Staff Retreat 08

Well, I did a horrible job of taking pictures but that is because most of the time we were laying on the beach, laying in our beds, or eating! We headed down to Isle of Palms, SC (an island near charleston) last Thursday to Sunday and enjoyed a 3 story beach house including a swimming pool and beach access a block away. Like I said most of our time was spent eating or laying somewhere, which is how every real staff retreat should be!

Dinner at California Dreamin (in my honor of course) (Carrie and Marla)
Saddled up for our 1 hour carriage ride through historic downtown Charleston.
With Carrie, Sarah and Marla
Sarah, Sara, Carrie, and Marla

Thanks Mom And Dad!

Thank you to my parents who donated some Target gift cards to the House Of Hope a few weeks ago. We were FINALLY able to replace the hideous comforters in the Alpha (older) house with some of the money. The originals...I am guessing they came with the house!!!! Very retro and most of them loosing fuzz out of the holes in the corners.
The next ones to go (above).
The new stylish ones!
More of the new ones

We are also working on painting all three rooms to go with the comforters or rather we have picked comforters that will go with the new colors. Last Saturday was our annual Spring Cleaning day where all of the parents and girls along with various volunteers were able to work on different projects from 9am-4pm. Most of it was outdoor but we were able to get one room painted. The nasty yellow was replaced with a shade of white.

Opening At Starbucks!

Always an adventure when I open. Well, usually its stories of my spilling coffee, opening the top half of the pastry case and reaching into the bottom, or filling tea with coffee instead of water. Not so today. I was actually doing well and had been alrert since my arrival at 515am (we open 30min later on Sundays) until one particular "character strolled in. It was indeed probably the only bum who lives in North Raleigh and he chose to walk himself right to the front of our line to order a coffee. Since he appeard to be more than just high on life the girl working the register served him the coffee but as she handed it to him she heard him say "watch this" as he turned and walked away without paying. We watched alright, watched the direction he walked as we called the cops. He was picked up a few minutes later and his arresting officer later let us know he would not be coming out anytime soon seeing as he apparently had some other things pending. On top of this after leaving us he harassed the gas station attendant behind our store and when he wouldn't give him free cigarrettes the stolen coffee was thown at the mini mart.

Hooray for crazies!

Updates

Well I am back in Raleigh and had to get right back into the swing of things! My flight to Raleigh was amazingly on time. My luggage however, was not. In fact so late that I still do not have one of my bags! Have I mentioned that I hate North West Airlines. Fly at your own risk people. I came back Saturday and was at the house Sunday night through Wednesday morning. I had my usual cough with congestion and an occasional sore throat beginning on Sunday. By Monday night my voice was gone and by Monday morning I had pink eye in both eyes! So I decided to go to the doctor and $97 later and 4 prescriptions (well....3 + Zyrtec) I am on my way to recovery....or so I am told. I can talk again but let me tell you working two days at Starbucks with no voice and pink eye is interesting. When I could finally get stuff out today I just kept asking my coworkers if they wanted a "grande pink eye" this being creative because there is actually a drink called a red eye, which is coffee with a shot of espresso...and of course a black eye, which has 2 shots. No one wanted the pink eye.

It actually is worse today but I didn't get a picture ;)