Eight Years Ago Today

Well, I have been a clergy being for eight years now.

I was really getting bummed yesterday at work. I couldn't stop thinking, "This is not what I though I would be doing eight years ago."

Oh well, things are happening and situations are changing. So that is good.

I was going to post a picture of my ordination, but the album is packed away somewhere and I can't find it.

And why the speedo picture? Well, it is a CLERICAL SPEEDO!

Kate-Mas

Happy Birthday Kate!!

We LOVE you!!

Life 20 Minutes From Hell

Life here has been busy.

Even though I have asked not to be scheduled for 40 hours at 'Bucks, I have been scheduled for 40 hours. And even better, today and yesterday, there are/were only two people scheduled. So I get to spend the majority of my time working alone.

Nick had yesterday off but works today. He will also have Friday off (which is his BIRTHDAY!). I have to work, but plan on doing something after I get off work.

I have enjoyed being back in the pulpit. Even though I moan about having to write a sermon every Sunday, I enjoy doing what I have been trained to do.

Thanks for the comments on the stained glass. I don't think I was trolling for compliments, but I wouldn't rule it out. As I look at it more and more, I am becoming more pleased with it.

Well, that is all for now. Probably more later. But, I need to get ready for more coffee pouring.

Sometimes Things Don't Come Out As Expected

Well, the DaVinci chick is done. I am not as happy with it as I had hoped. I think the lines look kind of clunky. Maybe, like Nick says, I am just being too picky. That could be true. Oh well, she is done and sitting in the window. Dimensions are approx. 12" x 17"

We Can All Do Incredible Things!

If you want to see what I will be preaching tomorrow, here it is!

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

Over at Queer Click (NSFW) they ask a very provocative questions; What does Batman wear under that Bat Armor? Boggles the mind, huh?

My guess? Those who have read my posts for a while should know:

BAT SPEEDOS!!

Five Months

Happy Christmas in July!


I hope you find everything you want in that Speedo your stocking!

Something Else

Nick told me that I needed to post something on my blog because the picture of the babycake was just too disgusting. I needed to put something up so that the baby would not be the first thing someone saw when they came to my blog.

I was informed that Operation House Blend went off without a hitch. This was where we had made some EXTREMELY strong iced coffee for the Iced Coffee Idiot. We figured since he usually wanted three free cups of iced coffee, we would make the iced coffee triple strength. Needless to say, it was disgusting.

He came up, asked for two cups of coffee and the barista made them the way he usually wanted them. She handed them to him and wished him a good day. He went off with an air of superiority about him. I just wish I could have seen his face when he decided to take a drink!

Oh well, just doing nothing today. Well, that is a lie. We went to the Dr. to get my perscription for "happy drugs" refilled and Nick had some things to discuss with the doc. We then went to get the drugs and to get some black backed tape for the DaVinci Chick. Now I can get almost all of it taped. There are a few pieces that need to be reground so they fit. I also had a bit of a scare when I had a piece of glass left over and no place for it to go. But a little arranging and it now fits.

I think Nick and I might go to the Dark Knight. I have heard it is quite good.

Why the picture of the guy in the Speedo? Why not??

This Is Too Creepy

Saw this over at Joe.My.God and Cake Wrecks. This is just too creepy. Yes, this is a cake. Yes, you are supposed to eat it. Yes, you will need years of therapy afterward. Beware Ur-Spo, here they come!

Here is how it was made.

Ow!

Thanks to Failblog

Sometimes you just need to tell people things. Why would someone want to insert these into their penis anyway?

Weekend Things

This is the current state of the piece of glass I am making. I lovingly call her "DeVinci Chic." This is where the whole thing gets fun. The cutting and the grinding is done. Now the taping and soldering. It is at this point that the piece comes alive. I am very excited.

Church went well. I liked this sermon. You can read it here. The new congregation seems nice and I am excited about it all. I just wish I could be there more. Oh well, maybe with time and God willing.

