My new (well, it's been two months now, so I suppose it's not all THAT new) work schedule has me rolling out of bed a little before six A.M. each weekday morning. Those of you who have known me for any length of time know that for me this is as natural of an act as breathing. That is, if I were breathing CHLORINE GAS.

Ahem. Anyhow.

So this morning, mostly because the season finale of Lost was on last night and it was a two-hour job, I was particularly dead to the world. And when that happens, my savior is a Venti Mocha Frappuccino from Ye Olde Starbucks, picked up via the drive-thru on the way to work. This is a function of Seattle; I was never a coffee drinker before I moved here, but when you live in a city that has coffee stands every 37 feet, you're pretty much forced to develop a taste for it.

Here's how the scene usually plays out:

<Fred drives up to the speaker.>

Way-Too-Cheerful Barista Girl: "Welcome to Starbucks! What can I get started for you this morning?"

Fred <sleepily>: "I'll have a Venti Mocha Frappuccino, please."

WTCBG: "One Venti Mocha Frappuccino! I'll have that for you at the window!"

<Fred drives forward.>

Admittedly, it's a spendy habit, so I try to limit this remedy for truly desperate times; no more than once or twice a week.

Nevertheless, this morning's transaction:

<Fred drives up to the speaker.>

WTCBG: "Welcome to Starbucks! Would you like a Venti Mocha Frappuccino?"

The moment was not unlike the one experienced at the end of a really good card trick, when the magician reaches over and pulls the Three of Clubs out of your bowl of chili.

This is what it's come to: I now have a "usual" at a coffee place. posted at 7:05 AM | Permalink |