It's that time again...

September 11th 2001 I was living in California, things were going well with work and, on the whole, things were looking up.  It was a lovely morning.  Our boss was heading down to give a talk at a Mobile event in San Diego and I was hoping to close our first US based deal with a new client. 

I got up, got some breakfast and turned on the TV, expected the usual junk morning news.  Instead I watched the world trade center fall down.  I called to M to come into the living room, which she did grudgingly, demanding to know what could be so important.

It was a rather odd feeling.  10 days later the VC funding our company pulled the plug and we lost our jobs and our visa.

Weirdly, I've just got back from Sea-Tac airport where I've just put M on a trans-continental flight to New York.  Weird how things work out.

Busy Busy

Been here a week already.  Here are some highlights...

Last Friday: Flew out from Heathrow to Vancouver Flight was oversold in all classes so no upgrade and to add insult to injury M got sat next to an Unaccompanied Minor. A 9 year old who, in addition to being afraid of flying had travel sickness. Much vomitting ensued. Yucky flight Arrived wiped out and eventually got to our hotel for the night and crashed.

Last Saturday: Up jet lag early and got on way.  The border, it being Labor Day weekend, was a disaster, nearly 2 hours. Still, at least we got through ok and the drive was nice. In the evening met fringefaan , akirlu and libertango for cocktails and food at the New Orleans in Pioneer Square. We somehow felt it made sense. Jet lagged we headed back to the hotel early for sleep.

Sunday to Thursday: I was working part of the week but we did take some time off. Went to Bumbershoot on Sunday watched some, shall we say, variable live music. Monday we went for a long walk and M did lots of shopping. Tuesday we did work and had some relaxing time and in the evening went to the Triple Door where The Atomic Bombshells Burlesque were on. Quite fun actually. Wednesday was a client meal with a wine tasting. Yumm.

Thursday we had dinner with another client.

Friday 9th September If it is the 9th of September, then it's my birthday. I had some work to do in the morning, which was annoying. But we did do fun stuff. M got me a new dressing gown, a $50 Barnes and Noble voucher and a Poker Kit - we will have to have a poker night now. Went to the movies and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Visually and to start it was damn near perfect. Then Johnny Depp turned up. I like his stuff a lot but he got this role really badly wrong. That, and the improve stuff thrown in damn near ruined the film for me. If it had ended where the book ended without the extra tacked on ending I'd have only been slightly unhappy.  Instead I was left feeling like I did when I didn't get up and walk out of AI when I thought the film had ended.

Another gripe was Danny Elfman's arrangements of the Ompa Loomp songs - they used the book's lyrics but arranged them in such a way that you could really hear them.

Then off to Gameworks for an hour of killing things before heading to Daniel's Broiler for chunks of animal

Saturday: Had a relaxed day, followed by a nice meal and a movie and bed. Up at 6 to take M to the airport for her flight to NYC - we'll catch up with each other the week after next.

I have the BIG client presentation on Tuesday for which the Group CEO is flying over. There's some stuff around that which is cementing my view of Swedes but I'll friend's lock that later.