Daily Illustrated Journaling

I try to make it a point to journal everyday, if only for a few minutes. The main point is to remember the fun people, enjoyable food, and warm friendships made and enjoyed, especially while in China.

Journal about the simple things
Of course, you don't have to go to faraway places to record memories. For example, Ruth showed some how to make sushi, Hawaiian style (or at least as mom made it). We had wine and coke. We made barley tea, a very strong Japanese tea that requires boiling, as well as Chinese green tea. (That's the little green things in the upper right portions of the left page. Can't you tell?!) These are simple activities that are easy to record anywhere.

Of course, none of the daily sketches are anything fancy but they bring back tons of memories. I post these to help you see that your entries don't have to be fancy, they can take just minutes to do but years later you'll have a richness in your journal like no other.

A sketch is worth 10,000 words
If a photograph is worth 1,000 words, then your own sketch must speak 10,000. I've often looked at a photograph I took and couldn't remember the people or the event. That's never happened with any of my sketches.

We remember our sketches and the feelings they bring back much faster than written words. The words though, supply what the pictures cannot. The two combined make for a powerful record of a memory book. Lewis and Clark practiced this kind of journaling when they traveled. Their journals are some of the most incredible, especially when you consider the conditions under which they were written. No hanging out in an air conditioned RV overlooking the setting sun. No. More like tents and backpacks resting against rocks while they massaged sore feet from miles of walking. Still they found time to write and sketch. (Check out the Lewis and clark journals here.

Rather than paste stuff cut out of magazines into your journal, I'd encourage you to draw your own memories. Don't do anything real fancy. Keep it basic. Over time your sketches will improve, perhaps become framable art. But the point is to remember the times. A few lines in your journal will do that.

I notice that many that come to my blog are searching Google for "365 Journal Entries." My guess is that they want journal to record a year's worth of memories. My journals are usually at least about 400 pages. This enables me to carry a years worth around with me. Sometimes when I get stuck, I'll flip back and re-read or review other sketches. It's enough to boost me or jog my creative juices to create the next day's illustrated journal entry.

Later when the paints come out, color wash a few and enhance your images. You'll be surprised that a little color (or even a monochromatic hue) bring your quick sketches to a whole new level. Oh, and while you have color on your brush, go back and touch some more past sketches. You'll be glad you did.

Use the right tools
Craftsmen know that good tools make a difference. The only thing to keep in mind for illustrated journaling is to use a waterproof ink. I use uni-ball Vision Micro pens everyday. They are cheap, easy to purchase at any Walmart or art store, and provide a jet black line. I wish uni-ball made them in brown.

These sketches were done in Noodlers waterproof whaler's brown ink. (I mean, come on, you need waterproof ink on a whaling ship. Right? I know this isn't too politically correct but don't blame me, I didn't give the ink its name.) This ink was a special run and I picked it up from jetpens.com but you can get a similar Noodlers Standard Brown Fountain Pen Ink at Amazon.

But if you do go out to jetpens.com check out their cheap Preppy 05 fountain pen. I bought about four of them and filled them with my own ink. Just remove the cartridge and fill the body with the ink of choice. (Put a little Vaseline on the threads to prevent any possible leaks.) For three dollars you can't go wrong.

...dave
Every artist was first an amateur. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

illustrated journaling - China apartment

Just a quick sketch from our China apartment. Trying to get a sketch-a-day out but not too successful.

Sometimes the journal becomes a list of TODOs.

The cabinet was found in a second hand store. There are so many solid wood items in second hand stores here that it makes me wonder why anyone would visit the Ikea-Look-Alike store here. Most of that stuff falls apart within weeks. It's only "pressboard" (sawdust mixed with glue) and looks so sterile. There is to character.

The owners of the apartment bought the entire living room furniture (couch, eight unmatching wood chairs, table, three cabinets) in a day and had it delivered for a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere or if purchased at Ikea.

The sketch was done with a Preppy Fountain pen filled with brown Noodler's Bulletproof Whaler's ink. Then I added a quick watercolor wash.

(Still sketching in China but the days are numbered. Check out travel.daveterry.net for details.)

...dave
Failure is not an option. It is a privilege reserved only for those who try.

watercolor setup

watercolor setup
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Often I sketch on the go, standing or sitting on a small stool. One of the challenges of plein air sketching (sketching out in the open) is where to put/keep all your stuff during the journey or on location.

