I don’t know why it is, but when I sit down at coffee shops with my computer it’s like I put out a sign that reads “Please come over and talk to me.” I always attract people who want to ask me to help them get on the internet, want help with their computer, want to know what I do for a living and then immediately want me to give them lessons on internet marketing, or anything else under the sun.
Today I got up early and went to Panera. The earlier you go, the less likely it will be crowded. So I got a good table and was really starting to get into a groove, when this lady ambles in. She was kind of frumpy and had a cane, even though she only looked about in her 50′s. Anyway, I don’t mind that, but she was one of those talkative people who walks around talking to nobody in particular. She grabbed one of the Panera workers and asked where she could find any used newspapers that people had left behind, and then had to thoroughly explain the reason why she liked day-old pasteries because you could put them in the microwave.
Anyway, I just KNEW she was going to start talking to me even though I was clearly working on my computer. Sure enough, she comes over and asks me if my computer keeps running even if it’s unplugged. I explained that yes it does because it has a battery. She then pulls out a multi-outlet power strip – you know, the kind you have in an office and can plug about 10 computers into – and asks if I would like to plug it into her power strip. I think she was under the impression that the power strip would continue to power the computer if the power went out for some reason. I declined her invitation and explained that I was already plugged into the wall outlet. Anyway, she starts untangling all her power wires for her laptop and then asks me if I’m from the East Coast. I was surprised and asked her how she knew, but the only reason she gave was that she would go to New York every year. But the last time she was in New York was in 1993, visiting her crazy great Aunt.
She then proceeded to regale me with a story about an old college roommate who called her “crazy Anne” for six months, even though her name was something else. And then, probably because I must have looked utterly entranced by her stories, she proceeded to rant about how nobody makes bagels or pizza like they do in New York, and how this place in Oceanside made this amazing crust to her specifications.
Later on when I was at Starbucks this hyper woman came over and asked me if I could Google a company called Paychex in Carlsbad so she could get the number. I agreed and searched for the company listing. She then proceeded to jump up and down as I tried to get the listing, pointing at the computer screen and yapping “no, thats not it – oh maybe this one – no wait this!” She was so high strung and tense that it pretty much oozed off onto me and I could feel my blood pressure raise by the second. Finally I sent her off with the regional office number and told her to call them.
I think I’m going to start wearing headphones so people don’t talk to me.
Anyhooooooooooo…………
For Halloween I was a 1920′s flapper.
We went to the Belly Up for a big Halloween party. It was fun, everyone went all out with their costumes.
The surf was kind of funky today. I had a tough time catching waves, so it was a little frustrating. Then the fog rolled in again, making it really dreary after about 3:30pm.
Also, I wanted to share this picture I took at Mecox Beach, in Southampton NY:
