Times I wish ol' Scotty would beam me up...

Monday at the Nissan Dealership. I'm sitting in the waiting room watching my car sit idly in the "vehicle service line." It's 9:17 in the morning, and an oil change appears to be everyone's idea for breakfast today. My interest wanes and peaks again when I notice the other 6 costumers in the room cross and re-cross their legs, slouch and sit straight and slouch; each trying to find the optimal resting position in these terminally uncomfortable chairs. There's a coffee table infront of us tastefully ornamented with a cornucopia of stale donuts in the center. The Maple one appears deceivingly appetizing enough for me to move out of the sitting position I'd just battled to get into. I look around for something I could wash it down with; I find the instant coffee on the counter behind us. I figure the caffeine won't mix too well with my anxiety and leave the dounut in its place.

The flat screen on the wall screams of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina before cutting to some special interview with Ellen Degeneres about some awards show she's hosting. I put on my earphones and pour The Bravery through my head. It's not enough of a diversion, so I grab the San Diego Union Tribune off of the table and go straight to the Arts section. My eye is caught by a featured article about a production of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucausian Chalk Circle being done in L. A. The writer raves about the show and presuades me to drop $40.00 to see the it before I'm halfway throught the review. He goes to talking about the "notable" performance by Alex Mendoza. The wheels stop turning in my mind and my eyes freeze over the name. Alex Mendoza. Alex Mendoza. Alex Starbucks Guy Mendoza?

Alex is a guy I met at Starbucks last winter. He's attractive, he's an actor; unfortunately it just wasn't in the Tarot cards for us. Within a week he was quitting his job at Stanford, and making his way down to L.A. to work on a play. Perhaps the work on The Caucasian Chalk Circle?
It makes sense. His name is Alex, Starbuck Guy's name is Alex. They're both actors, they're both doing shows in L.A. The only missing link here is Starbucks Guy's last name. Eh, something hispanic sounding, Mendoza will do.

I get home and I'm running on sunshine. This is clearly a sign that me and sexy Starbucks guy who's an actor and therefore artistic and sensitive are destined to be together.
Not one to ever be too sure, I check my inbox for old emails from Alex but I had deleted them. I still don't know why. I have gmail, it's not like I can run out of space or anything. I'm the damn anti-packrat. Despite not having any proof, I was still pretty damn sure about myself. I write Starbucks Guy a friendly email inquiring if he's in the play, [if so] congratulations on the stellar review, yadda, yadda, can't wait to see the show,

yours,
Dina.

Two days pass and I still haven't heard from him. It's no worries though, he's a busy actor after all. I cruise the production website, to figure out my plans for falling in love this weekend, when I come across the cast bios. I immediately scroll down to Alex Mendoza- seasoned actor who's done this film that film this play and this one too... And I'm just swelling. I'm going to fall in love with star. This impressive bio concludes with: graduated from Santa Clara University.

Stop the record.

Starbucks guy is a student at Foothill not Santa Clara, but close; he's working on the beginnings of his acting career, not riding off the the success of past breakthroughs. Suddenly the name Garcia hits me the way only wine can do-- after eight glasses and just before I pass out.

I google his real name and immediately find the show he's doing in LA. A much more modest yet equally impressive production called Reapers- not quite the momentous, groudbreaking work of Brecht, but more of a disturbing take of Green Acres in which a farmer family is more or less smoted for losing their faith in God.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dina Howard
Date: Sep 14, 2005 11:56 PM
Subject: guess who feels like an idiot...
To: A-- Garcia

Yep, that'd be me. I bet you were wondering what the hell I was talking about in that previous email. Hopefully you didn't figure it out, 'cause the truth of the mistake is pretty embarrassing.

I hope your experience preparing for your "actual show" Reapers went well, and that your run has been sensational! I'm sure tickets must be out, but if not I'll probably be there this Saturday or something.

Have a great closing weekend! Take care!

Dina