Top Ten Ways To Piss Off Your Barista

Let me start out by saying how much I enjoy my job. I may complain about it to some of you but I really do love it. I love my bosses, some customers are great to interact with, and, surprisingly, I enjoy making the drinks. The store is always so clean and the smell of books and coffee never gets old.

That being said, I have come to realize I do not understand some people. Yeah, people are always telling me "you learn so much in customer service" and "it's like a right of passage". While I understand that whole thing of serving the customer there are some things that make me want to pull my hair out.

So I present to you:  The Top Ten Don'ts of Ordering in a Coffee Establishment (in no particular order)

1. Don't get your panties in a twist because we don't have an almond milk substitute available. If I say we don't, we don't. You saying, "well the Starbucks in San Diego has it," won't make a bit of difference. If you want almond milk, move to California. Otherwise you're stuck with the soy or regular milk.

2. Don't harp on me about the prices. I have no control over that. All I do is ring you up and make your beverage/serve your food. If you don't want to pay the price, go home and make your own coffee.

3. Arguing over who is going to pay is a big no-no. It makes me uncomfortable to just stand there and wait for some form of a payment while trying to hold a smile. Someone just fork over the money and move along.

4. Please, for the love of all that is holy, do NOT mack on your significant other in front of the barista. Or anyone for that matter. It makes everyone involved (minus the person doing the groping) uncomfortable. Just ACK. It's gross, don't do it.

5. Do not, no matter how foul a mood you're in, toss, flip, or flick your method of payment. Hand it to me like I am not some sort of subhuman and I will be far more pleasant to you.

6. Don't be stupid. There is no such thing as a wet cappuccino, that's just a latte. Don't ask me to do a bunch of modifications to your drink after you've already paid. I'm not stupid, I know you're just being too cheap to pay for what you actually wanted.

6b. If you ordered a strawberry banana smoothie and a frappuccino of some kind, don't look at me and ask which is which. It's blatantly obvious and you are not a simpleton.

7. If you are the only person in the cafe and I call out your name, don't come up to me and ask if that's your drink. Yes, yes it is your drink

7b. Conversely, if I did not call out your name, that is NOT your drink so don't take it and just chill out for a second.

8. Don't be double checking on your drink while it's in the making. Especially if I'm not even to your drink yet. If you just ordered, there's a line and your drink does not take precedence. Please don't stand next to the counter going "is that decaf?" "Are you making that extra hot?" "I asked for no foam, did you get that?" "Make sure you add 5 Splendas." I GET IT. Oddly enough, did you see the person write all this down on the cup for me to read? I'VE GOT THIS, BACK OFF.

9. Don't ever just order a "regular size". What is that? I don't even know what that is? This is America so is a regular size a venti? Just pick a size.

9b. Don't get on my case about the size system. I don't need you looking at me and snidely saying "Oh sorry, I mean grande." Bite me.

10. Don't talk on your phone while ordering. Even worse- if you're on the phone getting orders from people elsewhere who have no idea what they want.

BONUS: Me: "Hi! How're you today?"
               Customer: "Grande non-fat no whip extra shot mocha."
               Me: "I'm good, thanks!"


Like I said, I love my job and the friends I've made there. Some of the people are just ridiculous (such as the girl who came in and ordered a white mocha with 5 packets of sugar but wanted non-fat milk and no whipped cream).

Let this be a warning- Be nice to your barista, they can give you decaf espresso.

So THIS Is What A Quarter-Life Crisis Feels Like?

Let's just open up with something that really freaked me out today:

Excuse me?

Excuse me?

Ya'll are serious about sending me out into the real word? I'm actually going to have to function like an adult? I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A MORTGAGE IS. I STILL CAN'T PICK OUT WHICH GRANOLA BARS TO BUY.

While this news is very welcome after five years of school, as I've mentioned before, it's terrifying. I am so excited to be graduating just to be able to say that 'I did it!' and be the success in this regard that I've always wanted to be for myself as well as my family. I'll be a first generation college graduate! As such, adult decisions are having to be made, even now, before graduation.

Discussions were held this weekend about where I'll be living, what jobs I'm going to be looking for, what field I want to go in to, what I should be spending my money on, and so on and so forth. As I am graduating debt free (words cannot express how thankful I am to my parents for this. I'm witnessing the struggle of debt repayment with my friends and can't even fathom what I'd do in their situations seeing as I'm already stressed and I have less to be stressed about) I have the opportunity to do an internship with some place if I should so choose to do so.

How do people do real life? This is so stressful. I would be so much calmer if I knew what the hell I was doing, I do not like the unknown. Can I just jump forward like ten years and pray that I'm living in something other than a cardboard box, gainfully employed, and not be totally unhappy? Can someone just hire me and save me the stress of going through every online posting and freaking out over the fact that I don't know what half of the words are referring to? I thought college was supposed to prepare me for this nonsense? What is even happening?

