why i will think twice about visiting starbucks ever again

so, i walked into starbucks, and there were three baristas behind the higher part of the counter where the muffins & breads are so proudly displayed in a glass cabinet. they were mr pretender & the two little pigs. the two little pigs were not facing the registers, but mr pretender was facing them enough so that he could see i had walked up. he pointedly pretended not to see me. so i just stood there quietly. eventually, another barista stepped in to help from the drive thru station and started to take my order. seeing her actions, mr pretender was all like oh, a customer has come to the starbucks, perhaps i should act.

so, mr pretender took over the transaction, and as i ordered, the two little pigs behind the snack cabinet sort of turned, and i could see what they were doing. they were eating. eating snacks from the glass case. from the case with their bare hands. oh, you heard me -- they were taking food from the case with their bare hands and putting it in their germy, wet, sticky mouths. hands touching mouths touching hands touching food touching mouths. oh, ick-ick-ick!!

so, i said to mr pretender - "maybe a barista who is not putting her hands in her mouth can fix my drink." they all look at me. i look at them. they look at me. i look at them.

miss steps-in-to-help fixed my drink.

starbucks is expensive. i expect a modicum of congeniality and a maximum of cleanliness. i can get cheap, rude, dirty coffee at the gas station.