I sit here writing in my nice cushy chair on a Monday morning 8 am after having a couple cups of coffee, and going for a walk, no longer a Starbucks employee! Yes, I quit.
So many factors went into the decision, but mainly it was exhausting to get up at 4:30 am 4 days a week (sometimes 5) and then 2 weeks later, I get a $300. check!
I want to do hair! It's my joy. And it pays the bills.
I will miss the people I worked with, as I miss the ones I worked with in CA. I will miss free coffee, and my discount. I will miss some of the customers. That's it. It was fun for 4 years, served it's purpose, but I'm done.
I look forward to a normal schedule. Walking in the morning again, and not having to go to bed at 10! Now I can be at the salon 5 days.
Chris has been very supportive, and knows how hard it's been. He's been awesome to talk through it all. We will have more time together now too!
The weather is finally cooling down a little, and we have been talking about getting outside. We have decided to get skates! I have rollerblades, and have enjoyed them for close to 10 years, but I took them out the other night, and they are falling apart. Chris is thinking old school is the way to go, so we're getting "quads"! (I'm thinkin' they're safer too!) We should be ordering them this week, and when we get them, we will most definitely post a pic! There are so many places for us to skate here, including the gi-normous parking lot in our apartment complex. We're both looking forward to it!
We also got a hummingbird feeder! Within 5 minutes we had a hummingbird come, and within about 15 minutes we had 2 birds fighting over it! It's just one of those little things that make us really happy!
We enjoyed the Olympics, and I look forward to London 2012. (that sounds really weird)
Now it's time for FOOTBALL! I really hope to go to a Gamecock game. Yes, that's right, Gamecocks. I live in a college town now, and USC football (South Carolina, NOT So. Cal) is HUGE. I have never been to a college football game, and I really want to experience one, so...keep you posted.
FALL is coming!!!! YAY!
August 25, 2008
August 11, 2008
Beijing 2008
Hands up if you're watching the Olympics!
I Love the Olympics. Always have. I would say more so back in the day when I was a kid, and it seemed grander somehow, (and Russia was our arch enemy) but I have always liked to watch. There just seems to be something magical about them. I know I get sucked in by all the stories of adversity, but that's what makes it great! Someone to root for!
I have always been athletic, and I am one of those women who really like sports. I like competition. The Olympics is the epitome of that.
It's cool that they only come around every four years, it's more of a spectacle that way. And the kids who work those four years or more getting ready for their event(s)? God Bless them.
I can't even imagine how cool it must be to represent your COUNTRY in sport. Not just YOU. Your Country.
The opening ceremonies in Beijing were by far the most brilliant, spectacular, amazing, and awe inspiring I have ever seen. Wasn't it awesome?! The drummers! 2,008 performers! The costumes! The unison. All of it. Even if the Fireworks added to all that smog.
I can't fathom what it would feel like to walk into that stadium with 91,000 people. What would that energy feel like? And there you are, because you're special. You're an athlete representing your country. Very Cool.
All politics go out the window for me, and I'm glad Bush was there. I think the Chinese are cool, and I love everybody. Especially the USA! hehehe
So, all weekend, Chris and I watched. We set our remote to toggle between only Olympic channels! I watched more than he, and I love seeing things like fencing, and archery. I really want to see handball. I don't think its that kind you play with a little black ball up against a wall. I also want to see Judo or Taekwondo.
This is the only time I like to watch gymnastics, women's soccer, water polo, and ping-pong!
I am sad that this is the last year for softball.
I'll be cheering on Michael Phelps. How 'bout that relay last night?!?! I look forward to Track and Field, and hope there isn't a bunch of doping going on. So sad. It makes it hard to not be a little suspicious instead of being inspired by someones true talent.
And I'm still not sure how I feel about professional athletes competing in the Olympics. And who decided there's no more perfect 10 in gymnastics?!?!
Anyway, I'm glad I don't have to decide. I just get to watch and enjoy.
Hope you are too! GO USA!!!
August 03, 2008
Summer trips
Well, Happy August everybody!
