I walked into a Starbucks in Dupont Circle this morning, something I really try to avoid in an effort to support local establishments, but today I had no choice. I ordered an iced grande mocha - my compromise between just a straight cup of joe (healthier) and an iced mocha frappucino (tastier).

I found a table, with a spare newspaper on it no less, and went to the counter to wait for my drink to be announced - the upscale version of standing at the butcher counter if you think about it. “Iced Grande Mocha” the barrista announced. As soon as I made a move to pick up my drink, it was whisked off the counter by a gentleman in a tie. What the hell? That was MY iced grande mocha. Hands OFF punk. He looked at me and turned away.

I turned to the barrista and asked if she had another iced grande mocha back there somewhere. She said no, but she could make me one. As I turned around, the dude in the tie was TAKING THE SPARE NEWSPAPER, WTF. Luckily I had managed to grab one section - the business section though…boring

Moral of the story, if you are wearing a tie, you can have anything you want at Starbucks.