fan ever since. This is probably his “hit” song.

13: Rowing Song – Patty Griffin
When I lived in Alabama my roommate got me into this wonderful lady who writes mostly sad songs. Sometimes sad songs are just needed and Patty writes beautiful lyrics and her music is pretty. She’s a little bitter at men you could say.

14: Unreconciled – Peter Bradly Adams
He used to be apart of a duo called eastmountainsouth who sadly is no longer. They put out one amazing record that I still listen to a lot. He now does music on his own, this is from his first offering.

15: Plenty – Sandra McCracken
Probably my most favorite singer/song writer is Sandra. I personally think she is better live than in her recordings, even if its just her and her guitar (and her husband has done backup too). She just writes songs that make you think since they don’t always give away what they are all about. This song is pretty clear on its purpose, but just moving. This song is not about her husband – it was written before she met him.

16: Out of My League – Stephen Speaks
I listened to this band a lot in my early twenties – they write a lot of sweet songs about girls. This is one of my favorites; I’m a sucker for a sweet song with a strong piano melody. My dad has out listened me on this song – he and I like a lot of the same type of music.

17: Stars Go Blue – Ryan Adams
My friend Scott is a huge Ryan Adams fan. Actually a good handful of my friends like Ryan Adams a lot, but I’m pretty sure Scott got me listening to him first. Ryan Adams is one crazy guy but he writes some pretty great music. This is one is prettier songs. He can be very rock and roll

18: When the Leaves Turn Green – Songs of Water
I had to put on one of Jason’s bands songs on here. Just couldn’t help myself! This song is one my favorites – its just so pretty. Jason plays the guitar on this song.

Isnt that a fun work to say? Spoodle. I got the pleasure again to put away the order on Monday. Do I look like a gal who has a lot of upper body strength to put away big heavy boxes way up above my head?

Well that might of not been the best photo to prove my point. Im not! DO NOT HAVE LOTS OF MUSCLES. I was feeling empowered since I just sorta hiked the Grand Canyon in that photo. Okay never-mind Im already off track. SPOODLE. It was in the order that I put away. In my three in a half years at Starbucks I had never seen a Spoodle. In fact, in all my hours spent inside of kitchen stores I had never seen something labeled as a spoodle. No one knew what the spoodle was for or why it had come in our order. Today though, today my manager showed me the spoodle and said that she found out what it was for. It will be pouring coffee into the filter right before we brew it. As lovely as that sounds, that wont be fun durning the morning rush but whatever. We got a spoodle! I just dont know if I care for the ramifications of the spoodle. So if the line at Starbucks is a bit longer in the morning, just remind yourself that it must be the spoodle.

Let’s talk about this amazing cup of coffee I had with brunch on Sunday. Yeah its Tuesday and I’m still thinking about it. I don’t know where the connection with coffee started with me. I know it went into full force when I started working for the ‘Bucks three years ago. The theme to my creative side is coffee-stained but that doesn’t mean I love coffee. I’m not a girl who has to have coffee every morning to function (though it is nice). I’ve never gotten hooked on it so much that when I don’t have it, I get a headache. When I go out for breakfast or brunch, I usually always get coffee. Lattes and such are saved for when I got to actual coffeehouses. I like to see who has the best plain coffee in town. I think that my search may be over. M’Coul’s is an Irish Pub in downtown that I love going to. Jason and I both love going there actually, its just a little bit out of our price range to go there all time. When we heard that they started to serve brunch over the summer we really wanted to go try it out. Between us having commitments at church in the morning or the Sundays we did have off we out of town or I was working. Finally this past weekend I took Sunday off to help Jason unpack and we reward our selves to brunch. The food was really good, as usual at M’Couls but my favorite part was the Irish coffee. As I was telling Jason, Starbucks does a very good job at roasting coffee and I understand how adding flavor to the coffee would take away from the pure roasting accept we have, but man flavor coffee is so good. I had two cup full and wanted to get some to go. I sit here now writing on my front porch wishing I had asked for one to go. Half of me is tempted to go down there and ask for a cup of that yummy coffee to go. See how Im going on and on over this coffee? I never do that! Not even when I get paid to do so! Now here I sit writing to the internet telling of the wonders of this coffee. Maybe I am turning into the coffee girl everyone thinks I already am.

