Saturday Seattle Slight

I see window wipers working on the cars going back and forth on Mount Lake Terrace Street below. Looks like a little rain today, but that's not going to dampen the fun of this weekend. It's already been very busy and eventful.

After arriving here mid-afternoon yesterday, I settled in to reading some more of the galley proofs from my book, which I received Thursday afternoon. It's kinda fun seeing the words in their page format, and I must say that so far, they don't look too bad.

When I've finished my review and made any corrections to typos or other mistakes, the Keokee staff will wrap up final details and send the project to the printer. That means a new projected release of mid-April, so for anyone who's been patiently waiting, thanks for your patience.

After working on my proofreading assignment, I took off toward downtown afoot. Annie had given me excellent directions for finding her office at Groundspeak, Inc. Again, it's the headquarters for Geocaching.com, and she sits at the front desk right across from the Fifth Street donut shop where she's almost sure she saw Gonzaga star Derek Raivio eating a donut yesterday. If anyone else had Derek sightings in Seattle yesterday, let me know and we can be sure.

I met several Groundspeak staff members, including the owners and Rain. No, not Seattle rain but Rain who does computer stuff there. Rain and I had a nice visit while Annie finished up her projects. Then, we walked back to the hotel. She headed off for a soccer game, and I waited for my cousin Sue to meet me for dinner. We ate at Pasta Fresca last night, which is the fun place where you don't order. The owner figures out what you want.

Michael asks you what you don't like and attempts to feed you what you do like in the form of "Surprise No. 1" and so on. Well, last night our surprises were coming rather quickly. Just as I'd finished my third bite of Surprise No. 1, Surprise Salad No. 2 showed up. Soon thereafter, the next course. We kept telling them we weren't in that much of a hurry, but that didn't seem to slow the pace for the next three courses. By the way, they dimmed the lights, so Sue and I aren't really sure what we gobbled down, but it was good and very filling.

Just as we were about to leave, we saw the reason for Mike's hurry-up dining offense. Approximately 20 young couples came marching our way and sat down all around us. Sue and I considered joining the birthday party, but I think even the dim lighting couldn't have hidden the fact that we weren't 28 like the guest of honor and all his friends.

So, we left, but not before a gentleman stopped us and told me he'd been eavesdropping on our conversation, which included references to the fact that I know American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee's grandmother. The nice young man told me he arranged halftimes for Seattle Seahawk games and that he would very much like to get Katharine to sing the National Anthem at one of next season's games.

He said they'd set up a suite for her entire family and that if I can pull this off, I'd be invited too. So, I told him I'd pass the word to Grandma Gloria and see if she has any influence. He also told us some other plans which involve the Boise State football team and the BSU band. I can't reveal everything on that one, though. His girlfriend also told us that she sang in the choir with Blake Lewis who has just earned a spot in the top twelve for this year's American Idol.

So, I guess Sue and I were a few degrees of separation from greatness last night after our hurried meal. We yakked for another hour and then called it a night. My former student Mitzi is coming at 9 this morning for coffee. So, while her mom and all my coffee cult friends gossip in Sandpoint, I'll be gossiping with Mitzi in Seattle.

By the way, I'm sleepless in Seattle too. People come home to the hotel late on Friday nights and then they crank up the television set to top volume, so my beauty rest got a few interruptions during the night. Nonetheless, there's a full day ahead and I can't let a little sleeplessness spoil the fun. Annie and I will take off for Port Townsend later this morning.

So far, the trip has been wonderful, including the plane ride where a very sweet Zags senior named Inger and I talked about none other than THE ZAGS, who will learn tomorrow where and when they'll start out in the NCAA tournament. GO ZAGS

Happy Saturday from Seattle.