July 26

I awoke once again with just enough light to photograph Deerwood Plaza, and then made the drive out to a couple of stores on Atlantic, one new one, and one I had visited during my first trip through Jacksonville. Then over to Windsor Commons for a photo, and to say hi to Amy. But the store was slammed with a morning rush, so I had to wait a bit for her to notice me, and then she didn't have much time to chat because of the long line of customers.

I headed to Kinkos to pick up my batteries and check my e-mail, then towards the heard of Jacksonville to visit a few stores, where I got pretty enthusiastic responses to my project. But Brenda the manager at Lakewood Plaza took the cake. Now, what's funny, as I would realize later, is that Lakewood Park I had already visited back in 2000, but mislabeled it as San Marco ave. Then I was rushed and it was dark and raining, so I didn't recognize it. Which is good, because Brenda really hooked me up, with coffee and a pastry and goodies. She also talked me up to the customer's, including the mother of a another partner. This lady works as a librarian at a local school and invited me to come speak to the children the next time I passed through town.

At the next store, Beach and University, the manager was expecting me because Brenda had called, so I got a warm reception, and a baseball cap to boot, for my cousin in Atlanta.

Then at San Marco I was totally puzzled because of the mislabeling, but eventually I sorted things out.

Then at Jacksonville Landing things really got interesting. The partner on duty didn't seem all that enthusiastic about my project, asking who commissioned me to do this, but another partner in back noticed and asked if I was the guy, and said that the news had just called for me. He called them back, and then headed over to the store. I rushed back to the car to put more money in the meter, and when I returned, a photographer (video) was already there to interview me for the news later that evening. How exciting! It seems that an anchor had seen the article and talked to the manager at Lakewood, and had decided to have me tracked down. The tracked me from store to store, just missing me, and finally got ahold me me at Jacksonville Landing for the story, which aired later that evening, but I have not yet seen.

I stopped at Kinkos to check my own web site and figure out which store I had visited those two years ago, the Lakewood Plaza store. Can't believe I made that mistake, but moreover, that Amy from Windsor Commons had also gotten it wrong when she e-mailed me. Oh, well, it worked out.

Next to Riverside, where one of the partners from Deerwood Plaza was working, so I didn't have to give my spiel.

Next I found my wake to Roosevelt Ave to reshoot the store, grabbed some Chick-fil-a and a soda, and then onto the final Florida store (until next week), in Orange Park, where they had already received a call from the new station.

Finally, around 2:30, I was able to head up and out of Florida, towards Savannah. On the way, I got a call from a guy who writes from Southwest Airlines Spirit magazine, but the reception was poor, so he just waited until I reached Savannah to call again.

On the way to Savannah I was feeling tired and decided to nap, but when I pulled into the rest area I was beaten to the restroom by three busloads of tourists. Rather than wait, I just drove on.

One thing to point out is that the three busloads of people were all of the same race, which really bugged me. It didn't matter what race it was, but to see so many Americans of the same "race" together is a glaring example of the tribalism that still pervades our human society.

At the Montgomery Crossroads store I do the interview for Spirit, and I guess the partner on duty didn't have enough time to absorb the scope of my project, because she became the fourth to refuse me free coffee, and I burned a coupon on a venti latte for the calories (dinner).

The guys at the other store, Twelve Oaks, were much cooler and intersted. Then I reshot Bull and Broughton, gased up at El Cheapo, which lived up to its name with a restroom lacking running water, and then took a beautiful long spanning bridge on US-17 north.

I made it to Bluffton in short order, but then the sky broke on the way to Hilton Head and it rained like a mutha... Still, I made it to the Island Crossing store, just in time receive a call from Dave back in Plano who wanted to know if I knew anyone in Chicago that could help his two underage friends rent a room at the Travelodge. I managed to get ahold of my aunt, and she was going to help, but I guess they figured it out.

The store was swamped, though, so I had to wait a while until the manager finally just went ahead and asked me what drink I wanted, and I was on my way, to Charleston.

