Taking what isn't yours

Working in the service industry is both hilarious and maddening. First of all, like that quote says, real life is often time more funny than anything you could make up. Like the lengths to which someone will go to avoid paying 60 cents for soy milk.

I have a customer who orders a tall americano, one shot on the side, half full with cold soy. Basically, she wants a tall soy latte. But by ordering it this way, and then telling the barista to just fill up the cup with the soy, she avoids the 60 cents charge for more than 4oz of soy all together. She does this every day. And last week, when I rang her up for what she really wants (tall americano, with the 60cent soy charge) she flipped her lid and refused to pay. She might have walked out. Want to know the kicker? If she does the whole registered Starbucks card, she eventually would get that soy for free anyway.

Why does this even matter? Because it's annoying and it happens a lot. And when I'm making drinks, in a busy rush, in a flow, and you tell me you didn't order the drink you wanted, you just ordered it that way because it's cheaper, it gets to me. I have to interrupt what I'm doing, make everyone else wait longer, re-make your stupid cheap-ass' drink.


And another thing. What's with people accepting food or drinks that they didn't order? I see this on a daily and nightly basis. Someone ordered an iced tea but takes the random hot drink sitting on the counter because they got impatient, distracted, annoyed, stupid, forgetful, you choose. Really? You wanted this huge hot pink iced drink, but took this tiny hot espresso? Or at my restaurant, occasionally something is brought to the wrong table. Do people really forget that they ordered ravioli, but decide the kitchen just wanted them to have chicken instead? Then they eat half of it before saying something like "I don't think I ordered the chicken..." and refuse to pay for what they chose to eat? Really? REALLY?!


And that ends our installment of "Tales from the other side of the counter."

Writing is a challenge...

I've always been one of those people who start journals (I buy lovely leather bound ones, am given funky fun ones, convert old notebooks) and then get all caught up in trying to say what I mean and just stop because of all the pressure to be honest. And clear. And concise.

See, I've had some wonderful Language teachers and profs in my life. I value words. Individually and sequentially. I believe this world would be so much easier if we could communicate better, and for most people that means using words. Using them differently, thinking before we speak, saying what we mean. I believe there is a lot of power in words.

At the same time, I'm a perpetual editor. I composed a "Letter to the editor" over the course of a week, went through 4 drafts before I sent it in (it was printed by the way! "Courageous Crusader" is a misleading headline but I've mostly let that go). I was disappointed by the edited version that was printed. I think the skipped some of my best lines and missed the reason I was writing. The piece was misleading and religiously slanted. Writers are free to include their religion in their work, but don't play it off as "journalism" when it's just a personal editorial about a Catholic scientist who opposes stem cell research.

Right. Tangent. Forgot where I was going with that. Words. Are. Good.

Fall with a vengence

The first response I get from native Seattleites when they hear I'm from Minnesota, is that "We're due for some mean weather this winter!" Yes, well unless it involves temperatures and windchills in the -20 degrees, I think I'll be fine. No need to get my Uggs shipped out. No need for my down coat.

But, then again, maybe I'll want my wool coat...I'll think about it.

So far, the worst of it has been the sunny days that are really windy and not warm in the least. I really find it hilarious when it's raining for more than an hour and I hear people on the bus say, "I can handle a little rain but this is getting ridiculous!" I'm sorry, but raindrops here are the size of...well, they're really really small. Not the nickle sized stuff we get in the Midwest. That rain will soak you in minutes. I can stand outside for 10 minutes, in the Seattle rain, and my fleece will only be a bit damp. That's a serious weather upgrade, if I do say so myself.

My big thing now is figuring out the fall/winter markets. I know some go year round, but haven't had a Sunday off in forever to look and see. I'm making time today. I need more produce of whatever kind I can get!

My friends and I are doing Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to all the cooking. We should probably get some menu ideas going around. A few people wanted to try tofurkey, so I'll probably get one. I could do without it, but I've had worse main vegetarian dishes at Thanksgiving.

The biggest thing that will be missing from that day will be serving meals in the morning. I never thought I'd say it, but I love starting my day at 5am, directing the volunteers on Pumpkin Pie cutting, cranberry container filling, and dishing up meals for those who aren't lucky enough to be able to make their own. It's the one time of year I see many of those friends. It's become an important task in reminding me to be thankful every day. I've looked a bit out in Seattle and haven't found anyone doing anything like that. I'll keep searching!

