Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corn and Syrup!

Happy Thanksgiving WordPress! 

I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was a special one.  Today was a fairly drama free zone if you don’t count the last 30 minutes with my husband…

Today started like any typical day for us.  Kevin woke up early and went for his usual run (he’s in way better shape than I am right now).  I, of course, stayed in bed for another couple of hours until he came in and started bugging me to get up.  That is a pretty usual thing for us.  After watching a little bit of the parade (shout out to the Ocean Spray commercial guys sitting on the float this year!  It’s the little things…) Kevin and I were on our way over the river and through the woods (literally) to grandmother’s house we go!  My grandma only had on one leg of her crazy pants today so she was pretty pleasant and my aunt fine to be around. 

My older brother is now “in a relationship” (gasp!).  Yeah…  It’s even Facebook official so you know it’s legit.  I haven’t met her yet but I do know she is a high school Spanish teacher and that’s pretty cool.  Way to go Sam-bo!  My dad asked my brother if she has taught him any Spanish and Sam’s reply was, “No, but she speaks dirty to me in Spanish and that’s pretty hot.”  Too.  Much.  Information.  It was nice to hang out with my family today.  We always have a good time when we’re not trying to rip each others throats out. 

After the Thanksgiving with my family, we met Kevin’s sister at our apartment to aid us in taking our Christmas card photo.  We needed help because we wanted my cat Victoria to be in the picture.  To help you better understand my cat, let me paint a picture for you.  She’s very petite, hates to be held or picked up, only has back claws and knows how to uses them, hates to be dressed up (let’s be honest, doesn’t every animal), and finally she hates strangers.  So what were we going to do with her today?  We picked her up and held her on the couch, with a santa hat and scarf on, and we had Kevin’s sister, A.K.A. Stranger Danger, take the picture for us.  Even though it took less than five minutes to get the shot we wanted, Victoria probably lost a pound of hair and immediately hid under our bed probably for about an hour after we left.

Once the photo was done, we drove over to Kevin’s dad’s to have Thanksgiving with his dad and two of his siblings.  It was a fabulous time with great food and family.  After dinner and dessert, we all settled down in the family room and watched the movie Elf together.  That movie, and The Santa Clause always puts me in the Christmas spirit.  Tonight, Kevin will be heading out among the millions of housewives to do our Black Friday Christmas shopping.  Having little money but still wanting to do gifts for the people we love, we found that the only way to do it was to brave the cold and the bitchy women and do it in the middle of the night.  I would be joining Kevin but I am working 9 hours tomorrow.  I work 4 hours at my normal store and then I am traveling to one of the local malls to work at the Starbucks there to pick up a few hours.  Working at a mall on Black Friday… I must be crazy!

Thanksgiving = Food and Family Feuds

The Starbucks I work at is located in the Arena District of Columbus.  While walking to work from the bus stop, I had this feeling that work would be really slow today just because the Arena District seemed really dead.  Sure enough, work was cake.  There was no afternoon rush and we probably saw our last customer sometime around 6:00 P.M.  More than likely, our usual customers left for home early because tomorrow is Thanksgiving. 

Tomorrow, my husband and I will join my family along with my grandma and aunt on my mom’s side.  Usually we share Thanksgiving with my aunt’s family but her husband (who I would hardly call my uncle) and my cousins went to Georgia to visit their other family.  I’m pretty thankful to not see my cousins for this holiday season for a few reasons.  My female cousin and I do not get along.  I find my cousin to be extremely immature, spoiled and angry at the world for no reason what so ever.  She tends to post whatever comes to mind on Facebook including thousands (I am not exaggerating about the number) of photos she has taken of herself.  Part of me wants to think she takes all these photos of herself because she has self-esteem issues.  The other side of me wants to think she is a self-indulgent little slut.  It doesn’t help that my aunt and uncle basically let her run wild and do as she pleases.  My other cousin is pretty awesome, just a little on the quiet side.  He just has a bit of a shy streak to him.

