Won't be around forever, girl

Hello friends I do apologize for going so long without an update but life has been... life.

About a week after I last posted in January, I quit the interior design job. The stress was insane for a stupid admin assistant/personal assistant position, and I couldn't take the condescending dickery anymore. Did I mention he asked me to come along with him to one of the apartments to meet a contractor and then proceeded to rip the contractor a new asshole with me wandering around the apartment thinking oh god oh god so awkward THIS IS SO AWKWARD? Because that happened.

Living in New York City is hard. Living in New York City unemployed? Really fucking hard. These last few months have been internal panic central. The writing job has helped, but not enough. Very much not enough. That's... about as much as I'll sum things up there.

But... I did recently just get another job. Starbucks. It's Starbucks. Third time rehired back at Starbucks as a shift supervisor. HA HA HA. Oh life. But hey. Steady paycheck and health insurance coming my way in a few months, so I really shouldn't complain.

I was calling around stores for available positions that were NOT in the midtown area (because that was my first mistake after moving to NYC) and just so happened to call a store that was in desperate need of partners. Well, that's not how it was offered to me, but after working there for over two weeks, that's the obvious reason. I gave my spiel at the interview and the manager was excited and told me so, and hired me on right away. Turns out they were very short staffed, and on top of that, the manager has been on jury duty ever since I started so a) not only have I not worked with her yet but b) I haven't even been set up in the system yet. Which means I can't clock in, clock out, do managerial stats, open the safe, get paid, etc. But apparently she should be back in this week.

And so far the store seems much, MUCH better than where I was before (which was near Rockefeller Center, urgh.) Most if not all of the shift supervisors are REALLY on point with getting shit done and getting shit done right, which was a huge issue I had at the Rockefeller store. So... it feels okay so far. I had a shift last week where I thought I did a poor job of managing, but when the assistant manager and I looked at the numbers, we were above target, and he said I did a great job so... hopefully I can only go up from there!

Sometimes I think about how much of a failure I feel like for not getting a ~grownup job and doing ~grownup work, but... I think I'm slowly coming to the realization that, as much as I'd love to be known as Sarah: Assistant Editor or whatever, jobs don't make me happy. (Or maybe I've yet to find a job that truly makes me happy?) They're means to an end of earning money so that I can DO the things that make me happy. Like maybe spending money on traveling or hot air ballooning or an amazing dinner is valued more to me than having a high-payed salaried job that consumes my life. Does that make sense? Is that silly? I should probably just hand in my adult card now.

My sister just visited the city for the past few days. Just dropped her off at the airport this morning, in fact. I was wonderful, minus the fact that I couldn't get days scheduled off while she was here. So I've been going nonstop since Tuesday - work, tourist stuff, work work work, hanging out, tourist stuff, walking walking. But it was really really great. I've been missing my family more and more lately. Fortunately I scored very cheap tickets to go home over Easter weekend, which is only 3 weeks away.

Other notables:

- My 27th birthday is in 10 days. Urgh. I don't even know how to feel about that.
- Was very, very lucky to see an advanced screening of Captain America: Winter Soldier last week and it was AMAAAAZIIIIING. Myself and friends already have tickets to see a marathon of the first Captain America and then the second one right after. So very excited.
- We've had a shit-ton of snow this winter and it's amazing and I love it, but I am also very excited for spring and all the flowers and things to do outside!

Also, um, yes, I still watch SPN and FUCK ME I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE MARK OF CAIN STORYLINE WITH DEAN NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY GETS AN ARC BUT BECAUSE IT PUSHES ALL THE RIGHT BUTTONS FOR MEEEE. I could do 3489302 backflips. DON'T FUCK IT UP, WRITERS.

( Gather 'round boys and girls, and I'll tell you the story of my first 4 months of living in New York City. )

If you made it through all that, good lord. Congrats. I promise not to go so long without updating again. I've been busy doing all kinds of fun things, but this is definitely cathartic and what I needed. And now I turn off my alarm and sleep until I decide to get up.

