lasts

Today was my last Starbucks shift; in fact, I just returned home and am just about to throw away my nasty milk and mocha covered shoes. It was a bit sad to go. While I'm very excited to be on my way to Antarctica again this year, I will miss my new friends at the coffee shop and my free on-the-job beverages (mostly the cinnamon dolce latte). I highly recommend Starbucks as an employer and continue to be impressed by their social and environmental integrity. Yes, the coffee prices are a bit high, but they invest in a lot of people along the way. I'm finished working for the company this summer, but I hope to return again sometime! Thanks to Jeremy for giving me a shot at the barista job for a short summer job.

As of tomorrow, I will also enjoy my last week here, in Washington. I have a week to get my life packed up in boxes, finish last minute projects, pore over my suitcase contents, and catch a few friends for last minute social engagements.

Finally, this is the last posting under "the summer tour towards the rest of my life." Don't worry, I'll still be posting my blog here, at this very same address. When you return, you find a new look and new content celebrating my fourth summer in a row!

10 things i learned this summer

Based on my friend, Emily's great (and creative) list, I have endeavored to list 10 things I've learned this summer. So, in no particular order:

1. Patience. Not something ever completely achieved, but something worth attempting to acquire.

2. Coffee. Who knew it could be so much fun?

3. People: Some are not forthcoming, thinking it will help you; others are entirely honest, thinking it will hurt you. Some take advantage, some give generously, some teach you, some learn from you, some stick close, others come and go. Everyone serves a deliberate God-given purpose on this earth and is important to me.

4. I can think of something creative to do with at least 10% of my paper trash (cards, cups, boxes, designs, magazines, unusual packing material). More often than not, I need to remember that it's trash.

5. There are certain places and people who make me feel at "home" no matter how long it's been or how far across the globe I've traveled.

6. I love being in Western Washington.

7. Where I am is exactly where God wants me to be.

8. I want to explode out of my own odd-shaped box; not conform to the even dimensions made by other people's assumptions, popular-culture, or general opinion.

9. I often try to avoid talking about Antarctica; but I often use it as a stalling tool if I screw up some one's drink at Starbucks!

10. I am usually a better talker than listener. I'd rather be a better listener than talker.

foggy morning

This morning, I woke up and read a friend's posting on the wet weather in Chicago. I was wishing we had an overcast day opened my window to find that, indeed, there was low fog over the hill next door. There is something quite cozy about being inside on such a day.

So, I started my coffee press with some Sumatra coffee and grabbed my blueberry scone. Coffee, like wine, is best paired with the right foods. I was a bit of a skeptic until I started tasting the different flavors and sampling some foods as well. Sumatra, a typically very bold, earthy coffee, becomes a little spicy after the blueberry scone. If you frequent Starbucks, or have a bit of time, ask the barista about the coffees brewing and what foods they would recommend with each. Try the coffee with a clean pallet and then see how the flavor changes. If you want to experience the difference between a coffees, ask for a sample of the coffees being brewed (usually one is bold and one is milder). That's the extent of my coffee drivel for the day.

sweet tooth splurge

Lest you think, with all the fresh food that I don't splurge a bit, I have to tell you that I had not one, but two triple venti non-fat cinnamon dolce lattes this morning to get me going on my 4:30am shift. I have actually had so many cinnamon dolce lattes on my breaks at work while I'm reading, Endurance (a highly recommended read about Shackleton's misadventures in Antarctica) that I think about his crew when I have the drink. I also think about the drink when I read the book. It's amazing how the mind makes associations like that!

Regarding the book, I have to say, I can only read it during the day. Being stuck in Antarctica (no matter how harrowing or mundane the escape) is no laughing matter. The huts, as incredible as they are to visit on The Ice, give me the creeps a bit when I smell the seal blubber on the floor and see how many rations and beds, and such were just abandoned by people (some of whom perished on their journeys from these abodes).

Besides my Starbucks sweets, I figure with all the upcoming dental work, I can't be doing much more damage! I'm also indulging in two amazing snacks that stray from my typically healthy diet this week: Reese's Pieces and the always tasty Nilla Wafers with Rainbow Chip frosting! They were starring me down in the grocery isle.

Laura, if you are having food-fantasies at the South Pole, I'd be more than happy to bring any tempting snack with me for you on your return to McMurdo this fall (with some of those fresh peppers if I can find them in Christchurch).

happy fourth

I wasn't going to write anything in honor of Independence Day. It was really quite a monotonous laundry and work day. Starbucks generously pays us a bit extra for the holiday and my manager generously put my name on the schedule for a full 8 hour shift today. My feet are sore, I'm tired, and I'm working again at 7am, but customers were happy for a holiday.

On my way home from work, I was reminded of what a big deal personal home fireworks are in Washington State. I'm not talking about the cheap sparkler, pop-its, and such you pick up at the department or grocery store; I'm talking the "good" stuff you can get off the reservations. These fireworks include Roman Candles, Cherry Bombs, and Coconut Bombs, and are illegal off the reservation land. I'm not entirely sure how this ever became such an oversight by law enforcement, but the 4th of July seems to be a day in the year where the police turn a blind eye to heaps of fireworks exiting the reservations to be blown off for the holiday.

