Thoughts on a rainy day in London

So, it's absolutely pouring here today for the first time since we've been here, and I feel woefully not up to it.  All of our colds (and by "all of our," I mean literally about half the program) are peaking and I woke up this morning feeling like a sniffly, snotty, soggy mess with a throat that could replace sandpaper.  Needless to say, the walk to school in the deluge was less than pleasant.  I felt like the line in "Pride and Prejudice," when Caroline Bingley berates Elizabeth Bennett for walking to Netherfield... "Did you see her hems?!  Six inches deep in mud!"  Well, my pants weren't six inches deep in mud, but they were certainly six inches soaked with water.  "Rain, rain, go away, come again once we've left in May!" will be my rallying cry for the day.

After Images this morning, which was utterly mind-numbingly facile and easy, I decided the combination of the weather (shitty) and my health (also shitty) necessitated a trip to Caffé Nero for hot chocolate and a raspberry muffin.  While there, my inner strategic management-student went CRAZY...here's why:

At Caffé Neros, you place your order with one of two baristas working.  That barista then writes your order down, goes to the espresso machine and makes your order, then returns, asks if you want any pastry items, and if you do, goes and gets those while your coffee sits on the counter getting cold.  That barista then rings you up, swipes your card, stamps your Caffé Nero Loyalty Card (get your 10th drink FREE!), and ONLY then may you drink your coffee.  American coffee houses, on the other hand, have two baristas, sometimes three...one of whom is the designated cashier and the other (two) who prepares the drinks.  So much more efficient!  Think of the throughput time that could be saved at Caffé Neros everywhere if they would only divide the labor more effectively among the personnel on staff!!  It would certainly have cut down the 15-minute line that I had to stand in.  

Anyway, done rambling for now.  I'm going to go eat my muffin, take some Tylenol Day, and hope that Little Orphan Annie was right and the sun will come out tomorrow.  Cheerio!