August to me means Summer is closer to it's end, and that makes me happy! The heat will soon be fading, and I can go outside again! (I really just don't do well in extreme heat)
Salon business will pick back up again for back to school do's, and Mom's will be more free to come in. Football season is gearing up, and sweater weather is, (I hope) just around the corner!
Chris and I are doing well, and still loving the Ice Palace. It's nice when you comment just about every day how much you love coming home! I've hung a couple of pictures, and even though I never seem to have enough time, I'm feeling the pressure to get this place decorated!
I've finally decorated my station at work too! I couldn't decide on a "theme" for a long time. Zen?, Shabby-Chic?, California/beachy?, everytime I came into my nice, clean, uncluttered station I put it off again. But I found a cool 'painting' I really liked, and so it was decided, Shabby-Chic. I will have to show you pictures later, describing seems really boring. I am erring on the side of "less is more" and keeping it as uncluttered as possible.
I haven't really talked about the Salon yet, but I love it, and though Summer is slow everywhere, I feel once Fall kicks in, I'll get busier. I already have some repeat clients, and I'm working a referral program that I hope will work better than relying on walk-ins. I have switched to the Paul Mitchell color line, and it's working out really well. Many reasons, but mostly for education, range of possibilites, and cost effectiveness. They are opening a "Paul Mitchell, The School" (cosmetology academy) here in Columbia, which will bring some much needed progressive trendiness to this area.
I'm still at Starbucks, but I feel that is coming to an end. (in case you were wondering, NO, we're not affected by the recent closures) The more I weigh it out, the less sense it makes to be working a job that really isn't paying off, in SO MANY ways. I still haven't received my insurance packet, (hopefully because of the move) and if I didn't qualify this last quarter for benefits, I'm done. I need to be in the Salon doing what makes me most happy, and most money. I have looked into buying insurance for myself, and if I'm busy in the salon, it's totally doable. (is that a word?)
Anyway, I wanted this post to be more about the couple of little trips I took this last month and a half.
One of the cool things about the East coast is that the States are WAY closer together than on the West coast. You can drive for 10 hours and never leave California. Here, you drive 10 hours and can go through about 5 States! Since I haven't been to many states on this coast, I like to just take an afternoon and go see something new!
Augusta, Georgia is only about 50 minutes away, so a few weeks back, I headed there after work. I didn't really have a destination in mind, just wanted to drive there. I jumped on I-20, and off I went! As I got closer to the border, there was major construction on the freeway that slowed us down to about 30 mph, so I could snap these pics of the Savannah river (right at the border), and the "Welcome to Georgia" sign!
I went to the Georgia tourist information center, and got a map of GA, and a copy of the Augusta Chronicle. I only ventured in a few miles, the construction kept me from many exits, so I didn't see much, but it was a busy place. I got some drive thru, and headed home. I'll be back in GA soon. Chris and I are planning a trip in Oct. to go see his Dad who lives in Tate, GA. NW of Atlanta. Savannah is about 2 1/2 hours South, and also on my list.
Just this last week, I drove to North Carolina.
Charlotte is about an hour from Columbia, and everyone told me about this "really cool Mall" called South Park! lol It even has a Nordstrom! woo hoo! I checked it out. Very nice mall, but more like a one story South Coast Plaza, minus Bloomingdales. It was nice to see more of Charlotte. I really liked it there, it's got a bit more to do there than here in Columbia. It has public trasportation too, (something that is conspicuously absent here) but also more people, and more traffic, so.... close enough to visit, but just far enough away. It was nice to see a Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and a Pottery Barn again. :) And THEY have Jack-in the-Box!!! It's sad, but God, I miss that place!
I wouldn't mind moving a bit North, or even to North Carolina, as they have more familiar things, and are not as resistant to progress, but for now I am content in my little niche, and the progress will come. Of that, I am sure. We DO have some cool stuff here, don't get me wrong. I have most everything I need here, and when we get a Trader Joe's or a Jack in the Box, or that Costco opens, I'll be an even happier camper!
August to me means Summer is closer to it's end, and that makes me happy! The heat will soon be fading, and I can go outside again! (I really just don't do well in extreme heat)
Salon business will pick back up again for back to school do's, and Mom's will be more free to come in. Football season is gearing up, and sweater weather is, (I hope) just around the corner!
