Bank Tellers

What's the point of having a deposit slip and standing in the business line at a bank when the teller asks you "are you making a deposit?.... is it for a business?" Even better that I had all the forms filled out before-hand and the first thing I spoke to her was "I just need to make a deposit." *time.for.a.new.teller*

FedEx & Other Happenings

I go to FedEx... a lot, for work and personal things. I know that the store closest to my office tends to be busy with other business types using their services but the next closest one has to be driven to. I went a couple days ago and the guy at the counter was obviously flustered. I waited patiently for him to finish a couple projects and when he came over to help me, he typed in our business account number into the computer. He said that it was wrong... hmm, I triple-checked it before I left the office (where I pre-filled out the form) and I read it back to him in case I wrote it wrong. He said yep, it's wrong there are too many numbers. *hint one, it couldn't be the wrong number of numbers as it fit exactly into the space allotted on the form..... but ok, let's try again. I asked him to double check as I've come in numerous times. Without doing anything, he said, nope, it's too long, too many numbers. He told me that there was no way the account could have ever been used and showed me the computer screen.  I pointed out he typed too many zeros and the look on his face was priceless. I really wanted to say something like "thanks for being totally rude to me and not even checking what you typed" but I didn't.

Life Hits

What a week!! Oh my goodness.

It's amazing how I manage to have timed many of my doctor's appointments all end up in the same week. I had a dentist appointment, doctor's appointment, and a ton of other business appointments among not so many days. I found out the hard way that my insurance does not cover the eye appointment at all, though neither did my last insurance plans.

I feel that every hour of basically every day is taken up by something. I have so many meetings, commitments, and things I need to do for myself. I am proud that I am taking some time to hang out with close friends and do things for my own well being.

Orange Juice and Other Thoughts...

Do you think that orange juice with extra pulp should cost less? I would guess that they they have less work to do to make the finished product.

I am not sure why but I find meeting people who are from Santa Barbara really interesting. So many people move away, many people from Washington/ Seattle are here, and a lot of people move back. I definitely would love to have a home here someday. I love being in Santa Barbara, love it! And yet, being closer to LA would be nice for gigging and such.

I love Project Runway reruns. I have seen most seasons though not the last couple because I felt the challenges were not an entertaining.

CVS

Good grief, the people you cross paths with at CVVS!

Just as I was wondering about the people who purchase tabloid magazines, the woman behind me exclaimed "omg, they got married!??"

The only thing better than that would have been, "omg, alien baby!??"

Another One Bites the Dust

I've been living in Santa Barbara for a little over five years. I moved down for school and have been lucky enough to stay which I definitely could not have predicted happening. In the last few years of working downtown, I pass numerous businesses numerous times a day. In the last year, I have seen many stores come in and out of the storefronts on State Street. In the last six months, I have seen "store-wide sale" signs fly up, only to see the store closed less than a week later. Last month, Bryan Lee closed after being open for over 15 years (I'm not completely sure how long the store was open). This week, Katwalk (on State & De La Guerra) posted signs for a sale ("up to 60% off") and just two days later, the store was cleaned out, nothing left, not even the hanging racks.

Bryan Lee

It's sad, as the economy stretches on, people have varying view of why/ what/ who/ etc. I'm not here to debate those ideas, just to post experiences of what I've seen. Stores unique to Santa Barbara have closed in abundance, including restaurants, and chains are coming in as replacements.

Borders (where I worked for almost 2 years) closed both in Goleta and downtown Santa Barbara. Not surprising for me as I worked with their 'business plan' first hand and was less than impressed. Barnes & Noble had just one store in Santa Barbara and they too pulled out a couple of months ago. H&M replaced B&N while a Marshall's took the Border's building (over 10,000 square feet of space!). Just what we nee, another discount clothing store. I was excited for H&M, I'd never been in one and heard good things. I have gone in a couple times since they opened and I'm not a fan. It's barely a step up from Forever 21 which is just a bit down the block on State Street. I like Marsha'ls better than Ross but not much. I've stopped purchasing clothing from there, after learning the hard way that sometimes you have to spend a little more money to get something that will last and be quality. Not that everything there is made poorly, but for right now, for me, it's not a good fit. 

There are quite a few boutiques left in Santa Barbara, don't get me wrong, I'm not sure how they make their rent/ bills each month, I am more curious than anything. I know a few people who own some of the unique stores and once bills are paid, they don't make much money each month, if anything. 

I am all for going to local markets (we love the Santa Cruz Market, there is one in Goleta and one downtown) and local coffee shops. I like the French Press, you haven't tried it you should. And yet, don't give me crap for going to Starbucks, I like them too and I'm not going to apologize for it. 

One store that I dont' understand how it stays open is Mon Petite Bijou. There clothes are so high-priced and my first thought is always "these items are going to be drooled and thrown up on and grown out of quickly."  :)

Photos

I love taking photos of flowers and I found these cacti:

I also love unique or cool lights. These were at my cousin's engagement party in nor Cal:

(and I had fun messing with the settings on my camera)