What is it about a day off work that can make you feel like the possibilities of the day or innumerable and exciting? Also, this streak of spring-like weather doesn’t hurt either. (I wasn’t aware today was President’s Day when I scheduled this day off a couple of weeks ago.)

Since I was foiled in my attempt to get some coffee shop writing time yesterday, I re-upped the effort this morning. I had great success today at The Perfect Cup. It instantly became a new favorite. I hadn’t been there in over a year and was surprised to see it had been completely remodeled. I’d only been there a handful of times with friends. (SIDE NOTE: My first visit there a hundred years ago and served as the meeting place for a horrific online date.)

While sitting at the coffee shop, I was wondering why a mother would bring two tiny kids into a tiny coffee shop and let them wander so freely near full cups of coffee and expensive laptops. While IM’ing with my friend Mark we brainstormed ideas for a “child unfriendly” coffee shop chock full of sharp edges, jagged glass and butter knives stuck into electrical outlets with “TOUCH ME” signs on each one.

It was another spring-like day in Chicago, I was drawn to take a drive to the lake. There is a spot Ken and I loved to visit on occasion. It’s still a favorite spot. There is something so powerful about being near the water. And the view it provides of my beautiful city always leaves me a little dumbstruck.

I drove a little further down to the Dog Beach–another frequent kenron stop. There were lots of people out and about, taking advantage of the sunshine.