things i still need to remember to write about:
The dust storm on Monday (and today apparently)
knockout kings 2002 for PS2
my pedicure and being in the nail shop
things i'm still working on:
movable type 2.0
new layout
new links page
and now a pointless story about starbucks:
My favorite Starbucks is located on the western side of town near Summerlin and the 95. Everyone in that shop knows me by name, they know what drink I like to order and they know how to fix it perfectly for me so that I don’t have to add anything to it. From the first day I walked into that Starbucks the staff was nothing but friendly to me. It was right down the street from my old job so I would go in each morning before work to have a cup of coffee and sit down to write for about an hour. I became familiar with all the other regulars and we had a sense of belonging with each other. When someone missed their regular morning visit all the rest of us would ask where that person was. I liked it.
This is a popular Starbucks so there is a constant crowd there. This doesn’t seem to bother the great group of gals that work there though. The barista working the bar insists on starting drinks for those that are in line so that by the time they pay, their drink is already done and they can just grab it and go. I always marveled at their efficiency and it didn’t surprise me that the tip buckets they leave out are always overflowing with money. And people aren’t just dumping change in there either. I’ve seen five dollar bills in that tip bucket. Hell, I always leave them a tip. It’s just good service that I think everyone can appreciate in the morning.
When I got my new job, my favorite Starbucks was no longer convenient to my commute to work. It would take me twenty minutes out of my way if I wanted to go there so I had to find a different Starbucks to go to. One morning while trying to find a quick route to the new job, I stumbled upon a brand new Starbucks that had just opened.
The first time I walked in there the staff was overly friendly. They asked everyone who walked through the door how they were doing. They worked in groups of three to try and get the orders processed as quickly as possible. The dining area was neat and the additive stand was neat; there was no trace of mess in the entire store. I thought I had found a new home. The added bonus was that since it was so new, not too many people were aware that it was there and I could get in and out fairly quickly in the morning.
Four months later, the service has turned to shit. Whenever I go in there, I stand in line no less than ten minutes and then I have to wait another five before my drink is ready. The staff always seems more occupied with the conversations they are having than giving the customers service. I’ve had to correct them on my drink several times, and it urks me to no end when I have to tell them that the milk is empty or there’s no sugar. I was under the impression that these are things they are supposed to be doing every hour on the hour. Especially checking the milk. It’s coffee after all, someone is going to want to add cream. Even though there is an exceptionally charming brother who works the register and always greets me with a “Good morning sister” when I walk in, I am ready to write to the Starbucks corporate office and complain about the service. I leave there each morning with an attitude.
Yesterday I went to get my eyebrows waxed. My favorite Starbucks is right down the street from the shop where I get waxed so after my appointment I made a beeline for the coffee. As soon as I walked in the door, I was greeted by a chorus of people singing my name and asking me where I’ve been. This happens anytime I pop in, which is mostly on weekends or when I go to the salon. I returned the enthusiastic greetings and waited in line to order my drink. The girls had me ready in no time. This is service, I thought. I left a five dollar tip because it felt good to do so. Those girls work hard. I miss those girls.
When Kitty asked me how I had been, I explained to her my concerns about the other Starbucks. She just smiled and said, “We all aren’t the same honey.”
No, they aren’t. This morning, my commute will take me back to the Starbucks with the shitty service. I am going to order my drink and wait patiently for it to be prepared and hope that things will go just a little bit better this morning. I think it’s worth mentioning that all the staff at my favorite Starbucks are women whereas the majority of the staff at the new Starbucks is male. Let’s hear it for guys who don’t give a shit and just do their job without any effort to be good at doing it.
And still, I pay the four bucks a cup because caffeine is an addiction I am not ready to give up yet and there is no other convenient place for me to get my fix. In this town, Starbucks has the monopoly. Those bastards.
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