About stuff (including me and writing)

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Tales from the B & N

This blog entry is costing $3.95. And that's if you don't count the $3.50 iced coffee (sugar free syrup, lowfat milk).

See, I had three hours to kill today. Which is unusual for me. And I found myself drawn to the Barnes and Noble where I could use a coupon I got in the email and could drink coffee and maybe take a nap in a comfy chair. Then, I decided to check and see if I could get internet access. Which I can - for $3.95 for two hours. And somehow I found myself buying. First I got online to see if I could find a movie showing that would fit in my free time frame; no luck. Then I checked all my work and personal email. And now I find myself thinking "What does it mean to get your money's worth out of B&N email and overpriced coffee?"

Most interesting Overheards/Observations:

- Three Older People discussing movies. Collective age has to be over 180. It began with the Coffee Shop Lady walking by the White Haired Man sitting in a comfy chair and asking him how it's going. He said good and that they'd (he and his older woman friend) just seen "Brokeback Mountain." The three of them commence to discuss the merits of the film (good acting, great scenery, kind of an odd subject matter for a movie [for those, Dad, not in the know: it's a drama about two gay cowboys in Wyoming in the 60s-80s]). The Barista doesn't go out to movies much, but she's joined Netflix and gets several DVDs a month at home. The Older Couple see "just about everything that's out there." I have trouble imagining myself at this age, killing time reading magazines in the B&N and seeing every movie that's out there. But, what do I really think is going to change in me between now and the next 30 years?

- Nice young woman just said to me, "Excuse me, are you Julia?" I now find myself wondering how long I could have carried it through if I'd said "Yes" and she'd sat down to discuss whatever she came here to discuss with Julia. Julia just arrived, and I think she's a designer or photographer, because she's showing Nice Young Woman a portfolio. Or a wedding planner? I could totally pull that off.

- I'm pretty sure I could hook up with a seminary student while I'm here if I made the right moves.

- D'oh! I just spotted a Gordon administrator sitting in the opposite corner of the cafe, drinking a large coffee and reading paperwork. Shouldn't he be in the office?

- Did you notice I didn't mention the cats at all in this entry?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well, you did get the cats in at the end. It's been over a week now and no new entries. I guess with all the time on the road, there wasn't much time for sitting in front of a computer (or with computer on lap ...)

But I guess it was a good way to get the most out of the money you spent, and I assume you did a few other things before blogging. Do you have the etymology of that word?