We got some catchin' up to do...

So many stories, so little time to post!

Heard by me on Wednesday A.M. in the Hermitage Starbucks Drive-thru:

A lady who can only be described as more than 89 percent redneck-country says (imagine a strong Southern/country accent), "I’d like a large mocha frappuccino with three extra shots of coffee and extra chocolate...and can you make sure that’s double-wrapped?” (I've interpreted "double-wrapped" to mean "double-cupped"; keeps the frappuccino from sweatin' all over your car.) As I’m sorting through her order, getting it into the expeditor for the bar folk, barista Dale is in the backroom with his headset on. He hits his “buddy” button on the headset and just starts laughing in my ear. Then he says in his best Southern accent, “Did you get that double-wrapped?” Which makes me want to laugh outloud but I can’t because I’m still repeating this order back to her. Oh, bless my soul...Southerners and Starbucks...what a combination!

A non-Starbucks story for once: I'm up in Chicago this weekend, watching my nephews while my sister and brother-in-law travel for their missions work. My sister met me at the airport this morning...she unloaded her bags to catch a plane and I loaded my bags to drive back to her house. When I got here, I went over to the neighbors to pick up Zack, who didn't want to ride along with Mom to the airport. (Luke was at school already; Zack has PM Kindergarten). Well, I went over to the neighbors and she proceeded to hand me an envelope that one of the boys had left in their mailbox the day before. The envelope contained $145 in cash. !!! Yes, $145 in cash. Seems he had pulled from his mom's stash and decided to be a generous giver to the neighbor kids. The note written on the back flap of the envelope reads: "der nowu and josiu her is suthing for you" (which interpreted says, "Dear Noah and Joshua, here is something for you." That's something alright. I told Jennifer the story on the phone this afternoon and she just said, "Oh my." We'll let the culprit remain nameless, although only one would be able to write that message on the envelope. Not sure how well he's going to negotiate out of this one.

Because I'm the aunt, I can spoil the nephews. So after dinner we went to Dairy Queen. The boys got chocolate dipped cones and I had a small Blizzard. As they were finishing up, Luke says, "I'm getting full." Zack follows up with, "I'm getting full on slobber."

Lastly, pick up a copy of the October issue of CCM Magazine, available at Borders, Barnes and Noble or most any Christian bookstore. The worship music supplement I edited and mostly wrote appears in this new issue. It's called "Worship Now!" Catchy, eh?

'Til next time...

Hysterical Starbucks Story

As I was making mochas and such this morning, fellow barista Dale asked fellow barista Travis if he had told me his story from the day before. He had not. Here it is...

Picture barista Brittany making coffee drinks during the busy morning shift. Barista Travis, wanting to help as best he can, comes up to Brittany and asks, "Do you need anything milked?" ..... She could only give him a quizzical look as his simple question took on a double meaning. Poor Travis just wanted to help finish drinks by filling cups with hot milk.

I'll be laughing about this one for some time....

The Starbucks Drive-thru

I heard a story last night at a friend's birthday party...

Barista Thad was working the drive-thru at the Starbucks down in Cool Springs (Franklin, TN), a consistently busy store and drive-thru. He had already been having a stressful time with some cars coming through when a lady pulled up to the window and said to him, "Hurry up!" The tone and words must have pushed him over the edge, as he tilted his head, smiled and slowly said, "OK!" From there, he wandered to the register to cash out and meandered over to the bar to get her drink, before strolling back to the window with it.

It might not be Starbucks' "Legendary Service," but sometimes it keeps a barista from throwing the drink out the window at rude customers.

Note to Starbucks customers: It's oftentimes faster to go inside the store than to go through drive-thru.

Stalking the Chik-Fil-A Cow

So, Monday night at Chik-Fil-A is Kids' Night. I met the Allisons there after getting off work just two doors down. Did you know that Abbey Allison has been stalking the Chik-Fil-A cow (costumed employee) since she was 2? She has a weakness for the thing.

The quote of the night came from Aaron. Pointing to Luke, he said to the store manager who asked if they were enjoying Kids' Night: "That's my little guy harassing the cow over there."


Abbey at one of her first meetings with the Chik-Fil-A cow!

Thanks for the picture, Beth!

DuneFest '05...Some more good pictures

The Nashville Girls


The Jeep that didn't get away...