One woman came into the store today to say, "It's really sad. My husband just purchased $200 in fireworks." I kidded that she countered that with her coffee purchase. Cheap joke about our overpriced coffee, I know.

I remember being an overly concerned 12 year old driving with dad out to the reservation to pick up some explosives one year. I was even allowed to purchase of few of my own choice while dad brought back some big ones. We snuck the goods under some blankets in the back of our Volvo wagon, but there was really no reason to do so. It wasn't until I got to college that I really paid attention to the professional shows!

They sky was quite well lit when I drove home at 9:45pm, and I can hear more going off right now. So many fireworks were let off that in my 4 mile drive to the apartment with the windows open, I smelled sulfur the entire way. The weather was perfect for the holiday; 85F and sunny!

great day!

Today was a great day. It was perfect timing after my bad Thursday when I went to the dentist and found out there is a little (I mean a lot) of work to be done to my pearly whites.

I accomplished a few organizational tasks in the morning, talked to my parents for a bit, and called Phil for his birthday (Happy Birthday, again, Phil).

Then I remembered that there was a volunteer opportunity for Starbucks employees to help out with a salmon luncheon and dinner, so when the sun peaked through the clouds, I hustled on my bike down to Boundary Bay to assist in some setup and such for the luncheon. The organization, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), raises funds for salmon restoration, kids programs, and planing trees once a year at this event. I thought it was mildly ironic that an organization which tries to restore salmon to streams and rivers served up their prized fish for their fundraiser, but they do also promote healthy fishing practices.

After helping out for a couple hours, I ran up to the Farmer's Market for a bit, enjoyed 1/2 my bag of kettle corn, and then ran home for a break and to catch up on a few things.

I returned later in the afternoon and volunteered again to serve salmon for the big dinner. Not only did they sell out of tickets, but they kept selling dinners at a discount since we were running out of the side dishes. It was a record turnout. I spent such a fun evening with a few other Starbucks employees, serving up pasta salad, fresh (real fresh) White King Salmon Steaks, and super fresh strawberry/raspberry cobbler for dessert.

Perhaps the best part of the evening that each volunteer was allowed to indulge in the dinner as well. Amazing! Nothing quite so good as fresh food outdoors in the sun!

strawberries

Today I went to work at 4:30am. I had a horrible night of sleep, and finished my 5 hour shift incredibly sleepy. However, every customer who came in was in chipper spirits because, after a week long stretch of gray days, the sun popped out today! It's amazing weather outside.

So, rather than just quickly crawling under the covers for a morning of sleep, I drove up to Lynden, took in the mountains all the way, and stopped at the Bjornstad U-Pick Strawberry field on the Pole Road.

The novelty of picking strawberries as an adult is much more poignant than when mom dragged, us, four kids, out on a hot morning to "help" her. I picked three pounds for $1.10/lb. It doesn't get much better than that!

Hearing the gentle pop when I picked the perfect ripe ones off the plant was music to my ears. Although my hands are a slightly pinker hue, tossing a few berries in my mouth on the car ride home made it all worthwhile! There's something so refreshing about tasting the fruits of my labors--even if the strawberries were still a little dusty. It's part of the fun!

quirky collectables

I have a few strange collections that have been uncovered while unpacking my personal possessions. My favorite right now is my Starbucks City Mug collection. I can't wait to have a big group of people over someday for coffee and tea (when I'm all settled in a place of my own). In the meantime, every time I use one of these mugs it makes me think of memories and people associated with city or country represented: Chicago (of course), Melbourne (I really wanted Sydney, but they were sold out), Waikiki (they don't make Honolulu), San Diego (dear thoughtful, Jen, brought it back for me after a vacation to California), London (my newest addition, sent by my friend, Raki, when he was on business there), Austin (for my short time living in Texas), Christchurch (the only one that really doesn't match; may have to replace it this fall), Denver (been there), Seattle (gotta have the original city)!

I've also discovered an eclectic array of knick-knacks that I haven't quite been able to disassociate from myself. So, they sit hidden in drawers, prominently in my car, or on my desk. A few of the accessible ones are in the photo. For the record, I really do love pavlova; no, that is not a real diamond; and Dave gave me the devil duck because my dad is a pastor; Sponge-Bob, I can attribute to Laura (thanks a lot, I'm stuck with a plastic sea sponge).

There are plenty of other important pieces I carry around to decorate with like my Delft Dutch Heirloom stuff that I hope to one day integrate into a little blue and white tea room with lots of windows.

I also have a spoon collection. Ok, ok, I know this sounds like something my grandma should collect (and she did), but I just started one day and haven't really stopped. Uncle Laurie fabricated the racks to display them on and I just pick them up from each place I visit (although, my mug collection is becoming a bit more of a priority to me).

And then, my stash of meaningful or important letters. Oh! And I carry around the lowest common bill from each country I've visited in my purse, too.

