Snakecharmer

Dr. No holds a new classroom pet

Why I don't frequent Starbucks:

The lingo used at Starbucks is designed for efficient communication between employees and with customers while ordering drinks or "marking the cups." There is a prescribed order in which to say each modifier, ending with the name of the drink itself. Ordering a drink may begin with whether or not the drink is iced, whether it is decaffeinated, the number of shots of espresso (if different from the standard recipe for that drink), the size of the cup, any flavoring added, the kind of milk requested, (eg. non-fat milk, organic milk, breve, heavy cream, or soy milk), any additional customizations (e.g. no foam, extra hot) and finally the name of the beverage.
For example, the order of an iced latte, grande, with vanilla syrup, decaf, with whipped cream, skimmed milk, and an extra shot, would be called as an "Iced Decaf Triple Grande Vanilla Non-fat (or Skim) with whip latte." In other words, you simply say iced if it is a cold beverage, or nothing if it is hot, which is default, and then read the down the list of modifiers listed on the side of the cup.
If not otherwise specified, drinks are made hot, with caffeinated espresso and whole milk. The basis for all "bar" or espresso based drinks is the latte, which consists of espresso, steamed milk, and a dollop of foamed milk. From there exist variations such as the cappuccino (with espresso, and a heavy cap of foam), and the caramel macchiato (with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, a 1/2 inch layer of foamed milk which is added so that it can "hold" the shots of espresso poured over top, and the caramel sauce in a cross-hatch pattern).There are usually two to four baristas (or "partners," as Starbucks employees are called) in each store at any one time with at least one being a Shift Supervisor, Assistant Manager or Store manager, depending on the business volumes. Baristas in black aprons are "Coffee Masters". These aprons are worn by partners who have completed the Coffee Master course and achieved a high standing during their certification, which educates partners in not only the tasting, but also growing, roasting and purchasing (including fair trade practices) aspects of the coffee industry.
It was policy in the past that a partner be a shift supervisor, assistant store manager, or store manager in order to become a Coffee Master. Starbucks has recently changed this stance and now allows all partners the opportunity to become a Coffee Master.
Most stores are internally divided into:
the floor, where the baristas work and serve customers
the back of house, which consists of the storeroom
the cafe, which consists of the cafe itself and the bathrooms, and so on
Behind the counter, the floor is divided into three distinct sections for "deployment" or working in stations throughout one's shift:
The POS (Point of Sale or cash register): This is where orders are placed, called, and paid for. Pastries are served from here as well as brewed coffees and teas.
The Beverage Station: This area is usually broken down into two sections, the Espresso Bar and the Cold Beverage Station. The Espresso Bar is where most hot beverages are made, even if they don't require espresso shots, except for the Coffee of the Week and brewed tea. The Cold Beverage Station is where Frappuccino drinks and iced teas and coffees are made and served. If there is a high demand for cold drinks there may be a barista specifically for the Cold Beverage Station, otherwise a single barista handles the whole Beverage Station, with help from the floater barista if necessary. Many newer stores have a dual-Espresso Bar setup, sometimes called a "W" bar or a "Bent" bar, named for the shapes the bars create when seen from the customers' perspective. These are used at higher volume stores (mostly those with drive-thrus) so multiple Baristas can be on bar at once during the heavy rushes.
The Digital Brewer and Pastry Case: These are usually placed close to each other on the opposite side of the register from the Espresso Bar. The Digital Brewer is where all the Coffees of the Week are brewed and served. This is never a primary position, unlike the others, since it is a low-demand, low-difficulty station, and is usually handled by the barista operating the register or by the floater.
The three primary roles that baristas perform are thus POS (register), bar (making and serving drinks), and floating (miscellaneous duties including making Frappuccino beverages and "café", the duty of cleaning tables and otherwise taking care of the customer area.) The floater will also expedite the line by calling drinks to the bar so that they can be ready by the time the customer has finished paying.
Some stores might also have a barista at the Frappuccino bar or a barista at the back of the store. Busy stores might even have two baristas at one station, especially at the espresso bar on busy days or at the Frappuccino station during the summer. If the Starbucks has a drive-thru it may have one to four baristas assigned solely to serve customers in drive-thru. Drive-thru stores will always have higher staffing levels simply because of the unique situation that is created by trying to serve both cafe and DT customers at once.
A regular shift's workers include the baristas and the shift supervisor, often a more experienced barista promoted to the position. The shift supervisor (just "shift" for short) is in charge of running the store when the manager is not working. The "shift" also will take on the role of floater as necessary to resolve bottlenecks.

fiery fairy

lost in the circus

Yesterday I got lost in the circus, feeling like such a mess
Now I’m down I’m just hanging on the corner
I can’t help but reminisce
When you’re gone all the colors fade
When you’re gone no New Year’s Day parade
You’re gone and the colors seem to fade
-Amos Lee

The Group

When We Dance

have we met?

