two hundred. seven.

Waking up is rough. I hate those first five minutes. Everything is unwilling. 

Even Kanoa groans about getting up. She looks so precious and sleepy. I debate between going to work and curling back up.

I find myself staring at random objects for a length of time without realizing time is passing.

Get moving.

Once I'm up it's better. 

The chilly morning air wakes me up once I step outside. 

My constant paranoia of deer keep my eyes wide open. It's true, ever since I hit that deer a few months back I feel like all of the other deer watch me. I jump and brake suddenly at signs on the side of the road. 

I might eventually go crazy. 

A sigh of relief when I arrive at work. I'm alive. Deer are alive. 

I begin the bustle of opening up. 

The first thing I notice:

Ash left her stache on our 3 hole punch. 

Second thing I notice:

Aw, Roy left us a nice note.

Lately it's been Cole Porter radio joining me in the morning. 

Pull baking, count change, evaluate numbers from the day before, pull shots, turn on signs. 

Those first shots help wake me up too. The air instantly changes. 

Mmm. 

I make a latte.

Mmm.

I eat some homemade granola.

It's the best batch yet: oats, pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecans, honey, brown sugar, cranberries, raisins, flax seeds & more goodness. I could eat it all day.

Several customers come and go. One man is always so nice, he just moved here from Montreal and is looking for a house for him and his wife. He always gets espresso [2 or 4 shots, depending] with foam on top. This is a classy staple drink. It says something about a person. 

He says "Ciao" when he leaves. I contemplate saying it back, but chicken out. 

The morning is in full swing. I catch a glimpse of the sunrise. 

I love these sunrises, though I wouldn't mind some snow.

Towards the afternoon, a delivery comes. 

Glorious! More tea! I love new tea days. They don't come often, but when they do, the aromas are intoxicating. The top right is an Irish Morning, bottom right is a Green/White tea blend, bottom left is Gojiberry Pomegranate Green with Sencha leaves and top left is a lovely new Formosa Oolong. Heaven. 

Earl Grey tea guy comes in. He still wants Earl Grey tea, no new teas for him. He smells like the man who scratches his day old beard when he's ordering, it makes a surprisingly loud noise. 

Butterscotch Caramel Latte lady comes in, she comes in pretty much every day. She didn't used to smell so much like smoke, but you can tell she's smoking more and smiling less. I wonder if the holidays were actually good as she said they were, or if like some she replies simply and vaguely at our polite queries because she has nothing positive to say. She also stares more at things, like I do in the mornings. Maybe she's just tired. 

I do a lot of speculating at our customers. 

Bible Study Friday guy, for instance, who has quite a lot to say so early in the morning. He's opinionated. He also seems to have very tight muscles because he's constantly doing lunges and stretches. He'll be talking to me, having a conversation at the horrors of materialism at Christmas and how he loves how his children took days to open up their gifts to show their appreciation for each and every one. While he's talking and sharing touching moments, he is standing with feet wide apart and leaning from side to side with his hands in the air. 

Strange.

If I am the object of a sociological experiment where people do things outside of the norm to judge the response, then yes, I find that to be a strange thing and uncomfortably flee to the back room as soon as possible to avoid another stretching session. I don't know quite what to do when he starts crouching on the floor or touching his toes. 

I suppose I could always just ask him. 

Just a plain old "What are you doing?" might do the trick. 

Maybe next time.