COFFEE!!!!

When I left work Friday last week they didn't have my schedule done yet.  They told me and another new guy that someone will call us, and if we haven't heard from by Monday, to call and check.  Hadn't heard from them by the end of the day Monday, and since I was busy with other stuff, I didn't call them until Tuesday.  The first time I called, it just rang and rang and rang.  So I went and ate and showered.  Tried again.  Rang and rang and rang and then hung up on me.  Tried a couple of hours later, and finally got through to someone this time, miraculously on the first ring.  I explained why I was calling, and they put me on hold for forever.  Then someone else came on the line, and I told them why I was calling.  She was like "Oh, yeah, someone should have called you.  Uh...  can you work tomorrow?"

So I worked 9-5:30 today, I work 7-3:30 tomorrow, and 2-10:30 Friday and Saturday.  I think they're trying to squeeze in all of my Starbucks training as quickly as possible.

I actually spent the first 5 hours (minus my lunch) going over training stuff on the computer and taking a few quizzes over stuff I learned.  Then, I finally got to work at Starbucks!!!!!  :D  They sent me over there and of course the manager was on her lunch break.  Then her and the girl that was showing me around a bit went to do something in the back.  But I was working with 3 guys that got me started training.  They pretty much just showed me a bit, then through me into it.  At one point one of them was gone doing another task, and both of the other two still had to take breaks, so it was just me and one other person working at a few times.  I steamed milk, made drinks (only hot so far, they're waiting until I get a decent grip on those before throwing more stuff at me), and ran register a bit.  I'm slow (obviously) at making drinks, but I feel I'm worse at register because I don't know the codes on drinks yet.  I have a few popular ones down from making the drinks, but when people are placing orders I have no idea how to write some of the stuff on the cup.  Plus sometimes I forget to ask for a name, if they want whipped cream, etc.  But I think my first day went pretty well.

I also got to sample stuff!  :D  I guess sometimes when there's down time they create drinks.  Plus, when one of the guys was teaching me stuff he had me actually make drinks, and since they're were just going to be thrown away, I got to drink part of them. I'm super excited to be working in Starbucks!  I just hope I get all the drinks memorized soon.

Black Friday

Black Friday wasn't really that bad.  I didn't go in until 11, and by then most of the crazy shoppers and huge crowds were gone.  We were still a bit busier than usual.

At first all of the registers were full so they had me help directing customers to open lanes.  Then I ran register for the rest of my shift.  It wasn't too bad, and went by pretty fast.  Everyone thinks I'm doing really well for being so new.  Hopefully they don't try to keep me on register.  I guess if they hire me on as a cashier after the holiday season, it'd be better than having to find a new job.

The most obnoxious thing about Black Friday was the food in the break room.  They always have peanut butter and jelly and various other things for free in the break room.  And being Thanksgiving/Black Friday, they had people catering throughout the day.  When I got up in the morning I was still super full from the night before, but I managed a cup of coffee and some applesauce because I knew it was going to be a long day.  When I went on break, they had people making tacos!  Nothing vegetarian though.  I asked if I could just get a tortilla to put vegetables and cheese on, but she must not have understood me because she said since it was after 2 they were done for the day (when I left for the day, all the extra stuff was just sitting out on the table, but of course by then, there was no cheese/veggies left...).  I figured I should eat something, so I went to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  No bread...  After I punched out for the day, they were bringing in Italian food!  But, of course, all 4 giant pans of pasta had meat in them.  Luckily there was some salad and bread, so I had a little to eat before walking home.

I also don't have my schedule for next week yet.  They don't have the new people's done yet.  They told us someone would call, and if we don't hear from them, call in Monday and check.  It's really hard to plan my week when I have no idea when I'm working and don't even know when I'll be getting my schedule.  *sigh*  Hopefully once I'm fully in the system things will be less disorganized.

Also, I can't remember if I mentioned it already or not, (I know I've said we're the biggest/busiest store in the country) but my store alone was predicted to do 1.5 million on Black Friday!  I don't know if we reached our goal but I'm sure there will be something posted in the break room about it next week.

Thanksgiving

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone!

Here are some pictures from our get together:

Corey stuffing the turkey

Dissaya (Dee) trying her hand at stuffing

Dee and Boog!

