A Phase In Uranus

Recently I hauled out my Tarot cards again after a brief hiatus. I realise I usually do this when there's something plaguing my mind, or I am curious about happenings in my close circle of friends and loved ones. Otherwise, they just sit there in their box, patiently waiting.

Perhaps I've also been newly inspired by my super natural friend who says that she feels the Year Of The Monkey is opening her Third Eye once more. And any follower of Lillian Too will probably tell you it's time to change around your room and its numerous five-legged frogs and tortoises if you want to prosper this year.

Which got me thinking about a recent string of events that I've been experiencing randomly across town. KL has always been the epitome of bad service culture to me, but of late it really seems to have become worse. I don't know if it is the post-and-still-going festive stupor, or a real shift in the moon's position. Either way, it's getting more than a tad annoying.

A few days ago I walked into a favourite restaurant of mine and they had practically run out of dinner. Disappointed, I walked a few stores down to a mamak. Needless to say, no one attended to me. I finally walked up to a guy behind the counter who promptly doled out a styrofoam box for me to fill with my food. After which he completely ignored me. And so did the cashier. I had to yell at her before she would let me pay for my food.

Then I went to Starbucks, which has always been a pleasant service experience for me, any where in KL. Not this time. Two out of the three staff were engaged in a conversation with a man about what I think was his missing son. The one attending to me was hardly in this dimension of the universe. He managed to confuse me about my own order. After which he went on to make and serve drinks to the three other people who came after me while I had to wait for my precious frappuccino.

I was about to brave another encounter with him and purchase a bag of chips when a random chick walked up to the cash counter and stared at the lime green Valentine bears Starbucks was offering for the occasion. Then she said, "Why are your bears so ugly??? Cannot get better ones, ah?"

That's when it dawned on me. It wasn't just the service that was bad. It was the customers too.

Must be some tangential residue from a phase in uranus (pun fully intended).

I think it's time I dragged out the old kuali and started practising my repertoire of stir-fry once again. This stuff seems to be spreading faster than the bird flu virus round these parts.