Some artists carry boxes and bins of stuff in their car. Others use travel easels with fold out bins and drawers of supplies. But that's far too encumbering for me. I like to take just these few items:

1) Waterproof fine black pen (Uni-Ball Vision Needle 0.5)
2) mechanical pencil (Pentel Sliding Sleeve Sharp Mechanical Pencil or the Pentel Sharp Kerry Automatic Pencil)
3) eraser (Design Kneaded Rubber 1225)
4) sketch journal (usually 6x10 inch Carnet de Voyage Travel Book)
5) travel watercolor kit (Cotman Pocket Travel Watercolor Paint Set)
6) Waterbrush (Niji Waterbrush Large round)
7) metal ruler (Walmart)
8) binder clips (Walmart - for securing the paper from the wind)

watercolor setup
Originally uploaded by daveterry

The metal ruler and binder clips work well together and enable me to place my small watercolor kit off to the side of my sketchbook. I wedge the ruler into the pages of the thick sketch journal, and binder clip it in place. I modified the bottom of the watercolor kit using stickable magnets from my local Walmart store. If I don't use the metal ruler, and set the kit on some table or other flat surface, the magnets don't get in the way, as they are flat and cover the entire bottom of the plastic kit.

This little combo fits in my back pocket (I place the sketch book tucked into my waste belt at the small of my back). Sometimes I put the kit into my pocket vest or Lands End Rigger Attaché case.

The lighter the better.

...dave
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. - Leonardo DaVinci

Brooklyn Chinatown

Brooklyn Chinatown
Originally uploaded by daveterry

We enjoyed the trip to New York this past weekend.

After one of the all-day sessions I did a quick 10 minute sketch on one the corners while Ruth went shopping for some dinner.

Later that evening I added a watercolor wash back at the hotel. We sat on the front porch, drank a little wine and watched people walk by.

...dave
I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.

stairwell water main

stairwell water main
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Got a quick chance to capture this on my journal. I've been meaning to do this. I just stood in the stairwell for a few minutes. I was on my way to the car in the company garage.

I was feeling a bit self-conscious. Not sure if someone would just barge into the stairwell and see me standing there staring at this mechanical device.

"What is WRONG with this guy?" They'd be thinking.

It was just a simple scribble and if they had looked over they shoulder on the way up the stairs they'd think: What a mess.

Actually I did it without looking at my paper. I just kept my eyes on the water main. Later when I got up to my car I broke out the travel watercolors and threw some pigment on it. In about 10 minutes I was done.

Then I went off to my next meeting. Rats, no real time to really get into it.

But even for a quick sketch, I'm happy to be able to capture something just "everyday" anyway.

...dave
You really never consume water. You just borrow it. - dave terry

a visit to the DMV

waiting at DMV
Originally uploaded by daveterry

What a huge task it is to move. Just changing our address is a pain. I can't believe all the companies that send us stuff. Wow.

The biggest job is changing addresses on our driver's license. There are huge lines of people and take-a-number counters. Waiting is endless. But lots of seats to wait in. Lots of people talking. Computers that go down in the middle of a transaction. No one else's transaction mind you, just ours. Why can't they just transfer us to another counter? Who knows? But don't rock the boat or they'll go slower!

waiting at DMV

You just can't get too upset about all of it. Even though it's a total waste of time it's still necessary.

The one redeeming factor was that I brought my sketchbook. And you know, what a great place to sketch people. I sketched the backs of about 12 people all in different poses.

This is a great place to get plenty of practice sketching people. Women with huge purses. (What DO they keep in those cavernous pits?) Guys with enough stuff hanging off their belts that would make a policeman jealous. (Why does that one guy have two PDAs and a flashlight hanging from his pants? What's up with where he lives? Didn't he pay his electric bill?)

The girl with the frilly purse was the best of the bunch.

This was great fun.

...dave
You can observe a lot by just watching. - Yogi Berra

apartment life

What's on the desk?
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Just a bit of nonsense to lighten the day. I've been off my routine since moving to the new apartment so haven't been drawing much. This is an attempt to get back to it.