Corey excited to carve the turkey

Food!

More food

Boog got Thanksgiving dinner too!

Jeremy, Me, and Corey

Everyone (except Mary's boyfriend Angelo who took the picture)

Orientation

I'm going to refer to my new place of employment as "T" again so it doesn't come up if searched for.

T still seems pretty unorganized.  Corey FINALLY got direct deposit set up, and FINALLY got his schedule for this week.  Unfortunately, it's only 4 shifts for about 3 hours each.  The worst was having to come in at 8:45pm Thanksgiving (T opens at 9 on Thursday for Black Friday) and being there until 1:30am Friday, then having to come back at something like 4pm Friday.  His schedule there conflicts with Sony, who has him working 5 days and long shifts, so he's quitting T.

T called me Wednesday asking if I could come in from 9-5 Sunday for orientation.  Since I'm Starbucks I needed to wear a black shirt and khaki pants.  I was hoping that since I was Starbucks I could wear black pants, because I currently have 2 pairs and no khaki.  I went to Goodwill though and got a couple of pairs, plus a couple of black shirts.  Turns out, I can wear khaki OR black.  Oh well, I guess now I have 4 pairs of pants I can wear to work.  And it never hurts to have a good pair of khaki's.

On the phone I was told to go to the second floor guest service desk.  Got there, and they sent us to the first floor break room (same thing happened for interviews, was told first floor, sent to third).

At orientation there were 2 other guys working Starbucks, a bunch of cashiers and "soft lines," 3 guys for electronics, a backroom, and one guy working over night.  We filled out some paperwork, went over the basics, watched some training videos.  We were there so long we got out 2 paid breaks and an unpaid 15 minute lunch.  The food court has an outdoor patio area, so I sat out there and ate.  It still doesn't always register with me that I'm living in California now.  But this small thing was something that reminded me of it.

At one point he let everyone who wasn't cashier or Starbucks go home, which upset some people who thought they were getting paid for more hours.  After they left we were trained on register.  Apparently it takes 40 hours to become Starbucks certified, and since there's no way to get all of that training in before Black Friday, we'll be cashiering.  So I'll be cashiering at the busiest T in the country on the busiest day of the year.  Not looking forward to it.  It's pretty simple though. 

About 4:15 he had us go take our last 15 minute break, then we were going to actually run the register.  Well, we all came back at 4:30.  And stood around.  And stood around.  Finally sometime after 4:40 he came back, apologized for being late, and told us we were free to go home, but we'd still get paid as if we were there until 5.  Not sure what happened there.

The group that was sent home early was given their schedules, but when it was time for us to go, apparently the system was down (which seems to happen a lot).  He told us someone would call with our schedule.  No one called all day Monday.  Waited around all day Tuesday.  I debated calling them, but it took forever for them to call Corey, and honestly, I was kind of hoping they wouldn't get me trained so I wouldn't have to work Black Friday after only 1 day of training.  BUT, they called me about 7:20 Tuesday night.

T: Are you available anytime tomorrow?
Me: Yup
T: Are you available in the morning?
Me:  Yeah
T: Can you come in 6:30-11:30?
Me: 6:30 AM?
T: No, 6:30 to 11:30 at night
Me: That's fine.
T: No, actually we need you to come in earlier.  Can you come in 6-11?
Me: That's fine.
T: Ok, and when you come in we can get you your schedule for Friday.
Me: Ok.
T: Actually, I can give it to you over the phone now if you want.
Me: Ok, that'd be great
T: 11:00-2:45 on Friday
Me:  Ok, thank you!

A few minutes later T calls back: Actually, if you stay until 11 that's your 5th hour and you'll have to take a lunch, so you'll be working 6-10.

Seriously T, I understand that you just hired 200 people, but you'd think they'd have this stuff worked out BEFORE they called me.  But that's not too bad.  I have Wednesday morning to start preparing food for Thanksgiving.  We'll probably have last minute shoppers Wednesday night while I'm training, but I get all day Thursday off and don't have to get up super early Friday.  I'm hoping by 11 most crazy shoppers will be gone, and at least it's only 3 hours and 45 minutes.  I also had to go out and buy a red shirt to wear Wednesday and Friday.  I found a nice button up one at Goodwill for $3 though, and it's something I might wear again.

