Pissed at Starbucks

I'm pretty mad at Starbucks right now.

Since I started this diet I've been trying to come up with a new favorite drink that doesn't have a bajillion calories like my Venti Peppermint Mochas.

I went to a Starbucks and they had sugar free peppermint and sugar free chocolate so the barista experimented. It wasn't bad. But not all Starbucks have the sugar free peppermint nor chocolate. it's pretty inconsistent and that's frustrating.

So I then I thought I'd get something different. I went to a Starbucks at a mall and told the barista my dilemma. She made me a sugar free vanilla cold drink with coffee, skinny, blended thing and it was really good. She said the only calories in the whole thing was the milk. Okay!

I couldn't remember what it was called so I took a picture of the cup and when I was at another Starbucks, I showed that barista the picture. As he and I chatted he informed me if really did have sugar in it but half the amount of regular frappuccino powder. Huh? I told him what she said he said she was wrong; really, though, he thought I was wrong because he said Starbucks employees wouldn't say that.

WTF?!?

I was pissed. I count ever single calorie that goes in my body and I spend lots of time on restaurant web sites analyzing nutrition values. And he insinuates I'm stupid? I was pissed.

Then he proceeded to make my drink and it tasted like crap.

I drop A LOT of money at Starbucks on a regular basis. I have a gold card with my damn name on it. I continue to patronize them and believing they'll help me find something that tastes good. But this guy just rubbed me the wrong way and made a crappy drink on top of it.

I took the picture to another Starbucks- in a different city even- and the barista there made it the same way as the mall girl and said she was right.

I went back to the other Starbucks with the mean guy; he wasn't there of course. I showed the picture to another barista at that store and HE said it was wrong and made me a crappy drink, AND SLAMMED MY CUP DOWN. Oh yes he did.

I was nice. I was polite. I was respectful. I didn't yell or anything. I got bad customer service and a crappy product. I am NOT going back to that Starbucks. I don't deserve the treatment I received- no one does. This is why people think Starbucks sucks. And for $5.24 per drink, I don't have to tolerate it. And at this point, unless I get an iced tea, I won't be going to any Starbucks until someone can give me a real, honest answer about the beverage I get, and improve customer service. I've been going there for more than 10 years. I drove 3 freaking hours one way when I lived in the Wild West to get Starbucks. I am so saddened by the repeated inconsistencies and rude customer service.

I. am. not. impressed. anymore.

Disgruntled Starbucks customer,
Mags

Random crap in my head on Friday

If it's 97 degrees for several days in a row here in May, how miserable is it going to be in July? I might have to move to the polar ice cap for a few months.

Does anyone here play draw something? If so, let me know and we can get a game going. But consider yourself warned that I suck really badly. If I give you a lot of word clues it's because my drawings need severe help; words are my back up plan.

A shot of peppermint sugar free syrup in my iced tea is very light, refreshing, and yummy!

I have 4 days off. Thank you God of all Things Day Off. I would like to ask for Tuesday off too, but I don't wish to appear greedy.

My next pedicure is going to be a bright, florescent orange with little white daisies with yellow centers airbushed on!

Mac decided to NOT take some test that would then help him join the Navy, who probably wouldn't want him anyway.

I love laundry that's been on the clothes line all day; one of the best scents ever.

I've found the best used clothing store ever. I spent $30 and got 3xs the stuff I get when I spend $75 at Lane Bryant! And it's a small business owner, locally owned and the owner likes me and saves me special stuff!

St. Paddy's Day

I didn't even drink. What kind of Good Irish Lass am I? Obviously not a very good one.

It's no fun to drink in Irish fashion alone and the Man I See Sometimes had to work.

A funny, though... I bought a coffee at Starbucks and the barista wrote the following on my cup:

Happy St. Patty's Day!

True story!

Luck of the Irish to you all!
Mags
xoxo

My life is a comedy of errors

Part I:
I decided to take the day and just relax. I went to the public library and read books and visited with some of my favorite staff people. It was nice to just be in a different atmosphere.

