all i can say is that i've been busy.  it's not fun but it does feel good to be productive and creative again.   doing really well in my classes thus far but i don't want to get my hopes up because it's only midterms.
in other news i'm going to a beer fest in detroit on saturday and i haven't figured out a halloween costume.  panic.

Busy Bee

For class we had to observe a scene.  If you're interested in reading about how I think - here's what I observed (unedited):

8:14 (PM) – Gone Wired Café (did it change its name?)

I’m at gone wired with my boyfriend/partner.  We come in and order a Huma – his favorite beer and one that I enjoy as well.  They didn’t have it the last time we were here.  The bartender is a lady probably closer to 35-40 years old.  She’s friendly but there’s not a note of recognition in her voice as checks my ID or as we again pick the IPA off the beer list.  The way that she dresses suggests that she’s down to earth.  There’s something awkward about the way that she tells us what beers that they have.  It might have something to do with them only starting to sell beer within the month or so. 

8:20 – It smells here.  It’s a weird burnt/musty/somebody puked in here smell.  Maybe if they went back to just selling coffee it wouldn't smell so bad. 

There’s a lot of interesting art work.  Nothing that I can see I could purchase but I still enjoy that they have work that is clearly from local artists. 

The lighting is bad in here.  Why study here? 

8:30 – lady comes up the stairs looking for a spot to sit.  She seems very disappointed with the ones that are available to her and her girlfriend (?) – the one that’s right across from me.  I don’t care much about what they are saying but they both have pleasant voices which is interesting to me. 

8:38 – The XX are playing.  It’s a song I don’t know but the last time we were here they had them on too.

8:44 – There are three people sitting so that if I were to look up I’d be staring at them.  I can’t quite tell the dynamic but it might be a girlfriend, boyfriend, and a friend.  They’re having a serious conversation.  Hang on! The woman in the yellow pants knows the girl that’s unhappy to be sitting here.  Grad students- I knew it.  Environmental sociology.  Neither of them has defended yet but I can’t tell if they’re in the same program. 

8:47 – The unhappy sitter and her not girlfriend but friend are both using yellow highlighters and drinking coffee.  Better yet, they both seem to not like the girl with the yellow pants that has now left. 

8:48 – There are about 15 people on this top level here.  I think I know one of them.  He’s a funny kid.  He’s built like the perfect person but he’s so soft-spoken and mild mannered that I find him boring.

8:50 – “Potatoes for Maggie” is yelled and I flinch because Pat and I call each other “Potato” (it’s a long story).  I try to tell him this tidbit but he’s too distracted with his music and reading.  I suppose that’s for the best because I should be doing more observing. 

8:52 – I realize that I’m very comfortable here.  So many coffee shops around here lack a sense of authenticity and local flare that I really appreciate. 

8:53 – Pat keeps rubbing his knuckles against his lip.  I do this too.  I wonder who did it first.  We’ve been dating for 6 years. We pick up each others habits - good and bad.  

8:54 – B&W stripped shirt and glasses girl steps up the bar with a guy that reminds me of Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons.  They stand next to two other people that are sitting at the bar.  Those two ordered a water and a beer.  The girl drank the beer (a stout) and the boy is sipping on the water.  Something about this I find amusing.  You don’t see the girl drinking and the boy obstaning often.  Those two odered food to go. 

8:57 the couple that just ordered came up and are now sitting where the group of there were sitting.  They could be loud talkers and this excites me. 

8:58 that is the guy that I know.  Somebody else just said hi to him and I saw his face. 

8:59 – bathroom break

9:03 – better

The newcomers to the upstairs ordered a light beer.  I’m judging them for not liking Huma.  Maybe they were going for the special to save a buck.  Still, not worth it. 

9:04 People are always moving.  Comic guy has a twitchy foot and taps his hand.  The girl keeps looking at her phone.  I wonder if he minds.  I can’t figure out their relationship. 

9:05 – Pat hardly moves when he’s doing work.  I can’t see his hands but I know he’s highlighting the screen as he reads his psych articles with the mouse.  It drives me crazy. 

9:06 – An XX song that I know comes on.  I notice that I’m nodding my head.  So does Pat. 

The girl that was working in the kitchen is tapping her head with the pen in time with the song.   She looks  crazy.  It’s a good song though so I get it. 

I’ve only had ¼ of my beer.  I should hurry.  Time is almost up

9:08 people don’t stop scratching and rubbing.   They look they have fleas. 

There’s a game room off to the side of the main room.  I keep hearing laughter.  I also heard somebody being introduced the group and somebody said “there’ll be a test in 5 minutes”.  It’s a bad joke.  Why do people say it all the time. 

9:10 The two that are sitting in the 3 people seat are quizzing each other.  I can’t tell at all what their subject might be.  They’re talking about sound waves.  Maybe something to do with ultrasounds. 

A man in a trench coat came in.  He looks dapper.  Nice hat.  Sorry Pat.

9:12 – There’s a women sitting behind me on the phone.  Today is the only day that I wish she would talk louder. 

9:13 – was that a burp or a slurp?

9:14 My friend is still here.  He’ll probably be the last to leave.  He’s a really hard worker. 

“Iso is equal” – what does that mean? 

9:15 – Pat is a champ.  Not once has he tried to talk to me.  He keeps pursing his lips.  He’s cute.  He’s also ¾ done with his beer. 

9:16 I can hear the bartender behind me moving around.  She switched CDs – I don’t know this band. 

There’s a girl in a really cute dress standing up/packing up across the room and down a level from me.  B&W stripped going down.  Belted.  Capped sleeves – I don’t like those on me.  Actually that dress would look horrible on me. 

9:19 There are two women here that are dressed “like a man.” They are both wearing the same shoes.  I say dressed like a man in quotes because they’re just dressed like themselves. 

9:20  a man from the game room came over and is pouring himself more water.  How to places like this pay rent?  This guy is taking up a huge table with two other water drinking friends and I just don’t get how they could be making money. 

9:22 the guys with the flash cards are talking about MRIs – nursing school?  I wouldn't have placed them in medical school based on their looks. 

9:23 the pretty dress left.  I like her shoes too.  We sell them where I work. 

Pat looks up as I get a text – “are you done?’’ looks back at his work before I can answer. 

9:30 – I reread and edit my notes.  Pat asks again if we are done and if we should go say hi to our peaceful friend. 

Hang on THEY ARE GFs!!! This makes me really happy.

She’s making coffee finally.  That smells a lot better.