We don't live in the big house anymore. We went from 2600 square feet to about 480. Whoa! We love the simplicity. We are so happy we sold. Some people say: "Hey, you're lucky you sold your house." But I say: "No, the buyers were lucky they GOT my house." I'm such a brat.

But becoming an apartment dweller is challenging. Many of the challenges I didn't see at first. They seemed incidental and insignificant. But they aren’t.

Take for example the shower, ah, I mean, the lack of a shower.

In our house we had a walk-in shower. I didn’t realize what a great thing it was. I love showers. I hate tubs. I hate the thought of washing up in a pool of water that isn't moving down the drain.

When we remodeled the house we tore out the tub and built one large shower. It had a four inch high lip to keep the water in but apart from that there was no obstruction in the 6 x 4 four foot walk in area of blissful water happiness.

However in the apartment there is only a tub. The worst part is: there is no shower nozzle on the wall. Yep, that's right, no wall mounted showerhead. Just a small sprayer that sits in a holder molded into the tub. The sprayer is designed to lift out of its holder and spray your hair while you are seated. No thought whatsoever was given to actually standing in the tub.

When I attempt to use this tub as a shower, bad things happen. For example, I tried setting the nozzle on the tub floor while soaping up. Bad idea. It upended and sprayed the ceiling. Once the water reached the ceiling it sprayed the walls and came down in sheets, and like a river, it ran onto the floor.

I then tried to hold the sprayer face down with my toes while soaping up. This worked, as long as I kept pressure on the nozzle. It does limit my range of motion, especially toward the soap dish and shampoo which are at the far corners of the tub. Once I reached too far and the sprayer hit the ceiling and water flooded the floor again.

I really have to be coordinated to use this tub as a shower. I think I’m actually fighting nature. This was just not meant to be.

But there are further problems with this tub. It doesn’t drain. The plug is made of a heavy metal that has no locking mechanism that can keep it in the open position. This gives me two options: let the tub fill with water or hold it open with my other foot. I opt for number two and get cramps in my big toe.

So, standing on the slippery nozzle with the left foot and jamming my right big toe into the drain plug, I soap up my face. Now I can’t open my eyes and so blindly reach for the running sprayer without letting go of the drain.

Of course, the little nozzle on the short hose doesn’t reach to the crown of my head. I squat down a bit to get the spray of water above my navel, more toward the burning soap in my eyes.

To avoid the waterfall effect on the bathroom walls, I face the back wall of the shower and aim the water at my face and toward the clear plastic liner of the shower curtain. This lets the water run down the plastic and into the tub and drain past the opened plug. This all works provided I have not started getting spasms in my toe from jamming it into the opening. There must be a better way.

But I think I might be getting the hang of it. Today I was able to shower in less than four hours. My goal is to get done before Ruth calls out: "What's taking you so long?" She wouldn’t understand.

I simply can’t answer her in the heat of the battle. There is far too much going on here to concentrate and formulate some intelligent answer. I just ignore her. I have to focus on the plug, the spryer, and the soap in my eyes. And I haven't even reached for the shampoo yet!

...dave
If you go long enough without a bath, even the fleas will leave you alone. - Ernie Pyle

egg sandwich lunch

egg sandwich
Originally uploaded by daveterry

A scrambled egg sandwich is the best lunch I could ask for. These are fantastic.

My recipe is the simplest and best:

As the eggs cook I prepare the bread. I use two eggs, never one. One egg is just not enough protein.

I use nutty bread, something whole grain is my preference. Next I slather a helping of mayonnaise followed by some mustard and finally a bit of catchup. Whoa baby, that's livin'.

Here's the best part. Once the bread is prepared, I place the two hot eggs scrambled to perfection, on top. Then just add pepper and a bit of salt.

Warm eggs on whole grain bread. Wow.

Now THAT'S a lunch.

Of course, I can only make these lunches when I work from home. It's not too convenient to pull out an electric skillet in my cube. Although, come to think of it, I really haven't tried.

No, I'll save this extra special treat for when I do a work from home day. I'll sit and eat at the island and stare out at the beautiful flowers that Ruth planted in the garden. And if I have a few extra minutes, I can even sketch my lunch.

What could be a better work day?

