The Secret of the Swinging Door

I've been waiting nearly an hour - doing other things mind you - I can multi-task with the best of them - for something post-worthy to happen inside this Starbucks.

I got bupkiss.

Frankly, the most exciting thing to happen so far is a Monty Hall type choice of these three, all of which would result in a goat nibbling on a patch of grass:

1) a barista using a vacuum cleaner to suck the crumbs out of the pastry case. I know. I know. Cue the seventy-six trombones and ready the ticker-tape parade.
2) some random hooker-looker girl with the absolute worst bleach job I've ever seen and the tightest pair of blue jeans this side of Vegas wandering in off the street and asking "What time ya'll close?" That was it though. Nothing else - and she promptly left. Maybe she was setting up out on the patio next to the Quizno's.
3) some random old people who ordered two espressos and decided to plop down on the couch next to me even though the ENTIRE rest of the restaurant was empty and proceed to call the grandkids and yammer on about how great the vacation was going. And they're wearing long-sleeved shirts and jackets - in September - in Florida.

I've decided the real excitement is the fact that I've watched four baristas do the knockabout clowns and quick-change comedians act for the past two hours. They've laughed and joked and thrown things and occasionally cleaned. One even did the aforementioned vacuuming.

They even served a half-dozen customers.

Most of the time was spent in the back room - where there must be something mighty good going on - and they SERIOUSLY must trust the people in here not to steal - because honestly, they disappear back there for looooooooong stretches of time.

Also, the music at this Starbucks is turned down really low. I can barely hear the Muzak - and it is usually blasting the doors off the place at most other stores.

This whole little escapade is really funny. There are two men and two women on duty. The two guys sit in the back and send the women out to wait on customers - I *know* there's a sensor every time someone hits the drive-thru - I can hear it; I'm guessing there's one every time someone hits the front door, although I can't hear that one. Maybe it is just the "whoosh" of air pressure.

And now that they're finished with the latest customers, BACK to the back the women go. I'm dying to know what's back there - gold? rubies? gems? the secret to making the perfect Frappuccino®? enough coffee filters to diaper the world's babies eight times over? a solid platinum and Swarovski encrusted espresso machine? WHAT? I MUST KNOW THE TRUTH BEHIND THE SWINGING DOOR!

And that's enough for one night. I'm veering into silliness. I really don't think they were doing anything nefarious - just not actually "working." I had a drink - really didn't care though.