:mattLandia:

Last night, after 11 hours of work, I was running on puny human steam and frazzled nerves. I got home a bit grouchy and worn thin. Around 10 PM, I snuck out to grab a Blended Root Beer Float at Sonic and a couple rental flicks at BlockBuster.

As I walked into the Blockbuster, the smell of air conditioning and DVD cases was strangely pleasant. The yellow walls, the linear collage of movie placards, the schlumping of my flip-flops on the thin carpet -- all strangely soothing. I wandered the aisles, in a quasi extra-corporeal state. I grabbed the first season of Weeds and the first four episodes of Band of Brothers. At the check out, I was greeted by the prototypical movie geek clerk. We traded quips about Mary Louise Parker ("Yeah, totally hot in West Wing." "Um yeah. And did you see her in Saved!? blah blah blah...")

I walked out of Blockbuster feeling genuinely better. Like I had been renewed in the movie rental aisles of eternal optimism.

And then I was like "WHAT THE HELL? I'M ADDICTED TO BLOCKBUSTER?" I sat in my car for a few minutes chewing it over. A creeping realization rose and tickled my Adam's Apple.

I have guilty pleasure zones. Unlikely places that actually affect my mood simply by passing through them. Like comfort food, only not food. Places I meander to. Weird how I never realized it before.

I'm starting a list:

- Blockbuster at night. (The yellow is brighter).
- McDonalds at the crack of dawn.
- QuikTrip. (Seriously. Any place that has Coke, Krispy Kreme, Beef Jerky and a quarts of oil is dope.)
- Freedom Parkway at Boulevard, heading West.
- Hwy 316 at Bethlehem,GA en route to Athens,GA. Something about seeing a sign for Bethlehem while traveling to Athens tickles me on a very deep level.
- Target. Linolium and red signage. Eyeball crack.

What are some of yours?