I filled out an application for Starbucks the other day. I never know what to write or say whenever the employer asks "Why...", "When..." etc, so I just decided to be a complete suck up with my answers. My application was full of gloating and fancy words:

Have you ever visited a Starbucks Coffee location? Where? Describe your experience. I never hestitate to relax at Starbucks, for there is always superb service, delicious drinks and appetizing snacks all inside a clean and chic environment.
What do you like about coffee? I love how it gives me that boost of energy when I need it the most [as well as the taste].
Why would you like to work for Starbucks Coffee Company? I want to be a part of this awesome team as well as expand my knowledge/experience of great customer service.
Describe a specific situation where you have provided excellent customer service in your most recent position. Why was this effective? I always try to give fast and excellent [friendly] customer service while trying to be informative as much as I can.

In all honestly, I used to chill at Starbucks... until it robbed me of my money, haha. Now I hesitate "relaxing" there because it's too damn expensive for my taste. I hardly ever drink coffee. As a matter of fact, I get a stomach ache every time I drink it (anything with caffeine does). I would like to work for Starbucks so I can make some damn money and pay off all my shit, duh, haha. So yeah... it's funny how the employers know the real reasons why people want to work for their company... I guess it's a competition to see who can BS their answers the best. I think I did a pretty good job =)

So I'm sitting here in my new temp home just shy of Las Vegas =) undeniably better than the one i used to live in. It's windy like hell here, and of course sunny like no other. One thing I don't miss is the humidity.

I really have nothing to write about. The only new thing is that I moved to Nevada just outside of Las Vegas. Currently, I'm applying for millions of jobs, keeping out of the 100+ degree weather, listening to music, watching dvds, and sleeping. Oh, and doing sudoku a lot. Hopefully, once D and I get jobs, we can go and tour Vegas and actually check out the strip.

For now, ciao!

I'm sitting here at Grandma's house in Mankota, MN and just finished reading this amazing book by Bryan James called "The Parable of the Homemade Millionaire". I've decided to reject the idea of writing an entry about being on the road and visiting D's relatives, because I'll just make my final presentation through a detailed online photo album.

Anyway, the amazing book I mentioned about had a truckful of awesome quotes and deeply detailed philosophical descriptions, but these were some that stuck out the most:

"Your subconscious is very stubborn; it has to be convinced before it'll accept something new or different. There are basically three components necessary to do that: (1) give it information with strong emotion; (2) give it information from a credible source, like a loving parent or mentor; and (3) give it information over and over again."
-Zors

"Challenges separate the men from the boys--the strong from the weak. Successful people find a way to deal with and overcome their challenges; unsuccessful people allow themselves to be defeated by them. But it's just a choice. Unsuccessful people often ignore their challenges, hoping they'll go away. [But when challenges aren't dealt with, they fester and can eventually overwhelm and consume the person, creating a real mess.]"
-Zors

"Challenges are among our greatest blessings. They force us to make the changes that we need to make. They are the stonges by which we sharpen ourselves. All challenges are accompanied by wonderful gifts, which sometimes take a while for us to discover."
-Zors

I've found a place where there is internet, yay =) I just hope D doesn't get into trouble, but I HAD to type an entry. I can't live without my Aeonity!

Below are two things I've written so far: a paper-written entry & an email to my parents, so if some stuff doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it =)
____________________

Wednesday, 08/02/06
Day 1-2
It's 7:37 AM and we've been driving since midnight last night. We're currently shy of Toledo, Ohio - on our way to somewhere-I-don't-know, Indiana. We're stopping by for a few hours to visit her grandma or some other people... I forgot.

I started off this roadtrip by driving for about 1 1/2 hours. D took over at Breezewood and drove through the rest of PA. We switched again a few minutes after arriving in Ohio.

As I was driving through Ohio, dawn snuck up behind us... before long the vermilion sun was rising. I looked in the right sideview mirror and saw the sun in the far right... it would've made an awesome photo.

Ohio is such a boring state to drive through... just like every other state, haha. I also would like to eat some real food, like a Thanksgiving dinner, because I'm sorta sick of eating snacks and sweets... junk food, whatever.

I might have to drive later, so I'm going to get some shut eye. Peace.
____________________

Email to the Parents
Hey Parents,

I'm currently chillaxin in Elkhart, Indiana at Deana's relatives' house. It has got to be one of the most beautiful and relaxing places I've been to. I've taken lotsa pictures on Deana's digi-cam, so hopefully I'll be able to send you some soon.