Hopefully next week, training at Starbucks starts!!!!  :D

More LA pics

There's been a lot of writing lately, so here's a post of pictures.

Pane Siciliano

Challah

Bagels

The sky on Friday

Some people come to LA and experiment with drugs, we experiment with mustard!

That's how you grocery shop right!

Boog's a weirdo sometimes

It was cold, so Boog hid in the pillows on the couch...

But then he got a sweater :)

I have a job!

I got to Target about 15 minutes before I needed to be there so I tried the phone survey again.  It finally worked this time!  Then I went in, and was in and out super quick this time.  They pretty much just offered me a job, explained the conditions, gave me some paperwork about what I need to bring to orientation, and gave me directions to where I have to take a drug test.  It's only seasonal at the moment, but Corey made it sound like they usually keep people they like.  So, after the results from the drug test I have to take this afternoon come back, I have a job as a Barista at Starbucks!  Plus, I'm making 75 cents above minimum wage :)  I'm just worried that I won't be trained in time for Black Friday.  It takes 3-5 days for the test result to come back, then they have to schedule me for orientation, then I start training/working.  It'll be cutting it close.  If anything, I can be there stocking napkins, wiping down tables, etc.

Job hunting

LOTS has been going on the past week, especially as far as jobs go.  Corey was hired for a seasonal position at a certain 3 story store in the mall we'll call "T"  I don't want to refer to it by name because they've been causing some frustration, and I don't want them stumbling across this entry.  He had orientation on Sunday, then Monday afternoon the Sony store called and scheduled him for an interview Tuesday. He had his first day of training at T on Wednesday.  He was told Wednesday that someone would call him that night or the next day with his schedule for the week.  Thursday morning the Sony store called and asked if he could start working that afternoon.  By the end of the day he still hadn't heard from T, so he let Sony schedule him, including working Sunday evening.  Friday morning he even stopped into the store and there was no schedule posted.  Friday afternoon someone from T FINALLY called him with his schedule, including working Sunday evening.  He told them he was already scheduled at another job and asked what he should do.  Then told him to call back the next day and talk to "X."  He called Saturday morning but X was on lunch break.  He told them the situation and they said they'd let X know and have her call him back.  He never got a call back.  We walked down to the mall that afternoon, so he stopped in to talk to X in person.  She was, of course, already gone for the day.  They told him to call back Sunday morning.  He called Sunday morning.  X wasn't in yet.  He explained the situation once again, and they told him he needed to get his schedule in from another job 3 weeks before they made the schedule...  They told him to call back at 2.  He told them he was scheduled to work at 2.  They told him he needed to have called sooner.  He told them he's been trying to get it worked out for 2 days, ever since he got his schedule.  They pretty much just told him "ok" and hung up on him.  If it comes down to it, he's just going to quit T and work at Sony because 1) They pay him $1.50 more (+ possible commission) 2) They seem way more organized 3) The job seems more fun 4) He has a better chance of being hired on after the holiday season.

He's also been having a lot of trouble setting up direct deposit with T.  They told him he could do it from home.  He tried and it told him he wasn't allowed to do it from an outside computer.  He went in one day to do it on their computer.  It froze.  They didn't know how to restart it.  They had him use a computer in someone's office.  It locked him out of his account.  He called the number to unlock it.  When he logged in it told him that his account wasn't currently available.  He went in another day.  The computer mouse was missing.  They had him use the computer in an office again.  The entire server was down.  So he still hasn't been able to get it set up.

Thursday morning T called me about a position in their Starbucks.  I was scheduled for an interview Friday at 9am.  Before I went in though, I had to do a call in survey to see if they qualified for a tax credit (they ask if you're receiving food assistance, in the military, stuff like that).  I called and it kept telling me I entered an invalid birthday, made too many errors, and hung up on me.  I tried again, made it all the way to the part where I talk to an actual person, but when they transferred me over to electronically sign and get my confirmation code, it said it couldn't process it, and hung up on me.  I asked about it after my interview Friday and she had me do it from their phones.  I tried twice, and both times there were no representatives available to help me.  I tried later from home Friday afternoon.  They told me they'd been having some technically difficulties, and if it didn't work this time, try calling back Saturday.  They transferred me, and it said it couldn't process it, and hung up on me.  I tried Saturday morning.  I was put on hold for a long time because there were no representatives available.  It finally put me through to a person, then hung up on me.  I guess I'll try Monday morning and see if I can get through then.

