Friday, January 13, 2012

Sadness, Gas and coffee...



I know what you’re thinking. This blog is about a road trip to some faraway destination, where I had to drive all night, truck driver style, and ran out of gas and coffee at the same time.  You got me - it has nothing to do with that at all...
This is a follow up to my Disaster blog (you may want to read it first - this post will make even more sense to you). 


You just can’t make these things up. Real life is always better than any sitcom, drama or contrived reality show - that’s why America’s Funniest Home Videos - aka AFV - is so popular and has been running for 20+ years. Real life trumps anything made up. Look at pictures that your great Aunt fills your inbox with every weekend - no offense Aunt Sally. Real life is real.
So, I just got my new replacement Starbucks gold rewards card and had just posted the blog about my loss of the old card, when it so happens I was able to go to Starbucks with a bunch of teens after we went out sharing the gospel late Wednesday afternoon.  I was so thrilled, I even “checked in” on Facebook and told everyone "that I was alright." 
Now we get to the sad parts...I had to bite my lip just to hold the tears back...
First of all, before we left, my sweet wife asked me not to drink any coffee because it will make me snore (now, I don’t get to Starbucks everyday - my bottom lip started to quiver). She didn’t order me, but I could see that I would disappoint her if I had a Venti Caramel Brûlée Latte - can’t you just taste it now? So I had a debate...
Got to the Bucks (only junkies like me can call it that - don’t you try) and decided I would go ahead and get my coffee and deal with the consequences - stop thinking bad of me, right now!  


I ordered and it was downhill from there. First of all, they didn’t get, my very simple, name correct, as you can see by he picture today - I thought barista’s were like well trained athletes, fined tuned machines.  I passed it off as funny, because no-one spells Craig as “Creg” - by the way, this same spelling has happened now twice in my life - same Starbucks. I walked out happy, but guilty.
As I joyfully skipped through the parking lot with my latte, I guy yells over to me asking if I could spare a few dollars for gas - "sucker" is written on my forehead, anyway, but he could see my glee, so he knew he had me. He even had a small gas can in his hand and told me which gas station he was headed to - he was good at his charade. I asked if five bucks would help and handed it to him. He thanked me and I continued to skip, but then I glanced back and saw him headed directly for Starbucks! What? Was this the greatest sales scam ever? Did that just happen to me? Am I a complete fool? I just bought that guy a cup of coffee! Not just any coffee - Starbucks coffee! I stopped skipping, as I tripped over my bottom jaw, on the ground...
I was completely dejected. I knew that was my penalty for getting the coffee I shouldn't have and I went back to the teens on the bus, weeping. My Starbucks moment was ruined - tragedy had occurred.  
Then I cheered up a little, since I still had my latte - it was the wrong drink. I watched a tear drop onto the stopper (coolest coffee cup innovation ever) that I had in the cup and slumped down in my seat. I drank a tiny bit more and handed the rest to one to the teens to enjoy. I was his hero, but I was sad...still snored too.
Lessons Learned: My wife is always right. I should never mix gas and coffee. Coffee might just be of the devil...
Thoughts: Have you ever been told not to do something, done it, and then met the consequences? 

2 comments:

  1. I got a kick out of this post. Good storytelling.

    You had commented you'd love some feedback about your blog. I don't know if you've read Bryan Allain's 31 Days to Blogging Mojo ebook, but I highly recommend it. Really good ideas about blogging.

    http://31daystomojo.com/ 

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jamie - thanks for the comment and the reading idea...appreciate you stopping by again...

    ReplyDelete

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