Embarrassed at Starbucks

As I was driving to work this morning the love of my life called to chat, as is our custom. She mentioned that Starbucks is now offering a milder coffee to which I asked “Why would anyone want that?” and she explained that regular Starbucks coffee tastes burnt to her.

I don’t drink coffee anymore (three days but who’s counting?) the fact that Starbucks has something new didn’t really concern me. I have also stopped eating breakfast.

I started mentally struggling with the the idea of stopping at a Starbucks and buying a muffin. After all breakfast is the most important meal. I have a meeting in Palos Verdes this morning and I really didn’t want to stop so I drove the opposite direction to a Starbucks that I knew had drive-thru service.

While I was waiting to make a left turn into the parking lot I was still in turmoil about whether I really wanted to do this or not. Finally, I decided it was a bad idea and pulled out of line and headed back toward PV (I hate waiting in line but that’s post for another day).

Still debating with myself I was trying to remember where all the Starbucks were between me and my destination. Then it dawned on me that I was at least 30 minutes early and if I stopped at a Starbucks that had WiFi (all of them do) I could use my iPad to log into my office computer and get some work done before my meeting in PV.

Then, to my dismay, (to my dismay ha, I love saying that) I realized I was already past the really nice Starbucks that I wanted to stop at… bummer. However, I remembered that I have the Starbucks app on my iPhone so at the next red light I checked it out and discovered I was just a block away from another really nice Starbucks ahead of me (what are the odds?).

As I walked in the door I saw a huge sign advertising their “Blond blend”. Good name for a milder coffee I thought but mostly I was focused on the pastry counter frantically searching for a banana walnut muffin. There was only one person in front of me which was good but I couldn’t find my banana walnut muffin! Also, I noticed that now they list the calorie count of each muffin. They had a zucchini walnut muffin which for some reason was higher in calories than any of the others so I decided against it.

Interrupting my train-of-muffin thought the barista asked “How can I help you?”

“Oh, I’d like to try a tall blond…”

Realizing what I said and noticing that my barista WAS a tall blond my voice trailed off and I quickly added “… COFFEE!”

“… and a zucchini walnut muffin.”

Death by Movies – LOTR edition

The Fellowship of the Ring

and so it begins…

or not

It is currently 9:06am on Monday January 2nd. Our LOTR movie marathon was supposed to start six minutes ago but I am the only one here. I was five minutes early.

Stay tuned…

The first movie started at 9:18. I had never seen it from the beginning. I still haven’t because Joe and Steve won’t shut the hell up. Apparently, they have seen it all before and have better things to talk about.

I did get to feed Johnny though and he is asleep in my arms now, so I’m cool.

It’s 10:15 and Jayare showed up and brought me water… So I’m cool… Except she took JD from me so that sucks.

Steve just called me into the kitchen to show me the new portable dishwasher he got for Christmas. It was all hooked up to the kitchen faucet and he decided to show me how easy it was to disconnect… Except he forgot to turn off the water so we both got soaked. That’s my boy!

Joe spent a lot of his time trying to explain to Joey what the movie was about.

Then Joey reviewed the movie for himself while Joe listened attentively.

After that Johnny Danger gave his review. If you listen carefully you can almost tell Joey4 did not share JD’s opinion.

Apparently, Gandalf is dead now. That is shocking. I just can’t believe it.

Sam is the man.

12:40pm
The Two Towers is starting now.

Gollum is creepy.

“What do trees have to talk about hmm? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings.”

Gandalf the White! I knew he would be back?

Mark brought tacos. He’s my favorite.

We are only 5-1/2 hours in and Joe is talking about taking off. What a wuss.

Okay, we guilted Joe into staying until the end of the second movie… let’s see if he makes it.

Johnny’s asleep, Joey’s asleep and I just caught myself nodding off… but in my defense it was the scene with the tree people talking things over.

Well Joe made it through the big battle scene then he bailed.

4:25 The Return of the King begins.

Alright, it looks like Jayare and Mark are leaving and since Steve took off for about an hour in the middle of the second movie I would be the only one to make it through all three movies if I were to stay… but I’m gonna bail now too.

I least I made it longer than anyone else.

But the bottom line here is we all suck at this. It’s tough being responsible adults.

Boshearcrest out.

Response to “HTPCs are the Future”

See my son’s blog post entitled “HTPCs are the Future“

Steve,

Reading your post about your HTPC experience tells me several things. First, you are a geek. Some would say “technically savvy” but I like to call a spade a shovel so I’m going with geek. I don’t know where you get that from, probably those undesirables you hung out with at USC.

