I worked at home yesterday. Usually it doesn't bother me (what am I talking about? I LOVE it!) but I didn't see anyone all day and didn't have any calls, so I didn't even speak to another human.
After walking the dog and walking myself (Goldie is up for shorter walks now, but anything over a mile is too much for her), I took myself out to a stylish cafe for a glass of wine, just to be where people are.
It was lovely, other than the bartender calling me "my dear" at the end of every single sentence. Once or twice is fine. I get it. You're being friendly and charming. Every sentence? Starts to sound like a recording.
But the place was pretty and the Malbec was fine and the book I'm reading "The Creative Destruction of Medicine" blew my mind every few pages, so frequently I'd just have to sit there and let the neurons settle back into place.
The other day, Romenesko posted a screenshot from CNN with helpful tips for dining alone:
It made me laugh. Don't worry, CNN! Some of us are Big, Brave People who can handle shoving food in our pie-holes even if we're all by ourselves!
There was one time I did feel a little awkward dining by myself. I ordered a wine tasting flight with dinner and didn't realize they would bring all 4 glasses at once. So, yeah - solo woman, dinner, four glasses of wine. It had "drunken spinster" written all over it.
**** PS I hate those straight-across bangs. Hideous. Unless you're as cute as Zooey Deschanel, you shouldn't attempt it.