Oh What Fun

Aaarrrggg!!!

Well, over the weekend, our crew at work went from six to four.  That is right!  Four people to work 13 hours per day/ seven days per week.  And we are never supposed to leave the place empty.  So that means that we need people to cover for breaks.  Oh, and did I forget to mention that NONE of our supervisors know what we do? 

I have been trying to REDUCE my hours, especially with Christmas coming.  But do you think that is going to happen?  And we also have the Lead Barista who talks more than he works, even thought he would have you believe that the place would close down without him.  My response when someone asks if the Lead is working is:  "He is on the clock and in the store."

I have been trying to get out of the place, but I am usually beat by the time I get off work.  But I have been checking out the deployment page and there is something that looks good upstate!  It would be nice in that it would be close to Nick's congregation too!  I am guardedly optimistic.  And no, I am not interested in the congregation just because it is logistically optimum.  They also seem like a good place for ministry.  Our lease here is up in April, my contact with my current congregation is up in July.  Sometimes time just flies!  Seems like we just moved and that I just signed a contact.  But hopefully god has some things in store for us.  We really need some things to finally go right!

Peace to all..

You Know It Is Going To Be A Bad Day When...

Your boss tells you that the building you work in is on fire and you MAY need to evacuate.

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

My View From The Box

We Got New Frappuccino Blender Pitchers!! Look at how clear they are! If that doesn't get you all hot and bothered, then I don't know what is wrong with you!

Work has been a thrill this past week. One of my coworkers is on vacation so we are working short. This means that for the past two days I have been working the last five and a half hours of my shift alone. Now granted, it will get busy and it is hard to keep going when you are there all alone. But what is worse is spending five and a half hours with no one to talk to. And we are not supposed to be doing crosswords or sudokus. And of course, there is no place to sit down. Come on, I am over 40 and overweight, GIVE ME A CHAIR!

My View From The Box

Well, this is the box update: OCD Alien Boy has put in his two-week notice.

I have some real mixed feelings about the whole thing. Yes, I will admit that there is a part of me that is VERY happy he will be gone. Even though I tried to be a "less anxious presence" around work, having the Alien Boy there made keeping that less anxious presence very taxing.

But another part of me is kind of sad. I have actually seen some change to the positive in Mr. OCD. He actually was making conversation and not just running around cleaning. Granted he had some way to go, but don't we all?

Granted, OCD has to be tied up in perfectionism in some manner, but is there a perception problem also? We all err, but is it more difficult for a person with OCD to admit the error? (Just pondering.)

Oh well.

Sometime I will have to go into some detail about the eye candy and lack there of that can be seen from the box.

My View From The Box

I work in a Starbucks in a Meijer store.

For those of you who may not be from the Michigan area, Meijer is one of the originators of the "Super Store" concept. The chain started as a small family grocery store and has grown into a series of super stores over something like five states.

Now the Starbucks is an area about 14 feet by 14 feet. It is within this small area that we may have upwards of five people working! So when I was kvetching about the OCD Alien Boy, you can understand some of the frustration. Being in that small of an area with someone who has such high anxiety levels tends to raise the anxiety of everyone.

When you are "in the box," your view of the world does not change much. (I will post a picture when I get a chance.) We get to look out upon the green, yellow, orange, and red bell peppers. We look upon the cucumbers; both seeded and seedless. And we have a perfect view of the grapes.

Now, the grape section I find incredible. I cannot believe how many people who will just walk up to the grape section and start eating the grapes. Part of me wants to run out and hand people napkins when I see it happen. What about grapes makes people think that it is ok to eat them without paying for them? We don't rip open an orange or grapefruit without paying for it. I don't even see people eating things like cherries without paying. But grapes seem to be in a whole different league. People eat them without remorse. And not just one! People will stand there and graze!

I am sure that if you asked these same people if they thought theft was wrong, they would all agree. I am also sure that if you asked these people if they would ever shoplift, they may say that they have thought about it, but would not do it. But here they are, noshing on grapes without a single thought of who is going to have to pay for them.

It just floors me.

I am sure there will be more Views from the Box later.

EDIT: Here is my view from the box.