On the road again

I have taken to writing down random blurbs when I am eating at restaurants on the road. On the road -- it sounds so glamourous, eh? Not quite the rockstar lifestyle, but it sure is interesting. This is something I wrote a few days ago... I am not sure if I get my point across, but for my readers that really know me, I think they will catch my drift.

This is what it has come down to. Sitting at a Starbucks in Connecticut, sandwiched in between a RiteAid and a Big Y, staring out at the various palette of SUVs that stream on by this little strip mall. Slurping on a Pumpkin Spice latte – which I ask for a medium ---- oh no, ma’am it’s a Grande. What can I say, I needed the caffeine. And pumpkin might just be my downfall. That and dark chocolate and ginger.

At what point does the guilt stop? Over buying something at a chain. Over grabbing that quick fix. Are there lesser evils out there? I avoid Wal-Mart (except when it comes to fabric), McDonalds (except when on I-90), Starbucks (except when I am traveling for work and I am in fear of getting lost and have time to kill between visits). See, everyone has their exceptions to the rules. Forgive me for liking the music at Starbucks. For finding this Pumpkin Spice Latte and that Pumpkin Scone quite tasty.

Is giving out free wireless that financially damaging? I just want to check my email, download new podcasts, feed my blog addiction and make sure that I have not missed anything that major in my world of geek related pop culture. TMobile has this place covered, and those little airwaves cost a pretty penny. It’s just charged air, right? Next thing you know, you will have to pay for radio….


Even this damn spell check changed my “Walmart” to the correct Wal-Mart. Even Microsoft knows what consumers must know. Unfortunately it can’t stop people from saying “Victoria Secrets”. I hate that blasted store, but man its like nails on a chalk board taking that damn “s” and adding it at the end of the other word. Although iPod still goes as a word that is misspelled. Interesting…

How do I avoid being a Yuppie? My dad calls me that and it makes me cringe so much. The things according to him that make me a Yuppie:
*Love of coffee – especially flavored
*Technologically competent.
*Own an iPod
*Have seen many “artsy” movies
*Have a Masters
*“Bleeding Heart” Liberal
*Environmentally aware
*Snub various chain places
*I use a laptop in coffee shops. (guilty, right now.)
*I prefer local breweries to the Buds and Millers of the world.

Which, I am many of those things. I can’t deny it, I am even proud of many of them. Does that make me a yuppie? I counter with this:

Things that I do not make me a yuppie:
*I make my own purses. I do not own any Coach. I think they are the ugliest things I have ever seen.
*I drive a 97 Ford Escort station wagon, and will until it dies.
*I have a Masters degree in poetry and student personnel administration. I am not earning any money there.
*Read Comics
*Own several action figures.
*Have only gotten something dry-cleaned three times in my life. That is like once a decade.
*I wear $9 watches that I lose a lot.
*I like mud.
*Tattoos, two.
*I seldom coordinate.
*I have degrees from two state schools, small ones that are not overly prestigious.
*I genuinely enjoy bowling, mini-golf, and bingo.

I could keep on going. But I honestly fear the yuppie mentality. Wanting something bigger and better, never being content with what you have. When honestly, its enough to have what you have. Yes I would love a new computer. I would love more books. But in terms of big ticket things --- I could care less. The whole car thing I don’t really get. Constantly trading up for the new year, model, feature. It’s a frickin’ car! Honestly, I just would like to earn more to get rid of my loans. I don’t like that hovering over me. It’s for my education, that I worked very hard for and I paid for. Or am trying to pay for. I like my apartment that I share with two other people. I don’t need to constantly upgrade. I think that is what is at the core of a yuppie: Upgrading constantly to keep up with people that are scrambling to do the same thing. If people could just chill out and assess what they have, I think most people would be fairly pleased.