About a week ago, my boss texted me. Basically she asked what my thoughts were on being promoted to assistant manager, or store manager, as there are a lot of openings coming up here soon. I mean, !!!!!!!!!!! HOLY CRAP. I don't take this lightly, as my boss is the epitome of an anal control freak. Which, hey, is mostly good for making sure our store runs properly, but can be veeeery wearing. But the fact that she considers me ASM/SM material? I'm pretty freaking flattered.

Alas, I've been thinking about it for a good while, and I don't think I'm gonna take the position. Not right now, anyway. For a couple of reasons. One being that customer service is wearing on me mentally, physically, and emotionally more and more each day. I honestly dread having to deal with people nowadays. Which leads me to wonder if I'll ever find a job that I truly enjoy, seeing as how I hate office work so much. BUT anyway, I was getting comfortable with the idea of leaving Starbucks again, so a managerial position is prooobably not in my best interests right now.

Besides, I'm doing this little thing like moving to NYC? In March? Hopefully? So that would interfere with my plans for that. Ha. I'd also really really like to actually do something about having a career instead of just a job, and hopefully NYC will take care of that, too.

I didn't outright ask, but I think it's fairly well implied that if I ever DO decide to come back to Starbucks or do want the managerial position, my boss will totally give me the recommendation for it. So. Good fallback plan, I guess!

I am SO excited for Friday. A couple of friends and I are going to visit another friend that just had a baby, and then we're off to Orlando for the Christmas extravaganza at Disney World. Fingers crossed that everything goes according to plan. AND THEN on Tuesday of next week, my parents and I are driving to Atlanta to pick up my sister at the airport, and then staying with family for Thanksgiving. COLD WEATHER YAY. Also 20+ family members in one gathering! Should be exciting, and hopefully minimal amounts of awkward. Fingers crossed for snow lololol.

Loooooook I actually have things to post about.

Unfortunately, work related. But entertaining?

We have doors on either side of our store where you can come inside, and sometimes people get confused on where the line is for the register, since sometimes people linger on either sides of the register. Which is just... ughghaglkas. Really? You can't figure out how lines work? Well, no, I guess not. Because today: I finish up a transaction for a woman and send her on her merry way. Look up and see two other women lingering on either side of the register. I wait to see who steps forward first. Lady #1 does. I get her order, ring her up, and as soon as I finish...

Lady #2, to Lady #1: EXCUSE me, but you completely cut in front of me. I was here FIRST.
Lady #1: Oh, uhh... sorry? I just stepped up when the other lady was finished.
Lady #2: I WAS HERE FIRST. YOU CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I can't BELIEVE you, we were WAITING HERE, how did you not see us, for Christ's sake.
Lady #1: Are you... serious?

At this point I'm like... JFC. Lady #2 is causing a scene and ~verbally harassing another one of my customers. I'm the acting manager. Should I step in? Should I apologize on behalf Lady #1 to Ms. Crazy Pants? (Lol no.) Okay, so trying to diffuse the situation it is.

(Please also note that Lady #1 and Lady #2 were the only line that existed.)

Me: Um, okay, let's just move on, shall we? Can I get your drink order?
Lady #2: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE. She cut in front of me and you're acting rude as hell when it's none of your business.
Me: ..........you're in my line, so...
Lady #2: Don't get uppity with me!! SO RUDE. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER.
Me: *Waves*
Lady #2: Oh, right of course we'll see about that.

And she stomps off. Her poor teenage son who was standing next to her the entire time looking like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole was overly nice when he ordered drinks from me. I feel really, really bad for the kid. They then sat down for about 15 minutes while she made a phonecall and I just marveled at the entire thing and then thought, WOW, I can see why she felt so strongly about being cut in front of because she's just so very very busy and has places to go. Yes. That must be it.

I had a coworker who was on the floor and a coworker who was off the floor witness the entire thing. The coworker who was off the floor overheard who she was on the phone with.

She called the corporate comment/complaint number. SHE CALLED CORPORATE TO COMPLAIN. Omg. I love it.

Two things: 1) she whipped that phone out and dialed that number like her butt was on fire. Without even looking it up. I get the feeling she's done this before many, many times. 2) she didn't even know my name, just told Corporate (from what the coworker overheard) she said that I was in HER line and that I'd better just DEAL WITH IT.

Ohhhh, Starbucks. Never a dull moment.

