In the Starbucks this morning before the Tufte seminar (more about which tomorrow), I performed an impromptu duet with a fellow coffee drinker, as we switched ends of the table where the cream and sugar is.* She was very carefully adding half & half and sugar, tasting, pouring a bit out, adding more cream. As she did this, she slid from one end of the table to another, leaving me to exchange my place with her as I inched ever closer to the milk.

Looking at me and said half-dramatically, “if I don’t get this right now, my entire day might be ruined!”

I agreed. “It’s better to do it right now, and have the best day possible.”

*What is the actual name of this table? I’m at my wit’s end.