I'm at Starbucks in Charlotte right now, and I'm really enjoying this venti 4-pump mocha. This is a really nice store, very expansive floor plan. I'm here because I came to pick up a faculty member from the airport in an hour. I'd love to stay a little longer and tell you how things are going, but I really have a lot of studying to do. Maybe another time I can bring you up to speed on the events of the semester. See you later.

John

P.S. The weather got cold yesterday and today, and it is soooo nice.

Free Lunch (And Dinner)

This certainly has been a full weekend. On Friday we went to the Monroe's for a going away get together that they would hosting for Kevin and me. We spent the entire evening there and even got to watch the Gold medal soccer match in the Olympics on the huge flat screen TV. We finished off the evening watching Cool Runnings and a good fight before going home. The next day I went to REI with Mom; I have been to REI three times in the past two days. I've been playing a lot of board games lately because I won't be able to play any with these guys while I'm away. Today, while waiting before church I got restless so I drove like a maniac to Starbucks. When I got there and ordered I remembered that I had forgotten my wallet at home with all my money in it. I realized this at the counter and told the registrar that I would take a water instead. But the barista, knowing that I was a former partner and had visited that store many a time insisted that I take the tea anyway for free. That was great, that group of baristas is really a great group. I've only a few more trips to Starbucks left, I know there isn't one in Ulaanbaatar. I fly out this Saturday from Seattle International Airport in the early afternoon so I'd like to make a visit to Pike's Market Starbucks on the way.

John

Party Animal

Well, it's in to town on a Saturday night..... or any other night for that fact, it doesn't make a difference to me. Tonight we were going to go out to dinner for we were starving, instead we went to Starbucks. It was the third time that I went to Starbucks today, and I spent money each time I went. I should maybe rethink my spending habits.

John

Changes

I've been thinking lately about leaving Starbucks a little earlier than I'm leaving the country so I can work for Mr. Dutton full time. My schedule at Starbucks it so chopped up and I'm not working as many hours as I could for Mr. Dutton. I'll know by nex week what I'll be doing for sure.

I went to the Portland International Raceway last night to watch the drag races. Mr. Olson raced but didn't get as fast a time as he was hoping to. It was so cool.

John

Tonight is the Night

Tonight I have a Graduation practice for the ceremony tomorrow. I don't work at all this weekend, it's nice that I don't have to run off and work while my grandparents are in town. I tried to fly my kite yesterday but the breezes were not constant enough. I will have to try again.

John

Senior Trip Prologue

It grows ever closer, like the sharks circling in the dirty water. I volunteered to make the menu for the trip, partly because I wanted to help, mainly because I wanted to decide what we eat and when we eat it. I would say that I'm pretty magnanimous. I went to Costco with Mom today and got most of our groceries, and I might add that they were considerable cheaper than we had even planned for. As far as money goes, we are way in the green up to this point. I'll make a few mores stops tomorrow at WinCo and Thriftway and then the food aspect will be all set to jet.

Good close this evening at Starbucks; we got out about 20 minutes early.

John

Many Hands

They say that having extra help speeds things right along, and they are absolutely right. Tonight we had four and a half closers (4 and a new hire), and we got out a half an hour early. I worked at the remodel project in the Hollywood district this morning. The dry wallers finally finished all their work in the bathroom and I started priming. I'm going on my senior trip next week so I won't be back to that project until a week from this Tuesday.

John

Tuefel Hunden

I closed like mad dog tonight, sweeping, mopping, cleaning and wiping, brewing and grinding coffee, and ringing customers all got twirled together in a massive Uber John Smoothie. I'm glad that Danielle appreciates how solid and reliable a worker I am.

Last night after I got off work, I wasn't tired and I didn't want to be driving around with a load of stinky soda cans in my trunk. So I decided to take them all to Thriftway to get a return on the deposit.....at Eleven o'clock. The machine wouldn't take any of my Pepsi cans, so I had to count them, all 136 of them, and take them inside. (The man at Thriftway said I looked like the trustworthy sort). All in all I made $13.65.

Because I had some free time this afternoon, after working all morning painting at the Jones', I finally got chance to fix the oil leak around my camshaft cover. I ran over to Discount Import and got the new gasket and then I went to Sears and got a 5mm and 6mm hex drive bit for a ratcheting wrench. I also got a set of philips screwdrivers so I actually have one when I need it; I love my screwdrivers so much. Arriving at home, I pulled my car part way into the garage and started taking thing apart. Less than four hours later everything was put back together and running great. And the new part was just precisely what I needed. I also got some work done on the menu for our senior trip, what a great day.

