Coffee in Columbus, Indiana

Lucky for me "The Commons" Mall in downtown Columbus, Indiana, was having an art show on Saturday, because our hotel breakfast room didn't open until 8 a.m. so I was on the streets a 6:15 looking for something that was open. So I slipped into the back door where artists were unloading. The coffee shop had opened early for the artists and I was offered a free cup!

"Common Grounds" is its name, and it has free wireless and gift items. Stop in the next time you're in this delightful town. It's a friendly place with really good coffee.

Welcome home!

The staff at Panera's all welcomed me back today.

"Haven't seen you for awhile. Where have you been?"

"Finland, Russia and Estonia."

Comments varied from "Wow" to stories of watching the Travel Channel.

One of my worries about Russia was not being able to find a good cup of coffee, but our hotel in St. Petersburg (called, St. Petersburg Hotel) had a fine breakfast buffet which opened at 7 a.m. with very good coffee.

Underwear at the coffee shop

If I'm fixing my hair in the bathroom at 5 a.m. in my panties and bra, I have on more clothes than the woman I saw in the coffee shop this morning. More square inches, more coverage.

It was coolish this morning--I was wearing a jacket--and because of the AC, the interior of Caribou was even cooler. She came in wearing a clingy cotton knit shirt with straps, that stopped above her waist. It sort of looked like what we used to call a "training bra" for girls who had nothing yet to train. She was wearing red satin, athletic boxer style short shorts, with the running stripe on the side, with the waistband rolled down, so you could see the pink elastic of her thong, which I think was her "real" underwear. And black slippers. She left carrying two large ice teas and two lattes. She looked too old to be a refugee from a junior high slumber party sent out to find food--maybe 25-30. Noticeable goosebumps. I immediately sketched her. But you wouldn't believe it if I showed you. She's an example of why the Muslims think we have a decadent culture--and I'll give 'em that one.

A Methodist from Moline

My conversation partner at the coffee shop today was from Moline, IL, and has been vacationing at Lakeside for over 10 years. He's traveled a lot on business, so I was able to pick up a few hints about Finland, which he's visited recently. He's the third person this week we've run into who's recently been to Finland. He's a lot more techie than I am, but says he has no interest in blogging. Like the rest of us though, he's still amazed at the depth and width of information available on the internet.

I also talked to the owner of the coffeeshop who checked out my "where to eat in Lakeside" blog, and I'll need correct the brand of ice cream. Unfortunately, on the internet, my little misplaced footprints seem to last forever because of archiving functions.