Then I decided to go to Starbucks and sit and read. Hey, don't judge me- I have a good book and was just tired of being home. So I drove to the nearest Starbucks, which is the next town over, about 25 minutes away. I got my favorite Venti Peppermint Mocha and sat there and read for a few hours. Then I decided to drive home. I went to the car and it wouldn't start. The head lights came on and the dashboard lights and the radio but the car wouldn't start. It didn't click or grind or anything. Just no noise at all, just lights. Weird.

I looked under the hood and jiggled wires and it still wouldn't start. I went inside to see if anyone had jumper cables and no one did.

I was standing in the parking lot, contemplating a 1 block walk to Auto Zone when a redneck guy pulled up in a big 'ol pick up. I asked him for help and he had the jumper cables. Of course he did since he wore camo pants, 3 flannel shirts, an orange day-glo hunting had, three days of beard growth on his grizzly face, and no teeth. But hell, he had jumper cables! And that didn't work.

Part II:
After the bourbon breath guy couldn't get my car started I decided to walk to the Auto Zone. I crossed the parking lot and saw an open garage. I went there and told the mechanic what was going on. He was closing the shop so he drove over with some tools and he tinkered around and it wouldn't start.

He said it was either the badly corroded wires or the starter. If it's badly corroded, then he'll fix it tomorrow for free. If it's the starter, I'm screwed for the tune of $175 UP FRONT.

And, here's a weird thing. I got the guy's business card and then just handed hi m the keys to my car. A perfect stranger. I just handed them over.

Now, let us pray for corrosion. Or that the car gets stolen (isn't that what insurance is for?).

Part III:
Now I'm stranded about 25 minutes away so what else can I do other than I call father. Who agrees to be my hero and come get me. As I hang up and get ready to go in Starbucks to sit and wait, friends of mine come out! They live in my town! They will give me a ride! Hallelujah! (<---- appropriate verbiage since the friend is a minister!)

I call dad back to tell him I don't need the ride, run inside to tell Starbucks about my car so it doesn't get towed, take a quick trip to the ladies room and then hitch it home.

Part IV:
Because if I didn't have bad luck, I would have no luck so I'm pretty sure my car will not be stolen overnight and it won't be just corrosion, I have to figure out how to come up with money. I decided the option that makes most sense is to return the Nook I bought myself (yes, I bought a Nook and have yet to blog about it! But I thought I was od-ing on the book/ reading posts so I was giving it some time. Anyway, I digress...)

I decide I'll return the Nook and Daddy-O gave me a leather cover and some other accessories. If I return all of that, I'll almost have the cost of the car. I have my Nook receipt and the box, and even the original bag.

What I don't have is the box the leather cover came in. I thought I threw it in a trash bag with the Christmas wrapping paper. Which was already taken to the trash, to the curb. Uh-Oh! No, but wait!!! Good news- tomorrow is trash day! Uh wait! Bad news- Daddy-O cleaned the garage trash out and just chucked it into the car, not in a bag.

So with a flashlight and extra garbage bags, father and I go out into the dark to dig through the trash at the curb. We do. It is gross. I wanted to puke. The box is not there.

And something wet and sticky and indescribable got on my hand. I probably have dysentery and gangrene and pneumonia and tyrotoxism! And I have no box for the leather case.

I'll call the garage tomorrow and see what the damage is.

Gee, things are always eventful here.

This is what I get for taking a day off.

Maggie

A coffee confession

Okay, I love Starbucks. You know I do. Venti Peppermint Mochas are a food group for me, and are a vital part of my existence. I even have friends bring me this beverage if they're coming from the nearest Starbucks, which is 20 minutes away. If they barista makes it extra hot (or the hottest brewable temperature without curdling the milk) then it's drinkable temperature when it gets to me. In short, I love Starbucks.

I even love to get my favorite drink all year long. It's been so hot this summer that I've tried some variations in a cold form, like in a blender and iced. They're okay but nothing to write home about. A hot venti, Peppermint Mocha with whip is the best. It makes me happy. It's reliable. It's good. It's bliss.

