Some days I literally cannot get out of bed. Not in the sad/emo/I-hate-my-life kind of way but in the I'm-literally-too-tired-to-get-up kind of way. Some days waking up at 4:30 (or earlier) is just NOT OKAY. Especially when your boss calls at 3 the day before and asks you to pick up a closing shift at another store because "if you're really serious about moving up you need to get your name out there to people in our district." Uhhhhhai. Thanks. I've been in retail forevahhhhh. I know the drill, holmes.
So then I end up taking the most epic mid-day naps and I still have to be in bed at a really early time to do it all over again. I don't have a life like at all. Sorry, friends. I'm not even that mad. I love sleeping so much. My bed is glorious.
My shower is getting re-tiled so roommates and I are forced to share (omg I wrote shart frist ahahahaha) a bathroom. Oh, man is my subconscious is super funny. It's totally not even that bad because it's just the shower but I still think that I'm super funny. Anyway at 5:30am last Sunday I woke up to my downstairs neighbors POUNDING on my door. My room is the farthest down the hallway and Batman and Mike's is like right by the door so I have no idea how it took them so long to wake up. I go to the door and Batman is already there talking to the craaaaaazy lady and who we only assume is her son. Who I feel sups sorry for. Well she is just all up in Batman's business (Batman is sporting a fluffy pink robe) telling us that there is a leak in the ceiling of her laundry room.
Let me pause for a moment and let me tell you about this lady. This summer, Batman put a mini potted garden on our main balcony. We had all sorts of delish veggies and pretty flowers. So she watered maybe like twice a week and she was really careful about it, not watering too much and she had drip trays under all the pots. Occasionally there would be LITERALLY a few drips down the edge of the balcony. And let me tell you what this lady has on her balcony. A PLASTIC KID'S PICNIC TABLE. And that's it. So homegirl called and complained about dripping water on her balcony probably like 10 (or more) times but we only got two official complaints for it. Which is insane. Because, hi, we live in SEATTLE and it rains and water is wet and no, your balcony is not covered or protected in any way. Water happens in Seattle. Allthetime.
So when this cray is all up in our business at 5:30 about a leak in her ceiling I can't help but laugh a little at all the karma that is happening at this moment. Also, like we're purposely somehow magically dripping water into her home. She is freaking out and yelling at us to turn off our water in the laundry room. She tries to bust in to check it out and we are all like HELLNO. So we go in and turn off the water to the washer and she is still freaking out about how our landlord won't answer (even though there is an emergency number on the voicemail) and about how she is going to call 911 about the leak. We recommended against it.
So I tried to go back to bed and about half an hour later just as I was about to fall asleep again, the is another pounding on the door (dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuun.)
It took me a little longer to get up but I decided to not let Batman handle the crazy lady on her own. So i open my door, with my pink sweatpants and sleep face aaaaaaand there stand 4 delicious firemen in my hallway. At 6 am. Checking out my laundry room. Real life. It was so close to my dream come true. But also not at all. So they're talking to us about the bathroom and laundry room and we tell them that there is another bathroom through the master (my room) and I get the pleasure of showing two of them through my bedroom to my bathroom. Oh, that's not weird. The cutest one is all up in my shower and comments, "these units are huge!" Thanks, yo, please come back later when I have makeup on. But I'm glad we took this awkward first step of you being in my bedroom.
It was maybe the craziest thing that's ever happened to me and I woke up some hours later and had to remember it was not a dream. But then I went into the hallway and smelled the faint hint of smoke and remembered how real that was. Damn, firemen.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Obligations
Like when your best friend from high school messages you on Facebook and you feel obligated to reply. And then you remember why your friendship kind of dwindled away. It's very nice of her to ask and check in. Just a kind thing to do. But...mehhhhh.
So, remember when I really wanted to get called into work on Monday? Yeah that happened. Not even mad. They tried to call me in on Wednesday too but Starbucks does not allow partners to go into OT. That's new for me. I'm trying to get used to all the differences between the company that I know inside and out and one that I'm two months into. I hate not knowing errrrrything. Makes me uncomfortable.
It rained today! It finally, finally rained! Fall has officially reached Seattle and I am so very excited. I know it's never going to stop but we are so far down on rainfall. And we need those fires to be PUT OUT. Thanks, rain. We love you here. Plus I purchased a CAT UMBRELLA.
So, remember when I really wanted to get called into work on Monday? Yeah that happened. Not even mad. They tried to call me in on Wednesday too but Starbucks does not allow partners to go into OT. That's new for me. I'm trying to get used to all the differences between the company that I know inside and out and one that I'm two months into. I hate not knowing errrrrything. Makes me uncomfortable.
It rained today! It finally, finally rained! Fall has officially reached Seattle and I am so very excited. I know it's never going to stop but we are so far down on rainfall. And we need those fires to be PUT OUT. Thanks, rain. We love you here. Plus I purchased a CAT UMBRELLA.