Of course, this summer, my collections are mostly packed away in boxes since I don't have my own place and space to show them off or tuck them into drawers and corners. I don't mind storing them for later; they have become a little hi-story in themselves about me, where I've been, as well as, who and what is important to me.

goodbye spring!

For my last day of spring, I enjoyed a day off from work. In the morning, I tried out my brand new coffee press (I get a very nice discount at Starbucks, you know) and later, couldn't resist pulling out my old Krups Espresso machine to whip up a mocha! I highly recommend this brand of coffee appliance. It's been 10 years since I made this purchase and it is still turning out great hot beverages!

Last weekend, I moved into an apartment I'll be sharing with Emily (a recent college grad) for the summer. I have spent the last few days trying to unpack, reorganize, and then repack boxes I won't need this summer; a tedious, but necessary task.

I had called up some friends earlier in the week, and so Aaron and Elise, with little Eva, who invited me out to Birch Bay for a cookout on the beach in the evening. I enjoyed meeting some new people and getting to know Aaron and Elise better, too.

The weather couldn't have been lovelier and even on the water, the temperatures stayed pretty warm most of the evening. There's something heartwarming about roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire near dusk on a beach; watching the tide slowly ebb up the shore.

the 2% transition

To those of you who want to make sure it's official, I received two of my very own green aprons this week and awkwardly took a picture of myself for proof! Now, if you think this is something to aspire to in the Starbucks retail community, let me tell you, there is something even better; there's a black apron for the true coffee connoisseur! I certainly won't be up for one of those in my short summer stint.

I consider myself about 2% transitioned into the job. The Starbucks store is also in a 2% transition. Instead of preparing beverages with a whole milk default, by the end of the year the default milk on a drink will be 2% milk. I actually found out this tidbit of information from a customer who brought it to our attention.

Now instead of indulging in the creamy extra fat, free of verbally labeling myself as a gluttonous latte slurping coffee snob, I'll have to actually announce my unhealthy intentions when ordering my beverage of choice; "a grande WHOLE MILK cinnamon dolce latte, please." Actually, I think the change is good in our overly-obese society; most of whom are probably totally unaware that Starbucks has been serving up their drinks with whole milk all along. And, for the record, I typically order a 1/2 non-fat (aka. 2%) drink.

a highly caffeinated summer

My first four shifts at Starbucks passed with a large volume of information and coffee calories digested in a short amount of time. I think I'll like the job. My location is in a Haggen's Grocery Store, so we get a good number of shoppers as well as "regulars" who frequent the location. The people who I work with and have met at my store location are very kind and forgiving when it comes to asking numerous questions and messing up orders on the cash register. One other woman is training with me, so we can feel confused by the information-overload together.

My first two four hour training shifts were an orientation to the company and its' values and a few procedures. I enjoyed the first two hours of our first shift because we got to sit outside on a gorgeous day! On day two, I also learned how to make cold drinks. We spent a couple hours messing around with the frappuccino machines and letting unknowing customers and employees of the grocery store try our initial concoctions. No one has reported an illness yet.

The second two shifts, I received lots of experience on the register. I am assured by my co-workers that my brain can, indeed, conquer the peculiar coffee language and ridiculously complicated orders that people shout out to me. It sure is fun to watch them whip around the store preparing drinks, but I've got a long way to go before I'll be 1/2 as talented as they as a barista!

But, when it's all said and done, I am learning some new skills, in an industry and company I'm interested in, and I get free drinks while I'm working (who knew?), as well as a pound of coffee a week (stockpile for Antarctica), and a store discount. And, all I was out for was a little extra cash for the summer!

Of course, at the end of the day, I come home smelling like coffee.

my last day off

Tomorrow I start my new job as barista at Starbucks. I am looking forward to meeting some new people, whether it is new co-workers, or regulars coming in for their caffeine fix. But, first, I had one gorgeous Northwest Washington day to take advantage of.

This morning I had half an idea of heading out to Lummi Island for something a bit different. After lunch, in celebration of the cheerful, sunny, and warm weather, Uncle Jerry and I took a bike ride on Lummi Island. The entire trip took about 3 1/2 hours and cost $2 each for a round trip ferry ride. We drove to the ferry dock at Gooseberry Point, rode our bikes on, and then road around the island for an hour before catching the ferry back to the mainland.

It doesn't get much better than this. The temperature was just over 70F, with just a slight breeze, and a nice view of the surrounding islands, ocean, and mountains. We saw the mountains in British Columbia, Mount Baker & the Three Sisters, lots of Islands in the Pacific Ocean, a pair of deer, and a couple bald eagles. Oh, and we also exerted plenty of energy biking around the north side of the island!

enjoyment of employment

This summer I hope to mix employment with enjoyment. Goodbye long lazy days (not that they were particularly long, or lazy) and hello to steaming, frothing, brewing, pouring, pressing, shaking, blending, grinding, serving, and all the other -ing's that pertain to a coffee shop. I nailed down a summer job. Can you guess who my new employer is?Strangely enough, I happened to run across the original store at Pikes Place Market today on my trip to Seattle.