I left Columbus at the end of the summer in 2004.

This was before the smoking ban went into effect.

I made sure to enjoy my cigarettes at The Dube, Betty's, Buckeye Donuts, etc. before leaving. I guess it's a good thing I did.

I hate the smoking ban.

I understand the arguments for it; second hand smoke, blah, blah, blah. That doesn't mean I can't hate it. Not being able to freely enjoy my cigarette with my coffee has taken its toll on me. Driving out to the suburbs in order to do that just seems like so much work.

I guess I don't mind it at places I don't frequent; nice family establishments with cheap apps and giant steaks, but come on. Isn't The Dube synonymous with a hacking cough? Aren't most customers at Buckeye slipping outside every 10 minutes for a quick nic fix? I know I am.

It is affecting the way I patronize establishments as well. Why go somewhere to read with coffee and cigarettes if I can't smoke indoors? I can just save my money and do it on my porch. Good for me, I guess. Bad for business.

Until there's a ban on crying babies in restaurants and frat boys in bars, I think this is total crap.

A bit of conversation overheard at Buckeye Donuts:

"Who doesn't have a blog?"
"People with lives."

I thought it was amusing.

I'm still uncertain about putting a theme to this blog.

I would like to see the rest of the class' blogs and do a comparison or just see what everyone else is doing. Not necessarily so I can follow, but just to get an idea.

So while I'm still deciding on a theme, I can talk about my weekend I guess.

I worked on Friday and ran into an old friend at the coffee place which was nice. We caught up until my ride came.

I graduated with my BA in English in the spring of '04 and I haven't seen too many familiar faces; it was nice to see one. I hope we get to hang out more.

My boyfriend came to visit; he lives at home in Canal Fulton, which is where I just moved from. We mostly just sat around all weekend and avoided campus. I lived here for 4 years and he lived here for 2 so there's nothing new and exciting to show him.

We did stroll over to Goodale Park for Via Colori which is a rad street art festival. I liked the art, but had more fun watching the Flaggots perform.

Anyway, I guess that does it for post #2.

Man, I need to make this thing more exciting.

This is my initial posting for 574C.

I've kept an online journal seven years, so this shouldn't seem weird to me, but it does.

I feel like I need a theme...I don't want to post about my personal problems for an online class.

Some ideas I had for a theme are:

• "Haunted Columbus," which sounds lame, but I think the research and pictures could be interesting.
• "Alexandria Colony," which would detail my roommates and I trying to meet peopile in a stuffy apartment community.
• "Writing Non-Fiction," which would be my work on creative non-fiction.

There's always the usual; politics or pop culture. What's a girl to do?



I'll have to think about it, I guess.