As someone who got home a little after 1:30am from setting up her store to be covered in red, please be gentle. I understand its the middle of November and we are decorating our stores with Christmas products from wall to wall. I’m assuming most of you are folks who don’t like getting their Christmas shopping done early like some (read: me) of us do. Plus, I love Christmas. I love Starbucks (most of the time). Put those two together and you have one happy girl on your hands. So, for my sake, go to your local ‘Bucks and take a look at all the pretty (some tacky I will even admit but wont tell you which ones) holiday items for sale. Get yourself a holiday beverage in a red cup with a holiday sleeve along with a holiday pastry in a holiday pastry bag. Actually, tomorrow, day of red cups and red stores, they should be sampling like crazy so you may even get freebies. Christmas music doesn’t start till the day after Thanksgiving so your safe from that, just soak in the red.

Yep, I’m officially a coffee master sporting that stylish black apron. My meeting with my DM was at 7am this morning, so I apologize for the very sleep eyes I have in this photo. Black is the new green.

I’m currently have one the best salads ever at Panera. It has tangerine, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, chicken and walnuts with a poppy seed dressing. If you are anywhere near a Panera, I highly recommend you going and enjoying this tasty salad. Perfect summer time treat along side a glass of lemonaide.

Unsure to what exactly posed me, but when I purchased my latte today, I also handed over a dollar for a copy of the New York Times. I’m not much of a newspaper reader myself, but again New York seems to be taken over my mind. I will let you know how I feel how things are going on in New York later.

Anne Taylor Loft is a place that’s sophisticate normally. In my mind at least because the price tag is not one I take seriously unless its on sale. Well, unknown to me, I walked into a sale. My mission was to find some capris for summer since I’m not a huge fan of shorts. Little did I know that this sophisticate place to shop is a battle ground when there is a sale going on. I was in my section looking at a shirt and a lady comes up almost pushing me to get the shirt behind it. Let me just say she was not the same size of me so she must be kidding herself as she tired to take me out.

I rarely wear my hair up when I am not at work. Not sure why this is, maybe for the same reason I don’t like wearing collared shirts when I’m off work. Those things I associate myself to work and when I’m off work I want to be done with it. The other day I left my hair up after work and actually liked it. Seems to me I don’t give much effort to what I look like when I go to work. This is probably why I put my hair up to simply to keep it out of my face when I’m running around, not because I think it looks cute.

Driving up my street today I got a little teary. Listening to Peter Bradly Adams (half of the no longer eastmountainsouth) thinking one of these songs would be good for Carla and my road trip cd. Thinking of the last time I will drive up my street is in my near distance future. Okay not the last time ever but moving away from it. Which we are not going to think about too much about that, instead, check out Peter Bradly Adams.

“We also stop for coffee a lot. Well… let me clarify that: We stop for me to get coffee. I have what some would call a “problem” or an “addiction.” I like to think of it as more of a relationship.” ~Justin McRoberts

I hit the snooze at 5:15am on Friday morning not ready for my days on the slopes. 7 minutes later the radio awoke me and reminded me that 6 o’clock was coming soon. I rolled out of bed and into my trusty snowboarding clothes that smelled a little dusty from being in the garage rafters for years. Hair in pig-tails under a beanie and swishy pants, out the door I went, heading not straight to the church to met the gang, but to Starbucks. I needed a double shot cinnamon dolce latte before hitting the road. Unknown to me, there was a planned trip on the way up the mountain for a stop at Starbucks as well. Oh well, a triple grande ice toffee nut latte sounds great. I shared a car with Stephanie (Brian, our youth pastor’s fiancé), Catlin and Samantha. The two girls we had in our car could not be the more polar opposites of each other. Even so, we had great conversation with these first timer snowboarders.

David, being the snow expert whom lived in Tahoe offered to give a refresher/beginners class. So off we went to the “bunny hills”. Most of us had been boarding before and a run down the bunny hills reminded us that snowboarding is a lot like riding a bike. After a few runs, a couple of my girls asked if Id go with them onto an intermediate hill. Waving bye to the rest of the group off to the bigger slopes we went. On our chair lift ride up the mountain the girls started to get nervous as they saw very steep hills to our left. I comforted them with “we will just slide down on out butts if that’s where we happen to be going”. Yeah, I’m quite a comforter, it’s a gift. But the higher and higher we went the more and more nervous I become despite the comfort I try to comfort the girls. Thankfully, the hill was just our speed and the girls kept saying how it was the best ride of the day. I realized at that point how much older I am than them or more so, my knees told me. I would be riding, having a great time and then, my knees would give me pleas of pain. But I told my knees to suck it up and rode on just the same.

