Incident 4.1
I’m not feeling the positivity today. As a result, the café has transformed into a psychological battlefield, where everyone needs to decide if you are allies or enemies; if you can take refuge in the seat by their side; or if unspoken wars will ensue from one distasteful glance.
The dishevelled man angled just within my peripheral is positioned to sit and stare straight in my direction. This is a pet peeve of mine as it would seem normal to at least look away momentarily when caught staring, but he ceases to desist. Battle on old man. Let’s dance.
“Eye for an eye” is such a great phrase. Although timeless and overused, I find the literal meaning behind it amusing. I always think of it when put in a situation where I feel uncomfortable from relentless onlooking eyes. Cliched phrases have directed me to stare back at this man until one of us cracks.
After some observation (a.k.a. an immature adult stare-off) he has finally turned properly in his seat, his side now facing me, and opened his satchel to retrieve some reading material. He has become a faceless member of the java society here who contentedly sips on their overpriced brews and enjoys either solitary contemplation or polite conversation.
Odd how, now, with simple purpose he appears less unkempt. By focusing on an object, rather than an estranged person, he manages to change his identity from a rude, unwelcoming miscreant to casual member of society. Maybe a simpler focus on writing and what I want out of it will transform me from frustratingly unpaid to passionately employed.
Incident 4.2
What began as a need to plug in my laptop adapter has become a test of agility and character. With the café a bustling locale today I had to find a seat four feet from the outlet on the wall. There are no obstructions anywhere around my cord, which sits starkly black along the off-white tiles, yet people still manage to kick the cord as they walk by. I give credit to those who had their hands full and can’t necessarily look down. However, there are people who fully look and see the cord, even pace their steps approaching it, and still manage to trip on it. Then there are those who are offended to find any obstructions in their path. I’m sure they’re used to being carried on thrones around their own property and having the commoners bow as they pass. Unfortunately The Café offers no such treatment. Get over yourself.
No matter what the situation, I will always be surprised at the complete uselessness of some people.
Showing posts with label coffee shop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee shop. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Public Moments at The Cafe 3.0
Incident 3.1
Decided to try out a different coffee shop. New week, new cafe!
Sounded good at the time...
Incident 3.2
No such luck finding the proper cafe network to connect to the generously free-of-charge WiFi. The supposed network is nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately neither is the customer service. Dude behind the counter, sporting a middle-part bowl cut flattened by unwashed grease, is so annoyed at my smile and pleasantly voiced question that he snubs me and refuses to help me. He has also fashioned himself a poorly maintained Hitler 'stache. I feel politically incorrect making the reference, but I didn't snap a photo of him so I simply must develop the photo in your minds for you.
Incident 3.3
Attempt to connect to WiFi only gets worse. I now fear for the safety of my computer. My initial strange gut feeling to not go to the cafe today finally wins and I pack up. I leave frustrated and wondering why I didn't listen to my gut or just choose a different cafe.
. . . . . . . . . .
Incident 3.4
Divine revelation! Stars have aligned and I have found the purpose of my unsuccessful cafe adventure - 65 Front Street. It is located right beside the cafe, with the address emblazoned on chunky wood handles, each number branded into each handle. Its imperfections and rustic efforts make it so unique and distinct. I'll have to go back with my camera!
It's a perfect find for one of my favoured blogs, which celebrates street number typography around the city. I now find myself constantly looking at buildings, doors and signs to uncover another type gem. It really makes you appreciate the design and creativity that goes into the smallest details of some of the biggest structures.
Check out the blog for yourself and see what unique street type you can discover! {http://59amblepath.blogspot.com}
Decided to try out a different coffee shop. New week, new cafe!
Sounded good at the time...
Incident 3.2
No such luck finding the proper cafe network to connect to the generously free-of-charge WiFi. The supposed network is nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately neither is the customer service. Dude behind the counter, sporting a middle-part bowl cut flattened by unwashed grease, is so annoyed at my smile and pleasantly voiced question that he snubs me and refuses to help me. He has also fashioned himself a poorly maintained Hitler 'stache. I feel politically incorrect making the reference, but I didn't snap a photo of him so I simply must develop the photo in your minds for you.
Incident 3.3
Attempt to connect to WiFi only gets worse. I now fear for the safety of my computer. My initial strange gut feeling to not go to the cafe today finally wins and I pack up. I leave frustrated and wondering why I didn't listen to my gut or just choose a different cafe.
. . . . . . . . . .