"Even the ones who laugh are sometimes caught without an answer: these creatures who introduce themselves but we swear we have met them somewhere before."
-The Log Lady

The Bard of Heering

abstract angel

This painting was inspired by the work of Argentine ceramic artist Alfredo Ratinoff. Magic!
see his work here His bright and festive faces were like smelling salts to my creative spirit. I learned about him in one of those timeless dentist office magazines, it made my appointment worth the wait.

Sue's Comet

Sue has been telling us magic stories about the skies over western australia, breathtaking!
I wish we were there

It's a shame about Ray

whatcha cookin ?

Tonight the boys joked that my soup could actually be worn as a helmet.

Dreaming Angel

A recent gift from my brother, why is he being so nice to me?

Dreamer

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. "

-Martin Luther King Jr.

a silvery day

it's a lonesome and rainy afternoon
a good day to sit by the spirited fire
and dream gorgeous dreams

tripping fairies

you go Syl!

bestest wish

pineapple eye-openers

I love it when I meet my favorite i-tunes junkie at Chez Shonay, she colors the town pink!

Phoenix

Today my old blog http://sleepyhollowhill2.blogspot.com/magically appeared on my bloggerdashboard! I am thrilled to have my lost posts back again. I love you Blogger team!

Overpowered By Funk

I picked Shebaz up from the vet at lunchtime. I don't know what they did to her, but she is extraordinarily stinky. blah! What if she stays that way forever?

maningafing

In honor of my becoming an old lady, my parents presented me with a heartwarming scrapbook of my life. It made me cry to know that two people could love me so much. This is one of my favorite photos from the project, it's me on our balcony in Germany.

I wished on the moon

Planetary Visionary

Dr. No and I have been hard at work on the fourth grade science project: A Model of Saturn. Styrofoam is definitely not our favorite medium, it has such a creepy feel. The surface of the planet is beautifully painted and the fabrication of the rings will soon be complete. Mwahahaha!IT LIVES!

flowers for the sick and tired

you know who you are darlings

Nadine's fortune cookie message:

if you want someone to get off the couch first you must take away the couch

object of my desire:

songs I'd risk death to avoid hearing

Ten songs that I would risk driving off a cliff in order to change stations if they came on the radio while I was driving dangerously close to a cliff:

(inspired by a recent road trip and in no particular order)

1. The Lido Shuffle/Boz Scaggs

2. Keep On Lovin You/REO Speedwagon

3. Frankenstein/Edgar Winter Group

4. Freebird/Lynyrd Skynyrd

5. I'm Alright/Kenny Loggins

6. Allentown/Billy Joel

7. Baby I Love Your Way/Peter Frampton

8. Oh Sherry/Journey

9. Turn Back Time/Cher

10. Promiscuous Girl/Nelly Furtado

a window to the soul

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting with the gift of speech"
-Simonides

a wish

acrylic on canvas

send them back

I have bad clown memories. When I was a girl we went to a fantastic circus and my brother and I, and about forty six other kids were chosen from the audience to perform with the clowns. We had to dance in the ring with them, which was pretty terrifying in and of itself, but afterward I got lost. The other kids were back with their parents and I....I was left with the clowns! They were pissed off and smoking cigarettes and my eight year old self was sure that I was doomed to stay with them forever.

Thought for the day:

Never underestimate the power of an eighty seven pound woman who wants to drag her eight foot tree to the curb on garbage day.

cover

Can you tell I've unpacked my journals? I like the way they reveal what was in my heart at a certain point in time.

love

On Turning Forty

For some reason I thought there would be a definitive shift in the universe upon my fortieth birthday, it didn't happen. No discernable difference between who I was formerly and who I am now, save for a few boingy gray hairs that threaten the silky texture of my crowning glory. Still, I wait for the epiphany.

Loudmouth Walsh

Resolutions

This is a blind contour drawing of Dino in pre-swill position last New Year's Eve. I love doing blind contour drawings because they erase the static from my mind.

trust

"We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone-but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy"

-Walter Anderson

my horoscope for today:

Before you get too heavy into anything, step back and examine what you're doing.

my new project

I can't wait to get to work on this mixed media piece, but life keeps getting in the way!

romance fairy

I found this whimsical little person in my cutting pile!

dinner date

Busted Stuff

first time I kissed you I lost my legs, bring that beat back to me again. take me back take me back can't catch me can't catch me.....

Moondancer

we go dancing in the moonlight with the starlight in your eyes

we go dancing till the sunrise...... you and me

we're gonna dance, dance, dance

p e a c e