Vacation rules!

Well, hello children! Are you ready for my triumphant return to the blog world? Today is my first day off from work (weekends don't count), and I shall celebrate by writing a blog entry! Afterall, it's been 2 months since I blogged. I guess I just don't have enough (interesting) things to say, and I'm really lazy. On most days after work, I am too tired to even turn on the computer at night to write.... meh.

I can't really say I've accomplished much on my vacation yet since it's only been day 1, but the husband and I did 2 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen counters and stovetop. There are alot more things at home that need cleaning, that's for sure! The last few days, I was able to spend some time with my parents, play piano, read, and not think about work. I've only looked at my work emails on my crackberry twice today, so I'd like to think I'm doing well so far.

I hope I can really relax and take things easy during my 4 week vacation. I know the time will go by very fast, so I'm trying to make good use of my time and enjoy my vacation as much as I can before returning to work in a few weeks. Work had been crazy during the past 6 months, so I'm glad I got the chance to go away for a breather. Once September rolls in, I'm not sure if I have time to breathe as I decided to throw myself back to more schooling. I hope it wasn't a bad decision on my part - to work full time, go to school part time, and manage house chores....and let's hope I pass my first graduate course. Honestly, I'm a tad (maybe more than a tad) nervous about September. Afterall, it's been 8 long years since I graduated from UBC. I'm not really sure what to expect from there. I don't even know if I can still write an academic paper anymore?!? Yikes!!!!!

On an unrelated note, I really dislike oblivious drivers. I hate the fact that I'm driving straight on the right lane at a constant speed, and drivers peek out from the side street trying to get onto my lane. Sure, either you step on your gas and go for it, or wait after I go and you turn out. Noooooo, they have to wait until you are very close to them and then they turn out, making you slam on your brakes with steam coming out of your heads. What's worst is they drive at 40km/hr in front of you. Or, you try to back out of your parking spot and the driver (if you're in Ditchmond, they are usually female of Chinese descent in their 40's-50's) signal for your spot, but is totally blocking you. They refuse (or do not know how) to back it up abit to make room for you. Instead, they just sit there and think it's my responsibility to back out of my spot 50 times so she can run everyone else over just to get my spot. This is after I found out there were tons of spots near my spot... closer to the mall entrance.

And if you can't keep up with the flow of traffic or the indicated speed sign on the highway, DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE and stay there. The left lane is for passing!!!!!!! Driving 60km/hr on the fast lane on a 90km/hr highway is very dangerous! And if you decide to pass someone, get onto the fast lane at a faster speed, not at a slower speed so that the 20 cars on the fast lane behind you can smash right into you.

Ok, I think I feel better now. I'm currently baking some blueberry muffins in the oven. I hope they turn out well since the recipe has so many high ratings. I love blueberries. I was so happy when my mom gave me a huge box of blueberries... apparently she bought them for cheap from a local blueberry farmer. My current healthy snack at the moment is fresh blueberries with fat free vanilla yogurt with granola! EEEEEE!

Ok bye! Maybe I'll post again soon (and hopefully not in 2 months time).

Case closed.... for now.

After what seems to be many confusing and unpleasant visits at Starbucks in the past year or so (Why do I still go? I don't know. Maybe I'm too cheap to pay for a Blenz drink, which taste way better IMO, or there aren't many choices around), I finally wrote an email to Starbucks. I didn't think anyone would get back to me right away. Who doesn't complain about Starbucks on a regular basis, anyways? There must be a thousands of us complaining about virtually the same thing all the time! I fired an email to customer service last week, and I was surprised to get a response back from a real person (I think?) after 2 days.

Hello Josephine,

I was very sorry to hear about your recent experience at the Safeway 191 at Richmond Starbucks store. I appreciate you taking the time to bring this matter to our attention. I will share your comments with the district manager responsible for the store in order to address the issue properly.

I wrote and complained about my visit to Starbucks on a Tuesday night about 2 weeks ago. I wanted to get a tea misto before worship team practice and I walked into Safeway at 7:45pm. I waited at the till for about 5 minutes and finally got the barista's attention (she was reading a trashy magazine with Britney on the cover. What the fork?). I ordered for my drink and was in the process of digging out my change pouch when....

Snobby barista: Sorry, we're closed.
Me: Oh? I'm sorry. What time are you closed?
Snobby barista: 8pm on weeknights.
Me: *looked at own watch* It's 7:50pm. Is my clock fast? What time does your watch say?
Her: I don't wear a watch.
Me: *points at the clock inside Safeway* Oh, it IS 7:50pm!
Her: Sorry, we're closed at 8pm. Our machine has already been shut off anyways. We have to shut off the machine a little earlier than our actual closing time.
Me (getting grumpy): *trying to be nice* Ok, can I just get a hot tea? You know, a tea bag in some hot water?
Her: Sorry, we're really closed.
Me: Noob. (I actually did mumble this under my breath and walked away).

Interesting experience. I was almost tempted to just ask for a cookie and see if she'd sell it to me, but I couldn't bother. I was already ho anger by then. Maybe I had a bad day at work and my patience was at an ultimate low. Anyhoo, in my original email to Starbucks, I also asked (read: whined) about the soy americano misto issue that I've been trying to find the answer to for the longest time. My concern (read: rant) was basically the fact that I get charged extra for asking soy when ordering the drink, but a) this extra surcharge is inconsistent amongst most stores I frequent (and each barista ring this up differently), and b) the fact that I already get dinged extra when asking for soy. Ok, soy is bling. But, if you were to charge me for milk and soy in an americano misto, shouldn't you be including both milk and soy in my drink? I PAID FOR BOTH. What gives? Anyways.

I was also very sorry to hear about your experience at the No. 1 & Westminister Starbucks store. Regarding your beverage, you should simply be charged for a Misto with added Soy, as the added Milk is accounted for in the Misto price. I will pass on your comments to the store management team responsible for the store in order to address the issue properly.

Sincerely,

Alyssa A.
Customer Relations Representative
Starbucks Coffee Company

There you go, kiddos.