In High School, I was there almost every day, enjoying a coffee in a mug with all my fellow school-chums...

College... I would drive 5km out of my way just to grab a java enroute to class... especially on Friday mornings after enjoying 3 hours sleep following DJ'ing the night before...

To Rodeos... from the time the committee brought a huge Carafe for the crew doing a live breakfast TV show with a 5am wake-up... to the times the entire convoy stopped and sat around swapping stories...

...to the time a police officer stopped us at the door asking us where we were coming from and where we were going... to which I replied, "I don't even know, maaaan..."... that could have ended scary, but didn't...

My vice: XL Regular. I love it... it's always too hot the first sip... hot the second and third, and Perfect for the last 3/4's. If I go smaller, it's too hot the entire thing... and well... they don't go larger than XL.

But now... I'm waging war with "Timmies"...

I remember when an XL was $1.35. A loonie, a quarter and a dime.

Then it jumped to like $1.45. Still cool. A loonie, 2 quarters, and you get a nickle back. (Ironically, that's how the band Nickleback got their name... from the lead singers time working at Starbucks... every order, he would say, "Here's your nickle back").

Then $1.50. No worries, so I don't get a nickle.

Then $1.55. Still cool. A loonie, 2 quarters and a Nickle. It was that price for like 2 years.

Now... it's $1.58. Why not $1.60...I don't know.

So, now, every coffee (and I usually get 2/day)... they want to give me 2 cents back. Every day, 4 cents. 5 days a week, that's 10 pennies.

I already suffer from the "George Costanza Wallet"...

Here's what I'm doing. It's all about the Exact Change, baby!

A loonie, 2 Quarters, A nickle, and 3 pennies. I have a stack of change in my truck, and Tim Horton's is going to get it.

Why? I'm hoping that counting out the small change becomes a bother, and they up the price to $1.60. Yes, I want to pay more... so I don't have to collect the pennies.

Yes, I know it's wierd... but... I also have a "next step"...

If I have to wait long... I start substituting.

I start with the quarters.

0 seconds-30 seconds: a Loonie, 2 quarters, a nickle, 3 pennies

30 seconds-45 seconds: a loonie, a quarter, 2 dimes, 2 nickles, 3 pennies

45 seconds-60 seconds: a loonie, four dimes, 3 nickles, 3 pennies

etc.

Today...I did 3 quarters, 4 dimes, 5 nickels, 18 pennies.

They should make sure that I don't have too much time on my hands while staring at all my change... waiting for my Java.

Who knows... it may make a difference... if not... atleast I'm practicing my math.