How Coffee Helps Our Marriage
Thursday, July 6th, 2006With the spread of Starbucks, and the birth of other trendy coffee shops, it has become clear that America loves coffee. It also loves Internet access. So when coffee shops became broadband hot spots, a powerful union was formed. A union that actually helps our marriage.
Both my husband, John, and I spend a lot of time working from home. He’s a software engineer who spends about half of his time in his company’s office and the rest of it working remotely (via the Internet). I’m primarily a writer and blogger, so I don’t have to leave our apartment to work.
Don’t get me wrong — we’re both thankful for the privilege of having no daily commutes. But there is one big problem: we’re stuck side-by-side at home when we’re trying to get things done. Some might think this sounds romantic — it’s not.
He likes to work with music — I like silence. He chews gum when he’s focused — I hate that smacking sound when I’m trying to concentrate. He hates paper being around — I have big piles of it (way too much, I must admit). The result is that when we’re stuck together in a small physical space, with each of us trying to work in a separate virtual world, we drive each other nuts.
One of the things we do, with great success, is that John sometimes takes his laptop to one of the coffee shops with Internet access. He flees the stepping-on-toes atmosphere of our apartment to become immersed in the white-noise drone of the shop. He’s productive there. And I have totally quiet space, and am productive, here. It’s a great arrangement: when he comes home, both of us have a lot of work done and are happy to see each other. Now THAT is romantic!
Coffee shops and Broadband equal a marriage made in heaven.
July 6th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
An internet love story. How sweet!
Where else do you write?
July 6th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
Hi Taorist,
I`m glad you liked my little romance post (and it`s not even Valentine`s Day).
Your question about where else I write reminds me that I must finish the ABOUT section on this blog. I`ll do that tonight!
Basically, my main focus right now, aside from writing this blog (which I love), is doing revisions and looking for an agent for my novel, Consumption.
As well, I have a Writing degree, and a few years ago, I worked as a Newsletter Editor for a large company.
For more information, check out the ABOUT section of this blog (in a of couple hours — it`ll be hot off the press then).
Thanks for the push!
Cuileann
July 7th, 2006 at 1:16 am
Wait a sec, you think I’m being productive when I head off to a coffee shop
You got the rest right though, I am happy to see you when I get home!
July 8th, 2006 at 7:24 am
Wonderful! What a great story of how you and your hubby have found a ‘win-win’ without letting your differences drive each other crazy. Good for you guys.
July 8th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Thanks Tom!
We seem to have found a system that really works for us .
Glad you liked the story!
Cuileann