Healthy Fellow

While I find it a very hard time to read blogs, I did happen upon this blog that seems to give some cool info. It's called Healthy Fellow, and even though it's just starting up, I see some neat things coming from there pretty soon. The writer discusses many subjects varying from Diet to exercise. Like me, he is a writer and has been for quite some time. His dedication to help the reader understand healthy principles is great. I enjoy the personal blog entries and hope you all will too!

Vivannos and Velocifly

Honestly, it's not the customer that drives me crazy when I'm working at the bux. It just happens to be their drinks. And even that doesn't bother me, I love making the complicated ones (Iced 5 shot venti, two pump raspberry, non-fat, light ice latte). It's ones that ruin my pace and time with the other drinks. The most common one being two people ordering two cappuccinos. They take up time because I can't leave the milk alone, I need to maintain aeration and make sure I don't burn the milk.

However, today is a day to be written down in history. Today my friend, I had to make over 10 strawberry banana smoothies in a 2 hour period rush, while solo bar-ing. If you aren't a barista at the bux, you could care less, but I must tell you that this is no fun feat. It requires almost five minutes per drink, all of your attention, and it takes forever to pour and clean up after. Take that, add 5 drinks everytime one is ordered and you had my work shift. EVEN regulars who normally drink brewed coffee wanted to have one:

"Fred! How are you! Want a grande coffee today?"
"Actually Ryan, I'd like to try something new."
Oh, crap.
"Sure! If you like coffee, you should try it iced, it's my favorite."
"No, I think I want something frozen."
Oh, crap. Please no.
"A frappuccino?"
"Yeah sure."
"Alright which type?"
Almost in the clear....
"One of those Strawberry Banana things"
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Such is the life of a Barista. Someday I'll have a salary job, and I'll do this exact same thing to a barista. But I'll apologize for the inconvenience.

In other news, Liz finally watched Jurassic Park with me last night. She was quoted many times in saying "You know I don't like suspenseful movies!" clinging every tightly to my arm or back. I swear I have bruises from the girl. I think she enjoyed it though, she laughed and squealed at all the right parts, so that is always a plus.

After the "intense" movie Liz and I grabbed some water from the kitchen where a fly kept constantly flying into my face. After many attempts at trying to kill the darn thing it went away, never to return that night. Liz tokened it as a "velocifly". cute!

Liquor & Laziness

The Liz and I had a pretty jam-packed day. While it was pretty inviting to go to the James river and kick my feet around with Pony, I decided that the both of us needed to hit the ground running and at least attempt to finish some things. We accomplished some needed tasks.

The ABC store gave us tons of boxes for packing. It felt quite odd bringing said boxes into Liz's place. The reason being, because the boxes had liquor brands on the side, and I know we were getting looks from every direction as we unloaded. I remember saying to Liz once we parked "Let's do this as quickly as possible." I'm glad we did! Now Liz and I will look like alcoholics when we move in to the new place. Hah!

I got my ring-size (8). We trucked it to Jared's jewelry, asked to find out my ring size and then exited abruptly. I don't really think the salesman realized that we were there just for the size. Oh well. The ring Liz and I found is a great fit for me: made of titanium, original, and has a copper color on the inside. I'm glad I didn't go too traditional. I tend to stray from that.

Before I ran to work to close, Liz made me realize that I've been kinda lazy and whiny lately. I don't honestly know why, I just have been. Maybe it's this whole need-a-job-&-hafta-move ordeal. All I know is that Huffiness=a not so happy Liz. "Love is patient", and I have to give her credit, she has been that and more. That's one of the reasons why I love her!

Now that it's after work, I'm sitting in the living room, missing Liz and convincing myself that I don't need sleep right now (I have to be at the bux again at 6:45 am). That is why I work at a coffee shop people! If I had to choose one thing I would like to do at the moment that is reasonable it would be to listen to jazz, have a glass of red wine, and read this awesome book I've been getting into. Ah, well, as Mick Jagger once said "You can't always get what you want". Soon I'll get what I need though. Very soon!

Currently Reading:Once I read more of it, I'll fill you in on my thoughts. So far though, I love it!

It's Superman!

So I just put down a book that I tried so hard to finish, but hated in the end.

It's Superman! by Tom DeHaven immediately intrigued me for two main reasons:

1) The dust jacket art was designed by Chris Ware, an amazing artist and someone who I tend to constantly enjoy through various comic means. (AKA McSweeney's covers).

