I'm so excited to use it!!!!! This work day cannot go fast enough!!
Mona and I spent a pretty penny on this beauty, but it's well worth it! We justify it by calling it an "investment in our future". Which is legit because we plan on opening up a coffee shop in the next couple of years.
Now we just need that grinder to come and we will be golden!
We tried contacting coffee boss Mandy to work things out.
We waited and waited and waited.
No response.
And then we were taken off admin on the Facebook page.
We figured this was her way of telling us she was done and that she didn't want to talk to us anymore, so we started to move on with our lives.
Mona was offered a full time promotion at her other job, working the hours she normally worked at the coffee shop, and she took it. I started looking for another part time job and put my applications in a few places.
I was having way too much fun looking on Craigslist. I could shave my head for $500 dollars, be a part of a local gang like movie (there was lots of drinking and swearing in the promo video), or become someone's sugar baby.
While all of those sounded appealing, the one that really caught my attention was a person looking for someone to write a screenplay about their life. How fun would that be? I love writing and it sounded so intriguing, how could I not respond? So I did. (I am still waiting to hear back)
Mom was yelling at me about looking for jobs on Craigslist, especially with the ones I was suggesting as good jobs. She was going on about the Craigslist Killer and how I shouldn't even be looking for jobs on there or responding to ads. She thought I was going to be killed, just by sending an email.
Craigslist people can be nice! I once watched a documentary where a guy lived for a month just off of Craigslist and the kindness of people he met through it. He had no money or contact with anyone he knew. He even found his camera man through Craigslist. The way people were willing to connect and help this guy was amazing. He only spent one night without someplace to stay. I loved it and thought for awhile about giving it a try, but I would be killed by Mom before the Craigslist Killer could ever get to me, so I didn't. If you want to watch it was on Netflix and called Craigslist Joe. Mona, of course, hated listening to me talk about it, but you might like it.
Mandy, the coffee boss, did end up responding eventually, but by then it was too late, we had already moved on. Mona really wanted to send her the video of the song Gotta Go My Own Way from High School Musical. She said the lyrics fit perfectly with what she was feeling:
But, Mona didn't think Mandy would appreciate it much, so she just went with "We didn't hear from you and we moved on"
Mandy had lots of excuses for everything and made everything seem like Mona's fault. She ended by saying it was for the best that we didn't come back.
So this part of our coffee shop journey has come to a close, but that doesn't stop us from moving forward.
Thank you guys. For listening to my vague problems and letting me vent about everything that has been going on with the coffee shop and for taking the time to be apart of my life by offering such great support for Mona and I. After countless hours of Mona and I talking about what to do with Mandy, we have decided to go forward with the coffee shop at this point in time with a reevaluation come January. We made a promise to Mandy to help her open downtown. Even though she has not treated us the best over the last two months, that does not void us of our promise.
If she chooses not to keep us or schedule us hours, that will be on her.
And, on top of not breaking our promise, ditching her right now could be detrimental to our reputation in the community and might hurt our chances of having a successful business down the road. You may think us idiots for sticking it out any longer, and I may be with you on that, but it's more than just about Mandy, it's about our integrity.
in·teg·ri·ty
noun
1.
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
We want to have strong morals and be fair and decent and trustworthy. And to do that sometimes it means doing the thing you want to do the least. In this case staying true to our word and not throwing Mandy out to the wolves. And even though we are staying things will be different. She has lost our trust completely and we will be watching her more closely. And If things still seem bad, come January, we will gracefully make our exit. Another thing with Mona and I love is...we love the coffee business. We love making coffee and most importantly we love the customers who come in for coffee. They are like our family. We can't, financially, open our own coffee shop yet, so this is as close as we can get to the business for the time being. Now we just have to see if Mandy still wants us around or not. If not then it's out of our hands.
I've been trying all day to explain exactly what happened with Mandy and the coffee shop yesterday and today, but I just don't have the words.
So much has happened I just can't wrap my brain around it.