Since I am already fretting about life, I've had to make some executive decisions about my some of the plans I had for this year. I do believe St. Louis Nationals will be cut for me this year. I'm dying to go but I just don't see how I can actually afford going to a concert there in August and then heading back at the end of September. I'm heartbroken about this decision, adult decisions suck. I've also made the decision to eat out way less and start packing a damn lunch. It's not hard, I'm just that lazy. To combat this laziness, I'm going to be joining a gym. I have no idea what gym because, like I said, I'm trying to save up money.

I'm hoping in eating out less and working out I'll gain some form of calm and snap out of whatever quarter-life crisis I'm having. Saving up some money will also go towards London with Erin next year.

Priorities, I must establish some.

#ASBDreams

So there was that splurge of #ASBDreams that was happening all over Facebook. I have achieved dreams that I wasn't even aware that I had but there are still a few that I want to shoot for:

- Ride in the Springfield, Il arena.
-Ride in a Top 10 victory pass in St. Louis with Buzz
-Ride in the green shavings
-Show a park horse
-Catch ride
-Ride in the Royal

I have HIGH ambitions! I've achieved my goals of winning at an A-rated show, won a class unanimously, won my first champion ribbon, do a "fun" class, showing in St. Louis, and showing out of state so that's awesome. It's hard to achieve some of the goals when you don't own a horse and your financially limited but hopefully some of these will come true at some point. As the pictures show, many of these checks to my dream list have been thanks to Colour Me Proud. Buzz is pretty great (understatement) and I'm so ridiculously excited to show him again this year.

First win at FASH (I cried happy tears in the dressing room)

St. Loooooouis! We got a first place vote here and I think my squeal deafened everyone.

First unanimous win with CH Callaway's Crown Jewel

First Saddle & Bridle Classic class. 

First champion ribbon. I was crying. Buzz was chomping.

Tandem bareback- we weren't aware that the canter was a gait we'd be doing.

So basically, horses are awesome. I have no plans to stop anytime soon because this is good stuff. I love this.

A "TBT" of Sorts

So I was going through old horse show pictures because, for some reason, I'm shooting to knock this show season out of the park. I can't afford to go to many shows so the ones I want to go to are big ones for me.

Anyways...

While I was going through all these pictures, I had a moment where I was hit with such gratitude to my family, especially my Dad, Mom, Griffin, and my Grandma. They're been supporting me in this sport for the past 11 years and have never ever questioned why I do it. We're not a family that's had horses in the past, I'm the first one to get into showing and riding. My Mom was kinda freaked out by horses when I first started. My Dad gets frustrated when he can't figure out what the judges are looking for (don't worry Dad, I still can't figure it out half the time) and he's allergic to hay. My poor brother is allergic to hay and gets very bored with sitting around and waiting so every time he comes to a show he's absolutely miserable.

They don't really understand why I do it other than because I love horses and it makes me happy (and sometimes miserable). That's all they need to know.

We've never been a family that had the money to financially support my love of horses. I've never owned a horse or leased a horse. I've been blessed to show school horses and some of the wonderful clients' horses when the opportunity is offered. I've always worked very hard to be able to take lessons and split the show costs with my parents. The fact that they were willing to spend any money on this sport is just one of the many ways my parents are great. My Mom loves being the "show Mom" and doing my hair and helping me with my make-up. My Dad likes to harass me so I forget to be stressed out (granted, I get really irritable when he does this) and shoves cameras in my face. My brother is my foodie buddy at shows, and he likes to give horses treats and pet them.

They're at every show as long as it's in Minnesota. The times that I've gone out of state, they've always sent my numerous messages wishing me good luck and to call when I finish. Their never ending support means the world to me, as cliche as that sounds. My Mom filmed the screen of her laptop when I went to St. Louis since no one was there to film it in person. My Dad and Griffin like to film me at shows and do a commentary on the happenings. Everyone takes pictures at the shows so I have more than just the mental memories (sometimes I'd prefer it to stay as a mental memory). My Grandma is the supplier of treats and likes to look at horses (especially Buzz) and ask "What was that? What were you doing? Why did you do that?".

This is a very long winded way of me saying: my family is great and I love them lots.

Here, have some video and picture evidence:

Nice.

 

Because who WOULDN'T want to remember this train wreck? Thanks Dad!

My Bro took this picture. Dang, he's good. 

My Mom wins best 'Show Mom'.

Griff's favorite part of the show.

Where else are you going to get the true nitty gritty behind the scenes of a horse show? Donuts? It's pandemonium.

My family wins.

GET IT.

Tomorrow is my last fist day of the semester.

One. More. Semester.

For some reason, when I started college, I never thought I'd finish. In the back of my mind, I always thought that we'd run out of money or something would happen to deter me from finishing school. That, and some of the classes were hard.

I wish I was one of those success stories that finished in the allotted four years that former president Bob Bruininks gave us; I wanted to be someone who knew what they were doing and finished with a good GPA.

Alas.

It's taken me five years due to a total lack of skill in the language of Latin. Shooting for an archeology degree did horrors to my poor GPA which is really unfortunate. There were also so many requirements. So. Many. I'm just happy that some of the classes I took killed two birds with one stone. Honestly, I was the worst the liberal arts requirements and really good at my major. Classes like Anthropology and Political Science just didn't hold my interest.