~J

Multi-employed!

We're in week three of my two job life. Barista by day, restaurant busser by night.

Having scheduling issues and new manager issues at the new job. Am trying to get myself transferred. It would seem there was an unspoken expectation of me that I can't meet. And they can't seem to meet my needs (which were very clearly expressed). Just isn't working out. Now, if I could find my manager, I'd be able to chat with him about these issues and the possible solution. Too bad I haven't seen him in the store at all.

Fall has arrived in Seattle and it's been nearly as great as summer. The "cold" nights are getting down to the mid 50's and I'm loving it. Every once and a while it comes up that I just moved here, and everyone is quick to warn me about the winters. Once I say I'm from Minnesota, they laugh and answer with "There are a lot of Minnesotans out here. I wonder why that is?" "Well, I'd guess the weather helps a bit." I've had several people tell me NOT to go buy a "winter coat." I'm happy to take that advice.

The second interview blues

So I have walked away from very few interviews feeling like I rocked the socks off the interviewer. I often feel like I didn't blow it, which is a plus, but that REALLY good feeling just hasn't come around much.

So, when I went in for an interview on a Friday afternoon for a specialty jewelry sales position, I was feeling really good about it. I love the jewelry and I've got great customer service skills. I was meeting with the manager of the new store, to open up at the end of September. Just my luck, the regional director was in-store and she sat in on my interview as well.

Insert interview going swimmingly well, include the first trip to the future store for both of them, and end it with the RD telling me she was excited to see my passion for the brand and just a little jealous of my growing collection. The manager told me they were hoping to get second rounds of interviews set up for the following Wednesday, and possibly have people training as soon as the next week. I filled out my very detailed application (background check, some kind of honesty test, and references) and said thank you, I hope to hear from you soon.

That was Friday.

I spent my weekend on a bit of a high, feeling good about the interview and my chances for a second round.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday roll by, and I get a little down. We all know that hiring a new staff is complicated and usually takes longer than expected. I call the manager on Thursday to thank her for the interview and to share my excitement for the new store. She was "busy with an interview", but I left a message with another sales person. I hung up feeling sad and defeated. She was interviewing, and I hadn't gotten a call back. Boo.

Fifteen minutes later, I get a call back from that same RD from my interview, who just happened to be in the store and saw my note. She just wanted to call and tell me I was in their pile of "excellent candidates." They were going to be calling for second interviews, scheduling them for Friday or Monday. "You should be hearing from us very soon."

OK, now, I know I really want this job, but I think the RD pretty much told me I'd be getting a second interview. I don't believe I read that wrong.

All day Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. My phone is silent. Nothing. Insert serious bummed out feelings here. Follow them with angry ones. Follow those with confusion.

My call had been to thank the interviewer, and fish a bit to see where they were in the hiring process. There was NO NEED for the RD to call me back. Certainly, no need for her to tell me I was getting a second interview. I don't even know that she has any say in the hiring process directly.

So now it's Monday. And I'm leaving town for 4 days. Wouldn't it just stink if they called me and wanted to have a second interview while I was gone? Would that blow my whole chances?

What is the right move? Do nothing and hope they call and set it up for next week? Call and ask that my second interview, which your RD told me I'd be getting, get scheduled for before I leave? Do I lie a little and say I'm suddenly going to be traveling, and since RD told me I'd be getting contacted about a second interview, I wanted to let you know I'll be gone for a few days?

This stinks. Please leave advice.
~J

Nearly two months gone...

Several of my dear friends have been looking for new employment for a while. They, unlike me, kept their jobs until they found something new. Not this chica.

None the less, I am spending 6-8 hours a day applying for jobs. I search seven different websites all day long, revise my cover letter 5-6 times a day, and I've gotten three interviews. All for different things. What's still annoying is the huge amount of SILENCE. I know many of these postings are receiving 100+ resumes a day, but come on, if you send out an email thanking me for applying, the least you can do is send a "Sorry, we're not interested" email.

On a separate note, I'm headed back to my hometown next week for my mom's birthday and to go to our state fair. I'm really hoping to have a job by then!!!!

All in all, I've loved being here. Seattle is amazing- the food, the city, the parks. I really want to stay! Come on, Universe! Work with mere here...

And so it goes

Had my first visitors in my new hometown! Well, sort of.