My dislike for my cousin has gone on for years.  For the longest time, since she was about 11, she would come to family functions, sit in the back room, and literally not talk to anyone the entire time.  She did this for about 5 or 6 years.  It was extremely awkward.  Then, when she was about 17 or 18, she started to open back up and become friendly again, joking and laughing with everyone at the holiday dinner table.  She and I would even Facebook message each other when she went off to college.  It all suddenly changed when she posted on Facebook that she was writing a paper about animal abuse and how horrible “factory farms” were.  Being an animal science major, I commented on her post, basically saying, “hey, technically they are called CAFO’s or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and if you need help finding sources for your paper, I can help you out.  Not all CAFO’s are abusive, ect.”  She took extreme offense to what I said and basically ripped me a new asshole over Facebook.  Well then I proceeded to unload on her and told her that if she wanted to continue to spread ignorance over Facebook, then be my guest because it never stopped her in the past!  We haven’t spoken since that incident.

  My uncle never comes to our family functions.  He is a doctor and always has the excuse that he is on call.  Really?  Every single holiday you are on call?  I find that hard to believe, especially when he was able to fly to Georgia for Thanksgiving this year.  Plus, my father-in-law is a doctor and even when he is on call, he is able to go to family functions.  He may just need to step out from time to time to take a phone call.  They are both geriatric specialists so their jobs are very similar.  My uncle (and aunt for that matter) is just blowing smoke up our skirts when he tells us he can’t come because he’s “on call.” 

I guess I’m still bitter toward this side of my family because of our wedding.  We had just finished up taking photos outside the reception hall and the wedding party was about to make our entrance into the reception when my aunt, uncle and cousins came out the door.  My aunt came up to me and said, “hey, I’m sorry but we have to get going, Bill’s on call and Kristen needs to get back to school.”  All I could say was, “oh, yeah ok, thanks for coming.”  I was so taken off guard that my own family (which is very small to begin with) would leave the reception of our wedding before food was even served!  To make matters worse, it cost my husband and I about $18 per person for the food, not counting the cake which was probably another $2.25 per person.  So in total, we paid about $81 for my aunt, uncle and cousins to eat at our reception only they left early and that food was thrown out due to the restrictions of the catering company.

And to make matters worse, the reason why my lovely cousin had to get back to school was to go to a Halloween party.  Pictures were posted on Facebook the very next day.  I was not the only one who was furious.  My husband was furious because he could not believe that family would leave a reception before the wedding party even made it to the hall.  My mom was also very upset and to this day, she and my grandma still hold a bit of a grudge towards my aunt for letting my cousin and uncle pull that kind of stunt.  Even though I am bitter, I hold my tongue for my mom’s sake.  She and my aunt have had a fairly turbulent relationship over the years.  I remember a very brutal argument between them on either a Thanksgiving or Christmas and my mom is all about keeping the peace, especially now that my grandma is getting older. 

It’s just hard to be thankful for family when it seems like the family only gets together because of a technicality.  That technicality being blood.  I look at my mom and aunt and I see how different they are.  If they were strangers, they would never be friends.  The same goes with my cousin and I.  We could not be any more different.  I was taught to respect adults and be pleasant.  She has a sharp tongue and a bad attitude. 

For this Thanksgiving, I’m only thankful for a few things.  My loving husband, parents, brothers, grandma, cat, a roof over our heads, warm food to nourish our bodies, and the fact that a few states separates me from my cousin and uncle.  Karma may bite me in the butt for that one.

A “Good” Experience(?)

Today is my day off from work so of course, I’m running around doing chores and errands.  The apartment building we live only has one washer and dryer for 24 apartments…  And they are coin operated…  Thankfully, I have a fabulous father-in-law who lives just a couple of minutes down the road.  He is always willing to lend his washer and dryer to the cause.  The cause being saving us about $10 a week doing laundry.  Plus, there is never a wait or strangers putting their hands on your clean clothes.  True story.