To Bee Or Not to Bee

I'm a busy bee, working for Mr. Dutton and working Starbucks. I'm starting to get complaints from my family that I'm not home often enough. Even now I'm trying to get my schedule to some friends so we can get together (again) to play some games.

Senior Car Wash this Saturday at Westgate at Eleven; everyone come and get your car super sharp, super clean, super amazing, super SHINY!

John

Broken Egg Shells

I'm going to try and put this in an eggshell, but I figured that even and ostrich egg couldn't contain it. As I have told many people (and some of them have told me back) I am very busy right now. (And a lot of all that I'm doing is just that: busy-ness). I'm graduating in just over a month but there are a couple of things that I have to prepare for it before it actually comes, namely: Invitations, testimony, and picture slide show. I've begun with my testimony and slide show but I have not made any progress so far on my invitations, and I need those before the middle of this month. On top of that, Kevin and I are working on a presentation to be ready by the twentieth regarding our rapidly approaching mission trip to Mongolia. We are meeting tomorrow to finish the last details of what we will be recording before we go to another friends house to work out the audio and visual recording. Working for Starbucks around twenty hours a week and my other job for over twenty-two hours a week makes all my "secondary work" almost take a back shelf. Mostly I just stay up late trying to get all those auxiliary projects started and in the running for this whirling mayhem. Along with all that, there is my nearly non-existent social life that I have to try and keep alive, whether it be on life support or not. All in all, I've really come to understand the verse about bearing the yoke in one's youth.

John

Why I Need to Take a Nap

It's not that I'm so incredibly busy from dawn until dusk, it's just that I'm busy enough so that when I'm not busy I just want to not be busy. I hope that made sense. Here is a semblance of my last week's itinerary.

Starbucks: Working generally five out of seven days a week I keep my hours at Starbucks pretty constant. The pay isn't as good as working for Mr. Dutton, but I get tips every week and free Starbucks. I'm scheduled to work this Thursday but I'm desperately trying to get it covered so that I can go snowboarding with the Popescues.

Snowboarding: The other day I was trying to recall how many times this year that I had been snowboarding and I don't think that I have been enough. If I can get my shift on Thursday I will go to Timberline with Adam and the Popescues. I got new Oakley Crowbar snow goggles for my birthday and Friday was the first day I got to use them. I'm also trying to go on Monday the 24th.

Working for Mr. Dutton: My schedule with Mr. Dutton is off and on mostly. I work how much I work for him around my Starbucks (and snowboarding) schedules, but I'm working enough to make a significant addition to my income.

Missions Presentation: Kevin and I have gotten a good start on our presentation but we still need the motivation to buckle down and write the majority of the content for our five main points. I am nearly done with my written testimony and I have gotten quite a few pictures from Mr. Dean that I will use in our slide show, so I'm off and running.

Piano: I restarted my piano lessons recently with Patrick Gay, which I am excited about. Because of all that I am doing and working on right now I'm only taking a lesson once every two weeks. Having the lessons gives me something to focus and work on and I'm glad I am taking them while I have the capacity to still learn something.

Utah Missions Trip: I'm really excited to be part of our missions team to Nephi, Utah this June. Learning the skit and getting everyones' individual responsibilities is going to be the biggest challenge for preparation in my opinion. I'm playing the part of Capt. Livesay in the Treasure Island skit, but I haven't begun yet to memorize my lines.

Graduation: It's finally approaching and I have a few things to get ready for it. I need to acquire invitations and send them, choose photos for a slide show, prepare something to say, have my seniore portraits taken, and possibly more.

That is basically what my the pie of my life comprises.

In Christ,
John

Extra Hours

A co-worker called me this morning and asked if I could work for him on Tuesday night. Unfortunately I will miss hanging door flyers for Easter but I'll be gaining an extra 5 hrs. or so. Then at work today I the same co-worker called in sick so I stayed and helped the partners their to get things ready for close; I picked an extra 2 hrs. Work is great and fun but I'm really starting to feel the bind in all that's going on around my life.

