no rants today.
instead i submit my naughty and nice lists.
NAUGHTY
- my newly promoted manager for royally screwing up the holiday weekend schedule.
- the woman who stole our cinnamon shaker from the condiment bar.
- the partner who did the world's worst job cleaning the frappuccino section, so that it took me twice as long to clean it tonight.
- corporate for sending us waaaaaay too much merchandise.
- the customer who asked me to call all the bux in a "ten-mile radius" to look for a particular mug, then demanded her coffee be free because my store no longer had the mug in stock.
- the talker, who spent most of his shift yesterday talking about what his family does for christmas rather than doing his work.
- all the customers who are "re-gifting" their gift cards (making us split up a gift card that was given to them into multiple gift cards for other people).
- my district manager who gave us all the stinkeye while we were working our understaffed butts off.
- the customer who felt he deserved a fifty percent discount because it was "christmas eve eve".
- barista brat, because when i ran out of regular frappuccino base i decided to give everyone decaf instead.
NICE
- the customer who brought in cupcakes for us baristas.
- the newbie who gave 200% every shift she was on this week.
- the woman who handed out lottery tickets as stocking stuffers.
- our regular customers who kept smiles on their faces even though the line was out the door and we were a person short.
- my fellow barista brat's fiance who brought us pizza and soda.
- the two baristas who closed with me and helped make tonight's close so much fun.
- the readers of this blog!
if you feel like giving this barista brat a christmas gift, it would be great if you could drop by the comments box and tell me where you hail from.
merry christmas and happy holidays!
176 comments:
I'm from Massachusetts, specifically that portion of it right near the corner of Rhode Island which "pokes" up into SE Mass. Merry Christmas!
Canton, Georgia - about 30 miles North of Atlanta! LOVE your blog...found it through my cousin; "A Cup Of Coffey". Yours in the only blog I read other than the Cup!
Merry Christmas!!!
West Los Angeles. :) When I come home from a long day at work, it always makes me smile if you've posted. Reading your blog, along with a few others, makes my day.
The Bay Area in sunny, sunny, Northern California!
Because of your blog, brat, I am now so much more sympathetic to all the SBUX baristas I encounter. One of my best friends is a SBUX barista and she tells me some pretty wacky tales, too. :]
Dallas, Texas!
I read your blog every day- now I'm always really nice to the employees at the Starbucks I frequent. :)
Just from good old Ohio. I'm currently living at Bowling Green State University and I'm a frequent at our On Campus Starbucks.
Hi I'm from Sydney. Love reading your blog and the waiterrant. I'm a builder working in the inner city at present and I buy lots of coffee during the day for myself and the lads. I can stand outside the site and see 4 cafes and they all do well. One thing I notice is how important it is to have decent manners. Thanks for the time you spend writing it. Peter.
Seattle and yea I turned some of the corp green buyers onto your blog. They love it. Very flattered you read my humble blog and even comment. Have a very merry Christmas and Ill see you around the blogosphere.
I'm from Maryland, just north of Annapolis! My store also got waaaaaay too much merchandise, we've got sooo many boxes.
Anywho, have a Merry Christmas Brat!
Texas! Great blog, always enjoy reading
auckland new zealand
seville, spain!
I'm from Wildomar, California, Brat, in Riverside County.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Brat!
nanaimo,bc,canada
I'm from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and I'm currently drinking my way to a starbucks planner for the new year:D 16 more drinks to go
kuala lumpur too. work at a bux here. unfortunately gonna hafta stop soon, i'll miss my green apron sorely :(
oh well.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU too!
love your blog,
have a wonderful new year!
Merry Christmas!
I'm from France!
I hope you have a wonderful day! I'm from Denver, reading your posts on a syndicated feed on Livejournal.com :)
Also Auckland, New Zealand. Merry christmas.
toronto, canada!
merry christmas.
I adore you Brat!!! You are my first log-in of the day, and when I see you haven't had time to post... I'm a cranky whiney blob until I get my fix! You are JUST terrific, so funny and cute and warm and generous...so right-on right-on sistah, and so savvy. I need you to come work with me at the childrebs hopsital I work for. So many of the same weird personalities cross my path that cross yours... it just leads me to believe there are a lot of "interesting" people out there. Thanks so much, Brat for making my days better, making me laugh and keeping me entertained. You are THE BEST! Love Ya!! Merry Christmas from Peoria, Illinois!
- honeywild
Checking in from Olympia, Washington. Merry Christmas Brat!! I think you've been nice even with replacing the frap base.
