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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

Full History - 2021 - 02 - 17 - ID#llo139
17
short rant from a north texas barista (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by mthrowaway311
i live in the dfw area, in the middle of the storm. my store closed midday sunday and hasn’t opened since. i lost power for 36 hours, my apartment was 46° last time i was able to read the thermostat. now that i have power back, they’re turning it off every 45 minutes for 1-2 hours. i’m frustrated and anxious. i have no service. my phone only works when i have wifi. i’m three days behind on all my schoolwork, i’m almost out of dog food so i had to boil carrots and potatoes in case i run out before stores open. i have to give my dogs bottled water because the treatment plan lost power. my store manager can barely contact me about the status of the store because of the cell phone service. every time i get power i have to run and get as much done as i can before it shuts off. citizens are buying tubs of cat litter to throw on the streets because the city isn’t salting. there’s police sirens nonstop and my alarm system is beeping every ten seconds to let me know it’s malfunctioning. i live off a main road and have heard more tires screech, horns blaring and crashes over the past three days than ever before. i have to sit in my car to warm up and charge my phone. i haven’t been able to pick up my mood stabilizer, antidepressant or anxiety meds and i’m almost out. i have three voicemails and four texts from the starbucks emergency alert system. i can’t breathe.
if you get to put your apron on and go make mochas and warm up banana bread, please count your blessings. i would love to be yelled at over almond milk.
texas baristas, i am here for you. keep your head up.
EDIT: i just woke up to a flooded apartment. a pipe froze above us. this is a nightmare.
aspen_silence 3 points 2y ago
Texas isn't built for Northern weather. Stay safe, don't go out unless you have to, and remember you've got support!

I've got family in Houston but we're from N Ohio, we're use to this crazy winter stuff. Hopefully by this weekend all is better *hugs from a Northern girl currently anxious for my Texas family*
mthrowaway311 [OP] 3 points 2y ago
thank you so much. i feel like all we’re getting is hateful comments about how we’re being babies and the north is like this all the time. we get it, but you guys have proper transportation systems, generators and officials who care. most of us are just stuck with nowhere to go. my neighbors apartment was destroyed in the same flood as mine and they have no family to help so they had to get the nearest AirBNB in louisiana and that’s quickly becoming the reality for a lot of us. it’s 3 am and i just finished shoveling water out of my dad’s neighbor’s apartment who had evacuated yesterday and has no idea what they’re coming home to. i appreciate your kind words. thank you.
aspen_silence 2 points 2y ago
I've never understood that way of thinking. Sure it's easy for us Northerners to laugh at how Texans don't know how to drive on ice but reality is, neither can we! Ice doesn't care how many wheel drive your car/truck/SUV has, it'll mess them all up. Up here we have the plows and it's part of the state/county/city budget every year. Give us a hurricane or an earthquake and you'd see pure pandemonium.

People I guess just like to think everyone lives exactly like them and it's a shock to find out, nope.
rio8envy7 3 points 2y ago
Take a breath. It’s ok. You’re stressed and need to breathe. I learned something from my manager that may help if you’re interested. It should help the stress go away or alleviate some of the anxiety
mthrowaway311 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
anything helps. thank you for your support.
rio8envy7 5 points 2y ago
So make a fist with both hands but keep your pointer finger up and curl them. Start at your eyebrows and use your knuckles to press into your face. Gently drag them to the side of your head. Then do the same thing above the bridge of your nose, under your nostrils and on your chin. Take slow deep breaths while you do it. I really hope it helps you.

I completely understand how you feel.
mthrowaway311 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
thank you so much, that does help. ♥️
lqurenpatton 2 points 2y ago
something i do to help my sensory overload episodes is put a blanket over my head and breathe very deeply and close your eyes. I also focus on just one sound in the house to start with and then add other sounds until you are calm. I do this a lot after shifts. Good luck!!
xxx a texas barista with anxiety :)
mthrowaway311 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
thank you so much. i hope you’re doing okay. reach out if you need anything. ♥️
lqurenpatton 1 points 2y ago
you too!
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