Its only appropriate to write the following, with all the factors that go into my life that is around Starbucks . What’s funny to me is that one of Starbucks company goals is to create a third place environment. Between work and home, Starbucks wants to be that retreat for customers to come to. Apparently its working in the lives of Carla Bean who stole it this idea from Mark, whom I’m actually taking up the idea from, here is my history with Starbucks.

My very first Starbuck memory that sticks out was my sophomore year in high school. A group of friends of mine went to the Newbury Park High School Homecoming dance together. All of us but one didn’t have a date, but we had so much fun just the same. Afterwards we went out for some coffee at Starbucks. We took a picture like we had been doing all night when one of the baristas told us we were not allowed to take pictures inside. We thought it was silly but obliged to their wishes. My friends date was passing my throw away camera back to me and of course in the hand off the bottom was clicked and the flash alerted the barista that another photo was taken. He said that was our last warning or wed be kicked out. My friend Lindsay thought it was rather dumb and once we all sat down threaten to take another photo. Just as we all sat down she of course went through with her threat and we all just walked out as the barista came over to escorted us. We then hung out in their parking lot till it was too cold to stand outside in formal dresses. Were they afraid wed find out the Starbuck “secret” and sell it to someone? Really now.

Some of you might recall my mapping out of Starbucks when Carla and I crossed the country from California to Alabama little more than a year ago. I did not keep record of what Starbucks they were. Id probably have to remap that whole trip to even know which ones we stopped at. But those hold very little meaning to me because as much as I did spend time with Carla in them it was more of a in and out and use the bathroom deal. So, they get a mention, but they aren’t worth the time it would take to search through this dudes web site for the stores photos. But one Starbucks that I will never forget is the one and only Jackson, MS Starbucks. Wee hours in the morning (or so it felt, it was probably 11ish) we were lost in trying to find this location. It was the first and only tiff of the road trip. Both of us frustrated, not at each other but that we couldn’t find the Starbucks and just wanted to be home. Finally, after too much time wasted, we found our haven. Coffee did us good for the last leg of that trip. Its also the Starbucks I met Scott for the first time at.

The Starbucks that Carla and I did spend much time at, even though it was an hour away from T-town was a Starbucks in Birmingham, Al. As Carla mentioned in her blog, the fondest memory I have of that one was the last time we were there together. We killed time (I think we spent that whole day killing time didn’t we?) over a board came and holding each other back from buying more Starbucks mugs that we both knew we didn’t need. Especially with both of us moving soon. It had a drive through, which we never used. One of the Baristas remembered us, that’s pretty bad when your an hour away!

My old room mate Dani, her friend Bre and I took a road trip to Northern California to go white water rafting with at the time Dani’s boyfriend. We left very early in the morning to make the most of the weekend, and by mid morning we were in need of some coffee. I suggested Starbucks (of course) and said the next one we saw off the freeway wed stop and go to. That never happened, so we called 411 asking where the nearest Starbucks was. They gave us a couple of numbers for the city of Stockton which we called. We made out way about 2 miles off the freeway to this Starbucks:

We enjoyed ourselves so much there with the baristas working and the relaxing environment it had that we stopped on the way home as well. I wish I could find the photos, but I have a good amount of pictures of the three of us in and outside of that Starbucks. One where I’m lift two Venti drinks like weights.

The day that Jace and I got to met, we leave a very ghetto Barns and Noble and went over to South Park mall in Charlotte, NC. Jason directs me to the smallest Starbucks I think Ive ever seen.

We almost walk right by it! Being that it was so small, there were no setting, but chairs right out side. We spent a good chunk of time here, nervously talking to one another over our drinks. I remember having a iced toffee nut latte. I honestly cant remember what Jason had, but I remember looking down at my drink thinking “this really isn’t happening, this guy is just too good for words.”

Another Starbucks that I have visited both times I was in Greensboro is the one on Battleground. First time was when Jace invited me to Greensboro the day after we met. I went inside to get something to snack on and a hot drink. I come back to my car to find that he had popped Popular Genius out of my cd player and stuck in a Norah Jones cd. Wonder what he had up his sleeve! Second visit was with Kari and Sarah . Both got nothing, which I wish they would have. We had sweet conversation, but coffee always adds something to it. So girls, next time I’m in town, my treat.

(cept I haven’t been there when it snowed… maybe someday soon!)

Ahhh, the Popular Genius Starbucks as its been called. I actually didn’t realize this till this past year. I associated with my friend Trey , since its where he’d call me from on his 10 minutes breaks at night. Its where the picture of him with a flower in his mouth was born. But, somehow, someway, I came across this information of more than one member of the band Popular Genius during my I’m free and single days, which was a mistake. Not really, I am no stalker (I leave that to Carla and her band ) but I mean, what are the chances any of them, let alone the lead singer would be working? Pretty good I guess because the time I do something like this, it happens. Quite embarrassing to even post this for the world wide web to see, but Carla let the cat out of the bag on her blog.

I shall close this rather lengthy journey of my life and Starbucks with ones that I visit too many times to count.

This is a Starbucks that I actually became known as a regular at. Its at the other end of the outlet mall that I worked at for years while working at the Right Start.

This is a real Starbucks thats connected to the best Barns and Noble around here. (There is one closer to me than this one but it isn’t as good. Plus is has a Starbucks Cafe. The nerve!) Ive spent lots of time in Barns and Noble more than Starbucks, but always usually grab something to drink while looking at books I wish I could buy. I met friends at this one lots of times as well.

This is where friends, Christy and Polly work.

Last, but not lease, worky worky.