Happy Fourth of July

Well, my plans for today more or less fell through, so I'm chilling alone at home. Somehow, the grill on the roof-deck broke just in time for the hottest week of the year, and is still busted. So I'm heating up the broiler, which means for dinner I'm having a salad, quick-pickled zucchini, and a broiled steak. I'll drink a beer, too. Not bad, all told.

I'm definitely enjoying the time and space to myself, which has let me accomplish a bunch of stuff: record-keeping, bill-paying, some housecleaning, some organization. I managed to sort the stuff in my freezer, which is good, and type up what I've written so far of a short story, which is better. All the money stuff is up-to-date, all the dishes are washed and the trash out. It sounds simple, but it's stuff I don't normally have time to do the way I'd like to.

I'd hoped to have a lot more time to do this kind of stuff with Laura out of town, but work calls: nine days, five cities. Tuesday I fly to Boston, where I'll work Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday night I'll take the train down to Connecticut, and possibly work in Greenwich on Friday. It's not unlikely that the customer won't be available, which would give me a three-day weekend just a bit north of New York.

I'll see some family over that weekend, perform remote maintenance for a customer late Saturday night, and that Sunday I'll fly to Atlanta. Monday I'll have meetings in Atlanta, then fly to Baltimore. Tuesday I'll have a meeting near Baltimore, return the car to the airport, and take a train to New York. Wednesday I've got a meeting in New York. Possibly I'll take the train up to Greenwich that afternoon, or the next day, if I'm unable to do that work the previous Friday. Right now, however, I'm scheduled to fly home that Thursday.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

Tonight, after dinner and dish washing, I'll probably watch 300, which I'm only moderately interested in, but which Laura is completely disinterested in.  I've also rented Vantage Point, which I might see tonight, or tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll hit the Farmer's Market in the U District, pick up a couple of things for dinner, and basically knock around all weekend relaxing. I'm thinking spicy garlic-chili-basil pork noodles tomorrow night, pizza Sunday night, and leftovers Monday night, so there's not too much hanging around when I fly away on Tuesday.

If you've got anything fun planned in Seattle this weekend, let me know. I've got enough to keep myself busy, but I'm sure that I'd find time for exciting stuff.