Friday, December 26, 2003
Christmas and Life
Ahh, the holidays. I was fortunate to be off Christmas eve and Christmas Day(the latter being the one day a year that Starbucks is closed). It was really great. We did tons of fun things with the kids and taught them about giving and how that's a big part of Christmas. We had a birthday party for Jesus Christmas evening with a cake and balloons and homemade party hats. We had some pretty awesome chicken (my wife is an excellent cook) and a nice family Christmas dinner. It was the first Christmas we haven't been with either of our extended families. It was a very special time...really quality. My best Christmas yet...oh yeah, and we did presents and stuff too and everyone loved that...especially Leo.
In other news, my work place has been a zoo. The would-be manager and the current manager are no longer at our store as of Christmas eve. New mgt. will be in place in the next two weeks. Had a talk with my boss and found that it will be a challenge for me to get into management early this year....it's either a february or september deal and february is a long shot. I was discouraged, but not disheartened. I'm really more determined now. We'll see how it pans out...God has a way of providing...it should be interesting.
We've found ourselves asking why we are here in Atlanta. We have no plans or really desire to move...we're settling in and feeling at home. And we know this: God called us here. It was as evident if not more evident than any other "call" I've experienced. More and more I find myself questioning my own assumptions about why we are here....not in a negative way, just in a curious and excited way. There's something coming. Heck, maybe it's 10 years from now. In the mean time we're just trying to be more intentional in our living. Walking out the Kingdom in Roswell, GA.
Hope your holiday was a good one...drop me a line if you feel like it.
(0) comments
In other news, my work place has been a zoo. The would-be manager and the current manager are no longer at our store as of Christmas eve. New mgt. will be in place in the next two weeks. Had a talk with my boss and found that it will be a challenge for me to get into management early this year....it's either a february or september deal and february is a long shot. I was discouraged, but not disheartened. I'm really more determined now. We'll see how it pans out...God has a way of providing...it should be interesting.
We've found ourselves asking why we are here in Atlanta. We have no plans or really desire to move...we're settling in and feeling at home. And we know this: God called us here. It was as evident if not more evident than any other "call" I've experienced. More and more I find myself questioning my own assumptions about why we are here....not in a negative way, just in a curious and excited way. There's something coming. Heck, maybe it's 10 years from now. In the mean time we're just trying to be more intentional in our living. Walking out the Kingdom in Roswell, GA.
Hope your holiday was a good one...drop me a line if you feel like it.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 18, 2003
The past week
The past week has been good, bad, busy, and lonely.
5 things I liked:
1. eating at Krystal- because Melissa wasn't here to object.
2. making my bosses happy.
3. eating a sandwiches over the sink.
4. sleeping in.
5. sleeping in.
5 things I didn't like
1. Sleeping alone.
2. Sleeping in- instead of waking up to kids...it's nice for a day, but gosh I missed my kids.
3. Eating at Krystal. About 3 hours later I completely regretted it.
4. No one to talk to at home.
5. No hugs.
I'm starting to like atlanta. I recently found myself drawn to a newspaper article about changes to the streets and surrounding areas at holcomb bridge road and highway9. I was absolutely interested...it's just down the street. I still miss the Post, but I don't miss montgomery county anymore...I live HERE. This is good.
I want to read more.
(0) comments
5 things I liked:
1. eating at Krystal- because Melissa wasn't here to object.
2. making my bosses happy.
3. eating a sandwiches over the sink.
4. sleeping in.
5. sleeping in.
5 things I didn't like
1. Sleeping alone.
2. Sleeping in- instead of waking up to kids...it's nice for a day, but gosh I missed my kids.
3. Eating at Krystal. About 3 hours later I completely regretted it.
4. No one to talk to at home.
5. No hugs.
I'm starting to like atlanta. I recently found myself drawn to a newspaper article about changes to the streets and surrounding areas at holcomb bridge road and highway9. I was absolutely interested...it's just down the street. I still miss the Post, but I don't miss montgomery county anymore...I live HERE. This is good.
I want to read more.
(0) comments
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Very alive
Have you ever had one of those days where you felt very alive? Not quite sure how to explain it. Maybe it's because my family is flying back to ATL today, or maybe it's the lovely afternoon here...or maybe it's the Christmas shopping I just did. Whatever the reason, I feel quite alive. It's odd because as alive as I feel I've also had a lot of old friends on my mind lately...probably just the holidays. If any of you are reading this (jon, brian, celeste, jeff, sarah, kevin, claudia, the folks at JC in G-burg, nick, rocky&jenny, josh, mel, and anna) HI I'm thinking of you.