We drove all night last night (beginning at 12:30 am) and got here at about 10 AM. Naturally, we crashed at the house. I slept a little shorter than Deana, because of the beauty of this place. I couldn't find the camera, so I sketched a picture of their backyard in my notebook... hopefully, I can send you that sketch too.

Tonight we went to an Amish Restaurant called Essenhaus. I'm so glad we went there, because after eating snacks, junk, and drinking sports drinks all night, I was delightfully happy to eat some real homemade, hearty food! Deana got Chicken Alfredo. I got Creamed Chicken with homemade bread, mashed taters and a side of mozzerella sticks, lol... my side dish is so Amish. I definitely took pictures of that meal =)

Okay, time for bed! We have another loooong 10-hour drive tomorrow to Minnesota!

-Crystal

P.S. I already talked to the GM at Safeway, and told him I was going on a last minute roadtrip to Nevada, to help out a friend moving. He said it was okay, and will see me when I come back.

P.P.S. After Essenhaus, we went to McDonald's for McFlurries... (1) they have a Snickers McFlurry!! and (2) according to the lady in the drive through window, we have accents!! Hahaha..
____________________

So after typing up my journal from the road and rereading my email... perhaps, I'm a better emailer, hehe. Dang, It's 6:57 AM in Indiana, and dark and thundering as hell... I'm assuming that the storm hasn't completely finish from last night. Interesting weather we're having. O_O Okay, CHA!

Okay, I'm off on a long ass roadtrip - the roadtrip of my life My friend is moving to Nevada, so yeah, I'm helping

Starting Location: Woodbridge, VA (nearest to Washington DC)

Destination: Boulder City, NV (nearest to Las Vegas)

Take care everyone!!

[p.s.] I don't know when I'll be back since we're stopping at different places along the way, maybe in 15 days? Haha, I don't know.

Okay byeee!

It doesn't hurt to take a hard look at yourself from time to time, and
this should help get you started. During a visit to the mental asylum, a
visitor asked the Director what the criterion was which defined whether or
not a patient should be institutionalized.

"Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a
teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty
the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the
bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No." said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want
a bed near the window?"

Today is my day off, so I'm just fixing my attention on cleaning my room and working on my website. I don't know much about html or anything, so I'm just using a provided layout. I hope the content is better than then design >< Haha... Talking about layouts, I'm also changing the layout of my room (just moving around the furniture). Hopefully I'll have more room to roll around when I sleep, hahaha. Just joking, just joking!

Also, while scrummaging through the internet for free web layouts, I found this one page with cool techno music. I guess the author liked the artist... it's called Lagoona.

I just got back from one crazy ass night. Two friends and I (D & J) first had some dessert at McDonald's. After driving around town, we decided to speed South on the highway. J & D both decided that they were going to flash random people. J pulled over in a parking lot 20 minutes south of town, so I could drive and she could concentrate on flashing.

Ugh, haha, I wouldn't do it, cuz I'm not like that. Call me a prude, I don't care, lol. Anyway, the first target were these firefighters. J chickened out the first time, so it was a scratch. After 10 minutes of driving, we ended up in Central Park, Fredericksburg. D & J found their 2nd target... 2 latinos at the intersection. They (the latinos) were more than satisfied as they grinned from ear to ear. LMAO...

While joy-riding around town, I got hungry and had to use the restroom, so I stopped at the local McDonald's. We went through the drive-through, parked the car while I munched on a #6. Target #3, a pickup truckful of latinos (about 3)... I rolled down the front passenger side window a bit; they could hear and see what D & J were doing.

J wanted to take a picture of her boobs, D was helping her, and I was laughing my ass off looking back and forth at D & J and the latino driver (a cutie). I knew he noticed and wanted to see his expression... he was definitely interested in what they were doing.

His friend even came out of the car to see what they were doing, though he actually stuffed his face in the window (perverts, haha). We met them again at the intersection... D & J gave them a very long flash. The guy pulled past us and gave two thumbs up. He then backed up to talk to us, but the light turned green and we went our separate ways.

All in all... flashing was definitely not my thing, and I'm glad I didn't see my friends' boobs, cuz it was a little much for me. This was definitely one of the most perverted things I was a part of (even though I didn't really participate). One of the best parts of the night was speeding down the freeway, yay =)

I find it rude when people call my phone after 10pm (unless it's an emergency of some sort). If it is, leave a message, and I'll definitely return your call b/c trust me... the ringer and vibration of the phone on the table will def wake me. Other than that, don't call me at 1 AM to talk about your fucking sex life.