LOCKED AND LOADED AT 7TH AND MONTANA ...!

                             

It's that time of year at 7th and Montana.  Spring is in full bloom, cool ocean breezes waft through the neighborhood, the birds and the bees are up to their old tricks ... and the Hot Chocolate is flying everywhere.  Yes, you heard me right:  Hot Chocolate is in the air at Our Favorite Starbucks.  Apparently, after weeks of trying unsuccessfully to get someone to buy him a cup of coffee, the Jittery Nutcase -- long known for his "aggressive panhandling techniques" -- hit paydirt yesterday when someone bought him a Grande Hot Chocolate.  How did he respond?  By throwing it all over the place, of course.  According to eyewitnesses, he marched right up to Bicyclist Greg, threw the Hot Chocolate at him and yelled, "Shut Your Mouth!"  Greg -- who hadn't uttered a word to begin with -- was speechless as the Hot Chocolate splattered his new Bike Suit, worked its way into Genevieve's Jacket and went flying all over the surface of the chair, table and sidewalk.  "We all got free drink tickets from Starbucks," said Kathy, gleefully, "But it happened so fast no one got pictures."  As for me, I'm not taking any chances.  I supplemented my usual Starbucks order this morning with a Hot Chocolate.  "I know you," said Barista Robb as he handed me the Hot Chocolate, "You're up to no good."  "A man's got to defend himself," I responded, "I'm Locked and Loaded ...!"