Some guy at a gas station I asked for the best route insisted I should go back out to I-95, and that I should waste my money on the toll for the Cross Island Expressway, but I took the long way around and took the state road 170 to US-21 to US-17 instead, without any problems. About 40 miles shy of Charleston I rested at gas station for a while, 'til about 2:00, then drove into town and found the Kinko's. Then checked out the stores in town for opportunities for night photos, but no good, so I parked outside South Windermere (where I did get a good night shot) until morning.


July 27

Up at 7:00 and visit the few newest stores in Charleston. Cross the bridge to Mount Pleasant and wait a long time at Houston Northcutt for my free coffee because of the rush, but I gotta do it to stay on budget. At Belle Hall I am recognized and hooked up a doubleshot and pastry, which, along with some fruit (from the grocery store), tides me over until the Flying Biscuit in Atlanta.

US-17 to SC 64 to US-278 to I-20 in Augusta, a smooth ride, and then on into Georgia where I catch a few winks at the welcome center, with the A/C blasting. Touch base with cousin about meeting later that day.

When I resume driving I call about 10 stores to try and get info on a store listed in Stonecrest Mall in Lithonia, but the manager I found is not certain. So I have to stop anyway. At the finaly rest area before reaching Atlanta I kick myself for not having shaved earlier, because at this one one of the bathrooms is locked, and int he other one only one sink is active, and I don't want to hog it with all these people around.

At Stonecrest I discover it's, as I suspected, a business alliance, but I'm pleased to discover the manager had heard me on 99x.

As soon as I started heading west again I run into almost stopped traffic, and pull out my map and desperately try to come up with an alternative. I get off and see if I can work my way around to Peachtree City, but the exit must have been wrong. So drive a long way and finally see signs for I-285 and head there, and head back up to I-20 to see how traffic is. The backup ends just at the Perimiter, so I get back on and head to the Flying Biscut Cafe for a hearty meal!

Then I visit the only new store inside the Perimeter, on North Druid Hills and Lavista, and then head up to Acworth to visit my cousin.

We chat a bit and catch up, then I take a nap until he knocks on my door around 11:00. We go to a birthday party where I get MEAT and some cake. Free food!!!

After a couple of hours there I head back and crash hard.


July 28

So I'm leaving this topless club, or maybe an adult bookstore, and then girl at the register is cute. Later, just before 2:00 AM, she calls me up and explains that in about 20 minutes her father would be going out of town, and that house would be empty and she wants to throw a party. She's been calling all her friends, though, and everyone is too tired. So I'm thinking that the two of us could have our own private party, and then we get disconnected. Then I'm back on the phone with her, and about to get directions or plans to meet her or something, when... I wake up. And it's light outside and the clock reads 6:48 and I need to get on my way to the first Starbucks of the morning. I love my Starbucks project, but damn, did I want to finish that dream.

I head out all the way around state road 92 from US-41, where my cousin lives, round and round, until finally I reach the first store at state road 9 and Windward parkway, pretty far north out of Atlanta. The manager there has heard of me, and is really excited, and has me take a photo, and even gives me some filters which I later give to my cousin.

On the way to the next store, down 400, I spot soooo many copes, 4 in a 1/2 mile stretch, and then later one catches up to traffic and passes, then later two more. A customer at the mext store explains it a speed trap. No shit. But on a Sunday morning? Catch all those people rushing to church, perhaps?

Anyway, the manager at Abernathy Square recognizes me too and tells me some useful info about the Knoxville market, coming soon.

Then Peachtree Industrial and Howell Ferry, and then Sugarload Expressway, where I run into my first non-partners who want a photo with me. They heard me on 99x and were really excited. Said they would go to web site and donate. Partner also wants photo.

So by the time I'm done I've spent a lot more time than expected, but fortunately I can get a spot at the counter right away when I finally make it down to the midtown Flying Biscuit Cafe, packed on a Sunday morning of course.

And then I think I might have put my foot in it. The previous day at the other location the waitress, Kristen, when I asked about Misty, a waitress I met when I worked in Atlanta, said Misty would be leaving the midtown location soon. So she's not working on Sunday, and then lady at the register is telling me her schedule or something when I mention that I'll miss saying hi to her because she'll be gone when I return to Atlanta. But they didn't know she was quitting. Damn, I felt bad.