Secondly, you are a movie fanatic, some would say addict but I know you only do movies when you really, really need them so you are not addicted. You just just happen to really, really need them two or three times a day.

Thirdly, Joe posts much more than you do and when you get behind you’ll just start writing about the first thing that pops into your head. I don’t know where you get that from, probably those shirtless meat-eaters you hung out with at Menlo 2.

Fourthly, you have a La-Z-Boy and you hate to get out of it. How do you get away with that? Don’t you have a new born baby? Shouldn’t you be changing a shit-load of diapers or something?

Fifthly, you are an idiot. HTPC’s are no more the future than I am*. HTPC’s are for Geeks who have too much time on their hands and don’t like to get out of their La-Z-Boys (although I’m with you on avoiding the diaper changing thing).

Sixthly, the setup you have is really, really cool. I just happen to have an Internet connection, a little patience, I’m tech-savvy and I have an old PC I don’t need for anything else.

If only I had your ability to sit in my La-Z-Boy and write about the first thing that popped into my head…

*Apple’s yet to be released Apple TV is the future.

Sent from my iPad

Death By Movies

It has been so long since I posted I don’t remember my login info. Lucky for me I knew it when I installed the WordPress app on my iPhone so I can still post (you know how important that is to me).

At any rate, the purpose of this post is to let you know that my son and his friend Joe are crazy and being the loving father that I am I encourage this.

Rather than explain the whole thing I’ll just give a link to his new blog “Death By Movies”

I will be participating and blogging about it live… assuming I live.

Valentine’s Day

I wrote a couple of poems this morning:

Waiting

It’s Valentine’s morning
I sit alone waiting
for my life to start

Seconds drag by
reminding me that
I do not live

Finally she awakens
to greet me
I can breathe again

 

********

My Angel
my buddy
my wife

Wouldn’t It Be Cool

Wouldn’t it be cool if I could upload photo from my iPhone?

Hey! That’s cool.

Note to self

I cannot control what people do to me. I can only control how I react to it.

Lyric Log Day 348

Sorry for not posting more on the topic of my Lyric hearing aids but I forgot I had them.

In a few weeks it will be time to renew my contract for another year. They are expensive and I considered just getting one in my left ear and letting the my right ear (what I used to consider my good ear) do without. If this worked I could save $150/month.

To test this idea last week I decided to turn off the Lyric in my right ear for the next three weeks. I figured I would turn off the right ear and just keep everyone I talked to on my left. By “turn off” I really mean put into “sleep mode” which leaves it on but at a volume level that basically gives you the same hearing you had without the device. If you actually turn them off they act as earplugs.

I put it into sleep mode on Saturday morning. By the end of the day I aborted the test and turned it back on.

They are expensive but it is important to be able to hear without constantly asking people to repeat themselves.

Two Shots

Today I finally acknowledged what everyone else who loves me or knows me or probably even ever met me already knows.

My name is Albert and I am an alcoholic.

I will not be going to those damn meetings though. I created this problem and I can solve it on my own. Today I am limiting myself to only two shots. I know it won’t be easy but I can do it. I just have to change my habits. Not go to the same hangouts.

It’s Friday night. The room is intermittently illuminated by the flashing of the neon sign announcing “Vacancy.” If it only knew.

I did not bring a friend and my wife wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this so I will drink alone. That’s okay, I like it better that way.

I struggle to pull the shot glass from my pocket and place in on the nightstand next to the paper bag containing the bottle. Discarding the bag and fighting the urge to chug half the bottle, I remove the cap and place it to the left of the shot glass on the invisible footprints left by the cockroaches.

Pouring the shot brings back memories of when I used to use shot glasses. Back when we were first married. Before the kids were born. I wonder how they are doing?

DO NOT throw back this first shot! Sip it!

Calling all the willpower I possess I manage to take only a sip and set the glass back down. There is no hurry. The room is paid for all night, I have nowhere else to be and my wife knows better than to expect me home at a decent hour after all these years.

The urge to take the next sip is all-consuming. I should call my son. I’m sure he wouldn’t answer. How long has it been? My daughter might answer if she isn’t already shit-faced herself. A chip off the ol’ block. She and her mother blame me for that.

STOP! It’s not time for the next sip yet!

