halloween

so, for the first time since i was 12, i've decided that i'm going to dress up for halloween. now, it took me a while to figure something out, but i've finally settled on what i'm going to be. i decided to go the heritage route since lauren mentioned she was probably going to be a french maid. well, if we're going "sexy," i thought, might as well go all out and be sexy as well. i'm going to be the st. pauli girl.

oh, so i have two work stories. the first one involves a guy from chicago (in his 40s before anyone asks). we were having a slow day and i just happened to get to the register first when these two people come up to the counter. i take their orders and jennifer (my coworker) makes the drinks. meanwhile, the guy from chicago (i'll just call him chicago) starts teasing me and such. giving me a hard time about my job. that sort of thing. all in good humor. respond back in good humor and keep up a lively banter. hey, it's my job to sell and entertain, believe it or not. so he chats me up for a good 10 minutes (still no one's in line and jennifer is giving me strange looks from behind the expresso machine). he starts talking about actors and this girl he knows who likes romantic movies, dramas, comedies, girly movies. i was like, "what? no action?"

he shakes his head. "no. well, except for those bourne movies."

"ah, that's because it's matt damon and he's hot."

he finally takes his drink and sits down he turns to me and says, "that was quick. where are you from?"

i smile pleasantly and say, "atlanta."

he nodded definitively. "i can tell you're not from around here. you're wit's too quick. i tease anyone else and they get all flustered and insulted. you're great."

i was like... okay.... "have a great day!"

needless to say, my coworker was like "what was that all about?" can't really say much about that.

and the second story. i was alone behind the counter because my manager was messing around with the drink case and stock. it's probably early afternoon or close to that when an older lady wanders into the cafe. i watch her from where i am as she gazes absently at the menu then wanders around some more before approaching the counter. i greet her cheerfully and ask what i can get for her. she gives me the scrutinizing gaze before asking, "what's in your hot chocolate?"

now, that's an usual question. people usually ask that about the different coffee drinks but i reply, "it's our mocha and vanilla syrup and steamed milk."

she stares at me a moment longer before painstakingly asking, "can you make that cold?"

*blink* *blink* "so, you want chocolate milk?"

she huffs some and shakes her head. "no. now, the way you get the milk...hot is by steaming it?"

"yes, ma'am."

"i don't want it hot."

*soft sigh* "you want chocolate milk?" she shakes her head. "do you want one of our cold drink? we can ice any of our expresso drinks. we also have ice tea and frap--"

"no no. i'll just get an iced coffee out of here."

she walks down to the drink case completely ignoring me when i tell her that we don't have iced coffee in the drink case but i have some behind the counter. of course, she gets annoyed that we don't have any of the starbucks drinks in our drink case (hello, we're a barnes&noble) and announces that she's just going to get the 500ml bottle of water and walks away. i'm like okay, you could check out here but go right ahead to the registers in front and wait in line. my manager comes up to the counter while i'm still puzzling over what happened and raises her eyebrow, "what was that?"

so i had to explain the whole thing over again. right when i finish, one of the ladies from the front registers comes hurrying by with a 500ml bottle of water. my manager and i exchange glances and laugh.