It finally happened...

I received that sign from on high that, in fact, my relationship withStarbucks is not all in my head. There is something going on there. Today, my Starbucks cup spoke to me. No really. I swear. It was muffled at first, as it was obscured by one of those handy-dandy cardboard sleeves, but as I went to dispose of the cup and the sleeve fell away, I saw this imprinted on the side:

The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. On occasion, some may be correct. But do not do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enoughto say "yes."
-- Keith Olbermann, Broadcast journalist and host of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

Okay, so I had been hoping that our first opportunity for communication would be direct. But maybe Starbucks is shy and thus it feels it has to communicate with me through a proxy. A kind of Cyrano de Begerac type thing. Okay, I get it. But, Keith Olbermann? Really. When I think pithy words of wisdom, he is not exactly the first person who comes to mind. And, I have to say, I think it rather a stretch calling him a "broadcast journalist" even if it is only on the side of a cardboard coffee cup. But you know, communication is communication, so I was going with it.

But then, my eye scanned farther down the side of the cup and came upon this (in smaller font of course, the stenographic equivalent to muttering under one's breath, I suppose): "This is the author's opinion, not necessarily that of Starbucks."

So what does this mean: Starbucks does not believe I am "good enough"? That's not what they said in the early morning hours when I handedover my four bucks for a venti non-fat no-foam sugar-free hazelnut latte? Does Starbucks only like me for my money? So we are not "dating," but just "hanging out"? What gives?

Apparently, Starbucks is just not that into me.

However, it is being coy and trying to give me just enough to keep hanging on to the hope that there is something there. After its disclaimer of our relationship it states, in even smaller print, "To read more or respond, go to www.starbucks.com/wayiseeit."

Yeah, fat chance buddy. You gotta give me more than that - or at the very least 3 or 4 cocktails or very strong double espressos - before I am buying into the sincerity of that ploy.

And so, the cat and mouse game of the caffeine-fiend and her ubiquitous supplier continues.