2) DeHaven is one of the professors that teaches creative writing at the illustrious VCU!

I thought, "Hey! Here's an opportunity to establish a published writer friend in arms length distance from me. Surely, I'll enjoy this guy's writing. After all, he is writing on the comic-hero Superman.

I was wrong, oh so wrong on many levels. For one, I hate Superman anything going into the book. I was convinced that this could be a revival of Superman fascination for me! It was, however, another reason for me to hate Clark Kent and all of his amazing endeavors. In fact, my dislike for Superman is so strong that I never saw Superman Returns for the sheer fact of making a statement. It's not even that I don't like the guy. Clark Kent is a good person and teaches many kids good morals to stand on.

I also couldn't handle DeHaven's constant referral to the current history happening during the time that the piece was set in (The Great Depression). His depiction of New York was weak at best, and his characters written too much like that they were meant for a Frank Capra film.

Not to mention the switches between the characters left their development seem long-winded and wasted. Mr. Kent (Clark's father) got so much limelight in the first 50 pages and practically nothing else from then on. You fall in love with a character, you don't put him in the shadows for the rest of the time.

So sorry bud, but no more Superman for me.

[update!] If anyone wants to know something odd to get me it is this!

Approval

Galatians 1:10- Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

While Paul is using this rhetorical question as a way to prove a point, it is something I use to ask myself constantly. Never do I want my friends to think that I'm trying to win their approval. I've been down that road earlier, trust me guys, it is not fun nor rewarding.

The nice thought is that, sure, when you are forever trying to win the approval of God, not only do you gain God's approval, but also man's. But there is order things such as this. It doesn't matter the type of shoes you have, the car you drive, your annual salary. These things will fade. We are told to store our treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:20) for a reason.

Allow me to paint a beautiful picture that I feel has to come out of me:

When we seek God's approval and are rewarded with treasure (stored in Heaven), it becomes something gorgeous. Not only does God know what we want, because after all He did create us, but He is also giving the treasure specifically to you. In Heaven. Away from a corruptible world where jealousy, greed, and avarice can take hold of it. It is freely yours, and yours to share as you will it. The whole purpose of gaining approval from God, is to realize that approval from man above God will fade just like earthly treasures.

Never think that you are here on this Earth for people to see you and say "There's a great person!". I have to be honest that a infinite number of those types of comments mean nothing to me. But just one, "Wow! I made him!" from God makes everything so much more worth it.

Why do you think God gave Jesus his approval when He was baptized? It was because it would be what He needed in order to carry out the second part of that story: Satan's temptation of Christ. The approval from God is so important.

So I have to ask: Are you doing what man thinks is right? Or what God does?

Politics and all of that mean nothing to me anymore, only God. That's a hard thing for me to admit. Sure I have my views, but I'm relaxed in trying my hardest to only do what is right and being there for anyone who needs me.

Dinos and Action Figures

This just in...Liz has never seen Jurrasic Park before!

I worked all day today thinking out loud to regulars and co-workers alike saying things such as: "she doesn't even know what a Velociraptor looks like!" or "I thought she loved John Williams...how could she have overlooked this movie?". The question remains whether I can somehow finagle her out of the no-action-film cocoon and get her to watch it. Nobody I know hates this movie, and there is a reason for it.

I remember riding in the back of my mom's white Buick, begging and begging her to take me. When she did, I became enraptured by the idea of actual dinosaurs coming back to life. Every other day I would try some new setup where Luke Skywalker, Snake Eyes, and He-man would have to fight off my T-Rex and the Spitter (Dilapasarous?) dinos. There were a few times where I convinced myself that I need to direct movies, because seriously, my action figures could act. I mean they could do some cool flips and punches.

Eventually, Skywalker would be knocked unconscious (so he couldn't use force powers), He-man taken down by a flock of Raptors, and Snake Eyes' feet would be dangling out of the T-Rex's mouth.

Such were the days of my youth.

Now, I go down the aisles of Target and sigh, knowing that when I have sons, the action figures I buy for them are also for me.

Opportunities, Arise!

Alright, another couple of days have passed by since I last blogged. Sorry about that. Life's been pretty good. Job searching, getting excited about the wedding, and a feeling of overall contentment.

