that which is my home.

I guess it's not surprising that a post about Panera should weasel its way into the humble beginnings of this blog. What can I say? It has been my faithful home-away-from-home and study spot since I was a mere freshman and has continued as such to the final days of my time at Auburn. Tribute must be awarded where tribute is due. In fact, I am at Panera now. Basking in the glow of the fashionable light fixture above me, groovin' to the tunes of Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, observing a young mom and her little boy figuring out how to play Veggie Tales on their portable DVD player, and simply appreciating the prosaic, yet appealing, ambiance of the world they call Panera.

The story of Panera began in 1981 with the dream of Louis Kane to take over America one loaf of bread at a time. His dream has taken flight as the company now owns and operates over 900 Panera locations in 37 states. My life's path lead me to Panera in April of 2005 whilst on a search for a quite and tranquil atmosphere in which to study for a much dreaded Microbiology test. It was to my delight and eternal gratification that I was lead to Panera.

Why Panera you ask? Through trial and error I have discovered that there are certain attributes that must be inclusive of, but not limited to, a quality study hideout. They are as follows: 1) a cushioned seat, 2) unlimited refills, 3) a caffeine supply as needed, 4) interesting people watching opportunities for daydreaming breaks, and 5) the overall aura of the place must be pleasant. Panera meets all these criteria. In fact, it is the only place I've found in Auburn that meets all five, although there are several that meet four. This is an amazing feat.

Not only is Panera a good place to study, it also has good food to back up its reputation. Now if any boy reads this I have a bone to pick with you! PANERA FOOD IS YUMMY! It is not weird or froufrou as I have often heard those of the male gender claim. It's normal food. Soup, salad, sandwiches. I really don't understand the frequent complaints that come out of boys' mouths if Panera is suggested as a dining option. I would love to be enlightened.

If my calculations are correct, taking into account an average of two visits in a normal week and five visits in a final exam week (and this is a conservative estimate... I highly suspect it's more than this), I have resided at Panera a total of 250 separate occasions. Also, if on average I spend five hours there on each trip (another moderate average), I have spent 1250 hours which comes out to equal 52 entire days. Almost two months of my life have I lived at Panera Bread & Co. I think I should get a discount.

Thus concludes my tribute. Go to Panera. It will change your life. I recommend the cinnamon crunch bagel.