The routine

Within the last few weeks, I developed an odd routine. And some of my best blogs have come from this routine.

Because, as we all know I have no internet at my home, I come to Starbucks in West Valley to utilize the internet.

I like coming to Starbucks. I've been a customer of this location since it opened. I remember my reaction to seeing the almost finished product before it opened. I remember thinking, as well as spreading the word to others in the area, that "it's about fucking time!" Starbucks came out this way.

I have to admit, though, that I've been debating whether or not to take my business across the street to the recently opened Beans & Brews.

These are blasphemous words I speak, I know. The coffee Gods might strike me down and make me drink Yuban forever... BARF!

There are two reasons for this decision I'm trying to make. One, I can't stand being around my ex-girlfriend when she is working because it feels like she takes a certain pleasure in ignoring my presence.

To be perfectly frank, I'm starting to dislike her and her attitude towards me. But then again, I guess I deserve it.

The second reason is the fact that the night shift here in this Starbucks is lacking customer service. It's mostly younger people who can be quite rude from time to time and not even realize it. That just seems to be the way with the youth of today. A "fuck you and fuck this job" kind of work ethic.

Now, I'm not trying to be completely negative of my time here or some of the people that work here.

There are some great people here that know me on a first name basis. I would hate to take my business elsewhere (especially Beans & Brews that has even worse youth working for them) but I'm strongly considering it.

I will say that during the night shift, employees and customers alike have grown to enjoy my constant presence. Or, at least, that's what a few have said to me personally. That's nice.

In one of my earlier blog postings, "17 years and $257,435", I mentioned that I don't have much to show for the amount of money I've made in my working life. I can say this, in the past couple of years, I do have a huge Starbucks habit to show for some of that money.

If I had to gauge the amount of money I drop in Starbucks annually, it's probably close to a grand or so.

What can I say? I love coffee. Plus, I do have some fond memories involving this Starbucks. Some of those include the early months of my developing relationship with my now ex-girlfriend barista. Others involve previous jobs I had and people I knew that I would come here with.

Now those friends and girlfriend aren't around anymore. Well, except the girlfriend who continues to work here. I try not to come in here when I see her car just to avoid the bullshit wall she has put up between her and I...

... sorry... I swore I would never talk about this again, huh? I can't help it. It pisses me off that I feel like a goddamn outcast because of this fucked up situation between her and I. I feel like I have to go somewhere else because I have this sense of not feeling welcome here anymore.

You know what? Fuck it, fuck it, fuck it. And fuck her, too.

This blog is completely off course here. Jesus.. let me share my routine.

Since I work on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, I don't come to Starbucks. I'm too tired when I get home. Instead, I make some dinner, drink a beer and watch a couple of episodes of South Park on DVD since I don't have the luxury of cable.

I love that show. LOVE IT! It puts a smile on my face every time. To use a cliche, it's LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY!

Then, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and sometimes Friday, I come into Starbucks. I get a cup of coffee and sit here for hours. No shit... FOR HOURS. I also drink a lot of coffee while I sit here.

Lately, I've been getting here just after noon and staying until they close at 11 PM. I've been known to do this for all my four days off!

With this routine, brings curious other Starbucks regulars my way. I've met a good many people while I sit here playing on the internet and uploading my CD collection into my iTunes.

Another thing happened while I sat here a couple of weeks back. I was in the Utah chat room here on MySpace (yes, they have chat rooms here) while uploading my Filter collection into my iTunes, when quite unexpectedly, I became host to a chat room meeting where people from the room came to Starbucks to hang out.

I'm not making this up.

It was interesting how it all came about. It was interesting to meet even more new people. However, I felt slightly odd and creeped out. I'm not sure why. I guess it's just weird to associate with people on the internet and then meet them.

Cyber space is great about keeping you faceless and in a bubble of privacy where you can be whomever you want. It's also a dangerous place where you'll find out quickly that you're never really in a privacy bubble safe behind your computer.

It also makes me wonder how many others from the chat room have stopped by to catch a glimpse of the guy who never seems to leave... that being me.

One of the chat room regulars asked me if I was worried about someone waiting outside Starbucks and following me home to bring me harm or rob me?

This is where my being naive comes into play because I've never really thought about it. Why would I? Fuck, I'm 33. I can hold my own and it's been my experience that most people on the internet only talk shit and never truly go out and hunt someone down.

But then again, there is a first time for everything. Knowing my luck, I'll be the guy taking a bullet on my porch going into my house from some pissed off cyber douche.

I'm creeping myself out. Sheesh.

Anyway, my point is that I'm spending more time in Starbucks than normal as well as money. But I enjoy myself here.

I'm alone but not lonely. Especially when I'm in Starbucks. It's a great spot to people watch and hang out. I also enjoy overhearing other peoples conversations as well as having some of my own with people I meet.

I just wish there wasn't such a barrier between myself and my ex-girlfriend. I honestly thought things would be great between us and we'd be on wonderful speaking terms. But, alas, I'm back to just being a regular customer.

And sometimes, not a very well respected one.

They moved their furniture... again.

I've turned into one of those people you always see in Starbucks on their laptops. Of course, most normal people have a Starbucks limit and... what's that called?... OH YEAH... A LIFE!

Actually, I'm dissing myself here. I may be abnormal for sitting in Starbucks for hours on end but at least I'm out of the house and being somewhat sociable.

But if you look at it from the other side of the fence, you could say that what I'm doing is sad and pathetic and makes me a loser maybe, huh?

Naaahhhhhhhhh... it's no different than being on the internet at home for hours. It's just different because I'm on display being in such a public and social meeting place. So what? I like taking up space here.

Starbucks - bringing people and cultures together!

-Mike The Janitor
©2006
Millenoma Publishing