Business Trips...

So, Steve has been gone for a few days on a business thing. We considered driving out to be with him for a day but the logistics of me, cooped up in a hotel room (since the weather is too cold to swim) with all 4 kids...not my idea of fun.
How is it that he gets to go out to lunches and dinners (paid for by the Co.) while I'm eating mac n cheese from a box?! Or just flat out be alone. Or hang out with other adults. No, feeding the kids, folding laundry, sweeping, unloading the dishwasher - reloading the dishwasher, playing referee, cleaning, bathing, etc...
I know it's hard for him to be away. He misses us. But really? 4 days of not having to take care of anyone else but yourself...I have NO IDEA what that's like or even what I would do. Granted he's working...but you can't work 24/7. He went and played golf this morning with one of the other DM's. Oooo how hard. I woke up with Annabelle's feet in my back and the kids asking for breakfast. Then I get to do 10 loads of laundry (which by the way isn't even all of it) while attempting to do some homework.

So, I just had to vent for a second. The worst part is... this is the first of 4 business trips. The month of July will be oh so much fun! Anyone have a job for my husband that doesn't require him to be gone 4 days a week??!?!!!?!?!

The kids start VBS on Monday so that should be great fun! =)

Get off your phone...Get off your phone...GET OFF YOUR PHONE!!!!

So first off.... Don't you LOVE my pin?!?!? I love it.... found it on Facebook and thought it was hilarious!

Ok. So I just have to rant for a minute. As you know, I work at Starbucks. My store has a drive thru. I LOVE working the drive thru. It's busy and fun. So, what's my rant?!?! CELL PHONES!!!! C'mon people! Get off your phone! I am so tired of being told to hold on while someone finishes their phone conversation...at the speaker box! I am tired of remaking drinks because "Oh...I had wanted that Iced not Hot!" Um...HELLOOOOOOO We repeated your order 2 times PLUS it was on the screen in front of you as you ordered! Her excuse?!?....."Oh...I was on the phone (while she is still holding the phone to her ear)..so maybe you didn't hear me...or maybe I didn't say it loud enough" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!

Now.... I totally don't mind remaking a drink if I mess up or we mess up or it's our fault.... BUT.... It bugs the crap out of me to have to remake a drink because you were on your phone while you ordered...on your phone while you paid...on your phone while you took the drink from me....and on your phone while you complained about it not being Iced. OMG!!!!! It's sooooo rude!!!!!!!!

We work hard. We are expected to get your drink order right - the first time. We bust our butts to get you through the drive through with as little wait as possible.... but if you change your order...because you were on the phone...and I have to remake it.... you have now made everyone behind you late for work!

Whew! Don't be offended if you talk on the phone in the drive thru lane. Just please at least put the phone down while you talk to me. DO NOT put up 1 finger to tell me to "hold on"....DO NOT mouth the words "thank - you" or "no" so that I can't hear you and neither can the person on the other line.

We are people too. We do not work for you...we work for Starbucks. Treat me with some respect. I just spent 8 hours at the drive thru window...2 days in a row.... I have been told to hold on, I have said hello to you (by the speaker box) at least 4 times before you finally tell me what you want, I have been ignored completely, I have been handed a credit card without you even looking at me OR even rolling your window down all the way!, I have been yelled at, I have been told that I was wrong not you (of course...while you were on your phone)...AND the kicker.... I have handed you the wrong drink...and you drove off with it...still talking on your phone! That last one was hilarious because I handed her a Frapp. and she ordered a HOT Latte!!!!! She took off before I could catch her!!! HOW CAN YOU NOT REALIZE THAT YOU WERE GIVEN A COLD, BLENDED DRINK WHEN YOU ORDERED AN EXTRA HOT DRINK!?!?!?! oh wait I remember..... because you were on your phone!!!

Ok... so thanks for letting me rant. I realize that no Starbucks is perfect. We make mistakes...we're human. There are days when you will wait for a while in the drive thru.... but please know that we are doing our best. Show us the common courtesy of getting off your phone. And honestly, I rarely hand out the wrong drink...that one time just happened to be a fluke but the truth is there.... she didn't even notice because she didn't even look at me...she was on her phone.