Incident 3.4
Divine revelation! Stars have aligned and I have found the purpose of my unsuccessful cafe adventure - 65 Front Street. It is located right beside the cafe, with the address emblazoned on chunky wood handles, each number branded into each handle. Its imperfections and rustic efforts make it so unique and distinct. I'll have to go back with my camera!
It's a perfect find for one of my favoured blogs, which celebrates street number typography around the city. I now find myself constantly looking at buildings, doors and signs to uncover another type gem. It really makes you appreciate the design and creativity that goes into the smallest details of some of the biggest structures.
Check out the blog for yourself and see what unique street type you can discover! {http://59amblepath.blogspot.com}
Friday, January 29, 2010
Public Moments at The Cafe 2.0
Incident 2.1
On my way to the café the inevitable happened. Obediently taking the right hand side of the sidewalk, an offensive line of three middle-aged women tried to take me to the streets. Literally. The women carried their shoulders like game day linesmen, perfectly aligned and relentlessly staying on course. Fully determined to stand my ground – and not side step into oncoming traffic on Yonge Street – I locked my arms, elbows and fingers to embrace my fate. Sure enough, a direct hit to my left forearm, but I wasn’t shaken or moved.
I was rattled though. When are people going to access those flickering brain cells and acknowledge proper social etiquette? Maybe in other countries societies adopt the chaos theory, but this is Canada. We drive on the right side of the road, we walk on the right side of the sidewalk, and we enter double door entries on the right hand side. Well, that’s what is taught to kindergartners at least. Recess and gold stars aside, If walking with a crowd in a straight line the logical maneuver would be to respectfully shift to the left. Don’t panic, it’s only for a moment, just long enough that others can pass you without facing a gauntlet.
Incident 2.2
The woman in front of me has a trench coat length black fur coat. Didn’t know that was still happening. She has also topped her ensemble with a brimmed floppy beret. Just saying.
Incident 2.3
Yet another inevitable crossroad in my day – the need to use the facilities, but no one is around to watch my things.
Incident 2.4
Awkward and socially inept people make me so uncomfortable for some reason. I couldn’t even enjoy most of Napolean Dynamite because of this.
Incident 2.5
Situating myself near the GO station offers a constant rush of entertainment as people are sprinting down the street to catch their trains. This priority defies moving vehicles, traffic lights and other pedestrians. Some people amaze me and, yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them was injured mid-stride.
On my way to the café the inevitable happened. Obediently taking the right hand side of the sidewalk, an offensive line of three middle-aged women tried to take me to the streets. Literally. The women carried their shoulders like game day linesmen, perfectly aligned and relentlessly staying on course. Fully determined to stand my ground – and not side step into oncoming traffic on Yonge Street – I locked my arms, elbows and fingers to embrace my fate. Sure enough, a direct hit to my left forearm, but I wasn’t shaken or moved.
I was rattled though. When are people going to access those flickering brain cells and acknowledge proper social etiquette? Maybe in other countries societies adopt the chaos theory, but this is Canada. We drive on the right side of the road, we walk on the right side of the sidewalk, and we enter double door entries on the right hand side. Well, that’s what is taught to kindergartners at least. Recess and gold stars aside, If walking with a crowd in a straight line the logical maneuver would be to respectfully shift to the left. Don’t panic, it’s only for a moment, just long enough that others can pass you without facing a gauntlet.
Incident 2.2
The woman in front of me has a trench coat length black fur coat. Didn’t know that was still happening. She has also topped her ensemble with a brimmed floppy beret. Just saying.
Incident 2.3
Yet another inevitable crossroad in my day – the need to use the facilities, but no one is around to watch my things.
Incident 2.4
Awkward and socially inept people make me so uncomfortable for some reason. I couldn’t even enjoy most of Napolean Dynamite because of this.
Incident 2.5
Situating myself near the GO station offers a constant rush of entertainment as people are sprinting down the street to catch their trains. This priority defies moving vehicles, traffic lights and other pedestrians. Some people amaze me and, yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them was injured mid-stride.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Public Moments at The Cafe 1.0
Incident 1.1
In a desperate attempt to avoid committing myself I left the tumbleweeds to blow through my apartment. Admittedly, today is the last ‘sane’ day I’ve given myself as I am supposed to hear back from a job “earlier in the week” so I figured if I don’t hear back by end of day Wednesday I will have to end my life. I’m not vain enough to end myself in public so I have ventured into the real world to avoid making a scene. I’ve settled into a coffee shop, positioning myself with great views and a comforting brew. Having worked in a busy downtown coffee shop in a past life and joined the shaky eccentric group of coffee addicts in university, I exhale slowly and sink into the void. This void is the nirvana between my own reality and everyone else's. Where I can sit alone for hours, but completely ignore myself at the same time; where an indulgence in my peers is exciting, entertaining and endless. That man has no idea his fly is unforgivably undone… They are on my fear of a first date… Is it still considered a conversation if both people are constantly texting while talking?... This is my haven. And so I lovingly title this entry as my first incident since we all need to begin somewhere.
