MS. HAZELNUT: FRIEND OR FOE ...?!?

                             

All Hell broke loose this morning at 7th and Montana as a mysterious newcomer -- known among insiders as "Ms. Hazelnut" -- arrived on the scene intent on Raising a Ruckus.  The fun began when she shoved a dirty mug at Barista Rob and told him to clean it for her.  When he politely asked whether she might want it filled with anything, she evidently exploded -- throwing an irrational temper tantrum for all to hear -- before finally ordering a frilly Hazelnut concoction.  The incident bothers me on a number of levels ... not only because the last thing Ms. Hazelnut needed was more caffeine, but -- more importantly -- because she disrupted the sense of Community at 7th and Montana.  Our Favorite Starbucks is like a real-life "Cheers," a place where "everyone knows your name" and people generally try to treat one another with mutual respect.  Fortunately, Ms. Hazelnut is not a "regular" customer.  Then, again, maybe that's her problem:  Perhaps she's "irregular."