19 April 2001
Last year: Boy, was I wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Brimming over with wrongosity.
Yesterday was pretty good, though tiring. We got to the meeting on time, and spent the first two hours listening to this guy argue with the three database programmers. He seemed to alternate between being a hard-assed "my-way-or-the-highway" guy; and being a nice guy, apologetic for the absurd rules we're having to meet. After lunch the database programmers had gone back to their desks, and he was a lot less hard-assed, though it still peeked through occasionally. In the end, he reminded me of my grandfather: gruff, but friendly at heart.
In any case, my playing ignorant ("I learn fast, but I've never even handled civilian supply!") got us where Keith's polite requests could not: He actually explained a lot of the obscure codes and things to us. I have his phone number and e-mail address for user interface and process questions, and I got the phone number and e-mail address for the lead database programmer in case I need to ask her anything about the technical underpinings of their system.
We were there until after three, and we'll almost certainly have to go back next week. Keith is talking about weekly meetings with this guy. I won't object - I'd rather get his feedback as we go than get to the end and have him tell us that what we've produced is crap.
So the meeting was, for me, a success: I got useful information out of it.
When I got home yesterday, Matt had beaten me home. After a flurry of "preparation" he presented me with a card. The card contained a spare key to his car - something we've been saying I should have for years now.
"Let's go make sure it works!" he said, his eyes gleaming.
On the passenger seat in his car was another card and a wrapped present. Don't I have the greatest sweetie?
He paused for a moment, looked irritable, and retrieved a third card from my car, this one with a spare key to my car in it. Apparently my arrival had caused him to forget which keys were in which cards. But that's okay. I still enjoyed the thought.
The gift turned out to be a few books - a "substitute" present, since the whatever-it-is that he ordered for me still hasn't arrived. I'm pretty happy with the books, though. Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and a bathroom book - we're big bathroom readers. (I can't remember which bathroom reader it is, but the book in the link is at least in the same series.)
We also got a card from my brother and his wife, and from Matt's mom came a card and a gift. She'd told Matt that she'd searched very hard for just the right gift, so I was curious to see what she'd come up with. It turned out to be a chip-and-dip bowl set. (Along with some peach salsa.) It'll come in handy at our next party, but I have to admit I'm not sure why it's the "perfect" gift!
After a couple of hours of relaxing, we drove up to Colonial Williamsburg for dinner at Shield's Tavern. Neither of us had ever eaten there, though we've eaten at the King's Arms, another Williamsburg Tavern. Despite being rather early, they seated us right away.
Dinner was very good. We had a sampler platter of period appetizers, and then Matt had Buffalo prime rib, while I had a filet mignon steak that made me close my eyes in ecstacy with every bite. I found myself cutting my pieces smaller and smaller, just to make it last longer.
There was a strolling minstrel who came in and played a few songs in our room. I'm enough of a geek that I really wished I'd brought my camera - he looked quite a bit like my mental image of my Meade Hall character, Kevil. He even had the right instrument!
For dessert, Matt had a "Cocoa Cake" - chocolate cake with raspberry sauce between the layers - and I had a syllabub (heavy cream whipped with sugar, lemon, and sherry, topped with berries). By the time we left, I thought it might be easier to roll than to walk, but it was all fantastic.
All in all, a very satisfying day.
But now I can't quite believe that it's Thursday. It should be later in the week, shouldn't it?
Word of the Day:
regardless - despite everything
Currently Reading:
- Jinx by Brian Michael Bendis
Current Projects:
- Kris' afghan
- garden