Dear Crabby

I woke up this morning to 14 degree temps, and I'm ok with that for the most part. There's something in me that likes winter temps, as long as I don't have to stay out in it for long. I like the nippiness in the air as you walk to the bus, etc. But if it is going to be this cold, I would so much rather be in Chicago, and so I'm feeling a little nostalgic for the Windy City today.

This is further exacerbated by the fact that I pulled up my FB page and saw the morning pictures and loveliness from my friend who lives there. This friend is brilliant, masters in lit from NWestern, etc. She's a stay at home (home=lovely brownstone in the city) mom now, tho staying at home isn't quite the term for her. Anyway, she's one of these creative types who makes her children frocks (yes she calls them frocks), and bakes all sorts of bread, and eats green smoothies made from produce she gets from the farmer's market. Now, none of that part of her life sounds appealing to be, simply because it doesn't mesh with my personality (I am sure you are surprised). I truly admire these men and women who can their own jelly and stuff, but I just don't have the patience for it.

Nevertheless, today she posts a picture of a gorgeous coffee cup, two buttery blueberry scones, the New York Times, her kindle, and a writing journal. The title: first coffee shop visit of 2010. You see, she does this ritual nearly every day, taking pictures of coffee and blueberries, coffee and fritters, etc. And I KNOW the coffee shops she's visiting--love them! Sigh. And so I feel this mixture of happiness and intense jealousy that she is sitting at MY coffee shops with time on her hands to read a novel, write, etc.

And so I'm examining this jealousy, and I think to myself that I could get up earlier, start my run earlier, and then go sit at a coffee shop a few hours before classes. The luxury of a student is that we could do such things, and I should take advantage of it. The negatives, however, are ones I'm trying to get over (and maybe you all can help): There are only 6 coffee shops in town. One is a starbucks in the bookstore on campus, one is a starbucks in a shopping center, one is a stand alone starbucks which is doable but the seating is pretty limited, one is the crazy coffee shop (not really the environment you want for a calming morning java) and one is the hipster coffee shop that has eccentric hours (read: we don't follow the sign on our door) and gives me metaphorical hives to visit. Plus, they put their cappuccinos in espresso cups, and that just furthers my hives. Oh, and there's another shop owned by the crazy coffee shop owner, but it has wooden benches for seating, and that is a pain in the ass, literally.

My other options are the local IHOP and Dennys.

See, and so the big problem is that this is a college town, and with only 6 shops to choose from, there's not much serenity going on. Here, you either party at a bar or a coffee shop, and the atmosphere is about the same (though the coffee shops are definitely higher on the geek factor). I guess I could get up REALLY early before the students, but the other problem is that I'm a night person, and there are biorhythmic, physiological things going on that make people either morning or night people. So even if I got up early, I would still stay up til at least 2. Maybe I can change my biorhythms.


Anyway, I'm determined to have this because I've got at least another full year here, and I have to make it doable. So any suggestions for how to bring Chicago to Lubbock?

The Queen

I unequivocally reign at Rock Band (minus the guitar part where I only approach subpar).

Just sayin'

Spent today at the crazy coffee shop studying and people watching and then playing wii. Much to tell but for now must get sleep.

The exorcism of Emily Rose?

So I'm at the crazy coffee shop again. And I'm thinking that maybe this coffee shop is the new Catbirds because not since Catbirds have I seen such intriguing people. Today, however, was the weirdest.

Huddled in a corner was a fruit salad of people: one British guy, a bird looking older female, a man who looks like Omar Sharif, and 3 non-descript Lubbock-Americans. They were all having the strangest conversation, and at first, I thought I was witnessing a cult initiation. And it might be that the cult thing is right on, but the more I listened in, the more I am convinced there is something deeper.

They kept having this conversation about good spirits and bad spirits and light beams and refractory reincarnation, which I have googled and have only come up with this, a site which only furthers my hypothesis that what I witnessed was some type of stereotypical alien brainwashing technique a la 1967. Note the meteorite reference.

Anyway, so they have these conversations about good spirits and bad spirits. Of course, the bad spirits were all of the rest of us in the shop, and the good spirits dwelled inside the recruits, and it's not worth recanting the actual script of the convo as it is to convey the tone with which it was said. First of all, anyone who is an avid B sci fi movie fan knows that the bad alien generally has a British accent or at least an affected one. Plus, the other 3 cronies were repeating everything he said in this sing song tone.

And then, boy #1 brings out the holy laptop. And Bird Woman and Sharif start whispering in this undecipherable language. And I SWEAR the woman hisses like a snake as boy #2 mentions holy water. British Alien puts his hand out in a very calm Khanlike manner and silences Bird Woman with a look. It became very cold--in the coffee shop. British villain explains to the Lubbockites that holy water will not do in this instance. Talking, speaking soothing speech will suffice.

And then all of a sudden, louder than a damn movie theater, there is a beeping. And then a woman speaks via the internet. Boy #1 explains to her that he is here with Ka'el and friends and Ka'el (British chap) breaks in and says soothingly: "It is time. Put the boy on."

So then this freakin kid comes on Skype screaming bloody murder and probably vomiting pea soup, to boot. He/she (hard to tell with the screaming) does this for about 5 minutes straight, loud enough that the entire coffee shop is staring in the general direction of the freak corner. Then Ka'el says, "It is complete" (what is complete? The kid is still screaming), and they disconnect. Laptop closes. Talk commences about the farm and living opportunities on the compound (ok, I embellished that one), and then they all walk away.

Really? WTF was that? Dorksided.

A real live mouseketeer

And I thought they were extinct like leprechauns, unicorns, and debutantes. G, you would appreciate this.

Really, I'm sitting at the coffee shop working on coding interviews, and I keep hearing this voice that sounds like a person on helium. And there is a kid in here, but her mouth is not moving, so unless she is a ventriliquist, it's not her. And then I see her, it's a full grown woman, but her voice is like Minnie Mouse. In fact, her voice is like Minnie if Minnie sucked down some helium. It's crazy wild!!! I just KNOW she is from Disneyland. I am so excited. And she's wearing gingham and a little sweater with a total Disneyfied haircut. I think she's short, too, G. Want me to get her number?

My soulmate

Remember Jeffery N? Yeah, well, I'm convinced he was sitting next to me in the coffee shop yesterday. Convinced. I swear this man is my twin soul. He looks like Captain Kirk (the young one), drinks cappuccinos, had a Runner's World magazine on the table, and was reading Isaac Asimov. Plus, he was eating an organic cookie. Truly, he must be Jeffery N. ;) I should've asked.

Cupids, and Pixies, and Nessie, Oh MY!

Just sitting here at the coffee shop, brain completely melted from sifting through and coding qualitative interviews that mean nothing to me in terms of a dissertation. Just pays the bills. For awhile, I was able to half-ass listen to a convo about various poets, making me wish I was back in the English department--sigh. The choices we make...

Now the tie to my literary past is gone, and I am left with nothing but thoughts of mythical creatures: gorgyles, leprechauns, slykicks, unicorns, big headed babies. This came about because next to me, there are three people sitting abreast on a couch drinking nothing, saying nothing, and simply staring at a sleeping baby with a look of prozaced bliss on their faces. Seriously, they look like Medusa sneaked up behind them and turned them to stone with this look on their face. I'm ok with it and all, but you're taking up a couch, dude. Then again, I'm taking up a table writing about them, so I guess I'd better get back to coding. At least I'm drinking coffee!

I've got another refill coming on my coffee, or I'd just leave. Please, gods above, grant me something interesting to watch or talk to.