So I have a confession. I live 20 minutes from a Starbucks but about 6 minutes from McDonalds. And I have 2 special drinks I like to get from their McCafe menu. The hot drink is a passable substitute from my Starbucks favorite. When I want something hot I get a hot caramel mocha with whip. It's not anywhere near as good at my Starbucks beverage, but it'll do in a pinch. I'm also going to admit it's a cheaper drink, so I don't mind having it. I've also figured the best way to get a drink that's a good substitute is to NOT try and order the same thing as I get at Starbucks, but to get something else that's good. A caramel mocha serves that need.

Then there's the McCafe cold drink. As I just said, I can't find a cold drink at Starbucks that I like other than unsweetened black ice tea (I've tried all kinds, by the way, not just my favorite) with mint. McDonald's, on the other hand, has a delicious cold beverage: a caramel Frappe. I don't even like caramel drinks but at McDonalds I do. And the caramel frappe is AMAZING.

I have to say it's a better cold drink than any cold drink I've ever had at... *gulp*... Starbucks. I feel totally unfaithful to Starbucks but I had to say it. I had to confess. And I want to say it's this only drink. Not better than my soul mate, Peppermint Mocha, but better than any cold drinks.

And I feel better.

And I promise, I vow, as soon as the cold temperatures come back, I'll go back to being faithful to Starbucks, my one true love.

Mocha maven,
Mags

35. Perform a random act of kindness

You know what? I have no idea exactly what defines a random act of kindness. Oh, I know what all the words mean and I certainly understand the meaning behind it but I wasn't sure, once I actually wrote it down, how to record it. Because it I do something that i think is just a random act of kindness and then i go an record it, does that mean it wasn't REALLY random because my subconscious was driving me to do something so I would be able to cross if off my list? So therefore, is it no longer random?

Ah the philosophical ramblings...

So, I think this could be a random act of kindness. And, this one might appear several times between now and the day of the big 4-OH.

Curly made me a couple of adorable little hats. They're crocheted beanie caps with a flower on them. I love 'em and wear them around when not in schools (can't wear even decorative hats in school...).

Anyway, I was wearing one into Starbucks one day and the barista, Beth, really liked it. I went in another time and she was working and went on and on about how much she liked that one, too. She looked at them and the flower and wondered how hard it would be to make one.

So the next time I went to that Starbucks, I just brought one of mine along, one that Daddy-O made. I left it at the front counter. Beth wasn't working but the manager on duty said she would give it to her when she came in next. I didn't leave my name or a card or anything, just the hat.

The one I left for her looks very similar to this:


She has long, thick curly black hair and she's very bohemian- you can tell from the way she dresses and I've seen her about town so it's befitting of her, I think, from what I've seen her in before (yeah, I know- how bohemian can you be in a Starbucks uniform?). And I think with all her dark hair and olive complexion, the red would be stunning.

I hope she likes it!

Maggie

Important seasonal announcement

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just an email from Starbucks and this season, for the holiday, for a limited time, they are selling...

Wait for it...

Wait for it....

Peppermint Mocha Starbucks Ice Cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love time readers of me understand the importance and magnitude of this announcement. This could be heaven on earth. I must. have. some. now!

Customer Service

An example of very bad customer service:

A very sick person goes to the Wal-mart Pharmacy to pick up her prescription. She had gotten a box of Puffs first so she could pay for the medicines and the tissues together rather than stand in line twice since she was sick- and so sick anyone looking at her could tell she WA SICK. She arrives in front of the pharmacy counter and it's 6:01 pm. The pharmacy closes at 6 pm. The pharmacy tech. is lowering the gate to the pharmacy and says, as it goes down, "We close at 6." No sorry. No anything. Are you freaking kidding me? One damn minute? Really? It's three days later and I am STILL pissed about it!