Incident 1.2
Having recently sent my laptop in for repairs, it has come back completely cleaned and buffed. Still in awe of its newborn beauty I haven’t taken the plastic cover off the top of the case. As a result, I am making a fool out of myself as the OCD girl who is way too concerned with getting nicks on her precious computer.
Incident 1.3
In order to get to an outlet to power my computer I needed to move the chair and table. Fortunately the lady sitting across from me kindly obliged. This was the start of our delightful caffeinated friendship, which she initiated, asking if I was a student or working in the area. I was amazed to discover she is only finishing high school as she not only looked like a bonafide university student, but also had the maturity of a full fledged working gal.
Struggling to make my way back into the working world myself, she (Louise) acted as a power source to my life, re-energizing me with positivity to keep focus on my career goals. Funny how a stranger can completely shift your day; the experiences can be good or bad of course, but if you put forward a positive attitude you only help the odds of enhancing your day.
Louise also lives the ultimate rule to success – networking. Whether I’m a student, professional or hobo she knew I was going to add life experience to her repertoire. Something she clearly values and something I profoundly respect.
From now on, I will be more like Louise.
Incident 1.4
You know global warming is serious when Torontonians are shocked at a random snowfall. I know the weather has been above the seasonal average, but we’re still in Canada, not an apocalyptic crisis. Calm yourselves.
I would love to see four policemen on horses ride past the café right now…
Incident 1.5
OCD plastic laptop protector is still on, glaring proudly at all the questioning java addicts.
In a desperate attempt to avoid committing myself I left the tumbleweeds to blow through my apartment. Admittedly, today is the last ‘sane’ day I’ve given myself as I am supposed to hear back from a job “earlier in the week” so I figured if I don’t hear back by end of day Wednesday I will have to end my life. I’m not vain enough to end myself in public so I have ventured into the real world to avoid making a scene. I’ve settled into a coffee shop, positioning myself with great views and a comforting brew. Having worked in a busy downtown coffee shop in a past life and joined the shaky eccentric group of coffee addicts in university, I exhale slowly and sink into the void. This void is the nirvana between my own reality and everyone else's. Where I can sit alone for hours, but completely ignore myself at the same time; where an indulgence in my peers is exciting, entertaining and endless. That man has no idea his fly is unforgivably undone… They are on my fear of a first date… Is it still considered a conversation if both people are constantly texting while talking?... This is my haven. And so I lovingly title this entry as my first incident since we all need to begin somewhere.
Incident 1.2
Having recently sent my laptop in for repairs, it has come back completely cleaned and buffed. Still in awe of its newborn beauty I haven’t taken the plastic cover off the top of the case. As a result, I am making a fool out of myself as the OCD girl who is way too concerned with getting nicks on her precious computer.
Incident 1.3
In order to get to an outlet to power my computer I needed to move the chair and table. Fortunately the lady sitting across from me kindly obliged. This was the start of our delightful caffeinated friendship, which she initiated, asking if I was a student or working in the area. I was amazed to discover she is only finishing high school as she not only looked like a bonafide university student, but also had the maturity of a full fledged working gal.
Struggling to make my way back into the working world myself, she (Louise) acted as a power source to my life, re-energizing me with positivity to keep focus on my career goals. Funny how a stranger can completely shift your day; the experiences can be good or bad of course, but if you put forward a positive attitude you only help the odds of enhancing your day.
Louise also lives the ultimate rule to success – networking. Whether I’m a student, professional or hobo she knew I was going to add life experience to her repertoire. Something she clearly values and something I profoundly respect.
From now on, I will be more like Louise.
Incident 1.4
You know global warming is serious when Torontonians are shocked at a random snowfall. I know the weather has been above the seasonal average, but we’re still in Canada, not an apocalyptic crisis. Calm yourselves.
I would love to see four policemen on horses ride past the café right now…
Incident 1.5
OCD plastic laptop protector is still on, glaring proudly at all the questioning java addicts.
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