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Wednesday, March 3, 1999
One year ago: Titanic Again
The wind was bad enough this morning that the 520 bridge, one of two that cross Lake Washington, actually was closed down this morning! I woke up at the normal time, got dressed, then heard this news on the radio. If it weren't such a busy time for me at work, I'd have just stayed home all day. As it was, I decided to go in later, but I still needed to move my car. I'd parked last night in a spot a few blocks from my house, a block that's reserved for business parking during the day. Even after I got in and started her up, I was debating with myself about going down to the other bridge. But the radio said that it was already backed up, at seven AM!
So I came back home and reposed myself on my bed for a while, then read email and web pages (Scripting News, "More Like This", Thinking Aloud), and listened to the radio.
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I'd intended to go to work as soon as the traffic cleared a bit on the alternate bridge, but when they said that the 520 wasn't going to reopen in time for the evening rush hour, and it was almost noon, it didn't seem worthwhile going!
So I had lunch at Kidd Valley, the burger place down the street, then walked down to Broadway for a successful shopping expedition. At Twice Sold Tales, I bought the Georgette Heyer book that is next up for discussion on the heyerlist, a collection of her short stories called Pistols for Two. I'm sure I already have a copy, but finding it would be difficult. At The Body Scent, I bought some scented votive candles. I've been resisting this urge for a while, but I was almost out of candles at home. At Fred Meyer, I bought two plastic wastebaskets.
The wastebaskets were in aid of cleaning up my bedroom. I've decided that I need one for trash, and one for recycle stuff, next to the computer desk. I spend a lot of time here, you know, and I'm much more likely to put stuff in the trash if it's convenient!
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When I got back from my expedition, I was pleased to find some email from Jack! He was coming to Seattle this afternoon for a job interview, and suggested that he and I and his daughter A---- should have dinner afterwards. This fit well with my plans, since my dance class didn't start until eight.
They showed up on my doorstep around five o'clock. Jack was dressed in a suit and tie, which amused me. It seemed a very unnatural look for him, but it's apparently his custom to wear this to job interviews, but never at any other time. He had his usual tshirt and jeans with him to change into.
We decided to walk down to Broadway and eat at India Express. Not bad! But we needed more vegetables; all three dishes we ordered were heavy on the meat. A---- did some clothes shopping at Buffalo Express, and Jack found a few science fiction hardbacks he wanted at Twice Sold Tales. Then we walked back up the hill, and they dropped me off at the Century Ballroom on their way to the highway. A fun, unexpected evening!
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I had my first class as a lindy lead with the swing girls. I do think my session with Jen and Chris last November was useful to me tonight. The mechanics of what we were doing were already familiar to me, so I could concentrate on the details. That's what Hallie and Loviça specialize in! I made sure to ask the follows if what I was doing felt ok to them, but if they are beginners themselves, they don't know what to look for yet. Hallie asked me to help demonstrate in the free lesson she gave before the dance, which is always gratifying!
My friend Mike Ernst has been dancing the last few nights without his glasses, so I asked him if he were wearing his contacts all the time now. He said that he didn't have any contacts; he had laser eye surgery a few weeks ago! I was very impressed, but it is rather expensive.
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They announced that the 520 bridge won't be open until the morning commute -- the Friday morning commute! So I want to get up super early tomorrow, and maybe stay at Jack's tomorrow evening.
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