I get a call from my other cousin Francisco who just got my message. Going to church, but maybe we'll hook up later.

I head down to Peachtree City, where they had also heard of me and take a photo, and I chat with a customer a while, and finally I'm done with Georgia.

Head back up to Acworth and stop at Wal-Mart to load up a gift card my cousin gave me so I could buy gas at a 3 cent discount. Good deal. Glad I found out about it early on my trip.

Back at my cousin's my other cousin Raul is there and we rap while I start processing my photos.

My cousin's and friends go swimming and I take much-needed nap. Then get up and continue working on web site for a while.

Then I head over to Francisco and Raul's and Raul shows me a bunch of his comics and gives me quite a few. Francisco gets home and we catch up and then I'm back to the other house to continue working on web site until I can't think anymore.


July 29

I get up around 7:30 feeling like I haven't slept enough but needing to get my web site uploaded, which I'm almost done with.

Make some eggs and toast to get fed for the road. And in about an hour I'll be off, towards Charlotte.

On the way out of Atlanta I have to stop at the Sugarloaf Pkwy store and pick up the article and folder I left. I have more copies of the article, but I had Jim Alling's (one of the VPs) business card taped to the folder. Then I detour to Athens to reshoot the store there and have lunch at Weaver D's. I also take the time to go inside the Starbucks and see what's new.

Rob from the Travel Channel calls to explain that Starbucks can't official endorse my project during the story, but they will cooperate by talking about the original store and allowing a tour of the testing facility. I wasn't expecting an endorsement. I can think of reasons why they might be concerned about their image, especially when a rogue like me is concerned.

I hit Charlotte during the rush hour, but I happen to head mostly in the opposite direction of traffic so I don't lose too much time. Lori from the Carolina Place Mall store is highly enthusiastic about my project. At the Gateway Village store the two baristas take a photo with me. By the time I'm finished there traffic is clear up to Huntersville.

On the way to Winston-Salem I call my cousin Matthew in King, but he is away at band camp this week, doing who-knows-what with a flute, so I won't get to visit him. Had I known that he would be leaving, I might have forgone updating my web site last night and instead stopped to visit him, updating my site there, but you know kids, never thinking ahead. I also call my aunt Martha in Bethesda and plan for dinner Tuesday or Wednesday night.

Also on the way to Winston-Salem, I personally witness my odometer roll over from 999.9, something I had never seen in the five years I've had the car.

At the Winston-Salem store, I meet the first partner that recognizes me from my "Early Show" appearance.

I spend more time = money than I'd like at Kinko's looking through job listings.

YUCK!!! At the suggestion of April in DFW, I try a bean burrito from Taco Bell. This is the first time I can remember eating at Taco Bell in my adult life. It wasn't tasty. I felt so dirty.

Rather than taking I-40 to Wilmington, I take US-220/I-73/I-74 south instead to see something different, and quickly tire out and stop at some gas station parking lot, where a cop pulls in and runs my ID and suggests I move to an open gas station, for my safety. Something about break-ins in the area. So I drive south to Asheboro and park in front of some building across the street from a highway patrol station, figuring no one stupid enough to try and jack me there.


July 30

I get up a little later, maybe around 7:00, and continue on to Wilmington. I realize I don't have the map or address of the store, so I call some NC locations, but the only help I get is to head towards Wrightsville Beach.

On US-74 I saw something I'd seen in movies and on TV, but never in real life. Traffic was slow due to construction, and passed in front of houses, and a couple of kids were standing on chairs making the horn-blowing signals at the truck drivers, and the one in front of me obliged them.

Into Wilmington I drive over the Cape Fear river and wonder if it's the same as the movie.

I ask around about Starbucks, but no one knows for sure, and then head towards Wrightsville Beach and some guy says there is one in Independece Mall. But I spot a Kinko's, which was not listed in Kinko's directory which needs to be updated. At Kinko's I discover there are actually three locations in Wilmington, and I'm shocked! And relieved that I was not going to miss them. The mall first where the girl has heard of me, then College Street, where the barista has come over from Britain and read about me in the Guardian, of all places, and then a bit of wandering around looking for the Landfall store. The UK barista tells me that stores are closing in England, which makes me anxious to get over there to visit stores before they close.