My friend and her husband were stopping through on their way to Alaska in all its summer glory. I got to play tour guide and at the same time test my knowledge and transportation smarts. Let's just say I did a good job and we had a fantastic day.

And what's better, I only got a little homesick! Mostly I'm still just itching to get a job and get my life back in order. I know how hard I worked this last school year, but I also know that I can't lay around and wait for September to come. I need to work to feel useful again! I'm no good at the extended holiday.

So, who's next?

~J

Sweet Home, Seattle

I've got a new home starting August 6th! It's a room in a cute house in a really nice neighborhood. The owner is a woman who has been living in the house for 20 some years and she just got the kitchen re-done. And let me tell you, it's the kitchen of dreams. I am really excited to get in there and start cooking! She's been renting out rooms for 15 years so she knows how it goes. I'm really lucky with location and price and can't wait to get settled!

I also started having some luck with going back to Starbucks. I've got an interview next week that might turn into something. If not, at least I'm on the radar for store managers. I've been applying for various other interesting jobs and have had little response. Though, I did get some strange emails and one very bizarre phone call from a chef/owner of a cooking school.

The job was as a sales rep/host of the cooking classes. Nothing fancy, but interesting I thought. Turns out she wanted someone to commit to three years via email before we had even met. And then when she called me to talk a little she went ballistic when I said I didn't have a car and would be taking public transit. No joke, I think she dropped the phone in surprise and disgust. Well it turns out 1) the store isn't in a very bus-friendly location 2) the evening cooking classes go until 10pm and 3) she's totally ridiculous.

So once I told her I'd be willing to try the buses out to see if I'd be comfortable, she was all "Yeah, you do that and call me back."
Well, could I call her Monday or Tuesday?
"Why do you need that long? It's Friday now."
Yes, well it seems you're very concerned about my safety walking to the bus stop so I'd want to try it at the time I would usually be taking it. And I'm afraid I can't go tonight and the schedules are different on weekends and weekdays.
"Oh, I thought you could just look online and see. Well never mind. Forget the whole thing." CLICK.

Needles to say I didn't get the job. Lucky me!

I'm off to explore some garage sales and back to Pike Place Market! Have a great weekend :)

One for the road!

Tomorrow is my last day as a first grade teacher.

More importantly, tomorrow is the day I have my exit interviews with my assistant principal and with our HR rep. I plan to go to the wall for my co-workers. They have been so supportive- I could not have gotten through this year without them. The least I can do on my way out the door is to let those in charge know how I, as a new teacher and a new person in the district, feel walking away.

There will be lots of "I am disappointed with the way...." and "I was expecting..." Let's just hope I can get my words across and that they take me seriously!

Wow, soon to be unemployed. And homeless. Unless that craigslist posting works out...but I'll keep you informed as I know more!

~J

It's the final countdown!

I have 14 days left as a teacher. Wow.

This weekend was our Multicultural Fair. We had dancing, food, games, and each classroom learned about one country and prepared a table to teach the community about their country. It was pretty fantastic. I am amazed on a regular basis how incredible these parents are. They donated time, they came into classrooms to prepare for the dances, they sewed dresses, paper mache-ed head dresses, and bought endless 2 liters of pop.

I'm slowly telling my classroom families that I won't be returning next year. There's a lot of surprise and sadness, but the parents have all been quick to wish me the best of luck.

The universe has spoken to me- my Saturn will not be coming to Seattle. After the fiasco with the oil pan, the torrential rain leaking just a little into the car through the caulked closed sunroof, a window finally busted. There I was, driving home from work, sunny day, windows down, blasting a terribly catchy pop song that I'll never admit to liking, thoroughly enjoying life. I pull up to my house and close the windows, but when I get out of my car, I realize one didn't close. Well that would be because the motor in the door died. Yep. Not even a sound like it was trying to close, just NADA. Thankfully, I managed to strong arm it closed and it seems to have worked. There doesn't seem to be rain getting in anywhere! Needless to say, Red isn't going to make the trek to the PNW. Oh well.

Job hunting and apartment hunting at the same time. Bleh. I've opened up my search to just about anything. I've got an eclectic employment history (starting with making mini doughnuts on the carnival, being a college RA, working at summer camp, and lets not forget my various retail endeavors) and I've learned a lot from all of my experiences. I've got lots of skills (sadly, nun-chuck skills didn't make the list) and I'm a quick learner. I will be a great addition to any workplace.