!!!Merry Christmas Brat!!!
I hail from Los Angeles, and you are my new most favorite blog!
~witchery-woo
I'm from Calgary, Alberta, Canada : )
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, from San Pedro CA.
I don't even drink coffee (heaven forbide), but I stumbled on this blog thru that wonderful internet connected way and I enjoy it immensely
Michigan
Boston, MA!
I "hail" from Reeds Spring Missouri. Want to let you know I truly enjoy your blog. Managed A Dennys' for about 8 years. Your "'rants" are universal in the food service biz. Thanks for the reminders of days gone by, and the laughs. Happy Christmas and Merry New Year
I hail from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and patronize Starbucks in Central and Harvard Squares, the Back Bay shops in Boston, and the South Station shop.
Mobile, Alabama here... and I've never even visited a Starbucks... I'm just not a coffee drinker!
I must say, however, I'm as addicted to your blog as many people are to coffee! :D
first time here, need to catch up in the archives...upland california where it is way to warm for chritmas day.
Macungie, PA (about an hour north of Philly)
two buxes recently opened up nearby, for the longest time corporate said they were "too cool" to be in the Lehigh Valley. but now that they are, every single kid in my high school can't get enough coffee!
Long Island, NY
I don't miss the food service business.
Merry Christmas!
Houston, TX
I never miss your blog, brat. You've made me a much better customer. Happy holidays!
Littleton, Colorado
I love your blog! I think about it every time I am at a Bux.
Long Beach, CA - REPRESENT!
Thank you so much for all the entertainment this year and for the link to my blog. You are the rockstar of baristas.
Many blessings to you & your loved ones for a prosperous, joyful 2007.
Moxie
Chicago
Merry Christmas Brat!!
Ottawa, ON, Canada
You're one of my daily reads. =)
Merry Christmas. Illegitmati non carborundum.
Filmmaker from Hillcrest in San Diego, California. Love the blog. Brillante.
Tustin, California
Love the blog! Merry christmas
I'm in Port Orchard, Washington.
I love your blog, I check it all the time for new entries...one of the best blogs I read - thanks very much!
I'm lurking from Maryland!
Merry Christmas!
I'm originally from Oklahoma but I've been living in Illesheim, Germany for the last four years.
Love your blog!
Merry Christmas!
London, England =)
Merry Christmas!
Omaha Nebraska. Merry Christmas, and thanks for turning me into a barista-idolizor! I couldn't ever remember all you know about a bux, but at least I'm able to remember your tips to be a good bux guest!
Why,I'm from Heaven of course! ;)
MERRY CHRISTMAS B.Brat!!
Happy Holidays !!!
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Love to hear your rants! One of my first reads on the net. I'm in Oak Park, CA (Just outside the LA county line). Never had a taste for coffee. Keep the observations coming!
The South West of England - I'm at university in Bristol.
Merry Christmas, love your writing!
Cincinnati, Ohio. You are at the top of my favorites list, along with Waiterrant. I love the way you can comment on your day without cutting folks down. Merry Christmas Baristabrat!
I've been reading your blog for a while. Steered a Bux regular to your blog at Thanksgiving. I saw her today (Hi! Sharon!) & she's now a regular, too! I'm from Lawrence, KS!
Merry Christmas! Thanks for all the great stories!
Jan
Happy Holidays from Chino Hills, CA!
Cambridge, MA. Ha!
Thanks for the blog. Happy Holidays, B.
Happy Holidays. I enjoy reading your blog. I don't drink much coffee but you make me want to try starbucks!
Bristol WI
Louisville, Kentucky!
- Schlatko
San Jose, CA here!
Merry Christmas Brat! Love your Blog!
Missoula, Montana
Love the blog!
New Hampshire when I'm at school, Southeastern MA for the brief periods when I'm at home. Your blog always makes me smile, even during finals. Keep up the good work, and Merry Christmas!
San Jose, CA! Happy Holidays!
Houston TX , just finished reading the whole thing last week went on to read beer and naked women and just finished , so you have a pool...wonderfull all....Love it!
I have 2 cousins and a boyfriend of the girl one they all work for the BUX...so needles to say I'm always xtrmly nice...besides I worked and mangd a rest for a couple of yrs....anywho.ciao for now..again lovvvvvee the blog.
Merry Christmas, Brat. I know I am new to your blog but I do love it. Signing off from Richmond, VA for now. PS I will soon be relocating to Ferrum, VA and the the nearest SBUX will be 1 hour and 15 minutes away...ONE WAY!
