Oh Howard...

Our committment to absolute excellence...

Perfect shot

Pefect Milk

Perfect cup of coffee

Leaving a lasting impression on your heart and a smile on your face

Most of you know I work part time for Starbucks. Well, last night we had a retraining meeting. It was 3 hours long and when I walked in the door I was ready to leave...although in the end it was a great meeting we have changed a lot of things at good old Starbies.

During the meeting we talked about what Starbucks has meant to people over the years. We got to hear stories and experiences from other people in our own store and corporate wide. Howard made some videos and talked to us (as in all of the United States partners) about getting back to where we started.

We have changed so many things (for the better.) As a company Starbucks has shelled out a lot of money for this "retraining" and people still think that it's Howard's new marketing scheme. He closed EVERY store for 3 hours...most of which didn't reopen after the meeting was done...and he paid ALL of the partners to be there. Think of how much money was not made from a retail standpoint. I will tell you Howard isn't thinking of anything but doing the best for the company and it's customers.

I am excited for the change and the opportunity to grow as a company. I am glad to say that I am part of some MAJOR Starbucks history. And if you notice that we are "slower" with getting you through the line be reassured that we are committing to excellence with every drink, every person, every time...we want to be the best part of your day!

Like Howard always says, "We are not in the coffee business but the people business”

Stop by your local Starbucks and make a point to get to know the baristas behind the counter...they want to get to know the real you!

This was kinda funny...

This one's for you Jess...

Blegh...

I'm sick.


The end.

Some more bad news...

I heard from a friend my friend Wendy, we met while attending classes at Highline Community College, that her mom died on Tuesday. Wendy's mom got the flu on Friday causing her to become dehydrated. That led to a heart attack in which her muscle released proteins that clogged her kidneys and liver. She was put on a ventilator and dialysis.

That sent her into a coma and they pronounced her brain dead on Tuesday morning and Wendy and her family decided to let her go peacefully on Tuesday afternoon.

Again there are mixed emotions when processing through these tragedies...it's too close to him. Again all we can do is keep these families in our prayers. Thanks for putting your prayer warrior "hats' on and bringing these families to the Lord.

Tragedy...

A few weeks ago my best friend Jaclyn got news that an old friend (who is the same age as we are) got into a horrible car accident and wasn't expected to live. Whitney (the girl that got into the accident) was the only one of the several people in the accident that was injured.

She had a broken pelvis, shattered skull, broken eyesocket, collapsed lung, damaged spleen, missing finger, glass in her face, and that is just the beginning. She was in a coma and the doctors decided to keep her there so that she would be in less pain for all the surgeries they were about to perform on her.

A few days ago she was expected to recover 100%. Things were hopeful for Whitney and her family. Until she got a staff infection. Whitney took a turn for the worse and I found out today from Jaclyn that she went home to be with Jesus.

This brings so many mixed feelings...it's too close to home and I know that their family needs prayer. That is the best thing to do in light of what we know about prayer...it's so powerful.

Holla for Jebus...

This is what I saw at Redondo on my way home...I took a few pictures while driving (it's ok I am an awesome driver and no one was harmed) and this sunset was so amazing when I got down to the boardwalk that I parked and took a picture!

Seriously God is so good...

Monday Madness...

Today was just a normal Monday. I had to watch Luke and his little friend Timmy.

Remember that Luke is barely 2 and Timmy turns two this next week...

Today's list of things I had to take care of...

*4 poopy diapers (the kind that aren't so pretty)
*1 poopy pair of undies
*1 "accident" on the carpet because we couldn't run to the "big T" fast enough
*1 load of dishes in and out of the dishwasher
*3 loads of laundry in and out of the washer and dryer (and folded while 2 little squirts kept stealing the already folded laundry and tossing it in the air as if it would fold itself back up again...at least they thought they were helping)
*1 lunch rush with 2 hungry hungry boys who seem to shovel food in their mouth when you turn your back
*2 naps for 2 boys who need 3 stories each and a song or two thrown in...
*1 real good sweeping of the kitchen
*1 trip to the grocery store (while the boss is working at home) without the crazy kidders...
*2 snacks after playing hard outside for an hour or two
*1 awesome quiet time with boys sleeping at the same time!
* 1 peaceful ride home where I can breath and not worry that someone is choking on a marble in the backseat...

A weekend to remember...

So I was supposed to go to Snoqualmie to do program for a Young Life Ski weekend but the pass was closed...talk about sad. I have been preparing for this for about the last month and I have these awesome costumes and characters and no audience. TRAGIC. So instead I will take the weekend and enjoy the time off of work. I plan on spending my time at home and with my peeps watching Dexter...

I was running...

So in the last month or so I have picked up the habit of running...I used to run every once in a while and during high school I was involved in Cross Country. Anyways now that you don't care about the activites I did in HS...I really like running. So today I decided to run my usual route from my house to Redondo and back.

I usually don't see anything crazy or blog worthy but today was TOTALLY different. So I am minding my own business when I hear something caw. It seemed to be too loud for just a bird but then over the crest of the hill I see about 6 crows perched over someone's driveway. Assuming that they all were "cawing" at the same time I ignored my prior thought that some person made that hidious noise.

Oh was I wrong...I get closer and closer and finally get over the hill and this man is ripping up some food that looked like bark and not appetizing AT ALL and was throwing it on his driveway. I am sure that I looked at him like he was from Mars...but then he started to caw at these crows that were sitting on the telephone wires above his driveway. For real? Yeah no joke it was like he was having a conversation with the birds.

I felt like at any moment Ashton Kutcher or perhaps Alfred Hitchcock were going to come around the corner and yell out, "SYKE!"

After he sensed that another human being was staring at him in disbelief he stopped and looked at me like he was a deer in headlights. I made a half smile as if to say, "Hey I won't tell anyone." Which is code for I am totally blogging this when I get home you weirdo!

I felt sorta bad for the guy but then I realized if you are going to set yourself up like that...you HAVE to be ready to take the hit for being goober...