Christmas Shopping 2.4K

So here I sit doing my Christmas shopping at the Oxygen Bar in Santa Cruz. I have my cappuccino, my laptop and free WiFi courtesy of the O2 bar in the true Santa Cruz spirit http://www.thirdbreak.org/hotspots.html  Back in The Valley the world is racing headlong into rampant consumerism. The stores are full, the parking lots are jammed and the road users as so amped up they should definitely not be using the road.

 

For me it's a very different story. I am online ordering stuff from Amazon.com that will appear in the UK, whilst IMing (IRC chatting for you purists) with Dena about her day so far. Andrew from Seattle appears online and asks me to review his presentation for Japan. I do so, giving him a running commentary slide by slide between caffeine sups and "Proceed to checkout" clicks. A final hack of his slides and then I complete my latest digital masterpiece. Now it's off to the shop next door, USB drive in hand to get that "special something" produced.

 

The guy behind the counter says "Gee I wish all my customers were that efficient." and asks me to come back in couple of days for the finished product.

 

Hmmm... time to go back to the Oxygen Bar: It is important not to get stressed at times like this so a quick shot of "The Grove" scented O2 is always helpful.