1. hi mo!
isn't jamba pronounced such that the first "a" rhymes with "lot"?
even though i'd be grossed out, i don't think i would have said something because i hate awkward situations more than germs.
you're the best!

jrl at 1:37PM on Jun 30th 2008

2. There are so many unhygienic things that go on in society that a sneeze barely seems like it should register anything at all. The fact that it was during a food service transaction makes it somewhat sketchy, but sneezes aren't something one can really control. Were you in a rush scenario? More than likely she wasn't any kind of sick so there's doubt you (or any customer for that matter) could catch anything from her, and even if she was I tend to have faith in peoples' immune systems for the most part. I'm sure far worse things just naturally fall into the ice chest by it being open at all. Maybe I shouldn't fight paranoia by introducing more paranoia...

Adam at 1:54PM on Jun 30th 2008

3. Aw Mo,

Is this a cry for help?

I can't change the Goldblum selection. If I could, I would, but I can't even reach Joy Behar on your behalf.

That said, the thought comes to mind:
If I inhaled a jug of Jamba Juice,
I'd sneeze it all achoo!

Now, for a cute sneeze:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk

Who doesn't love a Panda?

JG^^

John Giza at 2:02PM on Jun 30th 2008

4. once you turn 40, it gets easier Mo.

I was waiting in line at a sandwich shop and I made eye contact with a server who was rubbing under his nose with his plastic "food handler" gloves...I gave a 'smile-wince-shrug-head-jerk' combo...that plainly said, "would you please change your gloves?" It worked!

lookin good Mo!

ah,Clem at 2:10PM on Jun 30th 2008

5. Perhaps dear Mo learned to say Jamba in Canada, where they say PASTuh instead of PAHStah.

I think that "they" are teaching kids nowadays to sneeze into their elbow pits in order to avoid getting "germs" on their hands and spreading them all over. This is key since kids don't generally want to wash their hands alot.

Unless she was obviously ill, Mo, you are probably OK getting a little mucous mist in your smoothie. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Besides, you were getting an extra protein booster in your smoothie, so whatever's left over from healing your muscles can be used to fight any possible infections caused by the mucous mist.

Be glad she wasn't handling money then dipping her fingers in your smoothie. Gross!

mo-NEEK-a at 2:27PM on Jun 30th 2008

6. Eeeewwwww, gross, babe!

Clemmie, I can relate.

One time I was in Dunkin' Donuts and the cashier had been sweeping the floor. After she bent down to sweep the floor dirt into the dust pan, she then put the broom and dust pan aside, walked up to the counter and said, "May I help you?", WITHOUT WASHING HER HANDS FIRST!!

Mom wouldn't have approved of my demeanor that day because suddenly I turned into a Jada Pinkett-Smith character and said, "Do you mind washing your hands, please?!"

Needless to say, my "Bowtie" (true coincidence, I'm not fudging for the blog, honestly) reached me safe and sound.

BTW, when does Mo NOT look good?!

Antibacterial hand gel carrying G.G. at 2:32PM on Jun 30th 2008

7. Clemmie:

They got that "smile-wince-shrug-head-jerk" on the sandwich shop video surveillance camera.

Not a bad show:)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=x0GnB6wusaU

JG^^

John Giza at 2:36PM on Jun 30th 2008

8. Being that I have an issue with nasal excrement, I would have said something. But I'm a little (okay, more than a little) germophobic.

Now, having said that, did she then take your money with said 'mist-laden hands' and work the register? That makes me nuts, too.

Oy. I have to go wash my hands now...and I didn't even sneeze!

Booka at 2:46PM on Jun 30th 2008

9. Booka:

You are on to something.
Tell you what: send me all your money in a sealed envelope and I will clean and sanitize it for you.

Be advised: sometimes my washing machine chews up paper money and coins take on a life of their own in the cushions of my couch.

But I am here to help.

JG^^

John Giza at 2:52PM on Jun 30th 2008

10. I think you need a Woody Allen voice and personna for that bit - the glasses pass, but maybe a porkpie hat, baggy sweater and clarinet would help.

Fortunately for you, the germs if any that you ingested had cell membranes of protein, lipid and protein again. If they didn't kill you, they're very nutritious and satisfy two major pathogen groups.