I've been so beyond words lucky to have a family who's been willing to stand behind me in all my college decisions and let me figure all this stuff out. I have a  father who works so hard for me to be able to go to school and not have to worry about my student loans with the same pressure that some others do, a mom that I can call when I'm feeling stressed or low and need someone to comfort me, and a grandma who has let me make a mess in her condo for the past five years (and only threatened to kick me out a few times!).

I never did the "typical" college experience. I never lived in a dorm, never lived on campus, never had to worry about making money while going to class, didn't join any groups, never went to a party (literally, I don't think I went to one), and I'm perfectly happy with this. I've never been the child that my parents had to worry about and this has continued throughout college.

 I've loved my college experience- minus it taking five years.

All this being said, I'm totally terrified of graduating. What the heck am I going to do? I won't have college as an excuse anymore. I'll be a certified adult and have to make adult decisions. I've liked being in my bubble of college safety so the prospect of starting on the rest of my life is terrifying. What if I can't make enough money to feed myself? Where am I going to live? I still have breakouts for God's sake, when did I turn into an adult? What am I doing?!

All in all, I'm stressed yet relieved that it's almost over.

I just want to be a success story with a $40,000+ piece of paper.

Look at all those green fulfilled requirements!

I'll accept a 3.1 for a graduating GPA.

So yeah. GET IT, SELF. YOU'RE SMASHING IT.







Song of the Moment: Through the Dark- One Direction

(Look at my little blondie rock out. Let me love you, Niall)

Ready...Set...Playlist

 Though all my many years of listening to music (all 23 of them), I've developed some extremely diverse tastes. 

So what, right?

Many peoples' tastes diversify as they age but I've just taken a look at my iPod and realized that it is eclectic and because music says so much about a person, I thought I'd share some of my ~phases* with you.Mind you, the songs posted are the ones I first listened to when I got into the music and then I delved deeper and, for most of the genres, became obsessed. I have a very obsessed personality.

Soundtracks- I have numerous soundtracks all over the place.

Il Divo- they were my first big obsession. I LOVE them and their music and have seen them in concert a few times now.

Il Divo, Barbra Streisand- I think their concert together was my first concert ever. GO BIG OR GO HOME. Bonus is them singing Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. 

I am a fan of the whole musical thing. I got to see Wicked when it was in town a few years ago and DIED.

My Chemical Romance- I was years behind the curve when it came to listening to music like this because...I have no idea. But I love them and got to see them 3 times before they broke up.

Panic! At the Disco- I was very late to this party but I really liked their stuff. Their new album is kinda meh to me but whatever. I've seen them once live.

Adam Lambert- I LOVED his debut album (second not so much) but I was obsessed with him. I saw him 3 times in a short period of time as well.

The Beatles- No explanation needed. No I have never seen them live.

Fall Out Boy- Of course I got into these guys when they were on break. I went and saw Patrick Stump when he was a solo artist but it wasn't as good at the whole group together. I'm still shooting to see these guys live.

One Direction- Don't even look at me, don't even judge me. The obsession and feelings are so real. Working out the plans to see these lads in August! I want to smother them in cuddles. 

Jason Derulo- Talk Dirty to Me. I don't even know why I like this song (yes I do but a only a few of you know why)

Olly Murs- Heart Skips a Beat. I like to dance like a short ape every now and then when I'm cleaning.

Because who doesn't need dubstep violin in their lives?

So that's that. I guess it's nothing too weird or out there but it makes me smile.

*I say phase but they aren't really phases. I still listen to all the music I have depending on my moods which is why I love having a wide range of music.

"It's 2014"

So it's been another year and this blog, regrettably, totally sucks.

I'm not quite sure what I want to do with it so I'm a bit put out with it. I was going to use it to write stuff but that's taken a backseat to school and work for the time being.

I'm also nowhere near as interesting as I like to think I am. How awful.

That said, I've made a few resolutions for the year.

1. The most common one- get fit. Everyone is always saying this one, I know, but I don't even want it so that I can get skinny or anything (although I'll consider that a bonus). I just want to get healthier and kick my metabolism into high gear. If anyone reading this sees me going for something absolutely dastardly for my diet, knock it from my hands and hand me an apple.

2. Do something actually interesting. I am such a boring person and I have no stories to tell- I need to actually attempt to put myself out there and do something with myself to stop living under my fort of blankets.

3. Write more and expand my vocabulary. I've always been told that I'm a fairly adept writer but I don't really feel like I am therefore this blog will be used to write about stupid things that have happened, venting, or other such nonsense just to keep writing and keep the brain muscles pumped up.

4. FREAKING GRADUATE. Good God. Five years is quite enough.

5. Be more myself. No more of this acting the way I feel people want me to act. I, amazingly, seem to make more friends when I'm being myself than acting like whatever I feel is normal for others. Added to that- dressing how I like and not going off the fashion of others. Other people dress weird as hell.

So there's five well thought out resolutions that I'm shooting for this year. I accept any and all help with accomplishing these goals.

Cheers!