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Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. |
Monday, June 8, 1998
One year ago: The Sleepers and the Shadows
Well, I must admit that Jason was right about something I was discussing with him on Saturday. Here's what he wrote me when I gave him the news: "I TOLD YOU SO!!" But I didn't mind being crowed over in such a fashion, since the subject was something that I was glad about.
I couldn't figure out where everyone was in the bay this morning, then I remembered that they had given all the testers a day off. We've completed a milestone recently, so we're resting a bit. So instead of seven or eight people with me, I was by myself all day. For once I had the largest private office in the building!
* * * * * * * *
Rob Hudson and Julie did make it out to campus today, so I had a nice long lunch with them. Jon Singer had dropped downstairs to see if I wanted to eat with him, so I suggested he come with us. I had picked out the building 4 cafeteria to eat in. It's centrally located for Frank Wong and Wally Glenn to join us, it's a very good-looking cafeteria (I always think of Frank Lloyd Wright when I'm there), and it would give us a nice opportunity to take a walk across campus, since it had turned into a lovely day.
Jon and I were chatting at my desk, and I decided to walk out to the lobby to make sure Rob and Julie weren't already there and hadn't paged me for some reason. They were walking in the front door at that very moment! So we got them their visitors' badges (there's a dedicated laptop computer at each front desk; you type your own name and the badge is printed up. Cool!) and we walked back to the bay so I could call Frank and Wally. Frank was there, but no answer from Wally, so we set off walking through the woods.
I should have predicted that Jon would have told us a lot of horticultural information as we walked through the woods. Rob and Julie seemed impressed by the beauty of the campus, and interested in Jon's plant lecture. He does know a lot, and there are some interesting plants along the path leading to the oldest part of campus.
We got to Building 4 and sorted our way through the hubub of the peak lunch crowd. There are lots of choices: burgers, sandwiches, good salads, pastas made to order. Rob and Julie were both content with a slice of pizza, a small salad, and a rice krispy treat, even though I was buying! They were stunned by my generosity, I guess! We lucked out in finding a table, right next to the recycle bins. Frank found us, and we lunched and chatted. We heard about the fun stuff they've been seeing on their trip, and what areas of Seattle they'd like to live in. Frank demonstrated his amazing skill with the yo-yo! He has a special model, aluminum with a ball-bearing axle, and can do cool tricks.
Wally did show up after a while. He had been to a medical appointment, and had just got to work. He was in rare form, joking and teasing. I suggested to Rob that he should consider having a cable access talk show when he moves here, like Wally does.
We went out and sat beside Lake Bill for a while. This is a small artificial water feature cradled between the wings of two buildings. The ducks are very popular, and there is even a pair of chickens, currently being followed by adolescent, leggy chicks. Frank had to get back to work, and Jon had gone back also, but Wally walked with us all the way to building 31. He wanted to show Rob and Julie the wonders of MS kitchens! He had many riffs on various soda brands, and the free beverages are impressive. My favorite feature is the meds cabinet. If we run out of ibuprofen, that is an emergency!
It was so much fun meeting Rob and Julie again. I think they'll be great additions to the Seattle scene!
* * * * * * * *
I had movies scheduled for this evening, but I was so tired and had sore muscles, so I decided to take the evening off from the festival and went straight home. I soaked myself in a bath scented with herbs de Provence, then took a short nap. I get confused, waking up in the early evening. It takes a few minutes to sort out whether it is morning or not! I didn't get all the things done that I wanted to this evening, but it was a very pleasant and calm time.
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