An example of EXCELLENT customer service:

I went to Starbucks yesterday. I had a coupon for a "buy a tall cherry mocha, get one free." Well, Mac nor I were going to use it; I just had it in the bottom of my purse. So I'm in line and a person in the drive thru orders exactly what my coupon was for. I tell the barista taking orders there and gave the coupon to the random drive thru person.

Then I order my 2 drinks and 2 pastries. Then when I go to pay my ATM card will not work. But it was payday and I had JUST talked to the bank (on my cell phone in the parking lot of the Starbucks before I walked in the door) and the teller on the phone said I had money in my checking account, because my ATM card had just been rejected when I was at the mall mere minutes before.

The girl who was ringing me up at Starbucks was quiet and discrete when she told me my card wouldn't work (I don't think anyone in line even heard what happened as I was scrambling through my purse for cash. I was impressed that she didn't want to embarrass me). The manager, who had NO idea my ATM card didn't work, happened by at this time and said to me, "Are you the person who gave her free cherry mochas away?" I said yes. And do you know what the manager did?!?

She said I could have my drinks for free, BOTH of them, because I did something nice for a total stranger and she thought that was cool. I said thanks and the girl re-rang my stuff and my pastries were less that $5 which is what I had on me in cash. Problem unintentionally solved. The girl running the register winked at me and all was well.

Wal-Mart should take a lesson from the totally rockin' STARBUCKS!

Mocha lover,
Maggie

Quips from Mac while on a trip to the mall

1. The mall has furniture on carpet arranged in conversational groupings. This is a mall that was formerly very scary; it was the "ghetto" mall and pretty unsafe- people were mugged in the parking lot and raped in the bathrooms type of scary and unsafe. Now, it's been cleaned up and is safer. Mac said, "It's nice to see old people comfortable and relaxed enough to fall asleep in the mall furniture. Unless they're dead."
2. We were in the Hallmark store and I was looking for about 5 cards. He was making fun of the fact that I would pick one, read it and put it back- repeatedly. I told him I had to like the picture and the saying BOTH before I would buy a card. Mac said, "Unless there's money in it, no one cares about the card."
3. Regarding mall walkers: "Too damn cheap to get a real gym membership."
4. Regarding mall cops: "Observe and Report was such a better mall cop movie than that stupid Paul Blart thing." A better mall cop movie?!? There's more than one?!?
   
5. About Bath and Body Works: "It all smells the same. Why bother with all the different colors and scents? They all smell the same: like old lady."
6. He ordered a smoothie at Starbucks- he got the Chocolate and banana because it's more manly than the strawberry- banana, though he did say, "With all the protein and fusion powder and estrogen, I'll probably grow boobs from drinking it. And it has an aftertaste like grass. Not marijuana, but lawn."
   

Next time I'm going to the mall all by myself.

Retail Therapy Day 5- Jave Hound I am

For long time readers of "Shoes/ Purses" you had to know this was coming. I was only going to write about stores in which I love to shop for non-food items but I just couldn't resist. Starbucks. I love Starbucks.

I love java, actually. Most of the time, I'm not a total coffee snob and I will drink just about damn near any sort of coffee imaginable- even Folgers when necessary. But if a Starbucks is nearby, then I am there. I LOVE my Peppermint Mocha, size venti. I love the taste and flavor of their beverages, and I especially love their espresso blend.

I love Starbucks stores: I love all the coffee mugs and bagged coffees and other fun stuff. I love the pastry and I suggest you all go- right now, I'll wait until you come back- to the nearest Starbucks and get a cherry pastry. Oh. My. Goddess. These are soooooooo good! I like all their food- including the sandwiches. And the blueberry scones are worth a taste.

I'm also a fan of the black iced tea unsweetened. That's often my summer drink choice, or my Peppermint Mocha over ice.

There's a Starbucks about 20 minutes from me and I go there at all times so I never really see the same barista twice, but there's one I go to in Northern Civilization and a woman who works there seems to be there every time I go. she recognizes me and knows my "usual."

Great, now I need to make a Starbucks run!

Caffeine Queen,
Maggie

I love Starbucks.