It's great to have goals, and not know how to attain the tools needed to get there. That's when I'm in my best element. If someone came to me and said, you're going to try to work for "The Man" after college I would've highly doubted it. Not anymore though. I've been researching cool jobs through NIH and HUD. Both need people with good inter-personal skill and stellar writing to boost their Public Relations. Enters: me. I didn't go to school for PR, but I did learn to write well in the hellhole that is VCU, and I have to say that my ability to talk to anyone (even a wall if I have to) is one of the best skills I learned working at Starbucks.

MAIN Frustration: seeing all of these cool job opportunities show up and know that if I apply for them and get the job, they'll want me to work before the wedding. While that sounds nice, I need to make sure I have off those days and Liz and I aren't living together till after the wedding. I know, sounds so medieval, but we like it that way. So does God. Gotta keep the man upstairs happy. I think He's dangling all these cool job ideas so I can get excited about the job He's set aside for me! Keep those prayers coming for me though, it can get tough and nerve wracking when you don't know how this is all going to get done. I tend to keep my head up and persevere though! I like to stay happy.

Besides, Liz and I have found new cheap ways to stay entertained. We read to each other before we sleep, when we drive, and when we eat at fast food joints. We look like idiots to other people, but it helps with speech problems (I tend to mutter and stammer from time to time), and it's better than vegging out on a couch to watch an aimless TV program. It keeps us on our toes. We also tend to eat better now as well! I love spinach, and have fallen in love with using lentils in food (try cooking Meesir Wat, it's phenomenal!). Plus, I eat garden fresh tomatoes, when I used to hate non-cooked tomatoes (Liz used to joke on me, claiming I am "an Italian that doesn't like tomatoes, that's an oxy-moron!).

On top of packing and praying, I have decided that I want to make a mix of wedding songs I'd like to dance to and hear at the wedding. Once I get a list together, I'll post em so everyone can download them and tell me what they think.

I love you all, and you too Liz!

(This pic was taken two nights ago when Liz and I cooked. I know, we're so cute it makes unicorns throw up.)

I Know There's An Answer

I'm sitting in my Starbucks, listening to the Beach Boy's "Pet Sounds" album. An old friend always used to rant and rave about the album. I always equated it to the usual surf music. I never thought that I'd be listening to it constantly now. My Uncle Michael recently let me borrow his vinyl copy (a nice gesture I might add). He's always been a huge Beach Boys fan. I remember riding in the car with him and my cousin Robbie, blasting "Rhonda" as we go to get a bite to eat somewhere.

In fact, the Beach Boys have really always been a part of my life, I guess that's I never gave a big hullah-baloo when other friends started talking about them like they're the best thing since sliced bread. They had been background music for most of my childhood. I remember my dad playing "Surfin USA" as my brother and I would act as if we were riding Big Kahunas.

Good times...

As the time flies by quickly (less than three months till the big day), I can't help but think about so many things that are coming up. I have to help Liz move, along with most of belongings and then say goodbye to her for weeks. Then I have to randomly drive up to DC for countless Government job interviews. Here's to hoping that I get an awesome job. My resume looks great, if not for the fact that I have volunteer organizations, a hard working history, highly needed skills (language, computer proficiency, etc.), and a stellar list of recommendation letters. It's all there. Now I just have to survive the next few months without health insurance, no money, and tons of love to give to others.

I'm wondering what will happen once I move up there. Will this book get a new wind? Will I ever actually go to Law School? What about married life? All I know right now is that I'm gonna have the coolest person next to me, and God in charge of my future. From the outside it looks drastically scary, but from where I'm sitting I couldn't be more happy and comfortable.

Jobs

It's good to finally finish my resume. In everything I have done, I was able to put it all on two pages of paper. To many, this could be a bit disconcerting. I'm not worried about it all though. Only because it is mostly short and to the point. Much like these sentences.

Since Beth has been weathered down with being sick, Liz crashed on my couch last night (she can't afford to be sick, at the moment). Because of this, Liz and I have been able to catch up on some much needed cooking-togetherness along with countless episodes of "How I Met Your Mother". Hanging out with Liz is so easy and comfortable. It's great to have a woman that accepts me for being me. I don't have to try to be something I'm not. I love that!

Many doors are opening in the area of jobs in DC. Patent writing, Grant writing, speech writing, Ethics official, etc... It won't be hard to acquire a job. I'm not as worried as I once was. The constant thought through all of this has been "I refuse to enter my marriage with Starbucks as my job". If it begins like that, fine. But not forever. I need a challenge where I'm not dealing with food everyday. It's getting old quickly now. If I were paid better, I might say yes.

Dad was right, college is great if only to help me use my mind for money instead of my physical abilities.