Beaverton Oregon here, been reading your blog while bored out of my mind at work (damn cubicle nightmarish hell....thank god for Baileys Irish Cream)
Love the work, keep it up, best part about your blog is the fact that it is fun to laugh at all the stupid things customers do (working in a call center as customer service myself I know just how stupid customers can be, unfortunatly you can't hit the mute button and talk about your customers *shrugs*)
merry christmas brat.. i read your blog from los angeles.. i must know w the lotto tickets did ya win? if so i know what u could do w the winnings..anyway keep on kickin ass..
Love the blog, and check on it daily from Ann Arbor, MI. Keep it coming!
From the lovely Pacific Northwet - I live in Maltby and work in Redmond!
Merry Christmas Brat!! I'm writing from Houston, Texas and I love your blog.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas from Fremont, California! Thanks very much for your blog. I've been enjoying it for several weeks now.
whoa... ok, i guess i'm comment 71! the most comments i've ever seen!
well, as you know i hail from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and noticed two other readers from here! not sure if i'm going to manage getting the 2007 planner since i don't drink fraps but eh, whatever. i have my moleskine diary which does me very fine.
it was great discovering your blog and it has provided much amusement during my working hours... plus it has provided a lot of insight to the world of working at starbucks! good times.
anyway, Happy Holidays (Christmas just passed but yeah...) and a great new year! look forward to an entertaining 2007!
Quite the fan club you have here; I am thoroughly impressed and insanely jealous.
Love and happy holidays from Omaha.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hope your Christmas was a good one.
Honolulu! Hope you had a swell
Christmas, and I look forward to your blog in 2007!
Palm Springs, CA. Merry Christmas, brat. ;) Clever way to get comments out of regular lurkers like me.
vancouver, bc, canada!
i love your blog!
I love the blog. It's a lesson that all people should be nice to their servers no matter where they are.
I hail from Port Angeles.
P.S. You might should get one of those cute little site maps that everyone could sign - frappr perhaps?
I am from Waterloo,Ontario,Canada
I just love your blog I can relate to it because I also am a food server and I know the types of people that I get and how they can be.
I'm from the lovely, Hurricane Katrina damaged city of New Orleans. I'm not a Bux fan, but you make me want to find a drink I like there! Maybe one day.
happy holidays! enjoy the blog. chicago, IL here.
Valley Stream, New York
call all the bux in a 10 mile radius? That's probably over 100 where i am.
Urbana, IL
Lov the blog, keep up the awesome work and happy holidays!
Bethesda, MD (near DC)
Happy Holidays!
And thank you- now that I have learned how much syrup are in the latte drinks (especially the peppermint mocha!) I have asked the baristas to cut it in half for me. saves calories and tastes better- thanks for the public service.
Buffalo, NY
Thanks so much for everything you do. Now if we could get some of the most Naughty customers to read your blog and be shamed into being decent people, then we would have something!
Just wanted to say that I feel your pain Barista Brat :) I was once a Bux employee. A couple of years of second degree burns, Inept managers and fellow baristas...and i decided to find other employment. My worse horror story was the customer who decided that I had not put enough foam on his decaf quadruple shot cappy. I said politely "I'm sorry sir, would you like me to make you another one?" His face turned PURPLE and he flew into a rage. He proceeded to open his cup and FLING the searing hot coffee all over me. my fellow baristas had managed to stop him from climbing over the counter while I staggered to the back. Police were called, statements were made. He high tailed it out of there as soon as they let him loose. Here's hoping that he never frequents your bux!
oh and oops..i'm from Atlanta :)
Happy holidays, BB. I'm in Connecticut.
Happy Holidays! Seattle, WA
Cleveland OH, MERRY CHRISTMAS
Kentucky is my home...though we're currently living across the river in another state. I work at an independent coffee shop in my college town and I love reading your blog because I can identify with much of what you go through. It's also just interesting to hear firsthand what it's like to work in a corporate environment. Happy holidays!
I love your blog, BB, as do others I know. Keep up the great writing.
Greetings from Merced - the heart of California's Central Valley and the Gateway to Yosemite.
I'm from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and love your blog. :) Happy New Year!
The wunnerful city of Chicago (or Chicagah, like our long-time mayor Richard J. Daley used to pronounce it).
Real name is Brian-- I use the nomme de plume because I'm a school teacher, and my students have internet access. I teach science and Spanish at an alternative high school on the west side here. It's aimed at getting drop-outs back in school.
I also subsidize my teaching habit by working as a waiter at a restaurant near my house on the north side. In general, our customers are very nice, but I occasionally can relate to your nightmare stories.
