I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have in my hand a sweet, personalized, GOLD... Starbucks Rewards Gift Card! It says, "Leah Gibson, Cardholder Since 2007." Apparently I finally spent enough money at Starbucks to reap some benefits. (This is apart from the baristas occasionally giving me drinks on the house. Awesome, I know.)

Along w/ the card, a note. "Welcome to the Gold Level of My Starbucks Rewards. You've earned it..."

Yes, I have.

Shoot. I didn't even know that I could become a Gold Member just by using my registered gift card. Anyway, having a registered Starbucks gift card is way better than paying cash or w/ credit for several reasons. I thought about listing them, but I think I've exhausted the subject.

On a sad note, while I was on Starbucks Maternity Leave (made up time that I did not go to Starbucks after baby was born), all of my barista friends up and left. Well, not all of them, but a lot of them. Talk about sad.

And on a funny note... Tonight, Matt and I were at our favorite new restaurant, Jason's Deli, when I saw the funniest thing. I glanced over at this young couple as they were sitting down to eat. As they were about to take the first bite of their food, they toasted their sandwiches together. I mean like the way you toast a champagne glass at a wedding. They actually picked up their sandwiches, "clung" them together, and then started eating. I'm telling you, it was hilarious. And awkward, but in a good way.

That's all for now, folks.

say it with me

Hey blogosphere! Let me get the apology for infrequent posting out of the way first. I am sorry. I've been stacking up a selection of post topics, but have not been able to get the momentum I need to turn those into actual posts. Do you forgive me?

Also, my sister had her baby on Monday night. So as soon as I get pictures, I will post them of my new nephew, Bennett George Vescovo! :) I went to Houston on Monday/Tuesday to meet him, and he is so precious.

But all that aside, I think we need to have a little talk. Because if you are EVER in public, and happen to be using the word "REALTOR®," I want to make sure you don't sound like an idiot. That is the point of this post. I want to educate you. (And if you are wondering... Yes, this is a direct response to a conversation I overheard at Starbucks in which the participants were talking very loud.)

First we need some definitions. What is a "Realtor?" The general public believes that a REALTOR® and a real estate agent or a real estate salesperson are the same. They are not. REALTOR® is actually a trademarked name given to those real estate agents that are members of the National Association of REALTORS®.

A real estate agent has a license to represent buyers and sellers. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent who pays a buttload (for lack of a better word) of money and takes extra courses to stay informed and be a member of their local, state, and national association of REALTORS®. They also have access to their local Multiple Listing Service, where most real property is listed for sale or rent. So be safe rather than sorry. Just say "agent" or "real estate agent." And NOW, for the MOST important part. PRONUNCI - freakin - ATION. :)

Do you see an "A" in between the L and the T of the word "REALTOR?"

The answer is NO, you sure don't.

So please, please, please, do not say "Real-A-tor." That is not a word. It's "reeeeel-tor." Please resist the urge to add an "A" or an "uh" where it clearly does not belong.

I'll work on being patient with the less informed. You're welcome. :)

officially awkward

Oh my gosh. I am officially the most awkward person on the planet. This literally happened less than 5 minutes ago, and the story can't wait. So without further ado...

I'm pulling into a rather small parking spot at my second favorite Starbucks in town. As I am pulling in, I notice that the owner in minivan in the spot next to me is still in his car. Awesome.

So I am parked really close to him (because the spaces are small), and I consider just backing out and parking somewhere else. Then it seems like the dude in the minivan is about to leave, so I decide to just park it. It turns out that the dude wasn't really leaving, he was just readjusting because I was parked too close to him.

He then rolls down his window and says, "The spaces are small."

But my window is up, so I roll mine down and say, "I'm sorry?"

And he says, "Sorry, the spaces are really small."

I immediately misinterpret his apology to be a sassy, "Hate to break it to ya, but you're gonna need to move" tone.

So to keep the rapport, I snap back, "OH, so I need to park somewhere else, huh?"

The guy was actually being nice and he totally didn't catch onto the sass. In fact, he thought that I was being nice to him by offering to park somewhere else. (But don't kid yourself, it was totally sassy.)

He responds very calmly since he didn't catch the attitude and says, "Oh no, you can stay there, I was just letting you know why I readjusted my car. I wanted to make sure you could get out."

I immediately feel terrible for being a sass-master, remember that I am actually going to Starbucks to read my bible, and then begin overcompensating for the bad attitude with overt friendliness.

"Oh, well, I just might go park somewhere else; that would be easier."

Dude responds, "No don't worry about it, I am just waiting on my wife, and we are about to leave anyway."

I respond, "Well, okay. Thanks."

Then I notice he has a kid in the backseat. (Mind you, I am still trying to compensate for being a total butt.)

"Oh you have a baby?" I asked with an unusual amount of enthusiasm.

Man responds, "Yep," but looks concerned like, "Why in the world is this crazy woman asking about my kid?"

I immediately realize that if I act too interested in some stranger's kid, it might freak him out a bit, so once again, I try to overcompensate.

"Oh, well, I am just really obsessed with babies right now..." (A completely false statement - and do I really think THAT statement is going to make him feel better about the situation?) "... My sister is about to have a baby."

Man sort of nods in a way that suggests the conversation is over.

I walk the walk of shame into Starbucks and live to blog about it.

Moral of the story? Don't try to bail yourself out when you act like a nincompoop; you will only make it worse. Just humble yourself, receive the forgiveness that you could never earn, and move on. Just move on.