Unrelated note: I'm finishing up The Kite Runner which is quite good, and I think I'd like to finally undertake Game of Thrones next. I've heard some people say that it's better to read the first book and then watch the series, but I've also heard the opposite. Thoughts?

IT'S MUH BIRTHDAY

Despite getting up at 4am and going to work for a few hours, the day was pretty great. One of my regulars even got me a piece of cake, lulz. Then I came home and had a nap. Naps are awesome. Then I was lazy. Then my parents and I went to this amaaaaaazing Mexican restaurant in St. Pete where I had amaaaaazing shredded beef enchiladas with poblano cream sauce. Then there was salted caramel frozen yogurt. Back at home, my parents got me red velvet cupcake tea from Republic of Tea (♥!) and gave me some spending money for my trip to Chicago this weekend, aw. So, not bad! And I still have almost four whole days in Chicago coming up, yays!

Happy birthday also to my birthday twins (triplets?) kashmir1 and poppyjar! <3333 And happy birthday to the hot guy at Starbucks who overheard me talking to a regular about my birthday and said it was his today too. You go, 35 year old hot guy.

And because I can, Jensen's face.



Thanks for your face, Jensen.

( Medical adventures )

Still, there are good things! Very very good things. For one, my sister is home, and will be until next Saturday. And two... despite my hand-wringing over how much money it'll cost and the time I'll be missing taking off work, my friends have successfully talked me into going on a cruise in May to Barcelona, Cannes, Florence, and Rome. AHHHH. EUROPE. Plus, I've never been on a cruise before, and I think'll be awesome to have all the accommodations sorted and just be able to go out and see the sights without worrying about hotels and stuff. I'm a little overwhelmed, since I'm a meticulous planner and this is all kind of spur of the moment, but I'm trying not to think about it too much and just go with the flow. So if any of you have been to any of these cities, tell me: best things to do there in only 8 hours?

No partying or green beer for me tonight, as I have to open tomorrow at work yet again. Tired. So tired. And trying not to think about my impending blood test, wah.

Holiday Love Meme | my thread

\

So a customer gave me his number yesterday (meaning he wants ME to contact HIM) and wants to go out with me? But I feel kinda weird about it? But I guess I'll at least go out to lunch with him or something, and if I'm not really feeling it I can take the other option that he gave me, which was just hanging out as friends? I kinda think I don't know how to date? And that the only people I'll ever have feelings for (or WANT to have feelings for) are gay or already taken or both?

Sigh.

( Oh hai director Ackles. )

Urgh, this is the second week in a row I'm working 35+ hours, six days in a row. I'm ecstatic to have a paycheck again (like I had today, first one since late June!), but really. Urgh.

Ooh, I realized I never showed pictures from the wearable art runway show my friend did about a month ago!

( Wearable oddities. )

Got a call a few days ago from the Starbucks I had the interview at, and she pretty much wants to hire me on right away as a shift manager. :DDD A shift is pretty much a key holder, counts the safe, drops off the deposit, opens and closes, and get's PAID MORE YAY. This is pretty much the best possible outcome for me for working at Starbucks right now. I have another interview at the store on Monday, as she wants to talk to me about all the shift stuff, and for me to talk to another manager for a nearby store. She's afraid that I might not get all the hours I'd want, so I might be floating in between stores for a while, just until holiday hours pick up. The only problem with this is that the other store is in a crappy location; there's road construction all around it which is so horrible that that Starbucks has to close at 6pm. But MEH, we'll see how it goes.

Also I am trying SO VERY HARD to tamp down my anxiety on this upcoming Apple interview. What if, after all the interview process for it, I actually get hired? Then I'll have to tell Starbucks and my accommodating manager kthxbye and I would feel horrible about it. Ugh. I don't know. I'm just going to tuck those thoughts away until after the interview and make decisions as they come. But either way, YAY JOB! :DDDD

I love this man. I love him. His music is something I connect with deeply, on a very emotional level. This piece that I recently discovered, a very early rendition of Impossible Soul from his latest album Age of Adz, is no exception.



♥♥♥

Work is... work. Still the same. Counting down the days. Begging my sanity to hold on just a little bit longer. 7 more working days. ALMOST THERE.