Observations before 9am

I guess people start blogs for different reasons. By today's standards, I'm slightly anti-internet. I don't have a mybook or a facespace. I'm not interested in Perez and his celeb juice. What I am interested in, is people-watching. It's fascinating and it is what inspired me to create a blog.

It started this morning. The usual stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way to work. Not usually a spot that I find too interesting. I mean, I haven't even had my morning caffeine, so picking apart every human I see isn't appealing just yet.

I enter the DD and notice 2 very long lines at each of the 2 counters. Brilliantly, I opt for the shorter line. I immediately notice a short woman, probably in her early 50s in the other line (which ends about 2 feet from me). I can literally see the wheels turning as she shoots a look at my line, back to hers, back to mine...you get the idea. All the while, she is observing the speed of each DD employee. I'm on the edge of my seat, waiting for her to make her move. She does.

She steps out of her line and goes behind me, muttering in that half-laugh way, "this one looks like it's faster." I ignore her. In a matter of minutes, my turn comes and I approach the counter.

As if that scene wasn't fun enough... as I'm ordering my coffee, this quick-thinking line changer steps up to the counter next to me. She is hesitant. She is glancing nervously at the other counter. She says, (half to herself, half to the DD employee), "Hmm, Marian is down on the other side." The employee is waiting for her to order. The quick-thinker hesitates some more as she very reluctantly places her order. She explains her drink request as if she is in gym class and has to choose the fat kid to be on her team. "Well...I guess...since Marian is at the other side..." That's how it starts. She is clearly not happy that Marian is busy attending to other customers and can't take the time to make "the usual". This lady wants her XL coffee to have milk at the bottom, double shot of hazelnut and then the coffee. She repeats nervously. She looks down at Marian. She repeats her order again, nervously. She then does another attempt at self-importance, "I probably won't like it, but OK." Of course you won't like it. Marian pours the best. Marian knows who you are. Marian probably even says, "Hey hon, the usual?". No worries. You've got your coffee and you're off to your job.

But not today. Today you worry as you watch this uninterested 20 year old just completely ruin your day. How could he possibly understand your depth? So off you are to your cubicle, coffee dreams destroyed. But maybe those new post-its you ordered will be waiting for you. Hell, who are you kidding. Linda the receptionist probably got you the wrong color. Looks like it's going to be one of those days.