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January 27, 2008

Starbucks And Metallica

I have not been to Starbucks in 11 days. If you do not know me very well that may not sound like anything noteworthy, but I assure you, it is.

Why?

I have been going to Starbucks every single day for as long as I can remember. Yes I am one of those people although I *do* like to make the distinction that I am not one of the Caramel-Macchiato-5-shot-half-caff-one-Splenda-no-whip types of those people. Mainly because there is no possible way for me to afford the fancier offerings on a daily basis - I get plain bold coffee, venti (yes I say "venti" when I order it), and usually some sort of pastry. But I also get the plain coffee because I really, really like it.
When I try to pinpoint the exact time I began this habit I can only come up with a vague approximation ... something like the last 4.5 - 5 years?? Yeah, something like that.

Recently I've decided to take up a new budgeting plan that did not allow for this daily expenditure. 11 days of no Starbucks comes out to an extra $45.21 in my pocket. It also comes out to ... ::gasp:: $1500 per year. And that doesn't even include the weekend trips with the kids that we take relatively often, which means the total I really spend there yearly is actually more than that.

So you're thinking to yourself, What about withdrawals? Not an issue. The really stupid part about my former Starbucks habit is that I make the world's most kick-awesome coffee at home. I've been making great coffee at home much longer than I've been a Starbucks clone. I even buy Starbucks brand coffee beans. I love grinding coffee beans and brewing a fresh pot! I guess the reason I never did it was because I am SO not a morning person and also apparently SO not a get-the-coffee-ready-the-night-before-and-set-it-to-brew-in-the-morning person. I've always owned coffee pots with that capability.

Despite the fact that I'm doing this at a time when my country is calling upon me to do my part help stimulate the economy, I still feel pretty good about it. But if we somehow still manage to slide into a recession, you can blame it entirely on me.

Oh. Right. And I can explain the not-really-a-video up there. It is one of my favorite songs performed by Metallica; their cover of Budgie's "Breadfan". See? Breadfan. Totally relevant. Plus now you have an excuse to get up out of your chair and headbang all over the place. I HIGHLY recommend that you listen to the entire song. Loudly if possible.

Pearls of "wisdom" by Jamie at January 27, 2008 01:21 PM

Comments

When did I become such a hyphenating-for-extra-long-adjectivial effect person? Holy crap!!

I'm apparently still okay with the whole making-up-my-own-words thing though.

*snort*

Posted by: Jamie at January 27, 2008 03:06 PM

Hells yeah! I'm in a making-devil-horns-kind-of-mood-while-bobbing-my-head-righteously -mood.

I'm very impressed you gave up such a serious psychostimulant dependency, all quick-like. Good for you!

Posted by: Dr. Ding at January 27, 2008 09:28 PM

Rawk!!! \m/ Awesome Dr. Ding!
I actually didn't give up coffee. I just realized that I only told half of the story - I have now developed the new and improved(!) habit of making the coffee and taking it to work with me in my gorgeous, copper Starbucks(TM) thermos. So although I used to not be the person that could manage to do that I AM that person now. Which is cause for celebration, imRo, despite the unhealthy aspects of coffee addiction. :)

Man, I love that freaking song. And really people, it is MANDATORY to listen to the entire thing. Mandatory!!!!!

Posted by: Jamie at January 27, 2008 10:32 PM

Love me some old Metallica! That was a total blast doing those Metallica songs karaoke style with you the other night! Two of my faves from them.

Posted by: Mark at January 28, 2008 03:06 PM

Mark!! Did you listen to all of the Breadfan? I'm sure you've heard it before but if you're like me you hadn't heard it in a while which is really sad because it is Teh Awesomeness. I think I need to put that on my alarm clock as my wake up song. Yes. ::makes note::

Agreed. The Metallica karaoke jam with you and Lisa was a major blast. You rule for finding that karaoke CD!! I have whiplash. My god that was fun.

Posted by: Jamie at January 28, 2008 05:10 PM

No, I didn't listen to all of it but only because I was at work (as I am now). haha

Posted by: Mark at January 29, 2008 11:50 AM

*acting unawares-like* you use their sizing conventions? tsk tsk. (i feel like perhaps you added that parenthetical comment just for me.)

on the occasions where i end up in a starbucks, i love to go in and order a "medium cafe ole". sometimes the person working the counter doesn't even know what to make. usually though, they say "a grande misto?" (or "mista", i forget what they call their version.) i smile and say "if that's a medium cafe ole." technically though, it's not, since a cafe ole is half milk and half chickory with no foam or whip embellishment required, but i'm not enough of a coffee snob to get worked up about it...the half milk, half coffee-type-liquid is what is important. maybe the fact i know these things...and that i admitted i tend to try and avoid starbucks (to frequent independent coffee shops)...shows too much of an inclination toward coffee snobbery though...which is why i have to watch myself closely.

sometimes i'll just order a medium coffee (i might capitulate to saying "drip" so i can minimize the verbal interaction with my personal, devoted barista who loves me and knows just how to properly make any kind of demented and rare coffee bean based drink i mention...at least that's the unrealistic theory...a cafe ole isn't exactly an obscure, esoteric drink in the coffee world). or if i'm feeling lucky i'll order a small coffee in a medium cup (and save myself 20 cents or something). because i get the coffee and go douse it with sugar and cream/half'n'half...about 1/2 to 1/3 whole milk or 1/3 to 1/4 cream/half'n'half is about right. if they fill the cup up with coffee i have to pour some out into the trash can.

at this point, the coffee purists should be clenching their teeth, pulling their hair, and getting cramps. it's a beautiful thing. :) as the beastie boys said in a song: "i like my sugar with coffee and cream."

anyway, congrats on lowering the amount you tithe to the church of starbucks.

Posted by: TeRRY at January 30, 2008 06:08 PM

I've seen Metallica in concert twice.

Totally frickin amazing.

I'm not sure what it has to do with Starbucks but I thought I'd share. You can tell me to shut up now.

Posted by: Jenny, Bloggess at February 1, 2008 07:05 PM

Terry,

Hmmm ... now that you mention it I seem to remember you being one of the people I know that refuses to use their sizing terminology. But I think I was actually thinking about the whole lot of you when I typed it. And yes . . . just to make you all cringe >:)
You should probably watch yourself even more closely, I can see nothing but coffee snobbery from here. :)

Jenny,
Hey cool about Metallica! I think I've seen them like 10ish times, but the last time was like in 1997 or something. Yeah, Metallica and Starbucks really don't have a whole lot to do with each other. I'm thinking this might have something to do with my blog readership being like 4 or something. Please, whatever you do, don't shut up. Maybe people will start coming here for the comments if nothing else*. ::snort::

*Note - I really have no desire to gain lots of blog traffic - however, I really DO promote the idea of encouraging The Bloggess to type words. :D

Posted by: Jamie at February 1, 2008 10:34 PM