Since today is a fairly uneventful day, I wanted to openly discuss my time at my previous employment.  I worked for a national pure-bred dairy cattle organization as a development intern.  I started employment with the organization at the end of August in 2010.  As the development intern, I was given many writing assignments that were ultimately published in the monthly publication for the organization.  One of my pieces was actually featured on the front cover of the October issue.  I also worked on a lot of events held for the youth members of the organization.  My supervisor, although a bit backwards and not very approachable, was an amazing mentor to me.  She taught me a great deal about editing my work and portraying my voice in all my pieces.  I also developed lasting relationships with some of my co-workers.  Since I was so close to graduation, I started picturing myself continuing employment with this organization. 

When I had been at the organization for a couple of months, a new position became available.  My supervisor hinted to me that I should apply for the position.  My supervisor was basically second in command at the organization so for her to urge me to apply for the position put me in a positive mindset that I had a fighting chance to be hired.  About a month later, I still had not heard either way if I was being considered for the position.  The CEO had acknowledged that he received my application so I knew it wasn’t something stupid like my application was lost in the mail.  It’s sometime in December when the first punch in the gut took place.

We were having the annual Christmas party.  It was a white elephant gift exchange so everyone, including myself, was having a great time.  The CEO stood up and was talking to the group, telling everyone how happy he was with everyone’s hard work.  Keep in mind, I have still not heard ANYTHING about the position I had applied for.  The CEO then proceeds to say, “as you all know, we have a new position open for our west coast consultant.  After much consideration, I have offered the position to…”  At this point, my heart has stopped beating and a million questions are racing through my head.  “…Katie Racer.”  He then proceeds to go on and on about how she will be a great fit for that position because she’s from the west coast and knows all the customers our there through her father, yada yada yada.  Now, my heart has dropped and I’m trying not to look like a wounded dog sitting in front of everyone.  I had not even received a letter saying that the organization decided to go a different route.  I found out at the Christmas party. 

After suffering through the rest of the Christmas party, trying not to cry, we head back downstairs to work.  I’m in my supervisor’s office and she said to me, “I’m so sorry about that up there.  You should not have been informed about the position like that.”  Yeah, I shouldn’t have.  I was absolutely crushed about not getting the job, then to find out about not getting the job like that was just horrid.  It took me a couple of weeks to get over that heartache.  I definitely cried in the car on the way home that day.  I’m sure I got plenty of looks on the drive home.

Unfortunately, this was not the only blow I took while working for this organization.  At one point, there were three position open in the organization.  One was a managerial position and I knew I would not be considered.  The other two I definitely felt like I had a fighting chance.  I sent in applications for both.  After not hearing anything for a couple of weeks, I sought advice from some of my co-workers.  One told me that I needed to go talk to the CEO and show him that I wanted to continue to work for this organization.  She knew him pretty well and said that he would respect me for coming to him.  So I requested to meet with him one morning.  He didn’t actually get around to speaking with me until 6:00 P.M., a whole 30 minutes after I was supposed to leave but I was happy to stay and meet with him, at the time.  I was extremely nervous but I went in and told him that I really wanted to work for the organization.  All I got out of meeting with him was that he respected me for meeting with him.  That was about it. 

A few weeks later, I found a letter on my desk after my lunch break saying that the organization thanked me for my interested in the two positions but they went with other candidates.  It was another slap in the face, to leave my rejection letter on my desk.  I guess they were trying to save on postage.  Never once was I ever even considered to do a formal interview.  I felt extremely judged by the CEO.  I did not grow up with dairy cattle.  I grew up on a “hobby farm” where we just had 4-H projects and horses.  However, since I started college, dairy science was my passion.  I just felt that because I did not grow up in the dairy world, there would be no way for me to break through and get a position. 

This was not the final blow I received during my year with this organization.  Before the end of the school year, my supervisor had told me on numerous occasions that I could work full-time during the summer until I found a new career.  At the beginning of the summer, my supervisor’s attitude changed toward me.  Part of me wanted to think that she was just stressed because we did have a big event happening about a week or two into the summer.  However, deep down, I knew something was wrong.  I just didn’t know what it was. 

