I received this message from my friend Paul the week before last, and knew what it meant:

The red cups, that I really, really, really, really, really don’t like, were back.

The next day, I was on my way to a friend’s wedding on the opposite coast, after a red eye that I almost didn’t make, and we were stopping for coffee. When T asked if I wanted anything, I said yes, then stood behind him at the counter, and asked the barista, “Do you have any non-red cups? Like, do you have regular cups?” She looked at me like I was insane, and said no, before sliding a red cup my way.

For the record, T did not look at me like I was crazy, but I know he thought it.

Alas, this morning I went to Starbucks to use up an old gift card (and because I’m out of coffee, which is horrifying) and this is what I was greeted with:

For the record, I like these even less than I liked the 2012 cup…which I did not like. At least it was chilly this morning, so I can forgive Starbucks for spreading holiday cheer so early in the year…maybe…

Happy nearly-Thanksgiving, everyone.