"life happens over coffee."

first and foremost...coffee isn't my favorite beverage and this entry isn't entirely about coffee-related things. tonight...starbucks stores around the world were closed from about 5:30 to 9 just so we all can learn how to make better expressos and be better baristas. i'll be honest...i would have rather done something else in those three or so hours. what made it special and worthwhile was seeing almost everyone (raul, joshie, and marissa were the only ones missing) there. i was glad to see andy was doing well, stephanie is 5 months pregnant (and i was 5 months in the dark about it), and that liz danced at the staples center (i had not seen her in ages!). our family was the closest it's been to being altogether at once. we had a whole lot of laughs as we handled business and did what howard schultz told us to do. i don't get paid enough...i don't have that many hours...but i still love my job because of the people i get to work with. viva la butterfield and pine starbucks!

i've spent the past two days studying at the starbucks in san bernardino...which has become my study area while i'm at school. tammi, mendy, suzette, devangi, tim, micha, and i studied like no other in hopes that we pass our huge exam tomorrow morning. not only has studying together benefitted our minds...but it has helped us get a little closer. and like the saying goes...a little goes a long way.

like i mentioned before...i went to heat last weekend with tiffany, dennis, and tash. i didn't quite know what to expect but i sure got a lot out of the experience. i got to see a good mos def performance (he was damn annoying at rock the bells), 311 played love song, i got to see circa survive and clipse, and i was able to dance as moby was the dj. like i said...i got a lot out of the event and i'm glad to have been a witness to the eccentricity and eclecticness of it all.

i had dinner with tiff and fred last night. i loved every moment of it because i never get to eat out on weekdays anymore since i study a lot now. for once...i was able to cool things down and have great conversations and food with them. i don't care if i only spent an hour or so with them and it was a denny's...to be with the people you love is always a cherished experience.

that's all for now. like i told fred and hendrix tonight...good luck with your lives. ciao!