Finally, about three weeks into the summer, my supervisor told me that she needed to talk to me at the end of the day.  I went into her office and she started the conversation by saying, “Stephanie, I really don’t want to have this conversation.”  All I could think of was, “and I don’t think I really don’t want to be on the receiving end of this conversation…”  She then proceeded to tell me that she did not have any more money in her budget to pay me.  She basically only had enough to pay me for three more weeks.  It was such a blow to me that I started to cry in her office.  That was the last thing I wanted to do, to show weakness in front of someone who was the antithesis of weakness.  She told me that she couldn’t relate to a situation such as this because it was easier to find jobs straight out of college when the economy was good.  She then told me that if anything opened up at the organization, she would contact me.  That’s when I let my tongue fly a bit…

“You don’t have to bother because the CEO doesn’t want me here.”  Silence.  “He didn’t even bother to give me a real interview for any of the position I applied for.”  Silence.  I probably shouldn’t have said any of that to my supervisor but at the same time, I felt that it needed to be said, whether it was right or wrong.  After a moment of silence, she said, “well I cannot really speak for him but if it is too hard for you to continue working for the next three weeks then I understand.”  I then told her that I couldn’t afford to not work for those three weeks but I asked to leave early that day.

My last three weeks with the organization was met by coldness by my supervisor.  My co-workers were upset as I was about me leaving the organization but my supervisor kept her distance from me all the way down to my final couple of minutes.  There was even a situation on my last day.  My co-workers got together and decided to throw a little party for my last day.  They approached my supervisor about pitching in and her response was, “well we already threw her a birthday party and a graduation party, I don’t think we need to throw another one.”  So my co-workers did everything themselves and that morning, my supervisor was extremely upset and asked one of my co-workers if she “orchestrated” the party. 

I was hurt by the whole situation of my leaving, especially when my supervisor gave me a very cool good-bye and thanked me for all of my hard work for the organization.  However, I still learned a ton while working for the organization and I made some great friends along the way.  I think back now and realize maybe this was all for the best because I always came home stressed after work and I felt my marriage was affected by it.  The bickering and arguing definitely halted once I was unceremoniously kicked out of the organization.  Even though the wounds are still fresh, I know I can no longer linger on the bad parts, but cherish the good that came from working for the organization.

Being a Starbucks Barista. Err… Partner

I am a Starbucks barista.  Actually, more appropriately, my title at Starbucks is “Partner.”  I thoroughly enjoy the idea of being called a partner because really, there is so much more than crafting fancy beverages with ridiculous names and brewing coffee.  

I may not be your average Starbucks partner.  I did not study psychology in college, nor do I paint and I am not in a band.  I do however love to write, wear fashionable glasses and greet every customer with a smile and, “hey, how’s it going today?”  How I stumbled upon this job was all by chance.

I was working for an organization where I served as the development intern.  I had been told that I could work through the summer until I found a new job.  About three weeks into the summer, my supervisor was informed that she had blown her budget to keep me on all summer.   I was promptly told that I only had three weeks to find something else.  This, of course, sent me into panic mode.  My husband and I have bills!  Telling me I had three weeks put me into a nervous breakdown. 

By the end of the three weeks, I did not have a new job.  I did have an interview but unfortunately that turned out to be a dead end.  I search for my “dream job” for the next two months.  Close to the end of the second month, it was decided by both my husband and myself that the “dream job” was not out there right now and I needed to find something to help pay bills.  Our savings was exhausted during those two months so it was imperative that I find something fast.  I started mass applying to various places such as Panera Bread, Barnes and Noble, Target, and Starbucks. Within a week, the manager of the Arena District Starbucks gave me a call and wanted to interview.  In about two weeks following the interview, I had a job as a Starbucks Partner.

Starbucks may face a great deal of criticism from time to time but as someone who has only worked for the company for about two months now, I can tell you that Starbucks truly cares for its employees.  Every week, I get a free pound of coffee or a tin of tea, free beverages while I work and 30% off any retail purchases at any Starbucks across the United States.  After 90 days, I will become eligible for health insurance and stock options. 