Towards the end of the day we all became very, very cold. Some, say the girls who worn jeans (bad bad idea), were colder than others. The sky became darker and it started to snow. At first, I thought the man made snow blowers where blowing our way, but nope, it was snowing. My girls said we should go sit inside and watch the snow. I, being the romantic that has barely seen snow fall, said “It’s snowing! You have to be outside when it snows!” I held my tongue out to catch snowflakes in my mouth (never did catch any, or felt any more so). But I did catch many snowflakes in my hand and look at how perfect they are. How they look just like the ones we cut out at Christmas time to hang.

On our drive home, our 4 hour (instead of 2 ½ like it should have been) drive home… my body defrosted and ached. Conversation sparked again in our car, not as deep but it was good. We stopped for dinner (and another Starbucks, for those of you who are keeping count, I got a grand latte, so that’s a total of 7 shots. I was tired!) I realized sitting in the car and thinking about the day that it was a very good day. A snowboarding event with Jr. Highers could have been very bad (hurt limps or lost kids) but it wasn’t, at all. After thinking about it, I think my expectations where just right. Which makes me wonder how my expectations where in the past. I don’t normally walk away with this much exposure to the kids with such a happy heart. Which sounds bad coming from a youth workers mind, but lately its been hard. But it was a perfect group of kids and leaders, well blended. That’s it, a well blended day, leaving Alisa with a happy heart and a worn body. Stay tuned for part two of my weekend: the sleepover.

Its too late tonight for the snowboarding story (tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow…) but I just wanted to take note on my drink that I’m really enjoying lately:

Double tall, 1 pump white mocha, 1 pump almond, 1 pump cinnamon dolce, percent with whip, latte.

That fills up every box (syrup box really full) but one. But when I get this drink at night its a:

Half decaf, grande, 1 pump white mocha, 1 pump almond, 1 pump cinnamon dolce, percent with whip, latte.

When did I get to be a high maintance barista?

What a productive day! I love productive days, especially filling ones that happen right after a day off.

Today I put in 8 hours at the ‘Bucks. It was a good day, which I so needed because that place can be so draining at times and I’m sick of venting/whining about it. So to ramble my whole car ride home to Jason how great the day was is very refreshing. We got lots of new pastries in today. I wanted to try them all but too much sugar when my brake time came. Better to spread out the pastry love rather than eat them all in one day and get sick of them. Prime example: Pumpkin Spice Muffin. So excited for that muffin when it first came out (being in love with fall and it being part of fall and all…) and then ate too many and now I never want to see one again (well maybe not again till next fall). All the new Valentines Day (yes, onto the next holiday, but they forgot my birthday. Hello! Best holiday ever!) retail is up and the new drinks are out. Any one try the new Cinnamon Dolce Latte yet? Yeah… see… I’m not a big cinnamon fan as it is, so I’m the wrong person to ask about that but its not half bad. Also got new teas, which I haven’t tired yet. Then there is new sku snacks and new black apron coffee. So many new things to look at, its like Christmas all over again.

Then I get home, return some emails, pay most of my bills. My bills are mostly due while I’m in North Carolina so I’m trying to get that out of the way so I don’t have to think about them while I’m there. Paying early is always nice. I called compaq because Marla is having battery issues (she wont stay on for longer than 11 minutes without being plugged in) and they are sending her a new battery in two days. I collected some checks together to deposit in the bank. Bought a plane ticket. Balanced my check book. Switch purses. Bought an Andy O cd. Now, I’m going to go do some party research and at the same time, find something to cook for dinner. Maybe even after that start a load of laundry. See what I mean? Productive!

I didn’t want to write about work on my two day brake but I think I kinda broke that pack when I went to Starbucks (not mine) to see all the holiday stuff up. I also was really wanting a Gingerbread latte (decaf, soy, no nutmeg with whip. no dairy when I’m sick) and treated my mom to a Peppermint Hot Chocolate (non fat no whip). I bought their cute new ornaments and some Christmas Blend (partner markout actually… time for gifts of coffee!). I like the decorations a lot this year (much better than last year) and even though I was worn out easy (I mean I didn’t even try anything on at GAP Outlet was so worn out) it was officially holidays to me. I asked my mom on the way to the car if we could get our Christmas tree now. She reminded me it wasn’t even Thanksgiving, it would die. My only answer was “We could get two.” I’m so practical aren’t I?

