I have finally joined the 21st century and have discovered Starbucks. I am not a coffee or tea drinker and I can't have sugar, so I thought I had the whole Starbuck's-Junkie thing beat. And then I went to Hawaii with my boss's sister. Yes, I must give her full credit. She introduced me to the MOCHA LIGHT FRAPPACINO! Yum! The first day she had me try one, I was so hooked, I had two! Then when I tried to go to bed that night, I also found that I had discovered the effects of too much caffeine! Needless to say, she created a monster. Every day, the moment she was awake, I was there - wide eyed and drooling, waiting for the cruise ship to dock so we could venture out and find the nearest Starbucks. What did I do in Kauai? Went to Starbucks? Maui? The big Island? You guessed it! Starbucks. Ok, so I did do other things while in Hawaii, but you get the picture. Man, I loved Hawaii!

The morning I typed up this article, I called one of the local Starbucks and Miguel was very wonderful (and patient with me). First I asked him what the worst drink he ever made was. His reply? "Three fits decaf, two pumps sugarfree vanilla, three pumps sugarfree hazel nut, half nonfat milk, half soy milk, 185 degrees, light whip Latte." Yes, this was all in one drink at the same time. Miguel admitted he tasted this later and it was by far the most disgusting thing he has ever tasted. I don't think I would have had to taste it to know that. Yuck! Miguel then told me about a Café Laet Misto. (Long Pause). Um, can you spell that please? My initial notes while he was talking resembled something my seven year old would write. Café Olay Meesto. Ok, so I got the Café part right. Miguel quickly corrected me. My next question was, "And what is that in English?" Apparently it's the same thing as a "Café Con Leche". I get it. But why not just call it Café Con Leche? Being the non-coffee-connoisseur, I asked Miguel what a Macciado was. He laughed and said, "That's a whole 'nother story. It's shots naked with foam. But here in our lingo, it's really naked foam with shots." Eh? An example of an order? One pump almond nonfat triple macciado? So would that mean someone was ordering one naked almond with three scoops of foam? Forget all the crazy coffee lingo! How about just going in and saying, "Hi. I'd like a quadruple shot of caffeine so I can go back to the office glassy-eyed and in hyper-drive so that I can get to five o'clock without remembering a thing." You know, they may be on to something!

Sherry Moore is a Published Author and Travel specialist. Please visit www.qltours.com or www.myspace.com/sherrymoore1 for more details.