I'd like to thank you for the descriptor 'mucous mist'. At my age I rarely witness the unveiling of totally new concepts.

There has to be a market potential for such a term but so far it escapes me. Punk wedding band? No stick cooking spray? French Kiss repellent?

If you ever find yourself tossing down shots and brews with the guys from the sanitation department or the foundry or the people who remove dead animals from highways you might want to soft pedal that story, though...

Clif Kuplen at 2:53PM on Jun 30th 2008

11. I personally don't like Jamba Juice. It's basically Starbucks but with fruit. Hence, mediocre ingredients and mediocre preparation for a mediocre product. I'd go back and demand some fresh ice and some washed hands.

Better yet Mo, a better way to save money (and be free of germs) is to just buy your own whey protein. They come in fairly large containers and can last a long time. Mix it up in a water bottle or whatever, take it to the gym, and drink that directly after your workout. I've had a few whey products in my time and they aren't the most delicious but they're alot better than spending five bucks or more on a fruity-whey combined mess.

Blayze at 3:03PM on Jun 30th 2008

12.
My dearest Mo,
As a nurse, I can reassure you that if you did not see symptoms of gastric distress within 30 minutes after ingesting said mucous mist-you are OK.

Other nurses make fun of me because mucous is the ONE thing I can't handle.
Blood,vomit you name it-no problem doesn't faze me. Runny nose? YEECH!

Andrea at 3:05PM on Jun 30th 2008

13.
We had one patient (quite confused) who managed to find his way to the breakroom and urinate in the ice machine-fortunately, someone saw him so the machine could be sanitized (nobody would use it though even after the process was done for the third time making it the cleanest ice machine EVER)

And no-not ALL urine is sterile!

Andrea at 3:06PM on Jun 30th 2008

14. Mo—It’s understandable that you’d be little leery about your Jamba Juice, but you shouldn’t let it bother you too much (although I do feel sorry for the next customer that she waited on!)

Every now and then I’ll catch some local news report showing undercover video of what goes on behind the scenes at various establishments in order to expose unsanitary food handling practices, etc. Also, an old friend of mine in college was a food science major, and between the two, I’ve come to the conclusion that I actually might be better off not knowing all those gory little details. As scary as it sounds, if I knew every food service employee’s state of health or lack of good handwashing habits (which have apparently gotten so bad in the last 15 years they actually need to post signs in every rest room on the planet as a reminder) eventually I’d run out of places to eat!

SGS at 3:19PM on Jun 30th 2008

15. i guess the question is did you or did you not drink the jamba juice? if you did, is your video post an attempt at redemption or a way to forget about the truth that is haunting you: the truth that you drank the jamba juice. maybe you should now take your jamba juice iceless. a little not-so-known fact (probably because a tibetan lama told my friend): it is healthier not to have cold drinks. or, if you really like cold things and are not that concerned about perfect health (i mean going to the gym probably maintains your general health but, as your video implies, your muscles are not that healthy if they are daily undergoing a phoenix-like death and revival), you can make your own fruit juice at home and take it with you to the gym and it can be in an insulated thermos or maybe gyms have refrigerators for its clients or maybe, after the gym, you may feel adventurous and sneak into a hotel and find the ice machine and take some to put in your non-insulated protein drink you've made at home. or you could go into mcdonald's or burger king and steal some ice. or you could buy a bag of ice every day and give the rest away. maybe there is a homeless man who is out in the sun and would like some ice to use as a pillow or maybe he has a cup and a beer and all he needs is some ice to make his life the best it can get. that would be so sweet of you if you did that. then again, maybe the homeless man isn't that hot or in that dire need of beer, but maybe he has stopped buying beer just because of the fact that he has no ice to cool his beer. or maybe he buys really cold beer that has just come out of the refrigerator and never leaves any for later, which would be bad because he'd be robbing you of your possibility to be kind. yet, there is still hope, because he could be drinking water from public water fountains and maybe that water is really warm or not icy cold and he would appreciate the ice. in conclusion, i wish i knew what jamba juice is.

monica cano at 3:29PM on Jun 30th 2008