There's this really neat place called Race Trac...

OK, so...where is everyone? Have I been that boring lately? That's pretty depressing that I'm so busy I'm boring. Does that mean I have to be lazy to come up with things? Honestly, I was thinking when I was out in service today that I need to start carrying around a little notebook with me NOT for return visits, but for doodles, sonnets, letters, notes, and novelettes. Just to write down the crazy things that happen because these first few weeks have been quite the experience and I'm still in love with service. Friday we're doing VFW and Farmington. There's a place I want to stop in Farmington and a notebook without lines would be a welcome addition to my service bag.
We were at one door long enough for me to write a full blown novel, but it was OK since it was POURING out here, like I assume it was in Atlanta. I was all the way in the back of the van, ya know, the place that I pay rent on. The seat in the back right on the third row. The rain was coming down and the householder had a semi-garden. There were still black-eyed susans growing in the patch right outside my window. Really, they were more taking over the once was veggie patch. With the rain coming down on the flowers, and the drops on the window and I would focus back and forth on the plant and then on the window and the conversation seemed so distant. For about five minutes, I could have probably written down a few verses before the feeling left. That's why I want a notebook.

Also we went to this neat place today. It sells ALL sorts of things! They have cookies and ice cream and hot dogs and chips and...almost anything you could ever want. It's called Race Trac. It's not like I've never been in a convenience store before, but usually just to go to the restroom and then I promptly exit the premises. Today was chilly and wet, so I wanted something warm. Nobody let out a peep about the new Starbucks or Jittery Joes...not even Panera. We (7 of us) all went in and there was this wall of soft drinks, slushies, and coffee varieties. I don't know if the others were actually coffee, but I wanted some hot chocolate. There wasn't a barista to place my order with and the place to pay wasn't any where near the coffee wall. It was odd. Andy Clasky had to basically walk me through the whole process. First, you get a cup from below the coffee wall. Then you put the cup under which ever coffee or hot drink variety you think you might want. This was kinda familiar. I've been to the World of Coke and they have a self-serve type room. After that, I was completely lost. I found the hot chocolate button. You have to press this button and the hot chocolate comes out of a soda fountain type machine! And it tasted really GOOD! Then I had to find my own lid and all that. The cashier did give me 2 cents extra for change. He told me to keep it. It was very different, but cheap! I only paid $1.15 for a 16 oz. hot coca. Eliza said that pioneers can't do Starbucks four days out of the week and that I'll learn truly what it's like when I start paying for myself. I guess I will. Andy said there's this place in the O.C. that cooks their own breakfast, like biscuits and sausage and eggs and grits. That sounded really good. He said we'd have to make it out there one Friday. I hope soon. I didn't know gas station stores could be so much fun!