...dave
I love eggs fried over medium. - Slick Rick

Hudson Grill

Hudson Grill
Originally uploaded by daveterry

After sketching in Alpharetta we found this nearby sports grill. It was a typical sports grill with sensory overload. There were 12 flatscreens showing various sports channels. We ignored them and sketched the tables.

It was a good thing we were early. There were lots of folks at the bar whooping it up, but it was still too early for the dinner crowd. So we had the dining room virtually to ourselves. Finally a quiet place to eat a meal and sketch.

I'm really not "into sports." Don't have a clue who's playing or where. I really wish I did have a clue so I could talk intelligently to all the sports heads at work. When they come into the office and go off with: "Go Dawgs!"

I stare blankly.

...dave
If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize! - Muhammad Ali

Old Town Alpharetta

Old Town Alpharetta
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Last Monday we took a walk around the old town Alpharetta. We had a great time. I found this interesting building and decided to sketch it.

I have a little three legged stool that is as light as a feather. I sat it off to the side of the walkway. I wedge my metal ruler into the sketchbook and have glued magnets on the bottom of my watercolors. I just suspend them using the strong magnets off to the side of my sketchbook. I look like I know what I'm doing but it's a sham.

People came by, some stop and look. Others look over their shoulder as they pass. And some fathers with their children stopped to watch.

"See, he's drawing that building."

I was pleased that he could tell what I was drawing. I had doubts myself. But after hearing him tell his daughter, I gained a little more confidence.

Another little girl and her father came by. She was leading a small scruffy dog. I actually wanted to stop what I was sketching and draw him. He was a great subject. I told her she could sketch her dog.

But she looked at me like I was some crazy man.

I went back to my sketching.

...dave
I take my children everywhere, but they always find their way back home. - Robert Orben quotes

Garden & Art Books

Borders w/garden & art books
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Ruth loves garden books and I love art books so we decided to go to the bookstore last night.

We usually go late at night, about an hour or so before they close. It's usually quiet then and we can often find a chair to read in. I wish they were open 24 hours a day. We could sit in a Borders bookstore forever, without food and water. Well, maybe not without coffee. But I digress.

Ruth's flowers by daveterry

We started in the art section. I had found a very good watercolor book earlier that I wanted to show her. I was looking to "inspire" her so that she'd join me in this illustrated journal sketch activity of mine. She said she needs a "spark" to get started. But soon after I showed her the book, she disappeared around the corner.

Where'd she go?

I found her in a dark leather chair reading a huge garden book.

Ruuuuth! You're not focusing here. I thought you said you needed a spark to get started!? Whatdaya gunna to do when we go on the sketch date? You are NOT taking this seriously!

I think I'll be sketching alone while she goes out into the garden to pet the bees drunk with nectar. (I kid you not. She can actually pet the bees!)

...dave
Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization. – Lincoln Steffens

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Maggiano's @ Cumberland

Maggiano's @ Cumberland Atlanta Georgia
Originally uploaded by daveterry

I've been wanting to do this for sometime but was never brave enough. So I went to the parking lot and drew during lunch. People were coming and people were going. Some walked right by the car but didn't bother me at all. Surprising.

This was the fastest sketch I've done to date. Just about 15 minutes or so is all it took. Didn't spend enough time but wanted to just capture the quaintness of the "Little Italy" Maggiano's.

Funny thing is, I've never eaten there!

I eat little bag lunches from home and spend the extra time sketching instead.

Go figure.

Now all I need is a cup of coffee.

...dave
Caffeine isn’t a drug, it’s a vitamin! ~ Anon

"The Procedure"

"The Procedure"
Originally uploaded by daveterry

All went well. I'm home now. All can say is:

The worst part is the day before and the best part was the meal after!

That's all I'll say about that.

So after a day drinking clear fluids and a half day waiting for the doctor, I was out within 15 minutes.

And again, why is this? I arrive at 10:45 for an 11:30 appointment but don't get in until 1:00 and still wait another 30 minutes? Do the doctors think they are the only ones who are busy? Don't they realize I've got sketching to do?

Afterwards Ruth treated me to an IHOP breakfast. She said I could have anything I wanted...just about. (Couldn't have bacon, sausage, or spicy stuff. Rats.)

So I ordered Strawberry Cheesecake Buttermilk Pancakes, three eggs, hash browns, and coffee. Whoa!