I take US-17 north to Virginia Beach. On the way grab some take-out at the Trent Restaurant in Pollocksville. I almost forgot about getting take-out to save money, and so I put on my pants--I mean I changed from my shorts to my pants--before entering and actually felt a burning pain from a bolt on the inside on my jeans, that had gotten hot enough from the sun to hurt.

Speaking of pants, further down the road at the service station where I stopped to brush and wash the chicken grease off my hands the sign on the door specified that shirts, shoes were required... and pants must be on.

I rolled into the Kemps River II store in Virginia Beach where I got directions to the Red Mill store. At the Lynnhaven Mall store I see an ad for a cart that moves around the boardwalk, but it's only open from the morning until it gets hot, so I'm going to miss it.

Get another call from the Travel Channel to pick a location of a really cool Starbucks to visit, and Unionville outside Toronto looks like a good bet.

Make plans to lunch with cousins in Reston tomorrow.

I reshoot the Shore Drive store but run out of light to reshoot the Newport News stores.

I have trouble finding the new Williamsburg store, because the Streets and Trips map doesn't show that Monticello Ave extends past Ironbound, and the barista on the phone is really short with me. Worse, when I find the store and explain myself to the other barista, she is willing to hook me up with coffee, but as I'm sugaring the other girl calls me over to ring me up. When I ask for the 10 cent coffee discount she argues that I didn't bring the cup in, but fortunately the other partner had seen me.

I head over to Kinkos to search job listings and then go back to Starbucks to wait for ladies in front to leave and move truck so I can get my photo. After the staff takes in the table, the ladies still don't leave, but go sit on a bench. Finally I ask them if then can move the truck so I can get my photo. That same partner that wasn't so pleasant to me, I see her stopped in the parking lot right before exiting to the street, for a while, and I think nothing of it. But later as I'm leaving I see a police car roll through the parking lot, and now, as I'm writing this, I'm wondering if that's what she was doing, calling the police.

I wanted to reach Charlottesville and see if I could take a night photo of the first store, but I totally poop out at the rest area past Richmond. When I get up around 6:30, I drive only a few exits before I start having trouble seeing and poop out again at an Exxon station.


July 31

I roll into Charlottesville later than I expected, and during the morning rush, so I have to wait a bit to speak to the manager, but he's heard of my project and is very friendly.

Then I screw up and take US-29 north towarards Washington DC, and then east on SR-3 towards Fredericksburg. On the way I realize that I could have taken another highway, 20 I think and saved a few miles.

After the Dale City store, I get a call from my cousin who cancels lunch plans, so I go into Safeway for some yogurt and fruit. At the register, waiting for it to reboot, I realize that it has been close to 24 hrs since I last ate, and so I decide to go for it. For the next three hours I think of almost nothing but food, which is unusually for a guy who thinks of almost nothing but Starbucks and girls.

Rocky and Sue from a station in Wilkes-Barre, PA, call about having me on the show, and even in the studio since it's not too far from Philly.

I visit two new Fairfax store then a new Arlington one. I almost get rear-ended in Fairfax while stopd at an intersection with no signal or stop sign.

Then I head down towards Lexington Park, to a town called California, MD. The manager is incredulous about my project and even begins to protest when I mention the photograph. But then the assistant manager comes out, and she has heard of me, and she is very friendly, and so the manager warms up, and, after asking me many questions, gives me coffee and a pastry, for it has now been over 24 hrs since I ate, something I don't believe I'd ever done before!

The assistant manager told me to return to DC via Route 4, which turns out to be faster, and cooler because of the bridge that offers some breaktaking views. It doesn't take me the two hours she says, so I stop in downtown DC and visit one store. Then head up Wisconsin to visit the National Zoo store, not realizing it's on Connecticut actually, In the process of getting over I get lost and lose a lot of time, and what's worse I can't park anywhere near the National Zoo store, so I wasted all that time for nothing, and end up arriving late at my aunt's in Bethesda for dinner. On, and I got rear-ended by some girl on Connecticut, but fortunately only scratches so I tell her to forget about it.

