Like, Family Day in NOTL
February 20, 2023
Today, I took advantage of the good weather and light traffic on the roads to pedal out to NOTL, where I stopped once again at Balzac’s, one of the few places that was open. Make that like Balzac’s. Where it’s apparently a condition of employment to maintain a high LPM (likes per minute) factor.
Like, Balzac’s Coffee Roasters.
Two girls were behind the counter. One Asian, one white. The former served me and after I sat down, the two of them began a running conversation. Or perhaps resumed the one they were having before I walked in. Asian Girl, like, had only worked there for a week, but the other one had worked there since 2019. White Girl works, like, 85 hours a week and only gets four hours of sleep every night. She feels, like, dead today. The manager at her other job in the Falls, where she’s a server, like, doesn’t work as hard. White Girl says she really wants to travel again. She’s always been, like, athletic. Go, go, go. She, like, has to go to the gym and do a 5-10K. But she couldn’t go the other day because she had to do laundry. Clean clothes are important, she said. She’s also getting a haircut and getting it, like, dyed.
Asian Girl went on to say that she’s, like, entering her workaholic phase. This is the first time she’s worked two jobs. Her other job is in Fort Erie. Last weekend was the first time she’s worked a double. She was, like, really nervous about opening last Friday, which was the first time she had opened. It was so hard to get up so early, she said.
A customer came in, temporarily breaking up the conversation. He wanted strong coffee. While waiting, he asked them how busy they expect to be today and they said they thought it would be a slow and steady crowd. It’s been busy all weekend, they said. He wasn’t a dipshit, and no other dipshits came in while I was there, though they did have free masks available for anyone who still feels “unsafe.” They don’t discriminate. Dipshits and non-dipshits are equally welcome. How inclusive of them. He also paid with a credit card. Just like everyone else who came in, much to the delight of the banks and the government. I was the only one who paid cash. And yet the biggest order was less than $20. Can you say “15 minute cities?”
Having taken care of the customer, Asian Girl said that she’s still, like, cheery, but the workload is getting her down. White Girl then began explaining the finer points of making a latte. It’s best with, like, microfoam. Super velvety and smooth.
Another customer came in. He wanted oat milk in his coffee. They were out, but they offered plenty of other nondairy options. Noticing his Scottish accent, White Girl asked where in Scotland he was from. Glasgow, he said. White Girl said she’s moving to London in May and once there, will be meeting up with a friend from Glasgow she met while working in Whistler. The perfect place to hold a 50th anniversary WHA reunion, says former Winnipeg sportscaster Peter Young. And he says it’s easy to get to. Yet they could only a attract a few dozen people. No doubt, they’re still wondering why there wasn’t a bigger turnout. But I digress.
More customers came in. One wanted flavored coffee, but Asian Girl explained that it’s not, like, flavored, but they have, like, syrup. Lattes were popular. Asian Girl says she likes the salted caramel latte the best. The only exception among the latte lovers was a guy who wanted a large dark roast coffee with two breakfast sandwiches, an order that set him back $18.59. He couldn’t wait to dig into them and unwrapped one on his way out.
By the time I left, my head was, like, spinning.
| Previous post | Next post |