A confession

I'm a corporate sellout!!!!

(sigh)

Last week, a Starbucks opened on post. And I'm thrilled.

Now why am I so upset, do you ask? Well, I honestly don't like Starbucks coffee (too strong, maybe?), but I do like their seasonal lattes and the blended drinks. However, if I'm in an area where there are independent coffee shops, I prefer to patronize those instead. At college, we had Aroma's in Merchant's Square (delightfully right next door to where I worked!!). In SC, my apartment complex was right across the road from one which had a DELICIOUS chai latte. And then in VB, well... it's a bigger city (even bigger if you count the whole Hampton Roads metropolitan area) so there are plenty of anti-Starbucks options. So, in those places which had civilization, I could have my mocha frappacino without feeling like I was supporting Evil Corporate Empire.

However, I now live where there is no civilization. In fact, in the tiny post I live on, we actually do not even have any restaurants other than fast food, and not even many of those. At the moment, we have a Burger King, a Popeye's, a pizza place, a food court at the PX of 3 places (Baskin Robbins, pizza, sandwich), and Reggie's, which is kinda at the lower end of the Applebee's-Friday's-Ruby Tuesday's genre. Ooh, I almost forgot the sandwich counter at the bowling alley (more greasy fried stuff). See a lot of variety there? Thought not. We would have a Taco Bell, a take-out Chinese place and an Einstein Bros. Bagels, except they discovered roof damage in the building those three were in, and it's now closed awaiting repairs. Frustrating think is, the damage was discovered back about May, and it'll be March before the building's open again. Don't understand why Vegas can build 100-story hotels in the same amount of time it takes the Army to repair a small 1 story building. Lovely paperwork, I suppose :\

Anyhoo, as a result of our lovely array of dining options, I was actually very excited about Starbucks opening. Especially since it's only about a block from where I work (course, most things on post are about a block from where I work - not a big place). Doesn't make me feel any less of a corporate sell-out, but at least I have one more option if I want to grab lunch somewhere.

Still don't like their coffee, though.

Y'know, ironically, I do not have the same issues with 7-11 as I do with Starbucks, despite growing up in an area where there is a 7-11 literally about every 3 blocks. I've actually missed it the last few years (backwater SC did not a single 7-11 in the entire Upstate - very depressing). I guess you can always get other blended coffee drinks, but no one can duplicate the Slurpee!