We had a lady sit in the drive thru for 5 minutes yesterday, parked at our speaker box, windows rolled up....on the phone. One of the guys walked out to see if there was a problem - if she needed help - if there was anyone behind her... and no to all of it. She was just talking on her phone for 5 minutes. She finally ordered...came up to the window...still on the phone.

It's just hard to be perky and happy in the morning when I'm being disrespected at the drive thru window.

Sheesh!

Please take no offense. I am just expressing my frustration. I do NOT represent Starbucks in anyway... just myself.

But know that I appreciate it when you say thank you, or smile at me. I try to do the same for you.

So proud....

Ok so funny thing... you know how kids make up their own words? You know, like han-ga-burr for hamburger or host-i-boldt for hospital (yea...those are my kids!) Annabelle made a cute one the other day... I was making lunch and we were having quesadilla's... these are Bella's favorite. She tells me after she eats..."Thanks for making me a cheesydilla mom" LOL I just had to laugh. She was clear and precise with her other words but cheesydilla!!!! Awe...so cute.

Also...I'm addicted to Facebook. Oh, wait...I think I already told you that! I think it's because I am finding people from forever ago. Like my friend Abby from High School (um...13 years ago) or my friend and floormate in college - Amber (um...10 years ago) and my friend Todd from my Starbucks days down in Newport (10 years too!) It's fun to play catch up and see where everyone is. LOVE IT.

Jake and Jessica took some more photo's and they're awesome (as always)... just check out Jake's website... click HERE then click on Blog..it will take you to the pics. My sister Rachel is the bride model on the top of the page. It's sick how beautfiul she is!

That's all. I'm tired...(it's now 11pm) Steve's been gone for 2 days now and tomorrow will be 3... I need a nap, and a bath, and a good book (which I can't find because I think it's under the laundry pile) and my husband back. I can't sleep when he's not here....

Last Class!!!!!

Today is Tuesday. It's the first day, of the last week of this class I'm taking. I am jumping for joy inside...because once this week is over...I will be starting my very LAST class!!!! Whooo Hooooo!!!!! And what makes it even better is that it's Intro to Criminal Justice! LOL!!! I'm excited! I can't believe it's been 2 years of hard work...late nights...dozens of papers...tons of research...and finally - the end. I just checked my GPA... and it's at 3.78! YES!!!! I'm pretty stoked!

So...once I finish this paper that is due this next week I will be done...and moving on to the last class standing between me and my BA!

*sigh* can you can senioritis when your 30? =)

Facebook is crazy fun!

Ok... so I've found high school classmates, college classmates and old friends I used to work with! I'm stoked on Facebook right now! I love catching up with people I haven't talked to in a while and it's so great to find out how they are. Whew... it could get addicting...=)

p.s. I'm finally on Facebook...

SO.... wanna be my friend?!?! lol

Come find me ...

Pictures!!!!

Ok so it's been a while and I've finally downloaded some pictures from my camera. Our desktop has taken a turn for the worst and now all of our computer stuff has to be done on my laptop...so...I have finally downloaded the necessary crap and we're up and ready to go...so... here are some updated pictures...

The first one is of Jeremiah and Annabelle on Easter...


This next one is of my Grandma Mariano and all of her Great Grandkids! Whew! 4 of those are mine...2 are Rachel's and the cutest baby on my Grandma's lap is Jake's.





Here is Hailey getting close to a miniture pony at CALM (California Living Museum)...there are a couple from our day at CALM. It's definetly NOT the Wildlife Safari Zoo that we LOVED in Arizona...but it was pretty cute.


Annabelle and Hailey getting up close and personal with the pony...


Here's another one of the kids and then of Steve feeding the goat...such yummy little pellets!!! =) I'm guessing they're treats or something...shoot if you put me at a fence and hand fed me OREO's then I'd eat out of your hand too!!!! lol



Here's Bella!!!!


OOOHHHH.... Hailey's first dance... well sorta... it was a Father Daughter Dance... How cute are they!??!?!




William at his preschool graduation.... it's hard to believe that he will start kindergarten in the fall! 3 kids in school and 1 to go.....





ok...so that's about it for now... unless I can find some more pics.... =)