Ok, pep talk over. I needed that. Thanks.

Resigning is scary!

So I decided to not return to my job next year. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the primary one is that I've been needing a change for a while and circumstances have arisen that make this a very positive step for me.

I've already got friends in Seattle. A possible roommate (if we can agree on an apartment), and endless opportunities for new jobs. I've been applying with no success yet. It's a little difficult when employers want to hire someone now and I'm not available until July. My lovely references at Starbucks are being really helpful. I'm willing to work hard and I'm going to do what it takes.

Slowly telling my co-workers. Always a little awkward. Trying to see if I should make a stand before I leave. I need to keep my positive references, but I don't know who else will take a stand.

A long time family friend recently told me she's fed up with being a responsible citizen. I've definitely done the responsible thing for...well, ever. When I didn't have a job, I moved home. I was able to pay my loans because I didn't have rent to pay. I paid more than the minimum on my highest interest loans to pay them off early. I put money into savings and kept my hand-me-down car with good gas mileage. Found a place to live with affordable rent and great roommates. Took a job I didn't think I'd like because I needed to get into my field and get a year of teaching under my belt. Worked my behind off for what boils down to minimum wage when you really do the math.

And now I'm taking this big, scary, and exciting risk. It's time for my adventure.

100 Days and Counting....

Well it's been ages. Time does seem to fly for all the obvious reasons.

I've nearly made it through report cards again. We are staring down the end of the year and the stress just keeps coming. Can I do this again? Insert loads of self-doubt and frustration that never seems to go away.

The kids are doing ok too- we've just wrapped up our 4th unit and started our unit on Animals. This should be fun.

My school is interviewing for our Principal position on Wednesday, and I'm really hoping our panel sees a strong external candidate. My latest dealings with our current Ass. have left me feeling more confident about my choice to leave. I told one of my coworkers I was thinking about leaving. She was surprised but really supportive. "If it's time for you to go, fly and don't doubt yourself."

Sounds like a plan. 99 days 'till the last day.
~J

Anyone have tips on high achievers?

So I've got these 5 kids who are really reading and working at a second grade level. I keep trying to give them books at their level and assignments to challenge them, but I'm falling flat. No matter what I do, I hear "Srta! Terminado!" and they've finished two minutes after we started.

So as a grade we are taking out our top achievers and giving them 30 min of enrichment time with a teacher. I volunteered to start the planning for next week, but I didn't get it done before I left for my training on Friday and I've spend the day looking online. With little success. This whole RtI business is complicated and frankly, annoying. I'm all for differentiating- it's the best way to teach, but if you don't have the materials, it makes it tough.


~J

I'm a terrible teacher...

I don't know how all my teachers ever did it. All the pictures, trinkets, etc are taking over my desk! I don't know where to put it all.... so I tend to bring it home and recycle it. TERRIBLE! I know! I know! It's terrible. But I know me and if I keep it, it will eventually take over everything. And that is NOT a good plan. To be fair, I don't toss them all. I have a few on the fridge at home, a few on the inside of the closets at school. That's all.

Also, I didn't get through my math lesson today. Hardly any of it. Do you know how complicated it is to teach quarter hours? Really, really, really complicated. Wish me better luck tomorrow.
~J

Three cheers for Winter Break!

We all know that teachers need a reprieve. Well this teacher is enjoying her reprieve. Must continue to relax, recharge, and yes, even get some work done. Planning ahead is a must, but the relaxed schedule will help.

Hip hip hooray!
~J

First grade is funny. I've got some who act like they're 13 and some who are very young. Two were singing their version of "Poker Face," and their lyrics were "P-p-p-poker baby b-b-b-base." And I nearly died laughing

But how will we eat snack if you have no teeth?

Six year olds have no teeth. It's a rule or something. It was funny when it was one tooth. It all started when one got swallowed during snack time. I barely prevented mass hysterics by telling him that one time I swallowed a tooth and it's fine. No harm done. I promised to email his moms and let them know that they needed to write a letter explaining things to the tooth fairy.

Then his best friend did the same thing- and guess what was the terrible tooth losing tasty treat? Apples. Then a little boy from the other class came up to me and said "Look!", proudly holding up a plastic baggie. And lo and behold it was his tooth. Gross.

I don't know what it is about teeth. I like clean teeth. Attached to your mouth. "Lost teeth" (is that the right term?) make me shudder just a little bit.