The work related story I want to share is about a regular who sits outside smoking his pipe for at least 4-5 hours a day who’s name is Ron. Ron lives across the road from my Starbucks and is always bringing us little gifts of candy from the grocery store next to us. He’s real nice and calls all the girls “sweetie” and everyone who even speaks to him “God Bless you!” Nice guy, drinks only coffee and iced tea, time to time getting a pastry. Well, one night last week I was on my brake and my coworker pulls me to the front because Ron wants to show all of us something. I saw from the camera monitors (those are such like reality TV for me) that he had some big red thing on the counter. When I walked up there he pushed the button on a Santa doll which I read on the box saying “Booty Shaker Santa”. The expected “ho ho ho” came from Santa with the tune of “Are You Ready For This?” he starts dancing side to side and then, Santa says the line of “Are You Ready for This?” and turns completely around and shakes his booty (or reading more of the box, its called his rump. I haven’t hear the word rump in a very long time) at you! I was in shock in what to do. Do I laugh at such a thing or just sit in shock of it all? We of course thank Ron for Santa and I put him in the back (we do not celebrate Christmas at Starbucks so Santa cant be out front to shake his booty at the customers). When I closed that night I forgot to leave a note in regards to why there was a Santa on the desk. When I came in the next day I explained to my coworker that Ron had brought it in for us. She said that she had assumed it was a gift from Ron, it only make scene where such a thing would come from. It was one of the more random events that I have had happen to me at work. And of course I took photos, I didn’t want robbed anyone of Booty Shaker Santa.

So, Holiday drinks at Starbucks came out yesterday. Whoops. I was told the 9th…which is really the 10th when we will start serving them in holiday cups. But yesterday you could get your Gingerbread Latte (which I had on my brake) EggNog Latte (which I had while writing this) and Peppermint Mocha (which you can get year round now, cept with red sprinkles at Christmas, I mean, holiday times). Sorry for that, I’m clearly an un-updated barista. Christmas Blend comes next week, the 10th as well.

I judge coffee shops by their cappuccinos. And I don’t think that’s bad at all. Cappuccinos are a harder drink to make well (I should know). Greens Bean, my usual local coffee shop in Greensboro, makes a killer mint cappuccinos. Id highly recommend anyone going there and enjoying that. Here at Tate Street Coffee I also ordered myself a double (its really not that much) Irish cream (yum yum) cappuccino. And my gosh it is also very good. I hate to be unfaithful to Green Bean, but Tate Street put my cappuccino in a much better for here cup than there. Now, I could bring my own big soup mug to the Green Bean and get the same thing. And they are starting to know my face downtown (which is kinda scary because I come every few months but it is for like 8 hours. They probably think I’m the most strangest person with the type of hours I keep there) which is part of the great coffee shop feel. Tate Street does that very well. While standing in line the espresso bar guy recognize at least 5 people while I was standing there, it was great. He was even friendly to me “I like a women who knows what she wants” even though I had never step foot in here before. The set up of the coffee shop is very different than the Green Bean (less comfy chairs but when Marla and I spend time together we don’t normally sit in comfy chairs). Tate Street plays more typical coffee shop music which I highly enjoy, a light waltz of jazzy to go in harmony with the steam wand and call of the coffees. Basically, I approve of this coffee shop and need to really start exploring Greensboro for more great places like this.

Dear Wednesday,

Thank you for the cold weather I got to bundle up in a sweater for this morning on my way to work. But could you explain to me why you had to dash my dreams of fall with a very warm afternoon? Warm or not I am going to make pumpkin mum pots tomorrow. I will have my fall with or without the help of the weather. You two are close, could you put in a little word in for me that Id like to stay chilly?

I don’t particularly care for crows. Actually to be perfectly honest with you, I hate them. I believe they were created after the fall. They just like to sit outside my bedroom window in the wee hours of the morning and wake me up. (Except today it was Oreo meowing his little head off.) But as I drove home from a great day at work, I found a side of crows I actually liked. Have you seen how they waddle for a walk? Its rather funny and made me giggle a little. Silly birds.

On the work note, big happy sigh to that. I needed today to be good and it really was. Even the stressful times today didn’t seem so stressful. Everyone (including myself) handled things very professional. I’m finally feeling comfortable in my new surrounds and still loving my new store and people I work with. Lets hope that spark keeps going with more days like today.

See, I like you just as much as Tuesday (though Tuesday does have Amazing Race and Gilmore Girls going for it) if not for no other reason than today. Let me know what weather says and I hope to have more happy days like these with you soon.

Alisa

Im enjoying the last bits of my day off with a pumpkin spice bagel (you thought I was gonna say latte didn’t you?) with hazelnut cream cheese (reduced fat, gotta love that). I never thought to find fall in the form of a bagel but hey, Im not complaining. Though I am ruining it a bit with an iced green tea, very un-fall of me to drink. I might have to go back and get a bowl of soup and a hot drink if Im here long to make up for it. I’ve grown to really love Panera a lot, though my friends out west here don’t appreciate it much. Most of them haven’t stepped foot inside of a Panera (I know!) let alone know what one is. What other place can you enjoy bread and free internet? This girls dream come true.

