2005-06-30 - 4:29 p.m.
What I'm listening to: White Room-Cream, on vinyl.
I've been pushed out of the cafe world once again. While running around in Mile End this afternoon, I thought that I would stop by my new study space/comfort zone, Cafe Romolo, for a coffee, smoke, and newspaper.
Nearing the end of my coffee, and around the middle of the pipe burning, I get a pat on the shoulder. Expecting a familiar face, I see one of the cafe owners staring down at me with an oh so patronizing smile. She spoke to me in French, but the translation in English is as follows:
"Finish this pipe, then after that you don't have the right to smoke your pipe in here".
Don't have the right???? What the hell?? If she had said something to the effect of "not permitted", hey no prob. But not having the right....hmmmm that's just slightly oppressive.
This is the second Mile End cafe that has told me to refrain from the pipe, the first being Esperanza.
There is a pipe lounge on St. Denis that I have worked at before, but it's not really condusive to much thought, to my surprise.
Since I'm not too keen on further marginalizing myself, I think I'll have to compromise and learn how to roll the pipe tobacco, so it looks like a cigarette. It'll be an interesting social experiment. I'll see if it's the tobacco smell that's offensive, or is it the sign of the pipe.
Off to buy the Rizzla....