Thanks for the good reading!
Atlanta, GA!
Seattle, Washington. Home of Starbucks. My regular haunt is the busiest in North America and second in the world. I've been in there at 3-4am and there are still 50 people. Keep up the blog. I love it.
Ellis
Anchorage, AK. Keep up the posts--they are lots of fun to read!
While I normally don't comment, it *is* Christmas :) I'm from Fredericksburg, VA (near Washington, DC). And I have to say I love reading your blog.
Pollock Pines, CA - about 30 minutes from South Lake Tahoe - hope you had a wonderful Christmas! As always, thanks for your great blog.
NY NY - Barista Brat you are a great writer and a terrific addition to the blogosphere. May all your wishes come true in 2007!
Merry Christmas from Clarkston, MI future home of a Starbucks now under construction.
Thanks for the great stories!
Great blog - I'm in Exeter, Devon, England - Merry Christmas...
Penticton, BC, Canada
Don't stop writing, please!!
Merry Christmas! I'm from Plano, Texas (a suburb of Dallas).
Congratulations on having such a wide readership from around the world! Actually, I'm not surprised, since you are such a good writer, and so entertaining! Keep your great stories coming and I'll keep checking in each and every day.
Melanie
towson, md. within a quarter of a mile of about, hmmmm, 5 box. :-) love your blog, merry christmas!
Lexington, KY
A Peace Corps volunteer in Romania whom you constantly entertain and is desperately missing decent coffee.
Merry Christmas from BC Canada.
Portland, Oregon - Happy New Year, Brat!
=^,^=
Hey Brat! Always love the blog. I"m a barista from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Keep it coming!
Estonia, Europe
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia)
ps. seen bux only on pictures :)
from Schaumburg, IL...love reading your blog. onr of the fre i check on regularly.
from Schaumburg, IL...love reading your blog. one of the few i check on regularly. sorry for the typos above...didn't go to starbucks today.
Hi,
I'm Jan, and I'm from Green Bay, WI
Awesome blog, always entertaining
Olympia, Washington!
Merry Christmas!
The first from Singapore. Really enjoy your blog - though I must say the standard of the buxes in Singapore tend to be on the not-so-good side!
I'm from Ottawa, Ontario - capital city of Canada. Go Senators go!!
Switzerland!
Longmont, Colorado.
I'm from Brussels - Belgium - great blog!!
Jacksonville, FL... I get a good laugh out of your posts and feel your pain. Working retail can really suck sometimes! But it does have its rewards too. Thanks for sharing!
I'm from Toronto, Ontario - capital city of Ontario. Go Leafs.. bah, who are we kidding.. Go Sens Go!
Madison, Wisconsin
Austin Texas here. Keep up the entertaining stories!
Richmond, Virginia!
Hey, Great blog, i'm from Perth Australia.
Long Island, NY
Miami, Florida. I just want to say how mucj I enjoy reading your blog. I live smack in the middle of 4 Bux locations and I think about your stories every time I visit one, lol. Thanx for the laughs! Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!
Stanton, CA (what I sarcastically refer to as three square miles of paradise).
It's a little late, but I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Christine from Encino, CA. I read your blog everyday at work and then go into my local bux and tell all my favorite baristas about your blog and stories. They get a kick out of it and then share their own stories. Hope you had a very happy holiday and thank you for making me smile:)
Great blog!
Alexandria, LA
Las Vegas, and use the bux at Paradise and Flamingo
WOW, Brat! Can you believe all of your readers!
You know where I'm from... small town Jawga! (Georgia for those that don't speak Southernese...)
Merry Christmas a little late...
Vancouver, BC, Canada
And love your stories:)
berkeley, ca
Davis, CA outside of Sacramento.
Not a bux regular but I worked in a deli for three years in college and I must say customers are the same everywhere. I am always nice to the waitstaff/baristas/counterpeople now!
I know I'm late to comment, but I'm from Kentucky, too. (Hi cog!) I love your blog. It's nice to know I'm not the only one thinking these things! I hope you get the same satisfaction about your posts! Hope you had a great holiday and have a fantastic new year!
Another Canadian here,
Calgary, AB.
Sorry I'm late! -- Derbyshire, UK. Love your blog (though don't comment often...) -- I work in a restaurant-bar, and recognise *so* many of your customers (and colleagues)...! Hope you had a very happy Christmas -- happy New Year!
California here.
Hailing a few days late from Portland, OR!
Merry Christmas! Love your rants!