My cousins show up so I get to the see them, but not my cousin Gustavo who had a car problem.

I get the Zip drive installed on my uncle's computer, but the CompactFlash reader doesn't work so I'll have to go to Kinko's anyway to transfer the photos. But tomorrow. For I'm totally tired.

Take a much needed shower and crash hard.


August 1

The sunlight through the window of my uncle's office wakes me around 6:10. My aunt and uncle are both awake, he getting ready for work. I simply have some juice, grab a banana, and rush out out the door and down to DC to reshoot a couple of stores and then visit the National Zoo store, where I narrowly avoid being ticketed for parking on Connecticut just after 7:00 AM. Ended up having to move the car a few blocks away and give myself 12 minutes on the parking meter, so I rushed back to the store end patiently awaited for the manager to be free so I could give her my spiel. I spilled a bit of the coffee as I rushed back to the car with no time to spare. It was easier to park near the new store on Wisconsin just outside the DC boundary.

Then I had to decide whether to head straight downtown to visit the 1700 Pennsylvania kiosk, but I killed some time first by offloading my photos to a Zip at Kinko's, since I could not get the CompactFlash reader to work on my uncle's computer. Fortunately I didn't burn too many minutes. Then I hunkered up and braved the awful rush hour traffic to the kiosk and parked in a spot around the block, with doubts about whether it was legal. It wasn't, but fortunately I had just rushed into the location that operated the kiosk, 1730 Pennsylvania, and given my article to the manager, and then rushed back in ti,me to avoid a ticket. I moved the car a few blocks down, gave myself 28 minutes on the meter this time, and rushed back to the store, where the manager was waiting to talk to me, pretty enthusiastic about the project, with plenty of questions.

I got back to the car just in time and made my way back to my aunt's for some breakfast, and then I spent the next few hours updating my web site and looking through job postings.

During that time I received a major disappointment, a call from Rob at the Travel Channel reporting that the network had decided the Starbucks piece didn't fit into their show on the world's greatest fast food destinations and canceled the spot. I sure wish I hadn't told everyone about it. I must have jinxed myself.

But earlier a radio station from Memphis had called to schedule an interview for the next day, so the disappointment was muted by the knowledge that the publicity keeps coming.

Finally at 4:00 I had finished everything and rushed out of my aunt's worried about rush hour. The next store to visit was just up the road, and then to Germantown to reshoot a store the photo for which disappeared mysteriously. I had to flag a county police officer down for directions, though, as I couldn't find Frederick Rd, which turned out to be a major route. Then I took SR-27 to I-70 and over to Ellicot City and then Columbia. By that time it was past 6:00 PM, and I didn't hit too much traffic around the 695 towards Delaware, avoiding the tolls. Except that near the DE border there was a toll bridge, and I must have missed the sign alerting me to it, so I wasted $4. But I did get off the interstate before crossing into DE and took SR-2 into Newark rather than pay the toll again. The Newark store was great, with the best ceiling I'd seen so far. Then I got lost on the way to the Wilmington store, but I found my way, though not in time to avoid having to shoot in the dark. The two partners there were really thrilled to get a photo with me, which I had to work at to set up with the tripod and timer.

Finally I headed up to Philly to visit my friend myself, rolling through town first to check out the Center Square store that I needed to visit in the morning.

Michelle fed me some pretty good pasta, thus further extending my time without buying food to a day and a half, probably more than that to come.

Pretty tired, so after chatting and meeting her roommates, we crashed.


August 1st (again)

I wake up with the sun on my face at 6:10 and my aunt and uncle breakfasting. Just grab juice and banana and rush downtown to reshoot M Street and International Square, then visit the National Zoo location, where I am almost ticketed, and then one in Chevy Chase. Then I transfer photos at Kinko's and head down to the 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue kiosk location, where I almost get ticketed again as I park in the wrong place to rush into the 1730 Pennsylvania store, the home location for the kiosk, and give my article to the manager, and then rush back to avoid getting ticketed and park further down, proper. The manager when I returns sits down to talk to me and gets a kick out of my project.

I head back to Bethesda for some breakfast and spend hours on my web site and searching for jobs.