Right? I am never coming inside. I also just purchased two Andrew McMahon prints (uhmmm, siiiiiiiiiigned prints.) I am going to die when those come. It's like my whole life. And Andrew McMahon. Which is like my whole life. Fall is thee best.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Paper Chain is Dwindling
Jack's Mannequin has broken up. It's official.
This is their last song. And it does not disappoint.
In such a beautiful and classy Andrew McMahon fashion he bows out in style and grace and of course will not leave us alone forever. He's working on solo work! Which is also exciting. It just seems so sad that JM has to go away. I know that what I loved most about JM is Andrew McMahon but he's helped me through so much.
And mine is a wrecking ball heart.
I know this happened a while ago and I'm so glad that Andrew McMahon is back and touring and I get to see him AGAIN in less than a month. It's maybe more than I can handle. And he will be so much more than Jack's Mannequin because he is solely Andrew McMahon now which means he gets to be everything that Andy McMahon was, is, and will be. So I get to finally hear Something Corporate songs live and Jack's Mannequin songs again and all the new things that brilliant kind has come up with.
Seeing your heroes just has that effect of you.
This is their last song. And it does not disappoint.
In such a beautiful and classy Andrew McMahon fashion he bows out in style and grace and of course will not leave us alone forever. He's working on solo work! Which is also exciting. It just seems so sad that JM has to go away. I know that what I loved most about JM is Andrew McMahon but he's helped me through so much.
And mine is a wrecking ball heart.
I know this happened a while ago and I'm so glad that Andrew McMahon is back and touring and I get to see him AGAIN in less than a month. It's maybe more than I can handle. And he will be so much more than Jack's Mannequin because he is solely Andrew McMahon now which means he gets to be everything that Andy McMahon was, is, and will be. So I get to finally hear Something Corporate songs live and Jack's Mannequin songs again and all the new things that brilliant kind has come up with.
Seeing your heroes just has that effect of you.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
It's called "self control" and I don't know what it means. It's the thing that makes me walk out of Target with FOUR new body washes when I really only needed one. I suppose getting them all now means I won't have to buy more in a while, right? So really it's productive?
I also bought some vanilla chai soap. Yes, that is a real thing and I highly recommend it. It smells like fall. I know everyone always wants it to be the season it's not but Fall is so great. It is my all-time favorite season. It really lets me get the most use of my 4275 scarves that I have scrunched in my scarf drawer. Let me tell you, the hardest thing is finding a way to conveniently store scarves. It's almost cruel. I used to have mine hung on hooks on my wall but then I switched rooms and now have them all shoved in a drawer. It's so hard to see how pretty they all are!
I had to work at 6 this morning and I got home at about 1:30. I just wanted to go back. I have tomorrow off and I'm most definitely hoping that Jonah calls me in. I miss not being able to do more for my job. I really do like not being in charge for once and not having as much responsibility but I feel almost limited in how much I can do. I'm not used to that. I'm used to doing everything I possibly can and more for my job, exceeding expectations and pushing others to do the same. That is not what's up now. I know it hasn't even been two months since I started but I just want more. I need to do more and to be able to do more. Beh. I know I just need to wait it out and keep doing the best with what I am given. Shine where I can and show Jonah what I'm capable of. I know he semi trusts me...sort of. Or at least he's getting there. I just need to be patient and do what I can.
Well I suppose I'll go shower. Try out one (or more) of my new body washes. Maybe I'll go to Rainier tomorrow. Or finally bake that cake...
I also bought some vanilla chai soap. Yes, that is a real thing and I highly recommend it. It smells like fall. I know everyone always wants it to be the season it's not but Fall is so great. It is my all-time favorite season. It really lets me get the most use of my 4275 scarves that I have scrunched in my scarf drawer. Let me tell you, the hardest thing is finding a way to conveniently store scarves. It's almost cruel. I used to have mine hung on hooks on my wall but then I switched rooms and now have them all shoved in a drawer. It's so hard to see how pretty they all are!
I had to work at 6 this morning and I got home at about 1:30. I just wanted to go back. I have tomorrow off and I'm most definitely hoping that Jonah calls me in. I miss not being able to do more for my job. I really do like not being in charge for once and not having as much responsibility but I feel almost limited in how much I can do. I'm not used to that. I'm used to doing everything I possibly can and more for my job, exceeding expectations and pushing others to do the same. That is not what's up now. I know it hasn't even been two months since I started but I just want more. I need to do more and to be able to do more. Beh. I know I just need to wait it out and keep doing the best with what I am given. Shine where I can and show Jonah what I'm capable of. I know he semi trusts me...sort of. Or at least he's getting there. I just need to be patient and do what I can.
Well I suppose I'll go shower. Try out one (or more) of my new body washes. Maybe I'll go to Rainier tomorrow. Or finally bake that cake...
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Conformity in Baking and in Life
First of all, I want to say that I named this blog long before that NBC show came out. (Although I have to admit I do love that show.) I'm just saying...they copied me.
