back from days by the Bay

[sergebroom]

Overall that last week in San Francisco was a week well spent, especially so.

I wasn’t sure at first, not when I showed up at 6am on Monday. The desk that had been ‘mine’ since the team moved to that building two years ago was occupied by someone else’s computer. What with the place being deserted, I couldn't ask if I could use that spot anyway, so I looked around for a spot that was free and eventually found one. Its docking station was mouseless though, and I scrounged some more, uncovering a mouse in a box full of junk. I booted up my computer and worked a long time, the first in a series that I unfortunately spent with my back to the rest of the team, due to my desk’s location. That slightly undermined the pleasure of physically being with the rest of the team when I am normally isolated thru the wonders of telecommuting. Oh well. I was so busy anyway that I never had time to step away from my work to just go over to any teammate’s desks for some downtime(1). The whole team did go on that ferry trip across the Bay to Sausalito though.

I had hoped to meet fellow blogger Kathryn from Sunnyvale, but alas it wasn't to be, not this time, for various reasons, one of which was my being vehicleless because Sue and I had flown in. There'll be other times. I did get to meet my friend Yoko, after business hours even though she now works upstairs in the same building, because she was even more busy. We had dinner on Tuesday, and that’s when the quake hit. Considering that, and considering that the big quake of 1989 had hit a few hours after the two of us had pulled an all-nighter at our then-employer, we should have hesitated about a quick lunch on Friday. Luckily the salad bar’s greens didn’t get tossed around by the Forces of Nature.

Besides that…

There was family, as I already wrote in my Halloween entry. On Friday, it looked like I’d be late to the restaurant for the evening’s birthday celebration for my comic-book-loving nephew Josh, thanks to some more cleanup of our database. That had already used up much of the week already, and I wasn’t too happy about its again interfering with Other Plans. I wrapped that up, but barely, and had to rush my goodbyes to the team. I made it to the birthday.

Good thing too.

When I got to the table where most of the family was, it was explained to me that I must sit next to Josh, at the latter’s strong request. And, without his being prompted, he gave me a big hug. Before you know it, he’ll grow out of that kind of behavior, for better and for worse, but I hope I’ll remain his favorite uncle.



----------

(1) That’s why I haven’t been blogging around as much as is my habit. Besides, my boss could see what was on my computer from her/his lair.

Comments

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Cute kid that!

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Very rambunctious too. He did love it when I babysat him on Saturday night because I was willing to have hang from one arm like he was a little monkey.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

How old is he?

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

He just turned 6. At some point, I had to tell the little guy I was too tired to hang a monkey from my arm, and he took it well. Eventually, after playing with his toys, he ran out of gas and curled up on the couch next to me. He obviously was cold so I covered him like a blanket. When I left, I tried to wake him up to say goodbye, but he was out like a light and didn't wake up even when I poked with my finger.

[tania-c.livejournal.com]

As someone who has WONDERFUL/AWESOME/FABULOUS uncles, thank you.

My uncles were/are the best. You are maintaining a noble tradition, and are to be commended.

Glad you had a nice visit with the family, and welcome home!

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've been told that I get along well with him because I'm still a kid at heart. At least, I wasn't told it's because I'm downright juvenile. Anyway. Watching the Power Rangers was a bit of a strain, but they matter to the kid and that was the bottom line so I'd ask him questions about this or that character. To make sure I remain in his good graces, I promised that, on my next visit, I'd bring a DVD with those old Max Fleischer Superman cartoons. And Bugs Bunny, of course.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That's a good age. Old enough to understand instructions, but still eager to play.