So I guess I could have bigger problems than my parents giving my class healthy snacks like apples, but what use is a healthy snack if my kids don't have teeth to eat it?!?

~J

Rounding third base.....

I've got three more days to teach before a five day weekend. Thank goodness. I don't know why, but this week has just dragged on forever. Maybe it's the bad weather. Maybe it's the fact one kid left and another new student came two days in a row. I haven't even been able to leave my room feeling organized for like a month. Today I had meetings from the minute the kids got on the buses so I literally shut everything down before all of it. Not good when you need to print something and can't take the time to turn the computer back on to do it.

The plus side of all of this is I'm not the only one. My teammates are also feeling stressed and a bit overwhelmed by everything. It doesn't help that my district keeps adopting things across the district that IS NOT AVAILABLE IN SPANISH. I mean really, what do they expect us to do? Just keep creating things out of nothing? Well I'm sorry. Not only do I not have any personal resources on federally approved RtI curriculum, but I also have no ELL training. I may teach 30 min of my day in English but that does not mean I have a degree that says I do it well. I do what I can but that's about it. So please stop expecting me to reinvent the wheel here.

Oh yeah, and we still need a laminator. Thanks.

The superintendent is all hyped about starting a STEM k-5 school and I think it's a bad idea. Science TEchnolongy Engineering and Math are all good things, but starting a new school when a new school program is still building its enrollment is a BAD idea. We still need money to buy classroom libraries, we could use general office funds, oh and THE LAMINATOR.

On a plus side, I really enjoy the district staff development committee that I am on. Turns out I'm meeting with some pretty powerful people and getting my voice heard. Lets hope what I have to say leads to some action!

Also, we just finished up a Flat Stanley Project. We've gotten pictures from Vegas, Seattle, Melbourne, and many more are on the way. President Obama got one, as well as Mylie Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. If that list isn't a perfect description of what this generation will grow up to be, I don't know what is.
~J

Professional Development

This phrase takes on many lives in different careers.

As a teacher, "professional development" translates loosely into "A day where you are not with students, but everything you do revolves around they anyway." I've got three this week. Sweet.

Also, can anyone explain why my first graders are talking about Twlight characters? I swear I heard one of my girls say "Edward Cullen is one of the Twilight. He's a vampire but he turned alive. And the books are way better than the movie. I don't even want to see the one this week."

And finally, before I get a good night's rest for my two days of developing, I had a moment today when I saw my students learning. It was really cool. We were doing math. Counting by 2s and 5s. Then I went WAY outside the box and asked if anyone could count by 3s. And guess who said she could? Yeppers, my little friend who refuses to do any work. Only the last few days have been stellar. And she totally showed up the class by busting out her counting by 3s. It was a pretty great moment. I know what I'm doing. Who knew?

~J

Been a while- sorry!

Well, things have been happening, let me tell you.

I've had 4 confirmed H1N1 cases in my class, one case of Strep Throat, and 3 Influenza Like Illnesses. And 16 sneezy, runny nosed, coughing, and snot filled first graders the other days. We went through an entire box of kleenex in three days! So far I'm doing okay. I'm washing my hands, gargling with mouthwash the minute I get home from school to kill anything that may be lingering, you know, the usual.

We are getting new material for our English language development. Cheers to having a real curriculum! Also, we are getting some money from our budget to help make classroom libraries. There has been issues with how we are doing homework and I basically had to throw down. We are sending home one book each week (a paper copy, printed at school, usually on 3 pages front and back) and then every night the students have a different task to complete using their book. And we were getting told it was taking too much ink and resources to do this. I'm sorry but last year the homework was seven or eight pages every week, both sides. This is half the paper and ink usage. Good thing my team agrees with me- we are all banded together on this. Whew!

I've got two busy weeks coming up. It's time to send out Flat Stanleys out into the world! Esteban el Plano will be making his way to Argentina, Australia, Miami, Seattle, President Obama, Mylie Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, and a few more. Should you be interested in receiving Esteban el Plano, send me your address and be ready to 1) Write us a short letter telling us what you did with Esteban, 2) take photos of Esteban in your city/at famous places/with you, 3) email me pics and the letter (in the interest of time). Also, I've got a two day training, one day of professional development, and two busy weekends. It's going to get crazy.

Alright, that's all for today. I promise to post at least once more this week.