I have to finish the last minute cleaning so that Melissa will not know what a total slob I was while she was gone (oh wait, she reads this...I love you honey).
(0) comments
I have to finish the last minute cleaning so that Melissa will not know what a total slob I was while she was gone (oh wait, she reads this...I love you honey).
(0) comments
Monday, December 15, 2003
This....is still a latte
Well, opening weekend was a smash and for the most part I impressed the right people. I'm shooting for February entry into mgt. training and am supported by my bosses in that. Had an interesting conversation with a District Manager from east and south of here...got me dreaming about possibilities...so humor me...in 5 years:
I'm managing the local coffee shop, all be it starbucks, and I can walk to work...it's only a matter of a few blocks. Melissa is teaching at a local school - just a 5-15 minute drive depending on traffic. We're living in somewhat older house - a larger house. In the basement there's an entire apartment and there are two spare rooms upstairs. Our home is regularly flooded with company from the neighborhood and beyond. There is a sidewalk in front of this house. It seems like we always have guests...which might be tiring enough to make us want to stop, if we didn't love it so much. If I really need a 2 liter of 7-up, I can walk to a drugstore. There's a porch, or a yard, or a deck somewhere- I honestly don't care where...maybe it's my neighbor's...but a collection of mismatched lawn chairs lean against a wall, ready for some impromptu story telling or singing, or simply listening. My kids feel safe and secure and know their neighbors by name. I could go on, but I'll stop there.
Could this place be anywhere? Absolutely. But hey, it's my freakin' dream.
(0) comments
I'm managing the local coffee shop, all be it starbucks, and I can walk to work...it's only a matter of a few blocks. Melissa is teaching at a local school - just a 5-15 minute drive depending on traffic. We're living in somewhat older house - a larger house. In the basement there's an entire apartment and there are two spare rooms upstairs. Our home is regularly flooded with company from the neighborhood and beyond. There is a sidewalk in front of this house. It seems like we always have guests...which might be tiring enough to make us want to stop, if we didn't love it so much. If I really need a 2 liter of 7-up, I can walk to a drugstore. There's a porch, or a yard, or a deck somewhere- I honestly don't care where...maybe it's my neighbor's...but a collection of mismatched lawn chairs lean against a wall, ready for some impromptu story telling or singing, or simply listening. My kids feel safe and secure and know their neighbors by name. I could go on, but I'll stop there.
Could this place be anywhere? Absolutely. But hey, it's my freakin' dream.
(0) comments
Monday, December 08, 2003
stress and good freakin' news
After a week of training i'm a bit tired of explaining "This...is a latte," but I'm seeing the reward of people getting it. Our new store opens saturday and this week will be nuts. Thanks to some very gracious gifts, Melissa is flying up with the boys to see her parents and grandparents (all of whom are currently sick...some VERY sick).
I got the most direct word today from my new store manager that I am "in" for management training. Which doesn't mean I'm in at all. It means that they want me to be and will support me and I'll have to do a bunch of crap to get "in" (i.e. Schmooze it up and then answer a bunch of questions from a board of some sort). Unfortunately I was hoping to get in by february, but april is looking more realistic according to my sources. That's great, but our current budget is full of nonnegotiables and our current income won't bring us through to april...we were planning to eek into february on fumes. So, we'll have to figure something out to get a bit more cash flowin' in. Know I shouldn't stress, but hey, I'm human.
On that note if anyone would like to by my tascam 4-track recorder or sm58 microphone PLEASE e-mail me.
that's it.
(0) comments
I got the most direct word today from my new store manager that I am "in" for management training. Which doesn't mean I'm in at all. It means that they want me to be and will support me and I'll have to do a bunch of crap to get "in" (i.e. Schmooze it up and then answer a bunch of questions from a board of some sort). Unfortunately I was hoping to get in by february, but april is looking more realistic according to my sources. That's great, but our current budget is full of nonnegotiables and our current income won't bring us through to april...we were planning to eek into february on fumes. So, we'll have to figure something out to get a bit more cash flowin' in. Know I shouldn't stress, but hey, I'm human.
On that note if anyone would like to by my tascam 4-track recorder or sm58 microphone PLEASE e-mail me.
that's it.
(0) comments
