I'm Over It

• 

  After Friday's debacle I have calmed down some. 
  
  Like I said, Mona went to talk to our coffee boss, Mandy, to try and clear things up.
  
  According to her it was a misunderstanding and she didn't mean to come off that way. She was talking about future employees.
  
  Even if, it was still crappy.
  
  It didn't make me any less mad about the meeting. I'm still upset and Mandy has lost ALL of my respect.
  
  Mona told her that I was pissed and would be harder to make up with (Mona was right) and that she needed to at least message me and apologize.
  
  Hours later I get a picture message with her smiling with a set of keys "We got the keys to the building!"
  
  This was her apology?
  
  Mona was at work, so I messaged her right away.
• 
  
  
  Luna: That picture was in no way an apology
  
  
  Mona: errrr. No.
  
  
  Luna: It almost made it worse.
  
  
  Mona: errr. yaeaah. So I take it you didn't respond? lolol. 
  
  
  Luna: If I responded right now I would tell her I wouldn’t be able to help at all this weekend
  
  
  Mona:    
• 
  
• 
  
• This is what you would be like Lololol
  
  
              Then you would be like          
             
• 
  
•  Then I would be like          

              
• • 
    
  • Bee do bee do bee do

    
    

    Luna: This is what I want to send Mandy:

    
    

                Mandy. I don’t think I’m going to make it downtown this weekend. I think I need time to cool off. I don’t get upset easily and I am furious over what happened in the meeting yesterday. After not talking to you in over two weeks you basically told us that we need to get our slobby, lazy, selves to work and that if we didn’t you, Juan, and your sister would have free rein to scream at us whenever you want. You have created a hostile work environment, one that I would never want to work in. But mainly the things that were said about my sister in this meeting, directly and indirectly, were horrible and inexcusable. She was so hurt and upset by the way you have treated her over the last few weeks and what was said about her yesterday that she was in TEARS!! That is not something I forgive easily. I know that Mona said it wasn't meant that way, but you made my sister cry. I’m going to need a minute before I forgive you for that.

    
    

    Mona: 
  • 
    
  • you going to do it?

    
    

    Luna: I think so, but I’m going to think on it for a bit. What do you think?

    
    

    Mona: You don’t think that stuff is better to say in person?

    
    

    Luna: Not my style

    
    

    Mona: lol

    
    
  • 
    
• Once I wrote out my letter to Mandy to narrow down my angry feelings, I stopped and thought about what would happen if I sent the letter...
• 
  
• I would feel vindicated and justified in the moment. I would get my word in and give her a piece of my mind. But it would also cause more drama, I hate drama. It would be harder for me to go back and face her. Things would be more awkward and there would be more hurt feelings all around. Is this a job that needs to be kept or can I just cut ties off with her? Would it be beneficial for my future career of owning my own coffee shop? Probably not. People are hard to deal with especially  in a work environment. I won't always be able to cut ties with everyone I meet who makes me mad. Plus, do I really want to sink to this level? Using my words to cut and hurt. Or do I want to try to mend things even if I never get the apology that I want. Do I want to hold onto my anger? Will sending this letter cause more harm or good? 

• • Luna:
  • • 
      
    •  I’m over it. 
    • Mona:
    • • 
        
      • Luna: 
        

        
        

        
        

        
        
      • 
        

Don't Mess With Mona

I AM GOING TO PUNCH SOMEONE IN THE FACE!!!

And by someone I mean my coffee boss, Mandy, and her little side kick Janet!

We have not heard a word from Mandy in over two weeks, since we packed everything up and moved it into storage to wait a few days until we could open in our new downtown location.

That was at the end of last month and we have heard nothing from her since. 

I was ready to start looking for a new job again. Dazed and confused, but okay with whatever.  

Then we get a text late yesterday saying that there is a meeting at 6:30 to hammer things out for opening downtown. 

Thanks a lot for your planning skills, Mandy

I was pissed that she expected us to drop anything we had going on to come to her little powwow, but I got over it and moved my schedule around to go accommodate her so that we could to this meeting with our little group so we would know what the hell is going on.

Guys. When I talk about our group of people who are moving downtown. It's Mandy and her Partner, Juan, Mandy's sister, a girl named Tiffany, Mona and I, and then there is Janet who worked as a waitress in the no longer existing Mexican restaurant and has never made a cup of coffee in her life!

Sorry, I digress. 

So this super small group of  3 employees (I'm not including Janet) have been working our tales off to be open 16 hours a day on top of us all having other full time jobs. 