The jest of it is that the coffee shop (you can read about our last coffee shop problems HERE and the follow up HERE) reopened today without us and things are not good between Mona and I and the coffee boss. We have been trying to work things out since the last incident, but things seem to have only gotten worse.
It's so bad, that after yesterday, Mona wants to puke.
Coffee boss, Mandy, is not treating employees or her customers with any respect. And, with the way she is heading right now, she is going to ruin this coffee shop. She is not a good business owner and she seems completely oblivious to the damage she is causing. It's a hard situation, because we really like her as a person, but, as of right now, Mona and I are seriously thinking about leaving because of the environment Mandy is creating.
Mom thinks we are in an abusive relationship and we should get out now and just leave her without looking back, but we are trying to do things in a respectful and civil manor and decide what is best for our future.
OH VEY! We really don't know what we should do!
I know you don't have all the details, but if anyone has any helpful life advice it's more than welcome right now...
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).
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.
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!!
There was a very personal offense committed against me today!
So, I went into the coffee shop this morning, like I do every morning, to get my coffee. Mona was working. I was running late and still half asleep, so I told her to make me whatever she wanted.
She handed me my drink and as I grabbed it to run (as I said before I was running late) I asked her what it was. She said "Just try it and text me what you think".
Guys, it always makes me a little weary when Mona doesn't tell me what it is I am putting in my mouth. One time she made Easy Mac with Code Red and wanted me to eat it. It was weird. Let's just say she likes to "experiment" with her food or rather my food.
As I backed out of the coffee shop I gave her my squinty suspicious eyes. Normally I refuse to put anything in my mouth from Mona unless she tells me what it is, but I was late and it was coffee.
Once I got to work I went to take my first sip.
It was...different.
It just tasted a little off. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was off about it, but I didn't think I liked it.
I messaged Mona to see what weird thing I was drinking.
----
Me: What is it?
Mona: Do you like it or no?
Me: I don't know
Me I don't think it is my favorite (this was me trying to be nice and not hurt Mona's feelings)
Mona: Lol
Me: what is it?
Mona: Sugar free, fat free vanilla latte! haha
Me: THAT'S IT! YOU TOOK OUT ALL THE SUGAR!!
Me: i don't like it
Mona: Lololololol
Me: ya creep
Mona: I was hoping you would like it
Me: why...so I don't drink sugar all day?
Me: I'm not even a fan of regular vanilla all the time.
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!
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...
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?
Welcome to Friday! I love Friday's that start with a piece of White Chocolate Raspberry Coffee Cake and a cup of Colectivo Coffee (Colecivo is the new Altera. My coffee shop is just behind the times with their cups). Coffee just makes my day a little brighter (I am a crazy coffee addict, so I would go through major withdrawal symptoms if I didn't get my coffee and you do not want to be around me during withdrawal symptoms) Mona and I call coffee our HappyCappi because it makes us instantly happy.
Anyways, while I was waiting for my HappyCappi today, I was chatting it up with the Batista and apparently she is going to school to be a Forensic Investigator (And yes I envisaged her on CSI right away).
I just think this is brilliant! I thought about becoming a Forensic Scientist for a minute, but sadly I did not end up following that path. So you could say that I had a moment of jealousy.
Instead of Forensics I am studying Business Management. I find it to have way too much math, but the end goal is going to be worth it! Mona and I want to open up our own coffee shop!
At one point we did talk about becoming Private investigators and combining the Coffee Shop and PI business together. PI Coffee has a nice ring to it...don't you think? Or Crime-Scene Coffee?
Mona and I have a problem with wanting to do everything, from opening a Coffee shop to being Rock Stars, from becoming PIs to being gypsters (I went to type gypsies, but it corrected to gypsters. I like the idea of gypsters more, so that is now what I want to be instead), but right now we are focusing on just the coffee shop. We still have a few years to work it out, so who knows what we will end up being when we grow up...maybe we will be PI, Baton twirling, gypsters who run a zoo that serves coffee! Anything is possible right?
