I'm at MonkeyGrind Espresso. This has become my "hangout" on weekend mornings. I come with my laptop, order a triple grande Americano with no room and a spinach/egg/havarti muffin. It comes to $5.89. It's never very crowded; more than once I've been the only customer sitting in here. I can always get one of the two tables that are next to an outlet.

You'd think they'd get to know me, but each time could be my first time for all the familiarity they exhibit. I envy Troy and John, living in Nyack, where they become friends with the proprietors in all the little shops and restaurants. I don't find Seattle to be a place where that happens easily. But maybe I'm not a "regular" at enough different places.

Maybe burying myself in my laptop makes me seem disinterested. Or maybe it's because, with the exception of the older German-accented woman (who, I learned, is the mother of the owner), everyone who works here is a young, slim, female, and they all just run together in my experience. I can't distinguish one from another.

But I like coming here because it's just four blocks from my house, and I can sit for a few hours, do the NY Times Crossword Puzzle, and do some writing. Diva Espresso is a nicer place to go, but it's always crowded, and I don't know if they have wifi.

This afternoon I'm going to Dallas's house to have a practice session with our team for the GNTs. Then tonight I'm playing bridge with David at Rainbow. Tomorrow I'm getting together for brunch with Kevin. Somewhere in there, I must clean the house.

I already did the Thursday puzzle. (I can never do the Saturday puzzle--it's way too hard--and rarely the Friday one either.) Now I need to end this post so I can get back to work on the novel.