In response to Andrea

Andrea, thank you so much for pointing out the other day at dinner that I have waffled on the Starbucks issue. Yes, about 4 months into my Chai free life I caved. When I went to Virginia in June I stopped into a Starbucks and that was fatal. The American Chai Latte was always a bit different in flavour and this small difference got me hooked all over again.

Therefore; Andrea, I have not saved any money. I have returned to my old ways; I am spending away my future on a 16oz steamed tea. Then, this morning, I dropped into the SB at Queen and Yonge. They were almost out of soy, however, the Barista said she had just enough....I was concerned. Then she pulled out SILK SOY! I was thrilled. They had to go out and buy soy to bridge the gap in their inventory and they bought the original Soy brand; Silk. Was I ever so excited to have my original drink!

Then I took a sip. It was a betrayal all over again Andrea, but in reverse! It just does not taste the same and same is what I am looking for. In this uncertain life I crave something that I can count on. I need to know that everyday I can get and enjoy the same drink I had enjoyed the day before. I don't want something new and different. New and different is for careers and cars. Same. I crave sameness and SB is messing with that.

So, Andrea, still I struggle. I would like to give it all up but I just can't. I toy with myself and say I will not have one until the weekend. But then something happens, like they ask me to work overtime. I say yes and then I need to the sameness of my Chai to work through the extra hours. Or, I get bored, which is fatal for me. I need to have or do something so I go get a Chai.

Today, I am already considering getting another Chai at lunch. I need to experience the sameness of the drink I love, or have come to love. Or is it the drink I have trained myself to love. I am not sure but regardless Andrea, I think we should leave that alone and accept and understand the need for sameness. Today at lunch I will set the world back on its axis, get the train back on track and set myself down the path of sameness by ordering a Chai with the new and different Soy.

Andrea, now that you understand my need for sameness I am sure you will refrain from pointing out the contradictions of my life. I realize I pour it all out here on my Blog but that does not mean you have to draw attention to my obvious flip flops. I am always up for close scrutiny and confrontation but not about me or my life. However, I understand why you would do what you did. If the tables were turned I would have done the same thing.

Dying Green Love One Month Later

It has been one month since the great Starbucks betrayal. I have missed my drink and dropping into the various Starbucks locations. There is a void there, a bit of an empty space. I had a lot of laughs with the partners in those stores. The drink on the other hand, I do not miss that much. Once or twice I wanted one, the fleeting memory of enjoying a Chai. I must say that for the most part I am glad to be done with the habit, the addiction.

I am also thrilled with the financial savings. $143.84 over the 31 one days I have not had one. That amount only accounts for the Chai, not any cookies or pastries I would sometimes buy to go with it. I am also happy to have the freedom. Not needing to find a Starbucks to get a drink. And before you start rolling your eyes I hope that you can say you have not and never have had an addiction. I get that Chai might seem like an odd addiction but then I bet you are in Tim’s or brewing yourself a pot of coffee every morning. Now that the Chai is gone I am addiction free. Can you say the same thing?
Ok, if you can then roll your eyes cause I get it, this is a kind of eye rolling issue.

I have considered sending Starbucks a thank you e-mail. Look at all the money they have saved me. In this economy that is a huge favour. I still hope they recover however, as I own stock. So, get thee to a Starbucks and buy something to make up for their $143.84 short fall!

My Dying Green Love

Starbucks and I have broken up. I know it is hard to believe. After 8 years and just prior to Valentines Day one of my longest running love affairs is coming to a close. I am crest fallen and feel sad and lost. I wonder how they could have changed the soymilk without asking me. How could they do that? My Grande Soy no water no foam Tazo Chai Latte now tastes like vanilla syrup instead of Chai tea.

Over the past few days I have had to hunt for the final few stores that are still using Silk soymilk. The number of options is running out. It took me 3 stops today and the one location I thought would get me through the weekend will be out tomorrow if not tonight. I have now ruled out 5 maybe 6 locations. I am truly hoping that I will be able to get one last Chai tomorrow. After that I do not know what I am going to do. Is there a Centre for Starbucks Chai addicts to go detox?

I feel a bit of trepidation about all of this. I am losing the one thing I have taken comfort in for the past 8 years. I also think my identity has some how mingled with Starbucks. I worked for them for a year and all my friends buy me Starbucks cards as gifts. Not to mention that my hand has taken on the shape of the Starbucks Grande cup. I even have my own reusable cloth sleeve! I hang out in at least 4 different locations and know Barista’s at 8 or more. I own stock as well, yes the Starbucks stock that has taken a nosedive (35 bucks down to around $9.50), but I held on.

I wonder what I am going to do with my time. I feel a sense of fear when I wonder what I will be doing. There is a fancy new location opening up one block from my home and now I have no reason to go in there! Inside that fear there is also a sense of hope. I am interested, not excited just interested, in what new experiences await me. Where I may find myself now that I will be free of Starbucks. What new things will happen as my hand loses that Grande shape and the green hue fades from my skin? Maybe I will get a date? Maybe.

I just ran some numbers. 365 days per year over 8 years is 2920 days. The average cost of my Latte is $4.88. That little number multiplied by 2920 is 14249.60. Which in currency is $14,294.60! Wow, 8 years from now I can go on a nice trip or something! Also, there is 36 grams of sugar in one Grande Soy no water no foam Tazo Chai Latte. Using the same numbers that is 105120 – 105120 grams of sugar that I have consumed over the past 8 years. How is it that I am not diabetic? I must admit I am looking forward to not having 36 grams of sugar a day, in a drink!

Still, my lover is gone. When I think back over the years I have so many memories. If this were a video flashback there would be scenes of me running, my hair blowing in the wind with a Chai in hand; me throwing my head back in laughter with a Chai in hand; sitting with friends deep in conversation with my Chai in front me, hands wrapped lovingly around it. The camera would pan around and you would see me laughing with all the Barista’s and sharing heart felt moments, like getting an oatmeal raisin cookie with my Chai or better still ordering a Venti. The music would reflect the love of all these scenes.

Then as the video montage came to a close you would see the evil backstabbing Starbucks Empire betraying me. In their fancy upscale boardroom, the Execs putting the final touches on their evil plan to pull the soy out from under me. You would hear that familiar evil laughter as their plan came to fruition (I can just see all the Execs in Seattle with their pinkie fingers in their mouths). The laughter would intensify as the new organic environmentally friendly packaged soymilk that tastes like vanilla syrup hits the stores. It would reverberate around me and as the camera started to spin and fly into the air you would be left with the visual of me, my head in my hands, broken Starbucks cups all around me and my torn cloth sleeve hanging from my finger tips. I would be crying and screaming why! Whhhhhhyyyyyy, as I fall to my knees! All those crazy Starbucks Execs would laugh even more and turn their backs, leaving me on the street standing in the cold, discarded like a pile of used coffee grinds. Whhhhyyyyyy!!!!


Postscript: If any of you know a detox Centre for caffeine and sugar withdrawal, please let me know. I am in for one serious crash!