Starbucks

Wow...who would have thought I'd be supporting spending money and time at somewhere like this when I'm working so hard on saving every penny I have?  Well, the internet at home is down for who knows how long.  It only runs on one computer.  Why?  AT&T apparently only lets it's high speed internet work with it's own router.  Well, doesn't that figure?  As a result, I'm sitting here in Starbucks, sipping a vanilla bean frappuccino, and kicking around the net.

There's a benefit to this waste of money and time.  I'm able to sit here and relax, enjoy the zen.  I can watch people come in and out.  I can genuinely relax.  Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've just been able to chill outside the house without my kids?  I'm really starting to miss those days.

Years ago, before I left Boston, I used to sit at the mall in the food court or at Starbucks before and after work.  I'd leave Salem at 7am to catch the train down to Boston.  I'd always end up an hour early to work, so I'd hang out in Starbucks or the food court, eating breakfast and relaxing before the day.  After work I'd generally waste an hour sitting around in one of those two places, kicking around the net.  I couldn't catch the train home right away, so I might as well wait around and do something productive, right?  I generally didn't get home until 9 or 10pm.  It was a lot of time away from my family, but I was able to really enjoy the time I was spending.  I had a chance to sit and write, listen to podcasts, do whatever I wanted unharassed by my child.  I'd come to enjoy it!

Now I'm getting a moment of that.  I have to admit, a part of me doesn't want to get the internet at home again.  It would almost be nice not to have it, to have an excuse to hang out at Starbucks for a couple hours every so often and relax.  I think I could get used to this!