The power of Starbucks

This morning I made my scrimmage down the road to Starbucks to get some hot coco (I’m off caffeine and telling the world, 1 week and counting, taking it day by day). The line was wrapped around itself full of eager Starbucks coffee heads ready for their morning injection of happiness.

Today was also the day they were giving out free pastries. I was so focused on my coco that I’d forgotten about the free item. As I took my place in line, the lady behind the registered announced to the waiting coffeeheads that there were no more free pastries. All gone, they ran out. I counted about 10 or so many folks in front of me, about 5 behind, and don’t you know out of all those people, maybe 3 actually left the building. Only three people were there solely for the free stuff! Starbucks is having no problems retaining their customers through this hard time if only 3 out of who knows how many people left because they couldn’t get something free. Now that’s power. Have you ever been in a free line before? Do you remember what its like when folks run out of the free item? Remember KFC…remember get in free b4 11 nights at the club….I mean folks would start to riot and burn things down. Not at Starbucks my friends, they don’t even need free giveaways, coffeeheads are loyal! Now that’s power!

The Audacity of Pride.....

*A nice friendly debate*

Okay, keep in mind that I'm an artist, so I'm sensitive about my shit.... word to Badu. But anything NOT related to my art/craft/general dopeness I am not very sensitive about. For example, if we are debatumenting (argument that is disguised by the term debate) about something I will get all rowdy with you and argue it to the death, but after the fact I will love you just the same, and we can go grab some coffee*. If my manager criticizes me at work, I grumble for a few, but get over that, correct the problem, and go grab a latte*. I can even back down from the most important argument in the world ... wait for it, wait for it... 2Pac vs. Biggie... you say 2Pac, I crush you in the argument, and then we go grab a Frappuchino*. See how that all works. BUT, let some ninjas talk about politics and all Hades is let loose. No makeups, no coffee, just angst. That is why I generally do not like to talk about politics, for one I don't know a whole heap about it except for the Civics class basics, the basic political/economic current events, and my trusty opinion. Yet,when I was trying to be happy about our fantabulous greatacular non-White president elect (since people want to question his blackness *eye roll*), I got to feeling some kinda way about the reaction of some folks. This was not because he was being criticized, but my whole mood was killed and pride questioned. Couldn't they wait to criticize the man (or my pride) after a full week? At least then we could have debated and then went out for espresso shots afterwards, but instead I have to sit and have you think, "She sure has some audacity to be proud" ... womp.....

* i like coffee

Random Thursday: Drugs are bad mmmkay...

Yeah they are bad, but I am going to share something with y'all, but you can't tell anyone, snitches get stitches and I keep my blade on me at all times, that's how the Bull City gets down....but I digress... Now that I have gotten that out the way back to my confession, I'm an addict, with many drugs of choice, but there is one that be calling me (c) Pookie. And heroin, MD 2020, magic mushrooms, power, Krispy Kreme, and aerosol cans ain't got shit on what I'm hooked on..... wait for it, wait for it.... coffee. Don't you dare judge me, caffeine-heads need your support too, daaaaaang. Y'all don't understand, coffee, or as I affectionately refer to as my Java-lin*, is the only thing gets me over the high level of stupidity I know I will face on the daily.

*'Java-lin', like a javelin, bad joke, I know, I know, I like playing with words and shit... lol

Oh, but when it comes to my drug of choice I am strictly top-shelf. My coworker, who I work with that sits right next to me, and I invested in a coffee maker and bring our own coffee to the office. We do not touch "work swill", you will not get me on some ol' HR-Jim Jones Kool-Aid type of action, I will not fall for it! I know "we" are supposed to like free stuff, but this is where I draw the line. I have standards. However, we do rest the coffee maker on the Cubicle Sabbath - FRIDAY, hallelujah! Praise Santa**! And we commemorate the Sabbath by giving our tithes and offerings and building fund donations to the local Starbucks, Caribou, or some other corporate devil entity, hmmmmmm.... that is kinda like church for real. I need my coffee because I got a million things to do, I gotta go to meetings and stay awake, stare at spreadsheets without falling asleep, and write my blog all while keeping a smile on my face.... and anyway, "It's like a full time job trying not kill ni**as" (Jay-Z). So in closing, I need my drug of choice, management is not ready to see what my withdrawal looks like, it ain't purty, not one little bit!

**"Praiiiiiiiiiiiiiiise Santa!" -Jasmine from "The Boondocks" Season 1

A Helpful Coffee Hint:

*The best cheap coffee ever