Well my store opened yesterday. It was a great open, the neighborhood loved us (wow that was such a You Got Mail quote without me even knowing it). Saying how they had needed one for years. Never mind there is another Starbuck the next off ramp off the freeway from us or anything. A good handful of the regulars from my old store came in. Along with a lot of the staff from church (did I mention is in the same shopping center as my church?), it was nice to see a lot of familiar faces on opening day. The staff worked together really this past week putting the store together. But it was a very different story once the doors opened for business. Not in a bad way, we all just don’t know where everyone is at in their Starbucks journey so it’s harder to run a floor not knowing. It will just take sometime getting to know everyone’s strengths (and weakness) and a lot of patience. But thus far, we seem to have a great team that gets along well which is a great bases for everything else to fall into place.

When I got home from my long day today (which hasn’t ended yet) there was a UPS box sitting on my front door step (porch? its like a walkway, I don’t know what to call it). I figured it was for my parents but then, there it was my name! It’s always nice to get a package when you’re not expecting one. It was from my friend Laura who made me a coffee print pillow to congratulate me on my new store. Thank you Laura, it’s perfect and I love it. I halfy wanna bring it to work to put on one of the comfy chairs.

Regarding the muffins (since I know yall are on your seats waiting for this) they went over okay. Those who ate them loved them. “Best muffins ever”, was said. But apparently my coworkers are watching their girlish figures. Including the boys! The art of appreciation fine bake goods is dead. But I think the day went well just the same. The store is starting to look put together, which is great for only the first day in it.

I’m watching Gilmore Girls and the promos for the new show that comes on after it keeps playing. The actor who played Dean is in it. I don’t even know his name, its just Dean and I don’t like Dean. Boo to Dean! As soon as Gilmore Girls is over I must head to bed because it’s an earlier morning for me tomorrow. See You at the Pole (or SYATP) is tomorrow and as a Jr. Higher leader it is my duty go and support my kids. Never mind they may not speak to me when I’m there but usually I get the “I saw you at my school!” later at youth group. I thought I was a cool youth leader but every year at this event I get reminded that I am not. Oh well. After some morning coffee I will be heading back over to my new store to finish set up and having a managers meeting. Its happening, it’s really happening.

Tomorrow is my first day at my new store. When I first heard they were moving me I was sad because I enjoyed my coworkers. As time went on with the new store being talked up and how much fun opening a new store is, I started to get excited. Getting to chat and met with my new manager helped a lot too. Finishing my last day when the sanitizer wasn’t working and people calling in who always call in, I got really excited.

But today, I’m feeling a little bit of a dork.

Part of being the opening management crew we get two huge shipments in so we can stock the store product, retail, etc. We get to set it all up, where we want it to go to what feel will best suite our team. I like organizing things so to get paid to sit and label and put things away all nice and neat is a dream. And for crying out loud I’m organizing coffee! But with people I do not know very well. I want to make a good impression with them, and usually I’m quite around people I don’t know where and awkward with small talk so I have something else.

First I think of something to wear. We get to wear jeans while setting up (whoo hoo to no all black) which I had picked out along with my cute new brown with a blue line tennie shoes. Still unsure what shirt to wear with, but I want to look a certain way as we all do when we step out into the world. Its like the first day of school. You want to look good for new people for the unsaid wanting of them to like you. We all do this even now out of school, first day of work or a new church, etc. Maybe it’s just a girl thing, but I have a cute new Ann Taylor Loft shirt Id rather wear than a cute shirt. My appearance isn’t everything, this I know. So I have to have a back-up plan.

Muffins.

Jason thought it silly of me to bring pastries to them, but since we are not open we will not have pastries. And really, some homemade chocolate chip pumpkin muffins (thank you Kari ) are no comparison to Starbucks pastries. They are baking as I type this filling my house with good smells of fall. If for no other reason (but there are many) I want to move back to the south for leaving turning colors soon. I miss seasons. So I will make due with what I got and make seasonal bake goods for my scene of fall.

So hopefully with a cute casual outfit and muffins in hand tomorrow will be a day of getting to know the store and my fellow coworkers. Even still I will probably always feel like a dork.

Today was my last day at downtown Starbucks. Bittersweet really because I’ll miss the great people (mostly) that I worked with. Ease of the pain comes from getting to set-up and work in a bran spanking new store. So this next week I wont be in a green apron but in jeans getting the store ready for soft opening on Friday. I’m excited, does this make me a official coffee geek?