I have today off school, and am sitting at a local coffee shop in the town I grew up in. It's the coffee shop I used as a destination for my home interview to get Julio. I didn't feel up to doing the route, but I'm enjoying the coffee, the new wireless internet and the chance to be alone in a crowd. Because they finally have wireless internet, I can actually get work and play done while waiting for my mom to finish with exercise and errands. The sun is warming my right side and it's peaceful. A little taste of independence even though I'm not back on campus yet. And my home town is absolutely not pedestrian friendly.

The thing that always bugs me about coming home is that I am completely dependent on my parents and occasionally friends to drive me. So I can't just decide I want coffee and walk to Brewberry's (at home here it's Kodiak which is also an independent shop). So, even though the transportation is not my own walking, I love the feeling of freedom of sitting here, listening to music and town gossip and the sounds of grinding coffee beans and the espresso machine, feeling and seeing the sun, knowing my puppy is being good and being able to grab another drink when I want one.

I'm not sure if it's the fact that my breakfast was a sweet kind of cake thing,, that I drank a vanilla breve (pronounced brev ay), or that's just how it is, but I'm trying a clemintine Izzy, and it's a little tart. I did just gently shake it (note very very gently and it did not explode), and that seems to help.

Our Easter dinner was good. Lots of good conversation and copious amounts of teasing. Baxter and Julio had another friend over to play with, so the three of them provided entertainment. The food was excellent. I did end up missing the Marlaina Show, which disappointed me. I'll have to figure out the link to see if it will be podcasted. I'm sure, like always, it was an excellent show.

It's good to have a break. It's nice to take some time and deliberately stop to enjoy simple pleasures. It doesn't change the pain, and doesn't change how much I have to get done. But it does help in ways I can't describe. Slowing down to write a few more substantive entries helps me. I think there is something about the feel of figures on keyboard that makes the brain reorganize thoughts that have become jumbled. It encourages an honest look at life and contemplation. You can't think at one hundred miles an hour and expect it all to get down on paper. I think that's what's so powerful about writing. It helps me filter through the mess of thoughts and find the useful stuff.