Last time we got together she was telling us what a wonderfully great team we were. 

We get to this ill prepared meeting and she blindsides us. 

Telling us exactly how it is going to be and that if we don't start doing exactly what is expected of us at exactly the right time we will be chewed out. Her, Juan, and her sister will be there to make sure we keep in line. 

She's basically telling us that we are lazy, slobs, who don't know how to do their jobs. 

She literally said "WE WILL YELL AND NO LONGER SUGAR COAT THINGS" 

I don't think I have ever been more insulted in my life.

I am extremely hard and good worker. 

Not to brag, but to give you insight into the situation, I have three jobs and am getting my bachelors in business management. 

My bosses, at a major medical facility, come to me with their problems and have me training other employees. I have never been written up. I am never late. I don't have patients complain about me. I have patients who come back just to say hi to me after they are done with their appointments. My old bosses trust me enough that, even after I quit working for them, they ask me to stay in their homes and watch their dogs while they are gone for weeks at a time. I have even had other team leaders in our health system come to me and ask me if I would like me to work for them. 

And Mona has been working her butt off this lady. She has basically been doing the job of a manager while getting paid minimum wage. 

We have all been going above and beyond for this woman.

And did I mention we volunteered our time to help her with this move? 

I was honestly ready to walk away at that point. And I would have been fine without loosing a wink of sleep over it, until Janet opened her big fat ugly stupid mouth. 

She started ripping on Mona!

LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW...

YOU. DO. NOT.

MESS.

WITH.

MY.

LITTLE SISTER

.

She was saying stupid things about being ticked off about having to clean up after her all the time, and that she shouldn't be aloud to wear her stupid scarfs anymore, and how she has to redue all of the coffee lists she wrote out for her because she didn't do it exactly to her liking. 

GUYS THIS LADY HAS NEVER EVEN TRIED TO MAKE A CUP OF COFFEE! 

She is the drunk waitress who doesn't even work in the same area as Mona. AND Mona has to clean chips and salsa off the floor every morning when she comes in the morning from the mess that Janet leaves the night before! 

*deep breath* deep breath*

Mona is going to meet with Mandy today to try and clear things up.

She is a better person than I right now. I just want to get out of this before I seriously injure someone.

American Box Pickers

After the dismal Tuesday of uncertainty I had as of Tuesday with the coffee shop relocation, my coffee boss finally stepped it up and got things rolling and clued us in on the plans.

It's still not as smooth as it could be with her disappearing every now and then, leaving us with ALL the work.  This is especially disheartening since we are volunteering our time for the move, but I'm trying not to dwell on that.

We have been working like crazy! We had to be out yesterday, literally.

At one point we ran out of boxes, so Mandy sent her sister, Jessie, and I box hunting.

The best place they have found to get empty moving boxes is Woodman's Grocery Store. 

This is a huge grocery store, people. It's so big that I never go there.

I absolutely HATE grocery shopping, it's like pulling teeth. When I have to go I want to get in and out as quick as possible. Woodman's is not quick when it takes you 20 minutes to walk across the store to get a gallon of milk.

I find it so terrible that, even though it is right across the street from me and the cheapest prices in town, I would rather drive farther and pay more than go there.

I made an exception in this case, because we weren't actually grocery shopping.

Jessie had done this before, so I thought we would just make a quick stop at the back entrance, ask for some boxes and be done.

Little did I know! 

Jessie took me inside the main entrance, grabbed at cart, and told me we had to go box picking.

And by box picking she meant we had to go up and down every isle and look for this big bins full of boxes and find the boxes we wanted.

Now, well I said I hate grocery shopping in this store, I found this experience to be hilariously funny and wonderful!


Imagine a huge grocery store, isle packed with people getting groceries, staring at these two girls opening up large box bins in the middle of the isles picking boxes!

The looks we got.

I felt like I was on the show American Pickers were they go to people junked up houses and pick those old buildings to find treasure.

Jessie said when she came in the first time she asked a lady for boxes and lady said "this is going to sound strange..."

It was strange, but it was also, hands down, the best part of the move!

Going Down...Town?

Operation move the coffee shop downtown is underway?

At least I think it is. I'm not really sure anymore....

We closed up shop on Saturday with big plans of being all moved into the new building downtown by this Friday.

Last week my coffee boss was pulling and rallying us to put all our effort into the big move this week, so that we can reopen without delay. 

This week Mona and I have hardly been able to pull two words out of her. 

There have been vague plans and almost answers, but every time we start asking too many questions she says she will talk to us later. 

