I was in Wal-Mart the other day, and while it wasn’t exactly a scene from Long Island, it was pretty crazy. As if the crowds weren’t bad enough, they had set up massive displays in the middle for popular products like baking supplies and allie. It made it very difficult to get through and pick up the one bottle of Zyrtec that I needed to get.

Given that I don’t go to a job, I’m not sure why I even went in the place during a weekend. Early mornings on weekdays are much more peaceful. They don’t make me hate all of humanity :)

For years, I’ve know that I work best in certain environments. Places that are visually stimulating work really well for me, despite the fact that so many people claim that a good view hurts their focus. I’ve also found that extremely cozy indoor rooms work well in the winter.

What I noticed just recently, though, is that certain home lighting can drastically affect my ability to write well. I like slightly softer than normal writing, as it seems to blur the line between my world and the rest of the world. It also makes me a little sleepy, and I think that helps me ease into a more imaginative state. Do you have a particular lighting that works best for you? Have you ever given it much thought?

I can remember a long time ago in NYC, I came across a little store that sold nothing but bar stools. Weird as that is, I had to go in. Ever since that day, I’ve wanted an eyeball bar stool, or better yet, a set of them. Now seriously - I have no idea what I’d do with eyeball bar stools - but I still want them.

Maybe someday if I have a basement room where decor doesn’t really matter, I could have my eyeball bar stools. What do you think? Am I crazy? Should I just choose some classier bar stools and get on with my life?

You know what would be really fun? To have control of digital signage in a high-traffic area for an afternoon. In fact, if I were a company, I would advertise my signs by creating a webpage where people could rent control of a sign for a certain amount of time. It wouldn’t be like that site where the sign changes constantly and your message gets bumped off, but it would be simple and totally automated. You’d have control for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.

Then, I’d stick a camera in front of the sign and show a split-screen view of the people’s reactions and the messages on the screen. Obviously, you’d need a profanity filter in most neighborhoods, but it would be a pretty good time. What do you think?

As much as I like most vampire stories, I just can’t get into the whole Twilight thing. I tried to like it, and it seems like a great series, but it’s just not for me. Maybe I’m just getting too old to enjoy the emo overtones. I may still go and see it in theaters, but I haven’t really decided.

On a completely unrelated note, have any of you ever tried Fentraphen? Let me know if it worked for you. I’m always on the lookout for something to deal with that last 5 pounds (you know, besides giving up the occasional dessert).

I’ve never been much of a coffee person, but all of my friends who write are. It’s very odd, actually. They’re the brokest people I know, but they all own fantastic coffee makers. I suppose that if your life’s work depends on it, you’ll find a way to get a good one. Personally, I’m more of a Mountain Dew person myself. All the same, I could probably stand to have a coffee maker around the house for when I have houseguests. I’ve never purchased one before, but I may invest in a cheap one before my friend comes in from her year in Peru.

I don’t do a ton of shopping, but at least 90% of what I do is done online. I hate going to stores and malls, and I hate getting pushed around in crowds of people. I absolutely love online shopping. I’d much rather take my time and shop online while I watch TV or hang out with my pets. If it were possible, I would do 100% of my shopping online, but unfortunately, the local grocery stores won’t let me order my perishables online and have them delivered. Too bad, right?

If you enjoy it, too, check out the contest at Shop and Confess. You can check out the related video on YouTube if you’re curious, or just head over and sign up for the contest. We’re entering prime shopping season now, so it should be a lot of fun.

Living in a rented place greatly simplifies life. I don’t have to worry about lawn work, furnace repairs, hiring a roof cleaner, or doing my driveway. It’s nice. Someday, I’ll have the time and money for all of those “adult” concerns, but for now I enjoy my freedom and simplicity. Of course, it would also be great to have the ability to paint a wall or change something major - but I can live with the way things are for now.

Like a lot of people, I’m sick of hearing about the economy and how no one has any money these days. There are just so many things we all buy that we don’t need, that most of us have no business complaining. Most people I know buy stuff like liquor, alcohol, disposable diapers, pre-packaged salad, and bottled water. While there’s nothing wrong with any of those things, I just can’t stand to hear people complaining about being broke when they’re still buying them. They’re luxuries and conveniences, plain and simple.

I always have a hard time coming up with a list of items that I want for Christmas, but this year, it will be easy. I’m planning to go to France next January, so a new set of luggage would be great. I’ve always had a thing for a set of gorgeous Diane von Furstenberg luggage that I saw a few years ago, but honestly, I’d be happy with anything that didn’t look like it came from 1965. Retro is cool, but not for luggage. It just weighs too much to be practical.