But I was still wasted after the meal so I listlessly lay out on the back porch for hours watching the clouds pass overhead and soon fell asleep.

It's a balmy 80 degrees outside with a slight breeze. Snickers (our cat) lay next to me sprawled out just as happy as a clam to have a backyard companion.

...dave
No man should plant more garden than his wife can hoe. - Anon

illustrated journaling

illustrated journaling
Originally uploaded by daveterry

What do the doctors do while I'm waiting?

I bet they are in the back room drawing too!

I do wonder why they have me arrive at 9:15 when they know they will not see me until 10:30. And don't get me started on the paperwork...I wrote my address on three separate forms. Don't they have a copier?

...dave
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. - John W. Gardner

Veranda Greek Taverna

Lemon Water @ Veranda Greek Taverna
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Lemon Water...nothing like it refreshes.

We sat outside at the Greek restaurant last night waiting for our meal. It was a pleasant evening. Just a whisper of a breeze. After the waitress served the lemon water and went off to fetch our hors d'oeuvres, I sketched the water glass.

We talked with our guests staying with us for the TESOL class nearby and laughed at the events of the day.

By the time the waitress came back, I was watercoloring the glass. Since the illustrated journaling class I've become a bit bolder sketching in public. (Remember "It's only a sketch.") So when she came back she wanted to show it to the other servers in the restaurant. Then she took a few pictures of the sketch.

She was from Russia and spoke terrific English. She has only been here for 10 months! Of course, she majored in English before arriving in the United States, but still.

I added some of the text later in the day.

...dave
Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere. - Gilbert K. Chesterton

illustrated journaling

illustrated journaling
Originally uploaded by daveterry

I'm back to sketching now.

It's great to be back in the saddle after being away from sketching for sometime.

It doesn't mean I haven't been sketching at all, I have, but just not regularly in my personal journal. So here it is in all its raw form.

These were all done at a class I took from Marilynn Brandenburger at the Spruill Center in Dunwoody Georgia. I took the class to better hone my skills on mixing color, page layout, page balance (writing and images/sketches). All of these areas are part of what I do daily at work so I was glad for the opportunity to go to something local. (My employer was willing to pay for the class.)

illustrated journaling
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Marilynn did a great job of stepping us through the process of blocking, layout, inking, and color balance. One of the bonuses was her education on tools and process. There were several in the class planning trips to other countries and wanted to sketch their journeys. One student is going to Jerusalem. So Marilynn even covered the logistics of a minimum travel sketch kit, what to bring and what to leave at home.

illustrated journaling
Originally uploaded by daveterry

She started showing how to sketch and paint a humble radish. Then we went back to our desks and tried to do the same. Next we advanced to sketching an entirely different item, something we had not seen her sketch or paint (mine was a potato chip bag in my lunch). Next we took our sketch skills on the road and went into the "museum" outside the doors of the classroom of the art center. We tried to sketch sitting on little stools and balancing our tools on our laps. I found this to be most difficult. I really had to simplify my sketch kit down to the bare minimum. Next we sketched from a picture. Then finally on the last day we went into the wild outdoors and tried to sketch sitting in the shade. (The wheelbarrows and rake sketch.) One challenge, among others, was that water dries very quickly outdoors. I had to work fast. I couldn't dilly dally. Get the essence down and move on. "It's only a sketch!"

illustrated journaling
Originally uploaded by daveterry

The running joke was: "Sketch quickly the bus is leaving for the next town."

As we tweaked our sketches and labored over small elements of the sketch she kept saying:

"Remember that you are just doing a sketch and not creating a masterpiece."

She taught us to get the essence down within 30-60 minutes.

"Your travel partner and tour group will not wait for you. It's only a sketch."

If you live in the area and are interested, here are her classes for 2010.

...dave
I draw like other people bite their nails. - Pablo Picasso

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Camry Headlamp "Assembly"

Camry Headlamp "assembly"
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

When my headlamp went out I imagined it a simple bulb replacement.

Not!

I discovered that the bulb was soldered into a mounting device.

So, a few quesitons:

• Why can't I just change the bulb?
• Why must the entire "assembly" be replaced?
• Why is the bulb soldered into the mount?
• Who designed this?

This is like forcing someone to buy a new phone when their battery has to be replaced. Or buying a new engine when the plugs need changing. What were they thinking?