I'm looking up white cake recipes on the internet and half of them call for boxed cake. I will never understand modern America. The thing I love about baking is that you can create something all your own. Sure, cake is cake but not all cake can have the subtle sweetness of almond extract or the twang of a nutmeg aftertaste. And some cake can be dry. When you really think about it, boxed cake is just another way to conform. And it's not even a delicious way to conform.
Although, sometimes, even when you do have tried and true recipes that are fabulously yours and yours alone, you can forget about the altitude difference between Washington and Montana and come to the party with an uncooked dessert. It doesn't make for a good first impression. People judge preparers of botched food.
Speaking of conforming, I've recently started a new job at Starbucks. Hee haw, I'm a coffee sellout and I've lost all of my coffee morals. Not so! I maintain that Starbucks has a nasty habit of burning some-to-most of their coffees but I have the delight of working in a store with a Clover machine (basically a reverse french press that brews one cup at a time.) The main significance of that is that we get all the reserve coffees that most stores don't get. It helps that I live in the place where Starbucks was invented and work in the 3rd store ever that the company opened. But some of the reserve coffees are good. I know, I know, it's hard to believe but the more I'm learning the more appreciative I am of the company and the work they're doing. I secretly hope to one day travel to visit some of the coffee plantations. (In my mind on this fabulous work trip I go to South America but I'm not going to be picky.)
Point being, Starbucks is actually quite conscious of sustainable growth and ethical sourcing. And they invented the Flavor Lock Seal! (That little hole on all coffee bags that lets you smell how great the coffee is? Yeah, it's to release gasses to keep coffee fresh while traveling. Who knew?) I realize that this is just who I am, jumping all in to whatever I'm doing and getting all gung ho to please my bosses, but I can appreciate the effort of a company that is actually doing good things as opposed to a company that says they're doing good things while really just using cheap child labor in Cambodia. Generosity of the human spirit that goes worldwide instead of focusing on what's right in front of them, i.e. what their customers can see.
I can also appreciate good management. And how a company really values all of their employees even if they did just start a month ago. To not be scared during corporate visits and maybe seeing the CEO downtown in the morning. Because when you live in Seattle, you can see CEO's of major national companies and maybe even attend the same wedding in Canada and also dances in your wedding circle. No big.
Life is good in Seattle. It's 70 degrees and I'm looking out my balcony onto the tree-filled neighborhood below and can just see a glimpse of the sun setting on Lake Washington. I look to my right and see downtown Bellevue which I am pretty sure was designed in a way that when light hits it it takes your breath away.
I never did bake that cake. I really should just stick to my cookbooks.
I'm looking up white cake recipes on the internet and half of them call for boxed cake. I will never understand modern America. The thing I love about baking is that you can create something all your own. Sure, cake is cake but not all cake can have the subtle sweetness of almond extract or the twang of a nutmeg aftertaste. And some cake can be dry. When you really think about it, boxed cake is just another way to conform. And it's not even a delicious way to conform.
Although, sometimes, even when you do have tried and true recipes that are fabulously yours and yours alone, you can forget about the altitude difference between Washington and Montana and come to the party with an uncooked dessert. It doesn't make for a good first impression. People judge preparers of botched food.
Speaking of conforming, I've recently started a new job at Starbucks. Hee haw, I'm a coffee sellout and I've lost all of my coffee morals. Not so! I maintain that Starbucks has a nasty habit of burning some-to-most of their coffees but I have the delight of working in a store with a Clover machine (basically a reverse french press that brews one cup at a time.) The main significance of that is that we get all the reserve coffees that most stores don't get. It helps that I live in the place where Starbucks was invented and work in the 3rd store ever that the company opened. But some of the reserve coffees are good. I know, I know, it's hard to believe but the more I'm learning the more appreciative I am of the company and the work they're doing. I secretly hope to one day travel to visit some of the coffee plantations. (In my mind on this fabulous work trip I go to South America but I'm not going to be picky.)
Point being, Starbucks is actually quite conscious of sustainable growth and ethical sourcing. And they invented the Flavor Lock Seal! (That little hole on all coffee bags that lets you smell how great the coffee is? Yeah, it's to release gasses to keep coffee fresh while traveling. Who knew?) I realize that this is just who I am, jumping all in to whatever I'm doing and getting all gung ho to please my bosses, but I can appreciate the effort of a company that is actually doing good things as opposed to a company that says they're doing good things while really just using cheap child labor in Cambodia. Generosity of the human spirit that goes worldwide instead of focusing on what's right in front of them, i.e. what their customers can see.
I can also appreciate good management. And how a company really values all of their employees even if they did just start a month ago. To not be scared during corporate visits and maybe seeing the CEO downtown in the morning. Because when you live in Seattle, you can see CEO's of major national companies and maybe even attend the same wedding in Canada and also dances in your wedding circle. No big.
Life is good in Seattle. It's 70 degrees and I'm looking out my balcony onto the tree-filled neighborhood below and can just see a glimpse of the sun setting on Lake Washington. I look to my right and see downtown Bellevue which I am pretty sure was designed in a way that when light hits it it takes your breath away.
I never did bake that cake. I really should just stick to my cookbooks.
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