It's already Tuesday and we have done nothing.

Friday is coming up fast!

I drove by the building this morning, before my other job, and there's not even a sign on the old building saying that we are closed, just doors locked and lights off. 

I looked through the window and it didn't seem like anything had been touched since I left on Saturday night. 

Part of me is thinking they have no plan and no idea what they are doing and that they are going to expect us all to drop everything and scramble with them at the last minute (much like how the work scheduling was the last two weeks). 

And part of me is thinking that Mandy and Juan got in another fight and decided to call it quits and forgot to tell us. 

Mona and I aren't sure what to do or if we still have jobs. 

Right now it's a game of wait and see game.  

I don't think there is anyway we will be all moved in by Friday.

Oh and did I mention that Mandy also has us signed up for an local business expo on Sunday, and we have nothing done for that either? 

Oy Vey!

Banker's Hours

I think I am going to like this coffee shop moving downtown business.

So, I was working like normal, minding my own business, when this gorgeous man walks in.

Let's just say he was not to terrible to look at...blond hair, an adorable smile, and a fitted gray business suit with a six pack underneath (I'm just guessing about that last part).

Pure ugly.

Come to find out he was looking for my coffee boss, Mandy, because he is working with her for our relocation downtown.

If these are what the downtown men look like I say we pack up and go right now!

Right now we get all the ugly smoke shop men from next door. Not pretty.

Once I found out he was helping us with our move downtown, I of course, introduced myself.

Then this crazy woman, who everyone calls "Man Hands" walked in and interrupted our lovely conversation, by asking for the free burrito Mandy had promised her for not smoking the last ten days (I think she might have been smoking something else).

The gorgeous man started backing towards the exit...stupid Man Hands!

On his way out he said "Tell Mandy I will call her and maybe I will see you downtown someday".

I took this as he is madly in love with me and wants to see me again. (I think it was more of a general pleasantry, but I like to believe otherwise, so don't burst my bubble!)

As soon as Man Hands left, I immediately called Mandy and asked her where she had been hiding this wonderful man.

Apparently he has been hiding in the normal banker's business hours while I have been at my other job.

Yes, that's right, he's also a banker

I told her that I wanted to be in charge of all of the downtown business interactions from this point on and that she can give him my phone number for further contact.

She said she would give him my number and tell him if he needs help with anything, anything at all, that he can call me.

Perfect.

Can we please be downtown already?

Vacation Station

I have off of my Medical Receptionist job this week. And let me tell you after the zipper incident last week I need it.

I love my job, but if I didn't get a break every now and then I would go crazy....it could already be to late.

I'm still glad to have off.

Last night I got to turn off my six am alarm and sleep until nine. Too bad I was rudely awoken by my second alarm, that I forgot to shut off, at six thirty.

I won't make that mistake again.

Once Mona and I got up and got ready, we went and explored the health food store across the street. We don't shop there much because it's super pricey, but we are splurging this week.

We got freshly made carrot juice and the "eye opener" special of the month. I'm not really sure what's all in it, but it was good. Mona also picked up a ten dollar jar of Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter to try.

It was really good, but it was a strange consistency. Almost like really oily peanut butter that doesn't mix well.

After that we headed to the coffee shop.

Mona's working at the coffee shop today and i'm just chilling here (while I'm trying to do homework, but let's not think about that right now) and I'm making her serve me coffee.

It's wonderful (besides the homework)

Also, my friend, Beth, and her kids stopped by for a coffee date and my friend, Becky, brought Mona and I lunch.

I wish I could get paid to do nothing all the time, because I could get very much used to this.

Dramatic Turn

My poor coffee boss, Mandy, had such a bad day yesterday!

Her day started off so good and then it took a very dramatic turn for the worst.

When I talked to her in the morning things were wonderful!

The coffee shop relocation  was coming along nicely. They were drawing up paperwork for a main street location for a thousand dollars a month (almost unheard of downtown plus it's $1,700 less than what we are paying now).

There was no drama at home (which is a little unusual for her).

And she was getting over her breakup with Juan. She had been talking to this guy online for about a year and they finally decided to meet on Tuesday night.

Mandy was nervous and only wanted to meet him for five minutes, so they decided to meet in the Walmart parking lot over by the liquor store (crazy thing about my town, we have to sell alcohol in it's own establishments, so we are talking the back lot of Walmart) at night.

When she was telling Mona and I this story we made fun of her so much! Who meets a guy they met online, at Walmart, at night? That's safe and so not ghetto at all!