Work is frustrating because we never get any straight answers. As I have stated before, it looks like they will be putting me in the butcher shop part of the store. Maybe it will be enough impetus to become a vegetarian.

Nick is again working a day from hell. He worked the same schedule last Sunday and it just has to be hard. Leaving the house at 8 am and getting home at 11:30 pm is not a good thing. I worry about him.

I got a phone call from my sister before church this morning. It seems my former BIL died yesterday. They had been divorced for over 10 years, but it still is a bit of a shock. He had HIV and we are assuming that is what got him. I agree with my sister, I just hope he didn't have to die alone. Even though I was not his biggest fan, no one should have to die alone.

I guess that is all for now. Hope you are all having a good weekend and spending time with the ones you love.

Developments at 'Bucks

Things have been interesting inside the box lately. Seems the store is undergoing some remodels. As part of the remodel, the deli/Starbucks area is going to be changed. Also, as part of the remodel, the store is not going to renew its Starbucks license. So as of Aug. 19th, I will no longer be a Starbucks employee. (Darn! I really like my SBK's Speedos pic.)

What is worse, the new coffee shop in the store will not open until October. So there will be about two months where we will be doing "other things." These other things consist of working in the deli or in the butcher shop. I know me, and if I am working in either of these places, there will be blood. No, not mine, not even from the poor cow that gave its life for that steak; no, from the customers who only want "just a taste" of the cheese, or "that lobster over there."

Also, and I am sorry to say this, but the folks in the deli are not the brightest bulbs in the pack. (Nick will back me up on this one!)

We have heard this information, not from our supervisors, but from one of the workers from the other end of the store (which happens to be nearly a football field in length). We finally nailed the bosses feet to the floor and he grudgingly admitted that the rumor is true. Now, why didn't we hear it first? AAaaaarrrrrggggg....

We have plans for the Iced Coffee Idiot! He came back again and flaunted the fact that he knew our managers would back down. He said, when challenged about getting more than one free iced coffee, "Do I have to call the manager over here, AGAIN?" Now it has become personal for all of us in the box. We will do nothing illegal or dangerous, but we do have some of the worst iced coffee ever made just waiting for him!

So, I am again looking for another job. Some of us were not designed to work in sales! Especially sales of salads and t-bones.

Oh, I also decided that if I get a job in someplace other than the store, I would write the former neighbor little note telling him it is ok for him to come back into the store now. (yes, I know, I am totally passive-aggressive

Debt Counselor Take 2

Well, I went to the counselor and it wasn't too bad. She was very nice and she helped me put together a program that I could get my bills paid and have some money left over.

I was happy that the counselor didn't try to make me feel guilty or anything. She was very nice. So I guess I will give this a try and see if we can get the calls to stop.

Debt Counselor

I am going to see a debt counselor tomorrow. I am a bit apprehensive about the whole situation. I know I should not be. I know they are going to try to work with me. But still, I have this image of the counselor just looking at me and saying, "You are a bad boy."

The swirl of emotion surrounding this whole thing is just incredible. I feel shame, guilt, and anger. This is a situation in which I never thought I would find myself. I was of the generation that was lead to believe that all you had to do was go to college and you would end up, if not rich, at least comfortable.

Now, here I sit with two Masters Degrees and the only thing I can brag about is some people wait for me to be at work to get their Caramel Macchiato 'cause they say I make the best. I guess that is something to be excited about, but I didn't spend over $30,000 for that honor.

And I am angry because a large chunk of the situation I am in has to do with my being gay and the world's stupidity about being gay. I am not going to rehash it 'cause if you have read any of my posts, you know most of the story.

So, hopefully, I will find a way to get things paid off and get the creditors to stop calling me. I sure hope it all goes well.

15 Meme

I saw this over at Tigeryogiji. And even though I wasn't tagged, I thought it would be fun.

What did you want to be when you ‘grew up?’

At first I wanted to be a TV Repairman! I guess I was planning on all of those "encounters" we so often hear about in "literature." Then I wanted to be a doctor and then a psychologist. No, I never aspired to be a Starbucks Barista.

What are you now?