Obviously Starbucks is not my dream job.  I did not plan to work for minimum wage after college.  However, I have really decided to turn this experience into a positive one.  What I’ve learned about customer service through my time at Starbucks will stick with me for the rest of my life.  This experience will pay big time for my future employers as I build relationships with clients.

Even though the work is simple and I always walk away with sore feet and an aching back, there are definitely perks.  I absolutely love some of the customers that come in.  Today, I started thinking about what would happen if one of my regulars was never seen again.  I began to worry that something bad could happen to any of them and I would never know.  Who would actually stop to think to tell the people who made his/her venti latte that something had happend to him/her?   

Yes, technically I am a barista and to most customers I’m just that girl behind the counter making her venti nonfat, no whip, salted caramel mocha.  To some, I am Stephanie, the Starbucks Partner who helps make a difference in people’s lives simply by smiling and offering polite conversation. 

Today was especially rewarding when a customer came in who was in a wheelchair.  He was able to communicate what he wanted by using a keyboard attached to his wheelchair.  I helped set him up at a table with his drink.  When I saw him struggle with getting a straw out of the paper wrapping, I immediately dropped what I was doing and went over and helped him with his straw.  It was rewarding to help someone in need of assistance.  Today made me think about doing more for those in need. 

Tomorrow I have the day off but I plan on getting a lot done around the house such as dusting and some organizing.  Tomorrow I will discuss my previous employment and how hard it was to leave a job I cared for so much.  Until next time!

Change Begins Today

Change [cheynj] verb - to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.

A simple definition and yet a single change could effect millions of events in the near or distant future.  My name is Stephanie Mack and I am here to document change in my life over the next 365 days.  In order for you to understand some of the changes I’d like to accomplish I should probably give you insight into my life.

I am a 23 year old Starbucks Barista.  I am married to my husband Kevin and we live in a small, one bedroom apartment in Columbus, Ohio with our cat Victoria.  Well, Victoria is really my cat.  Kevin just kind of encroached on our “no boys allowed club.”  I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences earlier this year. 

I am 6’1” and I currently weigh 280 pounds.  As you can probably guess, weighing 280 pounds is not something I am proud of.  In fact, it is one of the many aspects in my life I hope to change.  Over the course of the next 365 days, I hope to lose 100 pounds.  However I promise you that this is not a weight loss blog.  It would become increasingly boring to write a daily blog about how I didn’t lose anything or that I lost a pound.  Physical well-being is just one aspect of this blog. 

I hope to improve my relationship with my husband.  They say the first year of marriage is always the hardest.  Having only been married for literally a year and 20 days, I can atest to that statement.  The past year has been extremely hard.  Kevin and I have both had to learn how to live together and fight together.  We know it is healthy to fight.  It’s how we went about it that probably wasn’t the healthiest.  Our personalities are extremely different.  However we both have something in common and that is stubborness.  That is both our strength and our weakness.  We are both so stubborn to make our marriage work and we are both so stubborn to stay angry at each other over insignificant problems.  Marriage is just one aspect of this blog.

I hope to improve our living situation through setting careers goals and obtaining those goals within 365 days.  As of right now, Kevin and I mainly live paycheck to paycheck with very little to no savings.  I have a college degree in Animal Sciences but as I said earlier, I am a barista for Starbucks who works for minimum wage.  That is a grand total of $7.50 an hour in the state of Ohio.  Even though I have my degree, I am still searching for who I am and what I want to accomplish in a career.  My career goals are just one aspect of this blog.

Finally, I plan to visit different events and relationships from my past to see if they help me unlock why I am where I am in my life right now, how I handle situations and finally explore the idea of karma.  Everyone likes to believe they are a good person.  I know I certainly do.  But am I really a good person?  I have had a lot of broken friendships and relationships and I have always blamed the other party.  But maybe this whole time it was me.  Maybe it was because of things that have happend to me in the past.  Only time, or more fitting 365 days, will tell the truth.  I am about to embark on a journey of self-discovery and change.  It is a little unnerving, but I am ready to start living life one day at a time and to the fullest.  My life is just one aspect of this blog.