Reasons to Love Tuesdays

Although it's Wednesday, I have been contemplating the exceptional wonder of Tuesdays. I used to hate them. They are so close to the beginning of the week, that the anticipation for the weekends just isn't there yet. Plus anything that sits so close to Monday starts to smell like Monday, and everyone knows Monday smells like poosies.

BUT, a few people out there answered my call to perk up Tuesdays. Besides the stellar yoga class at my gym, there is also some nationally observed loveliness to be found each and every Tuesday.

1. Slate publishes a poem every Tuesday. I know, I know. A lot of people aren't completely smitten with poetry like I am, but the one from yesterday really rocked my world. It's about the south and all it's backwardness and, for some reason, it spoke to me. Since I moved to California, I have become intensely aware of people's views of the south. I grew up in Virginia, right outside of Washington, DC. But if I say I'm from Virginia, people don't think of suburban D.C., they see confederate flags plastered across the battered bumper of a rusty pickup. Or Dixieland Delight blasting from an old boom box (which, of course, has bunny ears) on a gravel driveway next to a dilapidated refrigerator.

What's funny is that since I noticed how people view Virginia, I'm more apt to say I'm from good ole V-A than D.C. I guess I like messing with people, plus it's funny to be underestimated. Unless you're in a job interview, then it sort of sucks. But I love getting The Look from people, as if they want to ask, "so does that mean you're, like, part of the confederacy or something?" Well the answer is "no." Plus, haven't you heard? Virginia is for Lovers.

Tangent accomplished. It's time for another reason that Tuesdays are climbing the rankings in the Best Day of the Week race:

2. Tuesday is Apple Free Download Day. The same day that new albums are released, iTunes gives away one free download for a band that they view is up and coming. There are certainly weeks when the download turns out to be musical drivel (Guggenheim Grotto? Seriously? And now they're on my iPod for eternity between two awesome songs because I'm too lazy to remove their musical stylings), but other weeks, Apple exposes me to something I might never have downloaded, but fall in love with.

Case in point: The Editors, Justice's D.A.N.C.E. (it's more uplifting than an iced Americano), and my new fave R&B ditty Ledisi's Alright. She's sort of a mix between Erykah Badu and Jill Scott and she makes me want to shake my booty, which I never ever do.

And the best news of all: from October 2 until November 7, every day is Tuesday. Word on the street is Starbucks is giving away a different free song every day to customers. So you can get your iced Americano AND your D.A.N.C.E. fix all at one time, which may be more excitement than one person can handle.

New Trends in Etiquette

At my old job, my sister and I used to joke about the people who brought newspapers into the bathroom with them. One repeat offender even had the gall to borrow one of OUR (she was a reporter, we were on the sales staff) newspapers, take it into the stall with her for a good 15 minutes and then bring it BACK to us. Has the girl never seen Seinfeld? That is such a breach of both newspaper borrowing and bathroom etiquette.

But then again, I am pretty sensitive to these things. When I go into a friend's bathroom and they have books, magazines or, heaven forbid, "Passing Time at the Loo" (or whatever it's called) I do tend to blush a little. My thinking is: get in, do your business and get out of there. I don't want to sit there any longer than I absolutely have to.

But the real reason for this post is that I just witnessed something far worse than any of the said transgressions. I just watched a man bring his open laptop into the bathroom with him. It wasn't in a bag. It wasn't even closed and inconspicuously tucked under his arm. No. It was open, as if he was going to read the newspaper ONLINE while in the bathroom.

Please tell me this is not a new trend.