John

Rebuild

What started as a simple head gasket replacement has grown incredibly to encompass the entire engine of my car. Alright, I'll admit that replacing the head gasket isn't really a walk in the park, I think that you'd agree that it would seem that way compared to what we are now facing. I haven't had the most recent update because I had to go to work at 5:15. At about 4:37 I called home from Bethany to confirm the time that I worked. When I found out it was only 38 minutes until I had to be at my store Adam and I raced home at the speed of sound. A few moments later, at 5:22 I clocked into my shift. I was a few minutes late but in light of the situation I'd say it wasn't too bad.

John

The Big One-Eight

I'm finally eighteen! *Does a little dance* So much is going on. I went to the Beaverton City Hall two days ago to try and apply for my passport. Realizing that I needed my birth certificate and running out of time, Mom and I decided to go home and try the next day. Next Day: Mom and I spent two hours in the waiting area, when my number was called I checked my pocket and my wallet, with my ID, at home had been forgotten. I needed to be at work in less than a half-an-hour so I had no time to have my ID brought to me. The only positive side to those three wasted hours was that I started and finished Bob Shelton's book: Through a Great Door. We also gave a tract to a ninety-four year old man. After that my afternoon only began to improve. I made it to work on time and while I was there Hannah and Josh came in and visited me. It was great to see two familiar faces. Last night was my last night for fifteen minute breaks at work.

Having been torqued one too many time by the City Of Beaverton, and wanting just to be done with the passport application process, Mom and I went to the City Of Tigard this morning and got the whole thing done in about 5 minutes; that was easy.

Besides all that I'm working on finding out was courses I can take from my major while I'm in Mongolia, working for Starbucks, working for Mr. Dutton, preparing to go on a Senior Trip, the Utah Missions Trip, and finally to leave for Mongolia in the Fall.

And I went snowboarding on Saturday and had an amzing, great day.

John

Work/School/Work

I'm really tired and I think it is because I've been working quite a lot this week. My Starbucks schedule keeps me up until at 10:30 to eleven on nights that I work and often up the next morning by 7 to go and work for Mr. Dutton. I like having all the work but I think Mom would be a little happier if I spent more time and energy on my school work.

John

Breaking Ground

I am no longer able to handle the infinitesimally small minds of junior-highers. I spent my entire afternoon running concessions at the volleyball and basketball games for out teams. I spent my entire time behind that table working and didn't really get a chance to see any of the games. I was ready to be out of their when we finally left. The only redeeming factor was pouring water over the stairs on unsuspecting vitctims. I work tomorrow at Church and then at Starbucks on Saturday. I found out today that I can't schedule a drivers test until March 6th.

John

Closing Down

Things were pretty slow last night at Starbucks. I began closing the Cafe while we were still serving customers and by the end of the night I was basically standing around because everything had already been done. At nine o'clock I told the last two people that were in there that we would be closing in ten minutes. After locking the doors we finished up the last things that we couldn't do when there were still people in the store. After we did the final lock up I ran over to the bank across the street to deposit a check. I waited just a few minutes before being picked up by Mom. I look forward to working again on Thursday.

John

Progress, Congress, And Regress

On Tuesday I took a US History I CLEP test and passed with a 65. Today I found out that I have been scheduled to take the US History II test later this month. I just started studying today but the book is short and I read through the US History textbook this past semester. More and more lately I feel as if I am actually going to Mongolia this year after I graduate before I attend Bobby J School. I have a meeting with Pastor tomorrow at 12:15.

I work today from 3 until close and I'm really excited. I can't wait to go to work but I have the feeling that it's going to be a long shift. This will be my first time closing so I will have a lot to learn.

John

Hourly/Daily/Monthly

So far this year I have been snowboarding once, I've worked at Starbucks, I've taken and passed a CLEP test, I've started a diet, written thank yous, played football, watched football, eaten out with my senior class, stayed over at Kevin's, and so much more and it's only the 9th. I am really looking forward to what is in store for me the rest of my senior year.

John

Too Much To Write About

It seems that the presence of so many things to write about always goes hand in hand with it never getting written. Just by the nature of things when so many things are happening, one gets too busy to write about them. We all had a great Christmas at our Grandparent's this year. When we got back, I started work at my new job: Starbucks. Partying last night until 12:30 for New Years was fun and then this morning we played tackle football for the New Year's Day Bowl. I didn't win but I had a lot of fun. I had one recieving TD, one interception, three touchdown passes, and I threw two interceptions. I also got to tackle Kevin. Anyway, I work today, and since it's a holiday I think I get paid extra. Happy New Year.

John