Seattle was the next stop on my intinerary. I had a 4 hour layover in San Francisco and Muggsygal had arranged to meet me during this time and was waiting when I disembarked from the plane. Muggsy was familiar with the airport, and after checking that I was ready for lunch, she lead the way to a seafood restaurant. At last, someone who could talk more than me!! There was not a quiet moment thoughout the meal! I suspect that if we had been together for double the time, the conversation rate would not have lessened. Muggsy related tales of her family, her pet birds, and her studies. Before leaving, I was presented with a loaf of sourdough bread. As I was staying in a hotel for the night, I wondered just what would I do with a loaf of bread, a large loaf of bread! Despite my request that Muggsy take the bread home with her, I finally had to accept it after being firmly told that "nobody can leave San Francisco without a loaf of sourdough". I desperately tried getting the bread into my carryon bag. Alas, it was a wasted effort, so, bread in hand, I boarded the plane, still wondering what I would do with it. Maybe, I could take the bread and have a picnic....wine. ..cheese...chunks of bread....companion...forget that idea, my companion was across the other side of the country!
Arriving in Seattle in the late afternoon, I stood in the airport looking around for Baddogg, the man of many names, and those names have been of either gender, all done in fun. After meeting in TA and having a very turbulent start, our friendship has been long standing, as have all the friendships of the people I was meeting on my travels. Baddogg has the distinction of causing me the most embarassment in chat, resulting from an away message he had posted for his pms. As you might gather, my vow to never talk to him again, wasn't kept. Badd was the first person that it took a little time to recognise. Spotting someone leaning on a wall, watching me and chuckling, I knew I had found him. It was no wonder I didn't recognise him earlier, I had been looking for someone about 5.10, and here I was, looking up at about 6.3. His pic that he had sent hadn't been too clear either and certainly didn't aid in identifying him. The grin was the decider though, couldn't miss that! With my bags packed in the boot, I now faced a test, a serious test. A testing of my confidence in my intuition about people. Informing me that the lock on the passengers side was stuck, I had two options, to either sit in the back seat, or slide across the front seat. With no doubts, I slid across the front seat. Buckled, and locked in, I was ready for a tour around the city.
First though, I had to check into the hotel. With this done, and the bags in the room, I had one small task to accomplish before we left the room. Many friends had requested I pass on messages to Alan, these I did, but, I do admit to hesitating for a moment before goosing him, (the person requesting that I do this shall remain nameless), but a promise is a promise. Messages all relayed, now we could have our night out. I was treated to drive around the domain of Bill Gates, first the business side, then to his home. Well, as far as the security gates of his home. Alan informed me that cameras were installed and someone would be watching us as we approached. Displaying a degree of maturity, (for a change), I resisted putting on a performance for the camera. The house is one of many, of the rich and famous, that sit on the bank of the river. Great location, but little privacy for the home-owners as boats cruise by with tourists wanting to see who lives where. Dinner time was approaching and while driving towards the restaurant, we passed a large sports stadium. Nothing unusual about that, but, this stadium had a sliding roof. Interesting! The protection from the weather was for whose benefit? The players or the spectators? Or, was it to protect the surface? At the threat of bad weather, just how quick could that roof be closed?
A queue met us at ClaimJumpers, indicating a table would not be immediate. Taking advantage of the wait, I left Alan holding the buzzer while I went across the street to check out a bookstore. My oldest daughter, a great book lover, would have been in heaven. The place was huge! A caf� was situated close to the entrance, a guitarist playing softly, providing entertainment for the patrons. I headed upstairs to the music section, here I found a CD that I had not been able to locate anywhere else. Giving the books a quick glance on my way out, I was suddenly holding two books that I knew my granddaughters would love. Leaving before I found more treasures, I joined Alan, still sitting holding the buzzer. Seated at our table, I pored over the menu looking for something different to have. This always takes me some time, anyone who has been with me in a restaurant knows how long I study a menu. (I have had a waitress, good naturedly, whip a menu off me after I had changed my order twice). Finding far to much to choose from, I settled on a salad, but what a salad! I nearly asked for a higher chair so I could see over the top of it. We enjoyed pleasant conversation during dinner, but, during a quiet moment, naturally, it would be then, I let out a very unladylike burp. This, I have never lived down. Since that night, whenever I see Alan in chat, the usual greeting from him is oO(burp)!! Starbucks was the venue for after dinner coffee. I attempted to keep a bewildered look off my face as I read through the list, a long one, of the types of coffee available. Some I had never heard of! The young lady was standing patiently, waiting for my order, though why did she have to tap her finger on the register? Glancing at the menu again, I requested the first name that caught my eye. On receiving the order, I wanted to suggest that the menu be split into "hot" and "cold". A chilly evening, and here I was, holding an iced coffee!
A short drive back to the hotel and, after thanking him for the tour and dinner, our goodbyes said, Alan went on his way. I would not see him again before leaving in the morning. A restful nights sleep saw me rising early and I started the chore of packing my bags, though the disruption to them should have been minimal with only a one night stay here. But, I had been shopping again! Studying the bags, I checked the time, went downstairs, found a taxi and went to the nearest shopping centre. Here, I bought a large bag, on wheels! Back to the hotel, unpack one bag and pack the contents, including the old bag, into the new, bigger, but more manageable, bag. Finding a trolley abandoned in the hallway, well, hoping that was the case, I commandeered it and made my way back to the room. Bags balanced on the trolley, it was down to the front of the hotel and await the shuttle. Though I did not need to be at the airport for a couple of hours, I planned to check in early and sit with a coffee, a hot one, and caught up on some postcard writing. What do they say about the best laid plans......?? |