The mounting device of course, costs more than a simple bulb. It's got a gasket and a connectivity gizmo for the headlight harness. The "assembly" costs about $23.00!

All I wanted was a bulb but had to buy "the assembly."

I'm just going to ride a bike to work.

...dave
I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. - Stephen Wright

beautiful faces

bautiful faces
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

Keyed in "faces" into a google search and then clicked on images. I'm looking for simple faces I can do as practice. Eventually want to be able to do this "LIVE" but not good enough to do this in front of people. This is the "safe" way to do this for sure.

The Internet is a wonderful place to do this kind of sketching.

I think she looked happier in the picture than she does here. Maybe she's not to happy about how I sketched her?

Why so long in the face?

...dave
You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore." - Christopher Columbus

old age

old age
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

Mother-in-law to wife:


"How is ... what's his name again?"

"Dave!"

"Right, Dave, how is Dave doing?"

"He's fine mom."

"When are you guys coming to Hawaii to see us?"

"Mom, we were there in November."

"Yes, that's right, I remember."

Old age is such a cruel master.

...dave
Our mother started walking 3 miles a day when she turned 85. Now she's 95 and we have no idea where she is.

Just take my cash.

cashier's register
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

I usually get to the Enterprise around 7:15 or so. It's always the same routine: buy breakfast from the downstairs cafeteria and eat it while reading my email up on the 18th floor.

This sometimes gives me indigestion, but there it is. It's a habit I can't break.

I eat healthy, every other day. One morning I'll have eggs, a strip or two of bacon, and some potatoes. The next morning I'll have oatmeal with raisins. The oatmeal is good for my heart and weight. However, I figure that if I eat oatmeal every day my body will get wise to it and stop dropping the pounds. So every other day I feed the body gobs of fat and protean. Then the next day I try to get the fat off through the oatmeal raisin cup.

Ah, but I digress, my diet is not the intended subject of this post.

This is about those faceless people in the cafeteria, the cashiers.

Usually people don't pay them any attention. They just fork over the cash and funnel through the line.

Of course, I come in so early there is no line. So, I have a choice. Which cashier do I choose, the gabby one or the brusque one?

I vacillate, not able to decide.

One cashier treats me roughly. Even though there is no one behind me, he slams and punches at the register as if in a hurry. He treats me so brusquely I fear I've somehow made him mad. He grabs my cash card, shoves it into the slotted device, punches at the keys, ejects the card and tosses it back at me. It lands on my Styrofoam breakfast box. He says nothing but looks past me as if to help the next person. But there is no next person. There is no line. In fact, there are no people in the entire cafeteria.

I've tried friendly greetings: "Hey, Jimmy, how's it going? How are you today?" and when I go I always say: "Have a good one." But he only returns: "Too" or "Yep." Never nothing more than a single syllable.

If I go to the other cashier, I'll be there a very long time. She likes to chat and fiddle with the change. She'll open the drawer, pick stuff off the floor, or busy herself opening the change rolls. I'm thinking: "Hello!? Anyone there? Hey, there is someone here to give you caaaash."

One time she walked off while I was approaching the register. She went off to fiddle with the napkins and plastic forks. All the while I stood at the register, card in hand, mouth open, sort of incredulously looking over at her. She was mumbling.

When she does stay at the register, she stares down at the cash drawer and talks to it. She's telling it something important or maybe she is telling me some story and I'm expected to know the context. I haven't a clue what she's talking to her register about.

Oh, I sometimes hear parts of conversations, like: "I told him but he wouldn't listen, uh huh." She seems like a homeless person shuffling the streets, talking to herself.

When she finally gets around to taking my money, I just say generic commiserating stuff like: "Yeah, what are you going to do." or "Not much you can do." I'm just playing along. Sometimes I'll say something positive like: "Well, At least it's a beautiful day." Then she'll reply with: "You can say that again, umhumm, yep you can."

On the one hand I just want to get through the line (using this term loosely since there really isn't one this early in the morning). On the other hand I don't want to get slammed around this early before my second cup.

Why can't checkout people just take my money, thank me, and say: "Have a good one?"

In the end, which cashier I can endure is one of the toughest decisions I make each day.

...dave
If it’s true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?