Coffee & memories

I was up at 7:30am and out of mom & dad's house by 8:20am. It's dreary out yet warmish but threatening rain. Oh well, it'll pass.

I'm at Lakes Cafe sitting at the counter drinking coffee and playing with my iPhone (and startling the locals with my technology apparently). The owners have left their wireless Internet open so I'm making use of it (thanks Randy & Rich!) while waiting for a waitress to come by and refill my cup.

I worked here from summer of 1998 until May of 2002 when I packed up to move down to Mankato. I have many fond memories of working here; I sometimes wish I still had a job as relaxed & responsibility-free as this one again. But then I would stink of fryer grease & be grungy everyday and probably weigh 280 pounds still. I would also be paid about $5-$6 less per hour than I make now so it's definitely a fair trade to no longer live with my parents.

It's somewhat odd coming back. My dad and siblings would complain about the poor service & be snippy about it. I kindly decline fill-ups of my coffee cup until I'm ready with well placed "please" and "thank you" because there's nothing wrong with having manners. Ah, just got a refill - to the brim so there's no room for my half&half but that's okay. I'll sip it down a little first.

I may sound snobbish right now but if you expect high class service then go somewhere that's high class. This is a small town cafe with small town people; I'm surprised there isn't a "Flo" name tag somewhere around here. I'm not poo-pooing this place though. I'm more pointing out that it is what it is.

I love sitting at the counter surrounded on one side by local old men that are carefree with their words & comments while out-of-towners populate the other side with their crisp white pressed shirts, ties, and laptops. I can see the guy 2 stools away from me getting the stink eye from some old men in trucker hats because he brought in a laptop. It makes me wish I had an iPad. *snickers*

I suppose I should get back to paying attention since it's getting a little busier in Here. I didn't make any plans for today but I think I'll see what Jessica is up to or any of my other HS friends.