So, Friday was my interview.  On the phone I asked where to go, and I was told the offices on the first floor.  They were all locked doors, so I asked a girl that worked there where to go.  She called someone, and they were actually doing them in the offices on the third floor.  I got there first at 9, but didn't leave until 12:30.  I think I was the last one in the 9:00 group to leave.  First, we had to fill out this questionnaire thing.  It gave situations and asked what I thought the best and worst way to handle it was.  I felt like I was in the first Men in Black movie where Will Smith's character is in a room with all sorts of military men taking a survey, but they're actually watching their behavior.  The answers on my question sheet were labeled 1-5 but the answer sheet was a-e.  The question went in pairs, and I noticed on question 14 that there were only 15 answer bubbles but at least 16 questions.  I looked through my book and there were actually 20 questions total.  Then I saw that there was an answer sheet in the back of my booklet with 20 answer bubbles, and they were labeled 1-5.  So I transferred over my answers and finished the questions.  I flipped through the book, but there was nothing with 15 questions.  I asked the lady what I was supposed to fill out and she said either sheet, and that there was only the 20 questions.  I think they may have printed off the wrong sheet because later people have an answer sheet with 20 bubbles.  After most people were done we watched an introductory video.  At some point more people started showing up for later interviews and they kept coming until at least 12.  In all, because of new people coming in, I watched the video 2 1/2 times.  Some people may have seen it more.  After waiting forever, I went in for my first interview.  It was with the same girl that told me to go to the third floor.  She was really nice, and it went really well.  Then, I went back and waited forever.  The HR person called me in for my second interview.  She was really nice too, and that one went really well.  She said she liked me and thought I'd fit in there really well.  She told me after I tried the phone survey again, to see Gloria and she'd get me on to the next step.  I luckily had 2 interviews.  Some had 1 and were told they'd receive a call (which most likely means no) and some people had at least 3 interviews.  I went to Gloria after giving up on the survey, and she told me to go back to the waiting area and she'd call me.  After 40 minutes, she called me and 3 other people.  She asked us to come back Monday at 10am.  She couldn't say why, or if we got the job.  The HR lady made it seem like I was hired, but people who are hired right away are given paperwork and sent to take a drug test.  So I have no idea what's going on.  Guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Thursday, Mary's friend Dee had a job interview in Santa Monica.  Just as I was about to leave to walk to the store, she called me saying her bus never showed up and asked if I could take her if she paid for gas.  Since I didn't really have anything to do, I drove her down there.  It was cold and rainy and gross that day :(  We were luckily only 15 minutes late.  Dee's interview was at a Thai restaurant almost right across the street from the pier.  I walked down to the beach while she was in her interview, but it was just wet and muddy.  I did get a nice picture of the pier in day light.

Click to see it a bit bigger

Dee called me when she was done.  They liked her, but because she isn't a citizen and didn't have a SS# they couldn't hire her.  They gave her some advice on how to be able to work in the US though.  Because it was such a yucky day, and to thank me for driving her, we stopped into a little restaurant for a drink and some sweet potato fries.

The drive home was AWFUL!  This was my first real experience dealing with LA traffic.  We left Santa Monica around 5:30.  The I-10 was barely moving.  We hadn't even gotten out of Sana Monica and we both kind of had to pee, so we got off at the first exit we could.  We stopped at a gas station, but they didn't have a restroom *rolls eyes*  He sent us across the street to the Burger King.  Luckily there was a back door we could go in so it wasn't obvious we were just using the restroom.  We got back into the car, and Dee discovered her temporary phone has a map with real time traffic.  The local roads were moving better than the highway, so we took them for a while.  I've never driven on it, but I've heard the 405 is a terrible highway to deal with, so we tried to at least get passed where the 10 meets the 405 because it was most likely backed up with people getting on and off of it.  We got passed, but then couldn't get back on the highway.  It was right next to us, we could see it, but we couldn't find the entrance ramp.  I'd follow the signs for East, then I'd get to the ramp, and it said West.  We finally figured it out.  There was this little left turn lane that looks like it turns into a dark alleyway, but it's actually the entrance ramp.

