Coffee & Unicorns
Clare and I are addicted to coffee. It’s not something that’s happened since moving to LA. We were both helpless caffeine junkies long before we ever met each other. My love for a quality cuppa developed while living in Sydney. Did you know Australians make the best coffee in the world? FACT. Baristas in Australia are considered craftsmen and artistes. If a cafe serves up a dodgy brew then it’ll close within the week. That’s how stiff the competition is down under. Not so here and not so in the UK, where any teenager (preferably spotty) is let loose on a coffee machine. That said, I always manage to track down a half way decent coffee house somewhere (I miss you Taylor St Baristas… best coffee in London).
My haunt of choice in LA is Peets Coffee. It’s by no means the finished article. But as far as chains go it’s an enjoyable diversion. The others… Starbucks and Coffee Bean… make (in my humble opinion) undrinkable burnt milk drinks. I really don’t understand why anyone frequents either one. Furthermore, I find it hard to like or respect anyone who drinks the hot piss they serve up. They must have been lobotomised in a previous life. Simple as that.
Anyway I digress…
The reason I mention coffee is that we have become regulars at our local Peets. I’m in there most days with T. We pop in on the way to the playground. I have a small, low-fat Latte. T always chooses one of the following: Apple Juice, Orange Juice or a Strawberry and Banana smoothie. Most of the people who work there know us and it has certainly helped me feel part of the community. One girl who works there (lets call her N) has become very friendly with T.
I guess N’s in her early twenties. She’s from the East Coast, which is where all her family and friends remain, and like most people in LA is here to chase her dreams. She’s incredibly sweet with T and her face lights up when she sees her. I’d mentioned that T turns three this Friday and when I popped in with T this morning N started jumping up and down with excitement. She’d only gone and made T a birthday card. It was a picture of a unicorn. Very touching.
Making small talk I told her that T loves unicorns (not an outright lie but she’s not insane for them). N’s response was startling. “I love unicorns too,” she replied excitedly. Her eyes bulging. “I draw them all the time.” By this point I started wondering if N is a mental? What ‘normal’ twenty-something has a unicorn obsession? It can’t be healthy. As I chewed over these thoughts N’s weirdness continued:
“They’re like my favourite thing in the world. I’m so glad T loves them too. We have so much in common. Why is it that only kids love unicorns? More people should be into unicorns. They’re special. Do you like unicorns?”
I told her that I love unicorns, smiled and made a hasty retreat.
It’s a shame I love my local Peets. It’s also great for star spotting. Only the other Sunday I saw Matt Dillon. He hated me for two reasons:
1) When a table outside became free I beat him to it. If looks could kill.
2) He heard me say to my mate Rich, “Isn’t that Drama from Entourage?” NB: Drama from Entourage is played by his less famous brother Kevin.
