The vending machine at my work would only take change for a looong time. I keep all my change in the car or a jar on the kitchen counter. Thank goodness they fixed it.

Our vending machine used to sell us 20 oz sodas for 50 cents. Then someone caught on...

So, I'm out of coffee at work and didn't get to Peets last night. I had a vague notion of taking the Gold Line to a Peet's in sierra Madre, but I'd never been to that one, and wasn't sure how I could get from my office from there without a lot of retracing. So I hit the Starbucks by the Willow station, picked up some French Roast and a double espresso for the road. I also got a Croissant for Breakfest, but was once again dissappointed by it's gummy doughyness - doesn't anyone in this country know how to make a decent croissant anymore?

Anyway, I was late enough that Jorge got on my train - fortunately, while he sat next to me, he mostly pretended to read the paper while I focused intently on Murakami and he kept his hands to himslef.

Now I'm at work - and while my coffe is worlds above the Maxwell house in the drip pot, it still is...lacking. Perhaps I will have to make that Gold Line run...

There are good ones at Wegmans.

How about Doughboys Bakery? I read about that place in Sunset Magazine. It sounds yummy. http://www.doughboys.net/ (Warning: website has sound)

My wife is reading a book and the main character is named "Tancred Regman". What the hell kind of name is that?

I'm betting that later in the book it's revealed to be an anagram or something.

Sodas from my work machine only cost 50 cents. I wish they had juices as well.

If the machine eats our money we just leave a post-it saying it owes us and the nice candy man gives us our money back. I guess that only works in a small workplace.

I don't drink soda anymore. Death in a can (or plastic bottle), I say.

We've got a contact who's supposed to deal with that, but she never responded to my email. I wasn't going to stalk her for 60 cents, so I just let fate sort it out. Voila.

There is nothing like coming into the office at 8am and discovering that you could very well be here till 8pm. If I'm lucky.

Or coming in to the office at 8am to find out you wont leave till 8pm at least for the rest of the week, and you get to work Saturday.