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To_B_Determined
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Name: Courtney
Country: United States
State: Arizona
Metro: Phoenix
Gender: Female
Interests: God
He's more than my interest, He's my Father who is beyond comprehension; yet reveals himself to us; saved my soul when I least deserved it; gives real meaning to existence; and pours out grace despite my persistent belief that I don't really need it.
Other than that, my lips are sealed :p
Expertise: I had a huge list here, but I got tired of wondering whether it was accurate or not.
Occupation: Administrative
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
4/13/2005
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SubscriptionsSites I Read
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| Last Monday, a certain four-year-old nephew of mine had his first day of school! (His red-headed counterpart of a cousin did too, but I don't have the pictures)
He was excited.
He was confident.
He learned about ants.
This is good because when life begins to throw trials at him, at least he will be
prepared with his knowledge of ants.
But the real point, basically, was to brag. Aren't they adorable!?  "My necessaries are embark'd. Farewell.And, sister, as the winds give benefitAnd convoy is assistant, do not sleep,But let me hear from you...Farewell, Ophelia, and remember wellWhat I have said to you."
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"When
the armed robber of unhappiness knocks over the Keebler cookie display
of our complacency, and bangs the samurai sword of negativity on the
checkout counter of our dreams, we must not be afraid to hurl the fruit
cocktail can of hope."
Don't you agree?
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| I am studying on the secluded porch of an indie coffee shop. I am listening to a water fountain and the buzz of--I don't know what kind of tool that is.
But it's loud and intense looking, and the Indian owner with the crazy hair (one of the nicest guys you could imagine) has never used it before. I know this because he keeps turning it off to say, "Sorry, %#* I didn't know how loud it was. Sorry!!!!!!!!." He is now stalking around his handiwork laughing like he just made fire for the first time :)
This place closes at 12am and I will no doubt be here to witness it because that's how much schoolwork I have.
But somehow it's all good.
And tomorrow will be over in exactly 1 day.
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| I love my job, but sometimes I get tired of the corporate fakeness. There's a lack of genuineness because consideration has been trained. The actions are not of themselves truly good (in the human sense) because they're not really voluntary. It's all about compensation not love. And I think corporate efficiency makes people settle for this "fake plastic" human interaction. It builds people's egos. Or that is what I've at times seen at my store, particularly with regulars.
In and out in 3 minutes, from the time they walk in the door to the time you hand them their drink. Every thing is 3-4 minutes at Starbucks. Three minute drinks; three minute friends. “Partners” in the 3-minute mentality, please brew the coffee (it only takes a couple of minutes). Every cause has an effect; every effect has a portion of the budget. Build "Partner" relationships on the Three Minute Model. Don't be friendly at the cost of revenue. Be friendish: the platonic shadow of the real thing. Act your little hearts out and we’ll give you a raise.
We’re like a live play, actually. People say $4 for a drink is expensive, but it’s not when you really think about the return. $4 for a tasty drink and a 3-minute sitcom. $4 for a 3-minute life, for a chair in the corner of a tiny postmodern world where you are appreciated, for a neutral environment of human interaction.
It's a false community. "Hey, We’re all friends and we live in this coffee shop and we love life and dress the same! Flirt with us! Buy something from us! We're always here for you! Laugh at our jokes! Judge us! Tune in for the next episode or forget us---all for $4! We’ll sing and dance to make it flashy and fun. It’s a bargain guys, come on…it’s not about the price, it’s about the people. After all, that’s what we sell: a solidarity that is not really there. I’m a college student and this guys a landscaper, but by day we're green aprons, and we come with a catchy, eclectic folk/rock soundtrack.
Many interactions can be interpreted thusly:
“Hi can I have a triple iced grande 3 pump sugar free vanilla latte and a chance to look down on you?”
Sure, I'm out of here in 20 minutes.
“Hi can I have my fix? And can you make sure there's a logo on it to make me feel a part of something bigger?” Yeah, if that’s what gets you going in the morning. I’ll throw in a compliment about your hair for a better tip.
“Hi, I pretend I need a cup of black acidic water to go to work this early because I hate my job. Can I take it out on you?” Of course, that’s why they pay me: to be a green verbal punching bag. Hope I didn’t interrupt your cell-phone conversation.
“Hi I modify my drink to give myself an identity. I Am Venti, not Tall. 4 shots because I have a life, I only want 2 pumps and 1.7% milk because I’m health conscious, 5 sweet and lows because I’m worth it, extra hot because I’m tough, and whipped cream because I still like to have fun. Did you get that?”
Of course! Can I get a name for that cup or do you go by Overcompensating Paranoid Impulsive Control Freak? *smile!* It’ll be ready in about 3 minutes!
Yes, it's both sides, not just the customers.
I'm not saying Starbucks is the anti-Christ (I work there and enjoy it!), more that
corporate policies are based in materialism no matter how grassroots they seem; that they encourage unChrist-like, dishonest brotherly love in people who are themselves inherently anti-Christ.
Yet I suppose the existence of knock-off designer bags only makes the genuine articles more valuable.
It makes me wonder, are my smiles and high-pitched greetings Prado or Prada?
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