Lumpy

Last night, I made the mistake of divulging my parking spot's name to Robert. He laughed and laughed and thought it was SO cute. Gah. But since he wanted me to take a picture of Lumpy and blog about it, I guess I will. Hmph.

We were chatting on the way back from dinner and I mentioned that yesterday was the first day I'd been back at work since Daylight Savings. And that I'd only realized that when I was hotter than usual during lunch. Why, you ask? Well, because I eat lunch in my car. Yes, I'm dorky and antisocial and I like it! I used to eat out almost every day when I worked at the law firm but have since discovered that: (1) it's a lot cheaper to brown bag it (not that I didn't realize that before but I don't think I really cared); and (2) I relish getting away from work and work people during my lunch hour. Sure, it's antisocial and yes, I do eat lunch with other people at least once a week so I'm not a complete hermit. But eating in my car is relaxing; it's comfortable, I can listen to music and read my book and just, well, relax. I used to eat outside at one of the many picnic tables available but those come with bugs. Ants. Bees. Bleh. My car? Just for me! And that's the way I like it.

I have scoped out some premium lunching spots during my year here at the Bay - spots that are far enough away from the building that people won't walk by and gawk at me, spots that have ample shade, spots that face trees or walls and not other cars (too much glare - yuck). But there is one spot in particular that I've become fond of and that's Lumpy. Lumpy is a good spot in the late fall, winter and early spring months because he starts out sunny but is completely shady by lunch time. So, my car absorbs any available warmth during the day but doesn't fry me while I eat. (Lumpy is too hot for summer; I prefer a completely shaded spot during summer and no, that spot doesn't have a name). Lumpy is called Lumpy because, well, it's lumpy. I have done extensive research into my selection of parking spots suitable for lunching and have had to make mental notes as to unique identifiers of each spot. If I'm even one spot off, I'm in trouble. Lumpy is one of three spots in front of a particular tree but is the only spot with mossy potholes. So, to remember the spot, I named him Lumpy. And every morning when I pull into my spot I say "Good morning, Lumpy!" I am a dork - we've covered this already!

Lumpy is a great spot because not only is it the perfect ratio of sun to shade, because it's hole-y, no one really wants to park there. So, Lumpy is almost always waiting for me and it makes me happy to see him empty in the morning. (The parking lot is empty this week because of Spring Break - otherwise, the spaces next to my car would be occupied). Anyway, yesterday I was oddly hot during lunch and there was an unusual amount of sun pouring into my car while I ate. I took my lunch at the same time as I usually did - what was up? Well, thanks to DST, what is now 2:00 used to be 1:00 and, as such, my usual patch of lunch shade had yet to arrive. Dang! Now I either have to take my lunch a lot later (which I don't really want to do because I don't want to gnaw my own hand off while biding my time until lunch) or I have to abandon Lumpy and park in the spot to the right of Lumpy. (Robert wants me to name that spot, too, but no! Lumpy is Lumpy and that's it). :o( Pretty soon I'll have to desert Lumpy altogether because it'll be too hot but I was not expecting to have to say goodbye so soon. Mew. I only hope his next patron enjoys his amenities as much as I do...

The view from Lumpy...