Coffee shop jobs

So the coffee shop job at Barnes & Noble has been going pretty well. But being back there has brought back all the pet peeves I used to have for it (I worked in a Barnes & Noble Cafe for about a year and a half... 4 years ago ha ha).


First of all: Read the signs when you come in. It says Barnes & Noble Cafe: SERVING Starbucks Coffee. It doesn't say Starbucks Cafe. So when you come up to the counter and try to use that Starbucks gift card you got for Christmas (just like half of the other customers we get every day) and I tell you we only take Barnes & Noble gift cards, because we are owned by them, and only serve the Starbucks coffee, DO NOT BITCH AT ME FOR IT. I didn't make the rules, I just get payed to follow them, and there is no possible way we could take the cards anyways. I know coffee is expensive but if you got then card then you must drink coffee a lot, therefore you'er used to paying for it. So shut up and pay for it, or leave. I don't want to hear anymore about how "Well the Starbucks logo is on your sign" or "I wouldn't have come if I'd known that". I understand it is kind of confusing and I'll be very polite and courteous if you are too. My favorite was when some dumb bitch tried to buy a Starbucks card at 5 pm CHRISTMAS EVE and got pissed, then got on her phone a few feet away from the counter and was telling her friend how it was a "ghetto Starbucks that doesn't have gift cards" then when she was done asked if we knew where the nearest Starbucks was. Bitch I don't want to help you. I was tempted to say "In the ghetto" but I just walked away instead.


Second: I realize that you haven't had your coffee this morning, but despite what you think, that doesn't entitle you to be a raging bitch. Such as talking loudly on your phone, placing your order for a nonfat, half caff, triple shot, sugar free cinnamon dulce latte with light whip (your still fat and making it nonfat is not going to help you) then handing me a Starbucks card while I try to explain between the obviously extremely important conversation about someones cat, that we don't take them. I'll get a dirty look then a "hold on" into the phone (which should have been done in the first place) while a roll of the eyes, some digging around the purse, and some money eventually thrown at me (seriously people can't hand you money?). Then as I'm making the drink I get to hear the whole story repeated into the phone as if I'm some dumb red neck shit that doesn't take Starbucks cards. Ma'am, I will make you a drink you will never forget.


Third: Please don't step up to the counter until you know what you want to order. I realize that there are a lot of names and terms to learn at first and it can kind of look like a foreign language at times. But, either stand back until you decide, or ask for some help. I love to help. I DO NOT love it when you step up to the counter, ignore my greeting, then stare at the menu board with a completely dazed and confused expression for 2 minutes while I could be doing other stuff in the cafe... such as helping the customer that knows exactly what they want, right behind them.

Job time

One of the things I noticed in Phoenix was all the palm trees. I would have never thought you would find so many in the middle of a desert. It kind of gives the feel of an oasis. It reminds me of southern CA, where I am pretty certain half the population of Phoenix moved from. So that would explain it.
Phoenix where all the cool laid back Californian's moved to. Idaho always got the rich assholes from California moving to Sun Valley. Of course my family moved their from California so what does that say? Ha ha at least we didn't move to Sun Valley though.

So I have a seasonal job at B&N which has got me starting to read a lot more, which is always a good thing. My latest trend (yes, I pick books in trends. Don't judge me) has been gothic literature. started off with Dracula, which I have to say is one of the best books I have read in awhile. The author chose to write the book from the perspective of different people's journals. And the writing style for all of them is very distinct. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it, especially if you're part of all this crazy nonsense about the vampires that was inspired by Twilight. After that I read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Decent but nothing really spectacular.
Then I just finished Frankenstein... it's a pretty good book for being the authors first work. Has a few flaws if you really think it through but it's very entertaining. One thing I don't get though is that he always seems to go into a coma whenever something drastic happens. Were people that mentally fragile back then? Or was the author just trying to dramatize how difficult it must have been for him? I don't get it either way.

Post 1

So I've never done a blog before... should be kinda interesting. I've kept journals off and on, but not very consistently. Journals are usually boring to read anyways.







So anyways, this blog is going to be about my first year in Phoenix, AZ. I just moved here a couple months ago from a very small town in Idaho. And yes, moving to a big city is somewhat of a culture shock. Not a huge one, but a little one.
Going from a town with a few stoplights, to a city with more stoplights than all of Idaho combined, is kinda crazy. Ok so that might have been a slightly over exaggerated guess, but now that I'm thinking about it... it could very well be true.

2 things I miss about being in Idaho (besides the obvious one of missing my family)
1. Snow. I know most people hate it, and the cold, and the ice. But I miss it like you wouldn't believe. I love it, every time. It's basically to justify pulling on some big boots, a furry coat, and long warm scarf. Maybe even a crazy hat too. You try that here and people look at you like your nuts. So for now, byebye to cute little pea coats and wooly knitted scarves. I will be back some day to visit.
2. Coffee. Not just ANY coffee, I can always go across the street to Starbucks for that. But I miss having a favorite coffee shop (boo hoo I know my life is really rough). Some place to go and just relax, do some homework, meet up with friends, have another cup of the coffee that is amazing every time. And how are you supposed to find a place like that? Google coffee shops and visit each one? Stoooopid. So I just go to Starbucks instead. Sad.