Sanity break!

4 p.m. lunch break, sanity break ... same thing, right? I'm actually ignoring the salad with ranch sitting on the edge of my desk -- rather precariously balanced, I just noticed. And I'm not even going to move it to a more secure location, because a salad all over the floor would provide a nice -- if temporary -- mental vacation.

It's so bad (audience of The Match Game: "HOW BAD IS IT?") that I walked to the (free) Coke machine and got a caffeine-free Coke. I set it down on my desk and sent an e-mail. Then I walked to the (free) Starbucks in the breakroom and got a nice big cup of what we've labeled 93 Octane. This is because it's made with twice as much Starbucks grounds, which makes it darker and thicker than an espresso. I can say this because I worked at a B&N with a built-in Starbucks, and after a few months as a lead (read: goddess over a quarter of the store), they trained me in All Things Starbucks in case I had to play Barista if someone was sick. Then, soon after I perfected the art of the double shot, I got my newspaper job and turned in my two weeks' notice.

Yeah, so Starbucks and caffeine-free Coke. It's like my dad, who used to eat a Butterfinger with his Diet Coke ... much to the chagrin of my mother.

Back to work -- querying the databases for court trends while listening to Jill Sobule. Introspection with a healthy dose of humor. Right now, it's Claire. A few years I had a Claire, except her name was Lillie Mae. She died in March, 2004. She would have turned 92 two days ago. Eh, a story for another day, I guess.

Now I'm listening to Heroes, which I find amusing because it's true. And, yes, back to the databases, which mock me. They conspire with my cognitive iPod. I'm sure of it.