I am one of those...

Yesterday, I went into my favorite Starbucks location and for the gazillionth time it was freezing in there. It was so cold that I had to sit outside, where there were no plugs for my computer. This was not the first time I've had to sit outside or leave because of the temperature. So, I took my tall coffee and the district manger's business card outside and immediately composed the following e-mail on my blackberry.

Hi [District Manager],

I am a frequent customer at 4-5 different Starbucks locations in Austin, and I just wanted you to know that I love the staff at both the Great Hills location and the Parmer and McNeil location.

I would like to bring to your attention, though, that the room temperature at the Parmer and McNeil location is uncomfortably chilly. Since I come to Starbucks to get work done [or blogging, or pleasure reading], I usually stay awhile.

I have often avoided the Parmer/McNeil location due to the temp inside the store, which is a shame because the employees are very pleasant. I was in the store awhile back, when another customer asked for the temperature to be adjusted, and the employees seemed to ignore the request.

With warm weather around the corner, most customers will probably be dressed to stay cool, but if it is too cold inside, customers will not want to stay. I believe that keeping the temperature comfortable and not too cold will promote longer visits= more refills, more money.

On a whole, I am very satisfied with Starbucks service and the friendliness of the staff, but I think you would benefit to change this one thing.

Thanks,

Leah Gibson

Well, the district manager responded to me, and today, after forgetting that I wrote that e-mail, I walked in and immediately noticed that the temperature was much more pleasant. My next thought was, "I hope that district manager didn't use my name..." (Because the lovely employees usually know the names of all frequent visitors. It's their job.)

But seriously, I think the scariest part about all of this is that I frequent Starbucks enough to feel like I have a legitimate right to voice my complaints. Matt doesn't know about this story yet, but I have a feeling I am going to face persecution from him after he checks his Google Reader tonight.

oh... my... goodness...

Yes, I am at Starbucks. What is new?

Here's what's new. I don't typically come here on Saturday nights, but Matt is at a bachelor party, and I had some reading to do.

Yeah, so there's a sweet old man here singing his own country songs with his guitar. If only you were here to experience this with me. Here are the lyrics to the chorus of the first song he played.

"I wish I had a pet, I wish I had two, I wish I had three, I wish I had four. Don't you?"

Bless his heart. We are all clapping for him.

what the cougars are saying... and other news

The other day we were out and a woman in her late 40s or early 50s told Matt that he looks like Roger Federer. She also made sure to let us know that she finds Roger Federer very attractive...You do the math. Of course I agree with her, for Matt's sake.

A few weeks ago, a dude at Starbucks told me I looked like Jenna Bush. He made the same type of follow up comment as the cougar. Something along the lines of, "You may not agree with her dad, but that doesn't mean she's not attractive..." Brilliant statement.

Speaking of Starbucks, what does it mean when the baristas at 3 different locations in Austin recognize you and the baristas at 2 different locations know your name? What does that say about me as a person? Unemployed? They probably think so, but they are wrong. "Independent Contractor" is more like it.

Speaking of baristas, Darren, my barista friend, wants me to tell all of my blog friends that he says hello. Darren has a wife of 14 yrs and two kids, FYI. Darren told me the secret to staying married 14 yrs is putting your spouse above yourself. Good thinking, Darren!

Speaking of blogging, did anyone else watch Saturday Night Live this past weekend? Kristen Wiig appeared on the Weekend Update segment with Seth Meyer as "Blog Lady." She was wearing a sweater, holding a coffee cup and making fun of people. The skit was hinting at the fact that she was the loser, even though she was convinced otherwise. I laughed, but then after I thought about it, I asked Matt if I should take it personally.

Cause let's be perfectly honest here... I spend a considerable amount of time blogging, drinking coffee, and making fun of people. (Read "more you never wanted to know about the Starbucks ditz" if you don't know what I am talking about.) Matt just laughed, so I don't know what that means.

Hope you are all having an excellent Tuesday! Till next time...

more you never wanted to know about the starbucks ditz

Note: See previous post.

If I am the only one who finds this entertaining, then that is perfectly fine with me.

• She apparently got in 6 car wrecks in high school.
• She wanted to get a Mustang, but she didn't want to get a "nice car" because she's been in so many car wrecks.
• She hates Math. (Could have guessed that one.)
• She wants a career in child psychology. (Read: Do your research before you send your children to a psychologist.)
• She twirls her hair.
• She is wearing a pink t-shirt, pink shorts, and pink tennis shoes, and she ordered a pink strawberry frappuccino.

You can argue that I am a terrible person for making fun of this girl, but I promise if you were here, you would do it too. (I am aware that doesn't make this right.) I am sure if I knew her, I would love her.

surely you will all agree that I watch too much TV

Have you seen this Cheetos commercial?



Well, now you have. And I feel like I am IN it right now. I am officially the only other customer left in this entire Starbucks store because of this dingbat girl who is talking waayyyy too loud for her own good. I am dumber for having listened to her.

Favorite part so far: (She's very clearly on a first coffee date.)

"My best friend, like my very best friend, we're like going to be each other's maids of honor - well, like she lives in Dallas, and earlier this year, we went like 4 months without seeing each other, and I was about to like DIE by the time I saw her."

Okay, I am mean. But it immediately reminded me of the Cheetos commercial, and I had to share.