The 10 was a little better, but still moving slow.  The other highways got better and better as we got further and further from downtown.  We eventually made it home!  I don't think we got there until after 8.  Or was it 9?  I can't remember now, but it was forever.  It was a fun adventure though.

Dee had another interview Friday in Hollywood.  She made it to this one just fine.  This place is willing to work with her as she gets her work visa/citizenship/whatever worked out.  So, she has a job-ish :)  I'm still not 100% sure what it is, and I don't know if she's sure yet either.  When she went to the interview she said it had something to do with being a translator, she thought it was documents and stuff.  But she mentioned the other day that pay depends on how many clients she gets.  Her first day is tomorrow, so we'll see.  She also has a co-worker that she hasn't met yet that lives in the area who can sometimes give her a ride.  It's awesome how things all work out.  Also, since she has a job now and can stay in the US, that means I have another roommate!  (It also means rent is cheaper!)

Hopefully tomorrow works out for me!  :D

Halloween and Birthdays

Saturday the 27th was Grant's birthday, and the weekend before Halloween. We didn't really know what was going on (roommate and friends were going to a yacht party, but it cost $50 to get in or $100 for VIP) so we decided to have a Halloween/Birthday party at our house. I still hadn't figured out how our oven works, it gets too hot or is small and cooks too fast or something, and my nutella cupcakes and meringue bones didn't turn out :(

But, since we don't know that many people out here and planned it last minute, no one really showed up. Lol. It was still fun though, and I at least have a couple of really good friends out here.

Boog trying to lick Sophie, Sohpie trying not to get licked

Grant as the Riddler

Monday Mary's friend Matt flew in from Minnesota for the week.

Tuesday was my birthday! I've gotten lots of cards, letters and gifts. Thank you all! :) I bought myself a book about baking bread and I got some handy things to help with baking, including an oven thermometer which will help a bit with the oven temp issues.  I baked bread the other day, and our oven may run 50degrees hotter than what the knob says.

I pretty much just spent the day being lazy since I'd been so busy taking care of my car, looking for a job, etc. I'll have to write about my 3 hours at the DMV sometime, but it may need it's own entry. The day started with Corey making cheese souffles for breakfast.

 
He also made English muffins from my bread book.

That night I wanted to walk down to The Cheesecake Factory and get cheesecake for my birthday. Well, I happened to check my e-mail and found a coupon for a free cupcake at the place with the cupcake ATM. I'd forgotten I'd signed up with them before we went last time. It was good that day only, and it's all the way in Beverly Hills. Then I remembered that the one time I was out in LA before moving out here, my friend's dad took us to The Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills. So I looked it up and it was right around the corner, maybe 2 blocks away from the cupcake place. So for my birthday we went and got my free cupcake to bring home, then went and got cheesecake. Mine was “Mango Key Lime Cheesecake - Topped with Mango Mousse on a Vanilla Coconut Macaroon Crust” Corey got some sort of Raspberry Lemon. Mine was definitely better :)

My Birthday Cupcake!

Corey's birthday was Wednesday, and, of course, it was also Halloween. I used the English muffins to make a homemade Egg McMuffin type thing. Not nearly as fancy as the souffles, but still good. We didn't really do anything during the day. That night a group of us went out to Hollywood. It was a bit crazy. Mary's friend Dee from Thailand lost her phone and purse, Matt lost his ID, Matt got lost, and apparently there was a shooting just North of where we went just before we got there. But we all eventually made it back safe and sound.  I also didn't really take any pictures that night, so here are some stolen from Mary.

Clockwise: Grant, Corey, Me, Matt, Emmy, Angelo, Mary and Dee w/Boog

Friday I drove Dee and Matt downtown to where Mary works so she could take Matt to the airport  on her lunch break.  Luckily Matt got through even though he didn't have his ID.  Also, Dee might have a job in the US.  She postponed her flight 2 weeks while she waits to hear back about the job offer.  :)