his name was santiago
My current schedule has permanently affixed a “to-go” status to my lifestyle. I don’t mind it, the walking is pleasant, though sometimes sweat-inducing, but it keeps my heart moving at a rate that I am somewhat leary of. My caffeine input has declined, actually, since there is usually enough momentum in me to not necessitate the extra boost. The induced breeze of speed-walking is ok, too.
But I have been finding my toothbrush stuck in my mouth too frequently. When I begin to brush my teeth, become distracted or rushed and require myself to multi-task while brushing, that is a perfect sign of my current time constraints. And lately, I have been walking all over the apartment, doing all types of things, washing all types of dishes, all the while toting a toothbrush inside a mouth of toothpaste froth. I put brushing on a temporary hold. It is somewhat comical, yes, but I just noticed its presence and I realize the implications.
Anyways. So, I kind of missed the entire World Cup final today, but I was working at Bollo’s throughout and could hear the cheers from the restaurant next door. The customers during the game were also great - some rushed, some with eyes full of anticipation, some wildly intoxicated - all of which I took a chance to speak to, per the usual customer interaction. Santiago, a particularly drunken soccer afficionado, repeatedly asked me if he had paid for his coffee; since there was no line behind him, I answered each of his interrogations in a perfectly identical manner. You could have recorded my first answer and looped it every three minutes or so. At least, he will be more likely to remember me when he tells his kids of The Great 2006 World Cup when “his” team went all the way. But he kept jumping back and forth between Spanish and English; but I didn’t mind because I kept jumping back and forth between German and English to try and throw him off.
Oh, and what luck!, a few scenes of a film were shot in Bollo’s also while I was there. In hi-definition anamorphic widescreen, of all things. Kind of neat. Plus, it has been ages, but someone finally ordered a breve latte which allowed me to again experiment with defined latte art. The result was a spiral/snowflake. However, the receiving end only gave a weak smile and then popped a plastic lid over the drink. Talk about a kick in the pants.
But, back to my last attempt at making monies.
July 10th, 2006 at 9:45 am
it’s rare enough that people order breve that it’s worth it to put it in paper. almost as bad as pulling a clean doppio into a cute bodum demitasse, only to have the customer DIY it into a redeye. might as well have been a car bomb.
July 10th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Some people don’t realize how the drinks we make are effectively our children. There nothing I love more than a customer who carefully shuttles his/her latte back to the table in an attempt to not disturb one of my amateur snowflakes. It’s like my kid going to college. Gosh, they grow up so fast.
July 10th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
…or the candy-store grin when they see tight foam or latte art. makes me gooey inside, just a little.