I don’t know why they blame me. I don’t blame my father. I take full responsibility for my actions. I always have. I just didn’t realize until today it had gotten this bad.

Okay, you can take the next sip now.

Ahhh, whiskey doesn’t burn anymore but I still love the smell.

God Dammit! you were supposed to stop at a sip!

No matter. I set the glass down.

I wait for what seems like an eternity before reaching for my second shot.

Wrapping my lips around the cold steel barrel I hesitate only a moment before pulling the trig…

Why AT&T will lose my business

Original to AT&T Follows:
————————
My wife and I both have iphone’s (her number is xxx-xxx-xxxx), we also have AT&T for our landline and DSL (xxx-xxx-xxxx)

We do not have cell coverage at our house.

I have installed a third party repeater which helps a little but not enough.

Based on our long-standing history as AT&T customers we believe you should provide us with a 3G micocell free of charge.

Thank you.

Jerry and Cheryl Boshear

AT&T’s Same Day Response Follows: (I think it is an auto response but…)
———————————–

On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 1:52 PM, AT&T Email Customer Care for Wireless wrote:
Dear Mr. Boshear,

Thank you for taking the time to e-mail AT&T regarding MicroCell. Both you and your wife have iPhones, , AT&T landline, and DSL service. You have installed a 3rd party repeater which helps but not enough. You feel based on your long standing history with AT&T we should provide you with a 3G MicroCell for free. I apologize for any frustration this may have caused you. My name is Lisa Ross, and it will be my pleasure to assist you today.

After reviewing your account, I have found that the AT&T 3G Microcell is offered in your area. The AT&T 3G MicroCell serves as a small cell tower in the home and utilizes your broadband Internet connection to carry the call or data traffic to the AT&T network. An AT&T 3G cell phone or Smartphone and calling plan of $39.99 or higher is required in order to use the AT&T 3G Microcell.

After research I have found that you qualify to purchase a 3G MicroCell for only $49.99 after mail-in rebate when you subscribe to the Unlimited MicroCell calling feature for $19.99 per month.
To learn more about the AT&T 3G Microcell service, please use the following link:

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

You can also visit a participating AT&T Company Owned Retail location for additional information or to purchase the AT&T 3G Microcell:

http://www.wireless.att.com/find-a-store/

Mr. Boshear, I hope that the information provided has been helpful and has resolved all of your questions. Should you have additional concerns or questions about this issue please reply to this email. If you need to contact us again regarding a new issue please send us another email via the contact link through your online account. My name is Lisa Ross and I thank you for being a valued AT& T customer for many years. We will do our best to ensure that your wireless experience is a success, and AT&T hopes to serve you as your wireless provider for many more years to come.

I encourage you to visit our web site (www.att.com/wireless) often to view current and previous monthly statements, make payments and to shop for new product and service offerings.

Sincerely,

Lisa Ross
AT&T
Online Customer Care Professional

Help AT&T improve our service to you! Please complete our short survey about your e-mail Customer Service experience. Click on:

http://www.wireless.att.com/supportsurvey/epoll/Booth.do?controller=com.jcorporate.epoll.controller.Booth&Format=tiny&CategoryId=2&PollId=16&state=promptVote&id=okLB9126***14733420***

The information provided in this e-mail is intended for the view and use of the authorized AT&T subscriber only. Content may not be shared or relied upon by third parties. AT&T, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to amend, modify or replace the written content of this message to correct or update answers provided to Subscriber. No term of Subscriber’s Customer Service Agreement is altered, waived, or modified by this message unless expressly agreed by an authorized AT&T representative.

(c) 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

My Same Day Response to AT&T Follows:
—————————————-

Hello Ms Lisa Ross,

Thank you for your quick response. It was very informative. Unfortunately, your proposed solution is unacceptable to us.

We pay more than enough money to AT&T at the present time and will not pay more money just so we can use the equipment and services we are already paying for from AT&T.

If this is the best you can do please be advised that as soon as another carrier offers the iPhone we will be switching. Even if it means paying a cancellation fee it will be worth it in order to avoid the continued frustration we have had trying to be a loyal AT&T customer over the years.

An example of this frustration is that I cannot call my wife at home “mobile to mobile” (free) so I have to call the land line which uses my mobile minutes. I have talked to AT&T in the past about making my home number a free call from my mobile phone and was told it could not be done.

Again, thank you for your quick response and we look forward to the day when we can part ways.

Sincerely,

Jerry & Cheryl Boshear