Overhearing

I’m sitting in a coffee shop in Seattle and listening to the conversations around me: at three of the nearby tables a recently ex-Microsoft employee pitching himself.

One of the guys is talking to a local VC — but his idea must be really dumb, because the VC guy just doesn’t look engaged. Another guy was a mid-level manager (who might actually still be at Microsoft but who’s seen the writing on the wall) and the last sounds like he was something of a pretty competent developer.

(Oooh, the guy talking to the VC just said, “hocky-stick growth”.)

Another table nearby is talking about their latest Web 2.0 thingy. It’s really hard to tell what they heck they’re planning to build, but they’re talking about social networks too…

The World has Ended

After a little more than two years of stalwart service, my Cuisinart cordless electric kettle has died.

I can’t begin to imagine how many liters of water this kettle has boiled keeping me caffeinated.

Makes the Job Worthwhile

In case some of you missed it (and shame on you if you did), last Sunday was Mother’s Day. As is sometimes usual, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. Jeff had gone off to work for a few hours, and Miss Molly and I were finding entertainment where we could. I had purchased new pants and a shirt, sadly necessitated by an increase in girth, and was trying them on at home. I asked Molly what she thought of my new outfit.

She looked me up and down, her eyes intense. This is usually not a good thing. At two, she has not learned that sometimes honesty can be stretched a little in order to spare one’s feelings.

Instead, she surprised and delighted me by saying, “Your new outfit is beautiful.”

Update: Yesterday, while out shopping, I placed her in an cart and she declared, “This cart is beautiful.” Apparently orange carts and yours truly rate equally in the eyes of a toddler.