I wanted to have a thoughtful, serious essay for you today, but I just can’t seem to find it. I figure, anyway, that the least I can do is provide some details on my trip, from which I am safely returned.
Seattle is very cool. I liked it quite a lot. I really love big cities on big bodies of water, because it’s fascinating the way the cities pile up right next to the shoreline, whatever it is, until it seems like the city itself was built out of the water, or the shore carved out with a knife…. It’s a blind watchmaker thing, where you can easily mistake the effect for the cause, and it creates an incredible mental image.
The city put me in mind of New York City nestled in remote English countryside, with the cultural reflections in both directions that such a situation would engender. I liked NYC much more than I expected to. Seattle, I think, excels far beyond that, although (as part of that very excellence) it lacks the pungent vulgarity of NYC which, you must admit, is a significant part of the flavor.
I made a new friend. Not generally something I do, and not often something I’m excited about, but I like Irene. She’s cool.
I came back from Travel to find Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium waiting at my desk. It’s a software package I requested immediately after I got here. The wheels of time grind slow, in government work, but they grind exceedingly fine. Which is to say that Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium is exceedingly fine. Y’know, like a hot lady. Good stuff. 
Oh! I spoke with Josh on my trip. In spite of the entirety of the contents of the call, it was awesome to actually talk with him. It’s been too long, and it probably will be again, but I enjoyed being in touch.
And, for reading material on my journey, I took along a book that Toby had gotten me for my birthday more than a year ago, Fluke by Christopher Moore. Christopher Moore is the one who wrote Lamb (which you should read, if you haven’t, or read again, if you have), and Toby and Gwyn liked his writing so much that, as far as I can tell, they bought and read everything he’s ever written. And, shortly after, what should show up in my birthday present wrappings but Fluke. I just assumed it was another funny story, which they enjoy sharing — I didn’t realize it would be tailor-written to me. Err…in a way. Anyway: hilarious, incisive, insightful, just like Lamb, but without all the heresy. Just finished it over lunch today.
I had a 3 1/2 hour layover in Denver airport. I had Trish’s laptop with me. I discovered I could buy high-speed wireless access for $10. You bet I did! I spent the entire layover playing Alterac Valley. So there’s how much of a nerd I am. We won the battleground (only my third win in hundreds of games), and I actually shouted out, “Yay!” in the middle of a crowded gate. So there’s how much of a dork I am.
Hope you had a good week. I’ll try to write something useful soon….