-ML from St. Paul, Minnesota
Happy Holidays
HB from Anoka MN
HOUSTON BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM WAY UP NORTH!
Happy Holidays from Scottsdale AZ
I'm reading your blog from Columbus, OH. I love reading you because of your work ethic and your frustration with idiots, slackers, and overbearing a-holes. Keep up the good work.
I'm from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I love your blog, as does my sister, who works at a bux in Vancouver. She prints your posts and pins them up at work.
--Jenne
hey, a bit late but still...
i'm from Estonia (and surprised to see that i'm not the only one reading you from here).
i used to work in a coffee shop so i feel that i can relate to many of your stories :)
keep it up!
You are great...I live in Newton, Massachusetts, outside of
Boston...the bux is in the center of the town. I think of you often when I go in there. Why aren't you being used as a consultant for the higher mucky mucks?
Boston, MA but currently in Glasgow, Scotland with the in-laws--hence the late comment. I've just caughtup on all the posts I missed since we flew here last week...ah, my bux brat fix...
Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year!
As far as I saw I'm the first person to post from NJ.. But maybe I missed one? Either way I've been reading for a while, never posted before but I found you through a string of blogs. Barmaidblog-> waiterrant -> stripclubserver->Barista Brat. =) I read all the time, you make me laugh. When I pass by a Starbucks I wonder if you work there.. Haha. Either way keep it up and have a Happy New year.
-Dianna
From the middle of a snowdrift in Denver, Colorado...
I read your blog in Tempe, AZ
Des Moines, IOWA!
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Wow, lots of comments Brat, amazing!
I read daily (when I have my puter that is) from Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Happy Hollydaze!
Hi!!
I am British originally but now live just outside Helsinki, Finland. Absolutely adore your blog. Great reading, your experiences really hit home as have had experience of working in coffee bars in London. Anyway, keep writing and have a great New Years!!!
Hailing from Malaysia. Really enjoy your blog..
Keep it up!
Oh, and have a Happy New Year!
Hello,
I am from Cape Town, South Africa,now living in Freiburg, Germany.love your blog, have a fab new year!
Love your blog! Brenda from Yuma,AZ. Around here there's not much to do but reading your blog is the caramel and whipped cream on my day. Thanks so much for writing. :)
Happy New Year Brat from Liverpool, England.
Miracle Mile, Los Angeles
I'm originally from Bristol, England. I grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and then moved back to Bristol 12 years ago.
Love your blog! Happy New Year to you and to all my fellow readers!
Seattle, WA...and i work at the ssc!
Cheers, and happy new year!
Brisbane, Australia, but soon to be from Sydney.
Thanks for your writing - a belated merry Christmas and a happy new year to you!
Waterloo in Ontario, Canada
Your stories make me smile - I've worked in a bunch of coffee shops and can definately relate. : D
Living in Arlington, VA, working in Washington, DC.
And wow, 168 comments... K
Tyler, Texas (Northeast TX)
Been out of town, so I'm pretty late leaving a comment, but I wanted to represent Texas =) Read your blog all the time; this is my first time to comment. love it.
North Dakota...love your blog!
Seattle WA here. I'm way late, but I do check your blog semi-regularly every couple weeks.
Happy New Year, Brat!
Not a big fan of Starbucks, but a HUGE fan of your blog.
Take care, from Portland, OR
Merry Belated Christmas! I only check in and catch up every couple of weeks, so I'm just reading this now.
Austin, Texas.
Late to the party, but ... Washington, DC here.
Seattle, WA. Very late to the party. Just found your blog. Love it.
Happy New Year!
even later to the party but presents can be welcome anytime, right?
Calgary, Alberta, Canada-
and you've made me be the nicest bux customer EVER.
I'm a little late but still wanted to chime in. Miami, FL and I have 3 local Bux I frequent. I always think of you when I visit them too!
Buenos Aires, Argentina. Just discovered the blog and enjoy it.
hello from starbucks malaysia!
you demonstrate what starbucks service standard (and patience,mostly) really ought to be :D yay, good on you
I'm not a starbucksian (I own/operate a local chain of coffee carts), but I am a huge fan of your blog and can appreciate most everything you say. The blog helps me get through the OH SO SLOW hours in my day. I only recently discovered it, so I'm doing my back reading and found this... so HELLO and merry belated Christmas FROM ANCHORAGE, ALASKA!
Thanks for the great entertainment!
San Diego....Love love love your blog. I've sent the link to all my fellow baristas in at my bux. I love reading it when I come home from work. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who encounters such characters at sbux
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