I used my first Groupon this weekend at one of my favorite local restaurants (Pata Negra - http://www.yelp.com/biz/patanegra-portland ).  Since I'm not a big coupon user, I was thrilled that I even remembered.  But as I pulled out my billfold to pay, I remembered about the Groupon I bought and pulled out my phone.  

When the waiter picked up the check I showed him my phone with the Groupon open.  To my surprise he needed to take the phone so that he could scan the barcode for the Groupon.

Makes sense and I'm not sure what I expected, but I have to say I felt a bit of trepidation in handing over my phone.

Thoughts?  Has anyone else experienced this feeling of phone-seperation-anxiety?

About to finish Freedom and I will be reading more Franzen soon.         Freedom: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club) by Jonathan Franzen

You are the bread and the knife,

the crystal goblet and the wine.

You are the dew on the morning grass

and the burning wheel of the sun.

You are the white apron of the baker,

and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

 

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,

the plums on the counter,

or the house of cards.

And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.

There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

 

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,

maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,

but you are not even close to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

 

And a quick look in the mirror will show

that you are neither the boots in the corner

nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

 

It might interest you to know,

speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,

that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

 

I also happen to be the shooting star,

the evening paper blowing down an alley

and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

 

I am also the moon in the trees

and the blind woman's tea cup.

But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.

You are still the bread and the knife.

You will always be the bread and the knife,

not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.

 

- Billy Collins

 

Happy Valentines Day

Taken at Denver Art Museum

Taken at Ascentium