Chris and I are doing well, and still loving the Ice Palace. It's nice when you comment just about every day how much you love coming home! I've hung a couple of pictures, and even though I never seem to have enough time, I'm feeling the pressure to get this place decorated!
I've finally decorated my station at work too! I couldn't decide on a "theme" for a long time. Zen?, Shabby-Chic?, California/beachy?, everytime I came into my nice, clean, uncluttered station I put it off again. But I found a cool 'painting' I really liked, and so it was decided, Shabby-Chic. I will have to show you pictures later, describing seems really boring. I am erring on the side of "less is more" and keeping it as uncluttered as possible.
I haven't really talked about the Salon yet, but I love it, and though Summer is slow everywhere, I feel once Fall kicks in, I'll get busier. I already have some repeat clients, and I'm working a referral program that I hope will work better than relying on walk-ins. I have switched to the Paul Mitchell color line, and it's working out really well. Many reasons, but mostly for education, range of possibilites, and cost effectiveness. They are opening a "Paul Mitchell, The School" (cosmetology academy) here in Columbia, which will bring some much needed progressive trendiness to this area.
I'm still at Starbucks, but I feel that is coming to an end. (in case you were wondering, NO, we're not affected by the recent closures) The more I weigh it out, the less sense it makes to be working a job that really isn't paying off, in SO MANY ways. I still haven't received my insurance packet, (hopefully because of the move) and if I didn't qualify this last quarter for benefits, I'm done. I need to be in the Salon doing what makes me most happy, and most money. I have looked into buying insurance for myself, and if I'm busy in the salon, it's totally doable. (is that a word?)
Anyway, I wanted this post to be more about the couple of little trips I took this last month and a half.
One of the cool things about the East coast is that the States are WAY closer together than on the West coast. You can drive for 10 hours and never leave California. Here, you drive 10 hours and can go through about 5 States! Since I haven't been to many states on this coast, I like to just take an afternoon and go see something new!
Augusta, Georgia is only about 50 minutes away, so a few weeks back, I headed there after work. I didn't really have a destination in mind, just wanted to drive there. I jumped on I-20, and off I went! As I got closer to the border, there was major construction on the freeway that slowed us down to about 30 mph, so I could snap these pics of the Savannah river (right at the border), and the "Welcome to Georgia" sign!
I went to the Georgia tourist information center, and got a map of GA, and a copy of the Augusta Chronicle. I only ventured in a few miles, the construction kept me from many exits, so I didn't see much, but it was a busy place. I got some drive thru, and headed home. I'll be back in GA soon. Chris and I are planning a trip in Oct. to go see his Dad who lives in Tate, GA. NW of Atlanta. Savannah is about 2 1/2 hours South, and also on my list.
Just this last week, I drove to North Carolina.
Charlotte is about an hour from Columbia, and everyone told me about this "really cool Mall" called South Park! lol It even has a Nordstrom! woo hoo! I checked it out. Very nice mall, but more like a one story South Coast Plaza, minus Bloomingdales. It was nice to see more of Charlotte. I really liked it there, it's got a bit more to do there than here in Columbia. It has public trasportation too, (something that is conspicuously absent here) but also more people, and more traffic, so.... close enough to visit, but just far enough away. It was nice to see a Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and a Pottery Barn again. :) And THEY have Jack-in the-Box!!! It's sad, but God, I miss that place!
I wouldn't mind moving a bit North, or even to North Carolina, as they have more familiar things, and are not as resistant to progress, but for now I am content in my little niche, and the progress will come. Of that, I am sure. We DO have some cool stuff here, don't get me wrong. I have most everything I need here, and when we get a Trader Joe's or a Jack in the Box, or that Costco opens, I'll be an even happier camper!
Addendum
I want to add one more thing to the bug story. I came across this picture in my file, and wanted to show you the biggest moth I have ever seen.
I walked out of the old apartment one day, and looked down to see what I thought was a leaf, but upon closer inspection, found it to be a moth! The most interesting part about it to ME? Um, do you see a head? I sure don't. and this guy is alive, cause when we touched it, it spread it's wings for us. Nature. Trippy, but cool.
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