There. I said it. Okay, so it wasn't really a secret but I felt the need to stand up and announce my affinity for big business. ONE big business- I promise you won't hear me singing the praises of Wally World any time soon.

I love Starbucks coffee and their stores. I just do. I like the flavor of the coffee and you all know I love a Venti Peppermint Mocha with whip more than sex... (and if you thought I was going to say shoes, you should be smacked!) I love the way the store smells. I like that I can go in a Starbucks in LA, NYC, Chicago, or Dublin and my favourite drink will taste the same. I like the atmosphere, the friendly and knowledgeable employees, the pairings, the music and their products. I just do.

I have a problem when everyone gets bent out of shape over Starbucks and gets pissy that they forced small mom and pop coffee shops to close. You know what? That's the world of business, right? And through my research (see, we can sometimes learn something here at "Shoes/purses"; it's not always pink cosmos and men) I've found that Starbucks popularized the coffee house again and mom and pop shops popped up afterward and couldn't compete. In rare situations was the small owned coffee shop there first- they often came in later and tried to compete and then lost. It's unfortunate, but I hate the blame always gets placed on Starbucks.

I'm also sick of people complaining about the cost of a Starbucks beverage. Attention all whiners- don't fucking drink there coffee if you don't like the price! No one is holding a gun to anyone's head and forcing folks into a Starbucks chain, at least not that I've ever seen. There are plenty of places around to still get a cup of coffee under a dollar- take your cheap ass over there, is what I want to scream from the roof tops.

It really galls me when people tell me I should drink mochas from McDonalds- that I wouldn't know the difference between MickyDs coffee and Starbucks. Hello- duh- yes I would. And actually, I really love McDonald's regular premium roast black coffee and drink it often, but when it comes to speciality drinks, I just prefer the taste of my Starbucks.

When I lived in the Wild West I was a three hour drive to the nearest Starbucks and I missed if, craved it and just flat was bitchy about not having it. But I did survive. Now that I'm back in Civilization, I adore the 20 minute drive to Starbucks so I can treat myself. I don't go often but I go when I can afford it. And I don't care if people hate Starbucks or don't like it- that's fine. But I don't ridicule people who drink other coffee or make their own (my darling Redneck Nerdboy is a coffee lover but Starbucks isn't his favorite but he and I don't get in pissing matches over our java disagreements!) so I wish the Anti- Starbuck-ers would get off my back and shut their mouths.

I love Starbucks so much that I also indulged in January and got the gold star card so I get a discount (10%) each time I go there. And if I buy a bag of beans I get a free drink of my choice- I'll get a freebie on my birthday. Oh, and yeah, the $25 I paid for the card has already paid for it's self.

So, now that I have that off my chest, maybe I should go get my daily dose of caffeine to settle me down?

Coffee anyone?
Mags

So, here we are!

Here we are, and welcome!

It's about Damn time I got my act together and said hellooooooo to everyone! What do you think of the new digs? Rather fitting, don't you think? Shoes, purses, pink, me, you... ah, such a blissful cocmbination that I think I should have a Cosmo!

In celebration of my return to Civilization, I hung out with Hecate today. We had a whole day planned with about 37 things to do and had been planning with for about 2 months now, and we only did about 6 because of the holy terror weather. While I adore winter and Jack Frost is usually such a sweetheart of a fella, he was in a right foul mood to dump snow then freezing rain then flat out rain on us! He ruined my girls' day out with Hecate, just darn near. But she and I persevered and we hit STARBUCKS, ate food and managed to troll the mall and B&N booksellers, several times! We had so much fun and it was great to be back from the Wild West and living here in Civilization again. No man will get between a woman in her girlfriends, shopping, food and coffee!

However, I didn't buy new shoes. Nor did I get a new purse... but all is not lost! Daddy-O and I are going to hit Kohls on Friday to tackle the after Christmas sales and see if the black patient leather Vera Wang bag I'm drooling over is on sale! Please pardon me while I take a moment of silent reverence over Vera Wang and Kohls- and to wipe said drool off the keyboard...

In shoes we trust,
Maggie