patsy for the man

i have just been reminded why it is that i tend to resist being, as mike doughty says, "a patsy for the man." i just made the unfortunate mistake of going to starbucks for an afternoon mocha. there are so many reasons why this was the wrong thing to do, not the least of which is i was tired and cranky (hence the need for a massive infusion of caffeine and sugar) and just not in the mood to put up with other people's bullshit. so naturally, that's all i get. in spades.

i somehow managed to remain utterly true to form and get on the line that is serviced by someone who has just started at the wall street starbucks. as in today. poor guy. got everything wrong.

"i'd like a tall mocha, no whipped cream and a tall coffee of the day."

"okay...so...you want a mocha?"

"yep."

"venti? the big one?"

"no, just a tall one. you know. small."

"oh, okay. whipped cream?"

"no..."

"so, a tall mocha frappucino?"

"no, a hot mocha."

"oh. okay."

then there proceeds a long moment in which he attempts to decipher the code of the register touchscreen. and it doesn't go too well.

and then he forgets to give me my change. so there's another ten minutes while we wait for someone to appear with a key to open the register and liberate the $15 i am owed.

happy afternoon!

at least it got me out of the office, you know?

and i do now have me sugary caffeine, and thus soon the malaise and fatigue of a busy week will melt away, fade into a scant and twitching memory.