Jeannie preparing to ride with Crazy Uncle Bruce


And here's the Crazy Uncle ready to ride...


Zack getting some help with his s'more


Dad giving a tour of The General, the Willy's Jeep he built (he always has admirers)

DuneFest ’05: If you missed it, we're sorry...look at some photos.

DuneFest – noun: A gathering of friends and family at the Chapman’s compound near Silver Lake, Mich., for a weekend of off-roading in Jeeps, sand rails, dune buggies, or anything that the Chapmans can add extra power to or just keep running to get over the huge hills of sand along the shore of Lake Michigan. Complemented by camping, good food, sunsets, tall tales from Uncle Bruce and s’mores around the campfire.

So, our second trip to Dune Fest last weekend was a success. Jeannie, Shelby and I packed up Shelby’s Subaru Outback on Thursday evening and made our way to Grand Rapids, Mich. After crashing for a few hours of sleep at Mom and Dad’s, we grabbed a quick breakfast with my sister at Panera, picked up some Starbucks for the road, and off we went to Silver Lake.

Our first afternoon out on Friday was pretty uneventful…well, if you count breaking only a windshield and getting stuck once in the dune buggy uneventful. Could have been worse, I guess.

I was the one to break the windshield in Dad’s beloved Buttercup, the yellow Jeep. I was driving by myself, drag racing my Crazy Uncle Bruce and Jeannie, when I hit a bump or two and the empty passenger seat bounced forward and smacked the glass. Oops! Sorry, Dad!

Jeannie and Shelby teamed up in the purple dune buggy quite a bit…helping one another shift the little guy. I believe the story goes that Uncle Bruce passed them when they were trying to get it in a gear, thought about stopping to help, but then figured, “Oh, they’ll figure it out.” And they did. They then got stuck on a dune after waiting for an SUV to get unstuck. What’s a DuneFest without getting stuck, eh, girls?

Some of us were witness to a young man’s “oops, I shouldn’t have gone through this mud puddle.” The young punk and his girlfriend attempted to drive his Jeep Cherokee through one of the mud holes out by the lakeshore. Either it was too deep for him or he didn’t blow through it fast enough, but when we caught sight of him, only his front half was sticking out of the water…back half completely submerged, with bubbles from his exhaust surfacing. It took two Jeeps to tow him out and when they finally succeeded, man, you should have seen the water rush out when the doors were opened. I got some pictures; we’ll see how they turn out.

To all friends and family reading this: You are invited to join DuneFest ’06. It’ll be bigger, badder, louder and faster. Make plans now to join the fun! Mom and Dad’s cabin WILL be ready for many visitors. More details on dates and travel in about nine months.


Me, my Dad and The General


Buttercup, The General and the purple dune buggy waiting for the sunset


Charissa and I at DuneFest


Jeannie and Shelby in the dune buggy, waiting for the sunset over Lake Michigan


Mom and I hanging out at the picnic table


The sun sets over Lake Michigan

Teenagers: Did I Act That Way, Mom?

REVISED: A BIG and BELATED shout-out to Amy Darnall (a.k.a. DirtyBird)! She's a good friend that talks me down from youth staff suicide when students get to me. While I'm at it then, I'll add shout-outs to Larissa Reusch and David Ridings for doing the same.

I got back from youth camp last Friday.

High points: Seeing little Jeffrey Johnson laying on the floor all by hisself talking to Jesus and junior higher Blake Ridings biting senior Jarod Harper's arm on the bus ride home cuz he was so hungry...well, that and I dared him to do it. Naturally, Jarod bit him back, only harder. (I never promised Blake that there wouldn't be retribution.)

Low points: Having some of my kids sass back to me. They apologized and we made up but it made me wonder if I acted like that as a teenager. I know I used to sass back as a kid but Mom certainly washed my mouth out with enough Ivory Liquid dish detergent to teach me a lesson. I decided that I might not sass back anymore...it's just turned to sarcasm.

So, camp was great. Hot, but fun! And there were plenty of Starbucks in the vicinity to keep us all going. I think quite a few kids became addicted to the Double Chocolate Chip Blended Creme Frappuccino...poor kids, no taste. The beach, even with all the seaweed washed up by Dennis, was good. The sun toasted my skin...no real sunburns here though. Overall, a good week...well worth the trip.