Anyways, they did hit it off and she really likes him. She said they had this big movie moment kiss where he grabbed her face and pulled her in and just kissed her. She said if she hadn't been standing next to her car she might of fallen backwards it was so good.

They liked each other so much they even made plans to go out again last night.

So you could say she was in a pretty good mood yesterday morning.

Then we fast-forward to when I went into work that night. 

She got an email from the property manager saying they "miscalculated" the amount of space in the building and the rent would be going up an extra $500.

When she had gone home to see her son, he pulled her into his bedroom and closed the door and started sobbing uncontrollably.

He told her his missed his grandpa (her dad who passed away a few months ago) and didn't know what to do.

When she got back to work she asked me "how do you help someone with something when you're not even okay with it?" I told her "No thank you have a nice day?" and walked away. (when faced with difficult situations, where I have no idea what to do or say, I try humor to make people feel better...I got her to smile, so mission accomplished).

And the the final blow...the guy stopped responding to all of her messages.

Not a word from him after making the plans to go out again. She sat waiting all night, ready to go out with him, and the jerk never answered her back. Just left her without a word.

She ended up sitting with Juan at the restaurant all night.

At the end of the night I gave her a hug and told her everything was going to be okay, but my heart was breaking for how her good day turned out so very bad and so very heartbreaking.

Coffee Shop Relocation

The coffee shop I'm working for, the one that's also a Mexican restaurant and also has been having some partner relationship problems, is relocating.

They are relocating downtown, because the rent was raised $700 where they are now. The building we are moving into is smaller, but has the option to grow.

They are getting rid of the Mexican restaurant (but not the business partner) and just going with the coffee shop in the move, but the coffee shop is still going to be serving taco's on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.

I am glad they are getting rid of the Mexican restaurant, but I personally think that still serving taco's on the weekend is a big mistake for several reasons. And I am going to tell you guys why, because they refuse to listen to me and I need to vent.

1. Coffee shops and taco places attract two VERY different types of customers. They say they want to draw in the hip modern sophisticated coffee drinking crowd. The taco place will drawn in the drunk hicks. 

2. We are in a fairly large town (63,000) and there is no coffee shop downtown. This is a GREAT unique opportunity and you will monopolize the downtown market!! There are already two other taco places downtown. One is an very unique authentic well priced great Mexican grocery and restaurant. We will make an average overpriced taco.

3. It's a small place. If people are taking up space waiting for their tacos it is not going to leave a lot of room for the people who are there to sit and drink their coffee. 

4. Coffee and tacos taste terrible together. It's true. It's absolutely terrible. You can try it if you want, but I wouldn't recommend it.  

If they go this way they are going to continue to drive away their customers!

I know that if I'm at a coffee shop on a weekend night, it is because I'm trying to avoid the drunk bar crowd and I don't want to be at a place that is selling tacos to them. 

I know that I'm just their minimum wage Barista/Waitress, but I'm not getting my B.S. in Business Management for nothing! These are things I have learned. I can't help, but want to help, but nobody's listening!!

Business Partners with Benefits

I almost lost my job yesterday!

I have told you about my coffee shop/Mexican restaurant job. (You can read about it here if you don't remember).

Mandy is the coffee shop owner and Juan is the Mexican restaurant owner. They are business partners and more. And by more I mean business partners with benefits. And by benefits I mean they are sleeping together!

Juan is a nice guy, but he is a big play boy.

Mandy is helplessly in love with him.

Juan told her up front that he didn't want any type of relationship and never would. (does this ever really work?)

Mandy thought she could change his mind and make him fall in love with her. (another big mistake)

Yesterday Juan told Mandy he was done with the "relationship".

This was not good.

Mandy was completely crushed! She was ready to pack up and leave town, quit the business and never look back and leave me without a job!

Mona and I spent all of yesterday trying to help Mandy get through the...breakup? Do you call it a breakup if they technically weren't dating? Anyways, she was all sorts of a mess.

At one point she had her hands around his throat. It started out as a joke, but then she just kinda held on. Mona and I just stood there watching (I didn't want to get in the middle of that!). Thankfully she did let go and Juan and I both took a breath (I didn't even realize I was holding mine).

How do I keep finding myself in these uncomfortable awkward situations?

We had to remind Mandy that she is stronger than she thinks, she will make it through this, hopefully with out choking Juan again. She also deserves better than a "friends with benefits" situation. It will be painful and awkward to continue being business partners, but as I told Mandy yesterday, it's not as bad as having to hug a "homicidal villain". She's a survivor...she not gonna give up. (Yes, I imagine having this talk going along with Destiny Child's "Survivor". It's my go to motivation speech.)

