Newport Beach

Today, we went to Newport Beach and rented a boat to go around Balboa Island. Dad packed salami and cheese and crackers with drinks for the trip. We kept getting mad at Holden because he was catching seaweed. It was a great trip. I am writing this from Starbucks, Dad's favorite.

Riley from Dustin's Droid

Holden #9

Here's a good picture of Holden taken by another parent.

Don't forget to watch his team's YouTube channel here. Holden is #9 in the green game jersey and #14 in the white practice jersey.

Johnny Bravo

Jisselle says I am Johnny Bravo. I think she is referring to my top-heaviness, but I am taking it as a compliment because she smiles when she calls me Johnny Bravo. I like it.

Commenting Enabled

I just enabled commenting on this blog by anyone. Commenting was allowed before but you had to register, which is a pain for people who don't already have a Gmail account. Now you can comment on any post and it will appear almost immediately.

Starbucks Refill Policy Problems

This has never happened to me before and I am flabbergasted.

At least twice a day I go to Starbucks and get the same Tall coffee. I usually end up getting a free refill, too, which is part of my benefits of being on the Gold Card program. If I know I can't stay, I order a Venti.

Today I went to a Starbucks that I've been to before but is not my regular Starbucks. At 8:40am, I ordered my coffee, got a receipt, looked around for a seat, found none, and stepped outside. I drank my coffee while I made a couple calls, went back inside and got in line to get my refill at 9:00am. The manager said that the refill policy is for in-store refills only. I told her I was on the patio and offered to show her my receipt which said 8:40am. I'm sure they get people trying to get a refill from hours ago or days ago, so I have no problem showing her my receipt. She didn't need to see my receipt but said that since I went outside, I wasn't entitled to get a refill. She says the policy is the same at all Starbucks.

Of course, I know this isn't true because I do this twice a day, like I said before. I rarely stay inside the store as I prefer to make my calls outside. I called Starbucks Customer Service from inside the store and explained the situation. The rep checked with a senior rep for a few minutes and then offered to call the store to find out why I didn't get a refill. The store manager said that I went outside and that it's her policy to not offer refills to people that go outside. She also said her store doesn't have a patio. It just so happens that this store is next to a Borders under construction so that have temporarily removed the chairs, but it is still a patio. You can see the umbrella stands in front of the store on the attached picture. Even so, I never left the front of the store.

The rep came back on the line with me and said that there is nothing he can do. The store manager can have her own personal refill policy for her store. I am really confused now because I thought the purpose a a published refill policy was to standardize across all stores. The policy is "You must use your registered Starbucks Card to purchase a hot or iced brewed coffee or tea and then present that same card for the refill during the same visit. Offer valid at participating U.S. stores and is subject to change."

I asked, "Since each store can set their own policy, I need to ask when I order my coffee what their store's policy is about refills?" He said that would be a good idea.

He took my address and phone and said the District Manager would call me but I haven't received a call yet.

What has happened to this Starbucks? I usually get above average service at any Starbucks.

UPDATE: I copied my favorite consumer-oriented web site Consumerist with my story and they posted a version of it here. Read the funny comments. 

Riley's Birthday Party

Each child gets a big party when they reach an age divisible by 3. Since Riley turned 9, she got to have whatever she wants. She asked for a pool party with unlimited friends.

Lots of people came. I made too much food but that allowed me to send care packages home with people. I did run out of wine. Riley got a great doll house from Jisselle and a Kindle from me. Many of her other presents pertain to these two gifts.

Riley had a permament smile on her face all day which made all the work and expense worthwhile.

Dustin from his Droid

9 Year Anniversary of Attack Against American Freedom

If Riley just turned 9, that means it's the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the USA. I don't need to comment much about this except to say I am at a park watching my son play American Football with other Americans of all different colors and religions, and life is good.

Dustin from his Droid

Watch "Holden stole the bacon!" on YouTube

Holden's team had a good practice. They started and finished with enthusiasm. As a reward, the coach let them play Steal the Bacon. The players are divided into two teams and one player from each team is called to try to steal the bacon. Sometimes Holden gets creamed, and other times he does better. Tonight he did great. I caught it on video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=E-huwm-ovc0

Dustin from his Droid