Blogging at Caribou

I'm hanging out at Caribou Coffee and writing the first post for the 20 Day Blogging Challenge. This is an idea I got from Kelly Hines. Here is a link to her post. http://kellyhines.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/self-initiated-blogging-challenge/ Even if I don't get all 20 posts done in the same month, I'll be ahead of what I have been doing. You can find my posts at http://daysclassnotes.blogspot.com/. Wish me luck!

Caribou lights

Caribou lights
Originally uploaded by BarbaraLN

I have been spending a lot of time at the new Caribou Coffee in Ankeny. These lights hang above the large table where I sometimes work.

My West Side Office

This is my west side office, Caribou Coffee.  I love to hang out here in the summer. This is kind of ironic, because I don't drink coffee.  I often spend two to four hours here on an afternoon.  There is free wifi, and I am incredibly productive when I'm here.  I have written blog posts, and created websites while sitting at the tables by the window, or lounging in the leather chairs.  They have good iced tea, too.  My favorite is the Mango Black.

Photo #310: Caribou

I spent the afternoon hanging out at Caribou Coffee, writing a new blog post. This caribou hangs over the fireplace.

Photo #240: Class Blog

Here I am hanging out again at Caribou Coffee. This time I'm working on a new post for our class blog. The kids decided what should be included, and I'm doing the writing. My job will get much easier next week, when they collaborate to write our weekly post.

It was out with the old and in with the new. We've only been in school two days, but I was able to take lots of photos, so I could update the blog with photos of this year's class.

Once again, my trusty little netbook handles it all. And my Mango Black iced tea, keeps me going,

Photo #162: Hanging Out At Caribou

Today was the first official day of summer vacation. I woke up to a thunderstorm, and it was so nice to be able to just stay in bed. After a leisurely morning at home, I went out to run some errands in the afternoon. Later I met my sister at my favorite Caribou Coffee on Ingersol. I spent a lot of time in this coffee shop last summer, when I was working on my technology class. This time when I went, I took the IPad that I had checked out from school. I am just trying to figure out how to use this. It's cool, but frustrating, since I don't really understand how it works.

Jacci and I had been visiting for awhile, when she said, "Is that the Governor?" I turned to see a tall gentleman buying coffee. I said, "Yeah, I think it is. He does just live down the street." Caribou is located just a few blocks down the street from Terrace Hill, the governor's mansion. Governor Culver spoke with a couple other customers and introduced himself as he walked over to a corner table. Here he settled down to work and drink his coffee. There was no entourage, and no one bothered him while he was there. I did not take his photo, because I did not want to intrude on his privacy, if the governor of the state gets any privacy. All I can say is, where but Iowa would you see this happening? I love Iowa!

Photo #58: Lisa and Colin

My beautiful daughter, Lisa and her boyfriend, Colin came to visit this weekend. We had a great time. We watched some of the Olympics and then they cooked dinner for me. After dinner I took them to my favorite coffee shop, Caribou Coffee on Ingersol. This is sort of a busman's holiday for Colin, because he works in a coffee shop. He didn't seem to mind though, because he is a big coffee fan. It is just a comfortable setting to sit and visit. After that, it was early to bed, because they have to leave very early tomorrow morning. Colin has to work. It was a long drive from St. Paul for a one day visit, but I'm glad they did it, because I enjoyed spending time with them.

Photo #53: Coffee, Keys and a Droid

I left work early today to take care of some key issues. Now I'm hanging out at Caribou Coffee on Ingersol waiting for Jacci to join me. This is my favorite Caribou Coffee, and I spent many hours here in the summer, when I was taking my on-line technology class. I would bring my little netbook or laptop over and sit here for hours working on my website or webquest.

I'm really not a coffee drinker, but I love hanging out in coffee shops with free wifi. I like the smell, and I do like coffee drinks that are sweet and creamy and don't taste too much like coffee, but mostly it is the relaxed atmosphere. I get a kick out of seeing everyone with their laptops, studying, chatting, relaxing. Even though none of us are connecting with each other, we are all traveling the world of the internet. Somehow it feels less isolating than doing the same thing in my own living room.

It can also be quite entertaining, and I've been rather surprised by some of the conversations that I've been privy to in this public setting: a couple doing premarital counseling with their minister, two people strategizing about a political run for office, friends gossiping. As long as I have my netbook or Droid to surf the internet, and something delicious to drink, I can spend hours here.