Alive in Wonderland

Peet's Coffee is my favorite coffee, but when circumstances make Starbucks more convenient (which is almost all the time because they're everywhere), this is how I make the trip worth it: When I order, I act like I have never stepped foot in a Starbucks in my life and need an enormous amount of help.

(Photo by me.  Taken at the Starbucks on 17th Street in Tustin.)

-- At the counter I stammer, looking around in pure wonder, "Hmmm, what's popular here?"

-- The stunned barista usually says something like, "Hot or cold?"

-- To which I reply, "Oh, I don't want anything to eat, just a coffee."

-- The stumped, cashier most likely will say, "No, do you want a hot drink or cold drink?"

-- Then I spring a look like it's the first time I've ever heard of an ice cold java, "Oooo cold coffee? I'll have one of those."

You see where this is going?  We go through the various choices--blended, on ice, caramel, vanilla, mocha, whipped cream--and with each suggestion I get more and more excited at the idea of it.

--"Great! I'll have a small iced mocha coffee," I finally say.

This is where it gets really fun. 

--An employee at Starbucks must be mandated to NEVER utter the words "small," "medium" or "large," so they always repeat it back like this, "That will be a tall iced mocha."

--"Yes, a small iced mocha coffee," I 'repeat' back.

---"Okay, a tall iced mocha," they 'repeat' back.

(Hehehe...properly satisfied now.)

I always tip big for being such a jerk and I never do it if there is a big line--I'm not THAT mean.  There are millions of ways to amuse yourself in Orange County. You just have to look for them.

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Over on my personal blog I write about why I can't go to the Peet's near my house any more and I ask, "What is your Starbucks' name?"  Mine's Suzie.

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Oh, and here's a video I did from election day last year when Starbucks gave out free coffee if you voted.  Wow, it's like I'm obsessed with Starbucks...