In case I haven’t mentioned yet, I live in the I-5 Shores region of Capitol Hill (which shortly after the rain stopped actually smelled just like a beach with an outgoing tide. Anyone else notice that?). More specifically, I live at the center point between the Olive Starbucks and Top Pot. Temptation truly resides in all directions for me.

I also work from home and occasionally get stir crazy and need to find refuge by making an ad hoc office out of a nearby, inexpensive institution. Normally, I head for Top Pot because of the free wi-fi and irresistible doughnuts. But today the sun is poking through and Starbucks has windows on multiple sides, one of which even faces the direction of the sun. Believing that the vitamin D my body generates from sunlight is slightly better than the vitamin D from my non-fat mocha (and of course forgoing the maple bar has numerous health benefits), today I switched venues for my flexible office space.

Who knew that Starbucks, mid week, at 11:30 am is just as cruisy as it is on Sunday mornings/afternoons? I know this is the gayest of gay Starbucks. I love that this is the gayest of gay Starbucks. At least, I love it on the weekend when I am going to look at all the cuties who also love that this is they gayest of gay Starbucks. But on a weekday morning? Who has time to cruise? Ain’t these bitches got jobs?

Every boy that walks in the door does the same boy-lust scan around the room, often bumping into one of the support beams or small tables, before moseying on over to the barista.

The muscley man who was holding a Seattle Times and a some tall coffee beverage, has tossed aside both and is now deliberately staring at the cutest boys in the ‘Bucks. (not that I’m bitter…)

Even the old man sitting on the couch reading a yellowed-with-age book, which might as well be upside down since clearly he isn’t even reading the thing, can’t get enough of perusing the nearby passerbys.

Sure, I’m looking around, but I’m doing blog research so it’s totally different.

My point is that clearly Starbucks is not a place to do work in the middle of the week. Rather, it would seem, Starbucks is the place to man hunt in the middle of week. Which I must say I find a bit odd, what with there actually being Manhunt for this purpose.

From now on, I’m sticking with Top Pot. No one speaks. No one looks up. And I like the apple fritters no matter how many calories are in them. Most importantly, I don’t feel anxious every time some one looks at me and I don’t suddenly feel bad about myself every time some one stops looking at me. I can get my work done, care free.

Anyone have any other suggestions of ad hoc work locations where I could get some peace without being made to feel like a piece?