Tuesday, May 24, 2011
First Firefly of the Year
I saw my first firefly of the year last night. They usually don't show up in this neighborhood until Memorial Day or later. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it has rained every day for the past ten days!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Blood on the Mac and Cheese
I went to the dentist this morning and had two cavities filled. I try to avoid Novocaine, but my dentist felt it was necessary.
I'd skipped breakfast, so I went for some lunch afterwards. Soft food was called for. I got some mac and cheese - something I rarely eat - at a neighborhood Panera Bread Company.
And it wasn't long before I noticed blood in my mac and cheese.
This is why I don't like to get Novocaine: I usually manage to bite my lips or the inside of my cheek without noticing. This time it was my lower lip.
Well, at least I got a story title out of it: Blood on the Mac and Cheese. Now, is that a title for a Young Adult book, or a soft-boiled detective novel? You tell me.
I'd skipped breakfast, so I went for some lunch afterwards. Soft food was called for. I got some mac and cheese - something I rarely eat - at a neighborhood Panera Bread Company.
And it wasn't long before I noticed blood in my mac and cheese.
This is why I don't like to get Novocaine: I usually manage to bite my lips or the inside of my cheek without noticing. This time it was my lower lip.
Well, at least I got a story title out of it: Blood on the Mac and Cheese. Now, is that a title for a Young Adult book, or a soft-boiled detective novel? You tell me.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Why I Write in Starbucks
I'm writing in a Starbucks today. Yesterday I wrote in a Panera Bread Company. I haven't worked in a library in over a week.
Why? The truth: it's not the coffee, it's not the food.
It's the bathrooms.
I often work in public libraries. In fact, I prefer it: they're a lot quieter than commercial establishments, and they have books for research.
But, when I work in a library, the bathrooms are usually far away. At my favorite library, the distance from the work tables to the bathrooms has to be the equivalent of a full city block! So, when I go to the bathroom in the library, I leave my laptop unattended for a much longer time.
This battered MacBook of mine would cost about $1,200 to replace. I get nervous leaving it unattended for any span of time.
At the Starbucks where I'm at, the bathroom is just five steps away. I'm in and out of the bathroom so fast, the screen saver doesn't have time to come up! (Yes, I wash my hands.)
When my business writing partner is back in town, I'll be back at a library. She can't work in commercial spaces, with their distractions and piped-in music. But until then, I'll be at a Starbucks or Panera.
Another coffee, please!
Why? The truth: it's not the coffee, it's not the food.
It's the bathrooms.
I often work in public libraries. In fact, I prefer it: they're a lot quieter than commercial establishments, and they have books for research.
But, when I work in a library, the bathrooms are usually far away. At my favorite library, the distance from the work tables to the bathrooms has to be the equivalent of a full city block! So, when I go to the bathroom in the library, I leave my laptop unattended for a much longer time.
This battered MacBook of mine would cost about $1,200 to replace. I get nervous leaving it unattended for any span of time.
At the Starbucks where I'm at, the bathroom is just five steps away. I'm in and out of the bathroom so fast, the screen saver doesn't have time to come up! (Yes, I wash my hands.)
When my business writing partner is back in town, I'll be back at a library. She can't work in commercial spaces, with their distractions and piped-in music. But until then, I'll be at a Starbucks or Panera.
Another coffee, please!
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