background noise
I work pretty well at coffee shops. The noise around me becomes a helpful distraction, in that I tune it out to tune my work in. If the volume is turned up too much on the outside noise, I can always slip on a set of headphones and use some music to balance the situation.
I've been working through some chemistry texts in an effort to rebuild my scientific confidence and be productive. I take lots of notes, even though most of the information is not something I'm trying to relearn; the writing helps me focus, too. I've co-opted a table at a coffee shop and have spent a good part of this week at at. (For whatever reason, this table is always available when I arrive.) This morning started out as my other mornings this week. After a shower and a quite bite to help me absorb my Mg supplement, I walked over to the coffee shop, ordered my drink, and set up my table.
I was wearing headphones, listening to Beethoven, and into my "work zone" pretty well before a group of three women (early-to-mid 50s) sat down a the little "table for two" next to me. I overheard that today was the birthday of the husband of one of the women. Their conversation quickly became my background noise; I was back to the molecules. I was jolted into distraction upon hearing the following:
.......
"You mean, like wh1ps and cha1ns?" (From one of the non-birthday celebrating women)
PAUSE from the other two women.
A look of confusion from the birthday woman, followed by "I said I was thinking about fondue for tonight".
"Oh! I thought you said you were thinking about something FUN to DO tonight."
"Well, I guess FONDUE might lead to that sort of FUN DO...."
........
You go, ladies!
I've been working through some chemistry texts in an effort to rebuild my scientific confidence and be productive. I take lots of notes, even though most of the information is not something I'm trying to relearn; the writing helps me focus, too. I've co-opted a table at a coffee shop and have spent a good part of this week at at. (For whatever reason, this table is always available when I arrive.) This morning started out as my other mornings this week. After a shower and a quite bite to help me absorb my Mg supplement, I walked over to the coffee shop, ordered my drink, and set up my table.
I was wearing headphones, listening to Beethoven, and into my "work zone" pretty well before a group of three women (early-to-mid 50s) sat down a the little "table for two" next to me. I overheard that today was the birthday of the husband of one of the women. Their conversation quickly became my background noise; I was back to the molecules. I was jolted into distraction upon hearing the following:
.......
"You mean, like wh1ps and cha1ns?" (From one of the non-birthday celebrating women)
PAUSE from the other two women.
A look of confusion from the birthday woman, followed by "I said I was thinking about fondue for tonight".
"Oh! I thought you said you were thinking about something FUN to DO tonight."
"Well, I guess FONDUE might lead to that sort of FUN DO...."
........
You go, ladies!