The Bucks

I am done working at Starbucks... aka the Bucks. =) It's so random that I even started working there... but a fun experience. Good times!! I love the people that I work with. I love the variety. The regulars are great... I will miss them...
The guys that get their venti red eyes, or venti black eyes, that come in at 5am... John, who gets a tall brewed coffee with heavy whipping cream poured in it... Doug, who gets a grande brewed coffee with hazelnut and cream... Elizabeth, the grande, 3 pump mocha frappuccino with an add shot and no whip... the "7 pump lady," who gets a venti vanilla chai - 7 pumps of each... the guy that brings his dog in the car with him every morning, and gets 2 grande 3 pump, nonfat, no whip mochas - one decaf (for his wifey)... the lady who gets an iced venti caramel macchiatto with whipped cream... the old man who orders a tall brewed coffee, wants an extra cup (a short one), and always tries to hold your hand through the drive thru - once he said he wanted to take me to dinner!... the man who tells anyone who will listen that they should fire me so that I can work for him because he likes my smile and personality - he gets a grande coffee - 2/3 decaf, 1/3 regular. Not supposed to drink caffeine, according to his doctor, but wants to drink caffeine and if anything happens, sue Starbucks!... Lisa, who gets an iced venti caramel macchiatto with extra, extra, extra caramel sauce... Patrick, who just comes in and hangs out in the lobby, and sometimes get a hot tea... the girl who gets a grande zen tea with two tea bags, and light ice - I think she looks like Cameron Diaz... the interesting guys that come in from Sunset Ford - they always have a joke between them... the two ladies who get tall upside down caramel macchiattos with whipped cream, and sometimes breakfast sandwiches... the guy who gets a tall mild with cream... the man who gets a grande americano in a personal cup with whipped cream, and a venti ice water... the man who gets a tall hot chocolate with whipped cream, and a grande coffee with 4 shots... the guy who get a quad espresso, or a grande white mocha with 4 shots (the first time he ordered that, it sounded like, "can I have a white mocha with vodka?")... the lady who comes in at lunchtime and gets an iced grande white mocha with a pump of toffee nut... the people who come through the drive and get"two identical coffees"... grande black eyes, venti cup, 2 equals, heavy cream... the guy who gets a venti sweetened iced coffee, sometimes with a cheese danish... the lady who comes through the drive early every morning and gets a venti white mocha with whipped cream... there are so many more... and then there's Lucas. That's his last name. Davida calls him Otis. I don't know why! Lucas is an amazing man... Someone I would love to sit down and have coffee with. =) He will talk your ear off! But is so positive and giving and generous. The first night that I met him, he came in and asked all of us working to write down what kind of sandwich we wanted from Subway, then went and bought for all of us! He cracks me up.

I could go on and on... Maybe I will some other time... more reminiscing soon. =) Fun memories, fun people. A great transition job for me! I will miss my Starbucks partners, for sure!!

Moving again

For the gazillionth time, I will leave Cali in 23 days. Wow. Sad. Yesterday at work, my manager was listening to the radio in our back room (before I worked there, I never realized Starbucks had a "back"... although if I'd thought for two seconds, I would have ;-) ). Anyways, Clette was listening to Power 106 (where Hip Hop lives!!!) and they were playing Tupac...

To live and die in LA... It's the place to be...

Ah yes. I love LA. Just one thing I'm not crazy about: TRAFFIC! It's insane. Yesterday Dad and I drove up to LAX to pick up Uncle Kaci, who had just flown in from Fiji and was on his way to Jamaica for cricket. On our way back, it took 30 mins or so just to get from the airport to the freeway! Usually it takes 5, depending on how you hit the lights. Then the 405 was stop and go, pretty much all the way home... even in the carpool lane.

So, I wish I were more excited about this job and this move. I am excited about the job... I'm way nervous about the training. But you'd think that if I could get teaching credentials and a Master's, I should be able to pass Flight Attendant training... right?

I'm nervous about moving. I'm so comfortable where I am. I love my family. I love being in my own house! I love my puppy dogs... they are fun to cuddle with and talk to and play with. They keep me company. =) As far as the moving goes, I'm really hoping for Denver. I know a few people there, and even have some rellies that live there... Haven't seen them in about 15 years, so it'd be good. Anyways... I know the Lord will provide, take care of me, put me where He wants me, and give me what I need as He always has... But unfortunately, I don't have peace in that. It's just head knowledge right now.

Clement called me today. Rait man!! We talked for a few minutes, and then he asked how I was doing in general... I said I was stressing. And right before I could say that was nothing new, he said, "you're always stressed!" Yeah, really need to learn how to let God handle things and stop worrying. Period.

My middle name

My middle name is Elizabeth... But it would be more accurate if it were "Stressed."

I have been back in America for almost 6 months now... At home, with my family, and definitely comfortable. Breakfasts with Dad. Shopping and the gym with Mom. Home cooked meals. Fun dogs. My own room. Low rent. Part time job. Life is good.

So why am I making a huge change? I don't know. That's the short answer.

Mom and Dad have always told me that I should be a Flight Attendant. Stewardess, as it was back then. Or there's also Air Hostess in some countries. You get the idea. Anyway, the point was free flights. Woohoo. So now, after 6 years of university, a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, California teaching credentials signed by the Governator himself (how many people have Arnold's signature??) ;-) plus 2 years teaching 1st grade in Papua New Guinea, I decided to give it a go.

Why not? I love flying. I feel so at home in airports and on planes. I love to travel. My dream is to travel the world. I like to meet people. I like to help. I like to serve. I like variety!

In comes my randomness. I decide to actually go for a couple of the cattle call airline interviews for Flight Attendant. The first one I went to was just for "practice." =) To help prepare me for the second one, later in the week. I didn't really care if I didn't get it, because I would have to move. I'm waaay too comfortable for that. Right? God has a sense of humour, for sure! Well, you guessed it - I was offered the job where I would have to move, and didn't get the one where I would have had the possibility of being based in LA. Now what?

After prayer, talking with my parents, talking with my closest friends, and seeking advice from godly men and women, I accept the job. I pick the latest possible training date, which is 5 weeks away at the time. Now it's only 3 1/2. This is happening way too fast!!! I have so many questions. So many worries. Did I make the right decision? What am I doing? Why am I moving? Will I get to see my family much? At all? Where will I live? How will I afford it? Where will I get a car? Who will I live with? Igo igo igo, as we'd say in PNG.

And so, like I said, my middle name should be changed to "Stressed." Although then, Dad and I wouldn't be REKs. And that would be sad.