I am a clergy person in the Episcopal Church and a barista.

What fictional character did you identify with as a child?

Garfield, but before that, Charlie Brown.

How about now?

Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle

What is your ‘Gay Pride’ Song?

I Will Survive!

What is your drag song (we ALL have one)?

SOS by ABBA.

Earliest memory?

I can remember fighting with my sister in the crib at my grandma's house.

Memory you’d like to forget?

The time when I was about 14 and my sister and her friend came downstaris and found me "pleasuring" myself.

If you ran for a seat in political office, what would be your platform(s)?

I pretty much believe in the Libertarian view that government should stay out of our lives.

Winehouse. Want her to succeed or are you over her?

I want her to succeed. I like her songs and her style.

The first person you thought you loved?

A guy from high school named Bill. He was a swimmer and a weight lifter. Not much of a face but he had a beautiful body.

The first person you actually loved?

My internship supervisor. I wouldn't have called it that at the time, but that was what it was. Just to be near him made me happy. It took months to get over being back at school.

The person you love now?

Nick, of course!

If you could be, do, have, own, or possess anything you wanted, what would it be?

I would love to have an original Frank Lloyd Wright house and the money needed to keep it up to the proper specifications.

Even if you are in love with someone right now, who are you/could be crushing on right now?

My usual answer is Nick Beyler. But there are many beautiful people out there.

Well, that's it. If you want to do it, go for it. If not, then don't.

For Nick

(Thanks LoL)

Wonder of Wonders

I got an apology from The Coffee Asshole! He came in yesterday and it was the first time since the incident that I had to wait on him. He apologized, he said he was rushed and in the wrong.

I don't know if he was just doing that to get an extra shot or not but I am going to accept that the apology was genuine.

Otherwise, Nick is still gone. It seems weird here without him. I lived alone at the house for a while, so being there alone wasn't too bad. But here, Nick has always been a presence and to have him gone leaves a whole.

He said his first day of work went well, and he has gotten his schedule for the rest of the week. Lots of computer based training for Ol' Nick!

So, it's just me and the critters.

Hope you are all having a great day!

P.S. I just really like the picture of the guy in the white speedos, thats I why I have kept it as my Starbucks picture.

Would Be Funnier If It Weren't True

Weekend Recap

Well, gosh, let's see...

Between making coffee for folks and writing a sermon for this Sunday, Nick and I found a little time to just enjoy being in the great outdoors. The weather has been really great here lately.

Today, Nick went off to his church and I went off to mine. I got to the church and then had to wait until almost twenty after nine for someone to get to the church and open the door. That wouldn't be too bad except for the fact that services are supposed to start at 9:30!

Then I left my check at the church. Ah, duh...

This afternoon, Nick and I went to the park and just went for a leisurely walk in the sun. It was nice.

Nick will be caring for his Mother over the next few days, so I will be alone with the animals. I'm going to miss him but he needs to do this. His sister has been caring for his Mother for almost a year and they want to take a vacation. So Nick is being the dutiful son and going to help.

Not much else.

Happy 4th of July!

Hope you all have a great 4th of July!

Unfortunately, I will be doing the coffee thing. (Kind of looks like fireworks on the sleeve, huh?)

Here is a bit of something to light your roman candle!

(Thanks to lolcats)

Great Post at Sarcastic Lutheran

Nadia at Sarcastic Lutheran has posted a great analysis of how we approach the world and how this approach affects how we see the world.

It reminded me of a comment a director made to me once, he said, "Ben, the character does not think of himself as evil. You think the character is evil and it shows. The motivation of the character is that he thinks he is doing what is right and good."

Unfortunately, we do not give our "enemies" the courtesy of attributing their actions to the best possible explanation. We assume they are doing things because they are bad and evil. We, of course, do things because we are good and committed. When they do something "stupid" it is because they are, indeed, stupid. When we do something "stupid" we are either under pressure, or overwhelmed, or (insert situation here). If we could all learn to be as gracious to others as we want them to be to us, maybe life would just be a little smoother.