Now we will just have to wait and see how the next few weeks go...

How did I end up with three jobs?

Guys. I'm tired of working two jobs.

I know I've only been doing this two weeks, but it's exhausting. 

And, not only am I working two jobs, I somehow I find myself actually working three jobs. 

www.zazzle.com

Get this, I know it's going to sound weird, but the coffee shop is inside a Mexican restaurant!

It's one of the strangest things I have ever seen or heard! But they make it work...I guess?

The coffee shop owner and the Mexican restaurant owner are business partners. They are in one little building in a strip mall and split the space. There are two separate counters and they share the seating area.

This is all kinds of unusual and I find it very intriguing, except for the part where I have to be a Barista and a waitress at the same time. 

Do you know how hard it is to be a Barista and a waitress at the same time!?! 

Pretty darn difficult if you ask me!

Making the fancy coffee takes some time and when you have a line of coffee people and even one or two tables it's very hard to keep up and take care of everyone in a timely manor (It's near impossible).

You would think, with it technically being two separate businesses (They have different names and different counters), they would have two separate workers, but that is not the case. Luna gets all the work!

I know I'm complaining little (okay maybe a lot) here because I'm tired, but I really do like the job and it pays for my coffee habit (I think, even with my discount, I am paying them to work there). 

It may be a a slightly unusual situation that is a lot of work, but it's all good. I got this. I'm super woman. I'll make it work! 

...right after my nap. 

Barista Update

You guys are probably wondering how my first day as a Barista went...I told you I was starting last week and never gave you any type of update!

You're probably asking what kind of blogger is this Luna LaBlue? She just left us hanging like this? She left us wondering if she hated being a Barista or if she up and quit after the first ten minuets or if she died from a fatal steamed milk accident?!? Who knows? Not us!

Well guys, good news! I did not die in a fatal steamed milk accident!

I actually kinda love it! I was practically running the place after the first hour (slightly over-exaggerated statement)!

My First Cup Of Coffee

Look at my picture and you can see my first cup of coffee! Mona says it looks like I didn't measure the right amount of milk because the cup isn't full, but I was so excited I had to take a drink before I took the picture. I had been up since 5:30 AM I needed a sip of my HappyCappi before I could think properly and take a picture!

As you can clearly see I perfected the coffee art. What do you mean you don't see it? It's a cloud people! 

Anyways, back to what I was saying. I think I am picking it up rather well. I have the main base of coffee drinks down (lattes and cappuccinos) and now I just have to remember how to make all the specialty drinks they serve.

I really do enjoy the atmosphere of working in a coffee shop and chatting with the customers (do not call them patients-this is not my hospital job) and I think I will keep it for awhile.

I am helping them plan a fall open house for this Saturday. We will be introducing all of our new fall drinks and we will have tastings and drawings for prizes and fun!

I will tell you guys all about it next week! I promise! I won't forget! Just remind me if I haven't posted anything by next Thursday...

Barista In Training

Tonight I start training to become a Barista! For those of you who have no idea what a Barista is, let me tell you.

You know that wonderful person who makes your triple, soy, sugar-free, caramel macchiato, with extra whipped cream (or "fancy coffee" if your not hip on your coffee lingo) every morning? Well, that person is now going to be me! (I can also get you a plain cup of joe, but that's not as exciting to talk about).

I will learn how to pull espresso to get a perfect crema. I will see just the right way to stretch milk to get it smooth and foamy, but not bubbly. I will learn to prefect the art of coffee to make it not only taste good, but look good as well. 

Boy, I think I am already starting to sound like a professional Barista! Look what reading the Barista instruction manual can getcha!

Now all I need is to do is learn exactly what my new Barista vocabulary means!

Thankfully I do have some knowledge of coffee.

First off, I drink a LOT of coffee, so I think that gives me a good advantage.

Secondly, Mona and I, are thinking about opening our own coffee shop in the next few years, (you may have heard me talk about this before in my HappyCappi Post) so I have done some research.

Working at this local coffee shop does kinda make me feel like a top secret double agent! I will learn all of her tips and tricks, just to pull the rug out from under her and become her competition.

The fact that I want to open my own coffee shop did not come up in the job interview.

This does make me feel a little guilty.

But healthy competition is good and she does need help and who better than someone who loves coffee and is going to be the best Barista then can and what if the new shop never works out? This is a good thing. I don't need to feel guilty...right?