Farewell dinner with Christine

Friday: Up around 9 as MB headed out. Web, cats. Brief sitting. Shower. Loaded the summer tires into the car, then drove over to Union Square to drop it off at the mechanics. Walked back up and over the Somerville Hill to my house. Burned some "Dharma trash" in the fire-pit in the backyard. Guitar. Hands feeling better today than they have in quite some time. Breakfast (cereal, yogurt, coffee). Down basement and morning practices.

Walked to the stand, and picked up a taxi. Got an education on the very odd system in place in the city of Somerville, to regulate taxis. In at work, took another spin through the crash logs that came in over the last few days. Dispatched some of them. Looked more closely at others. One bug I thought I had solved was still in evidence. Got some help from Mrk, and determined that the pointer was fine, but the length was wrong. Added some defensive code to deal with this. Coffee. Checked today's and yesterday's changes in. Christine showed up around 6:25. I shut things down, and greeted her at the front door.

She suggested we walk home and I agreed. We strolled back along Kirkland, and then Washington streets, talking about life directions. Such a dear friend. Got back to my place around 7:05, then to the store for salad stuff and ice cream. A woman behind us in the checkout line, went to exchange something as the line was closed. She tried to drag us into her dispute with the cashier: I was here! They saw me... didn't you see me here? Back home, MB had arrived and had food cooking. I was momentarily thrown off by what MB had done with the mushrooms. We all helped cook, and very quickly, we had a lovely meal of whole wheat pasta with red sauce and a toping of portabella mushrooms (home-grown), fresh tomato and red pepper, a big salad with avocado, and garlic bread. After the food, we took a walk up and around the long Somerville block (up to Highland, then back around). I showed MB how to use the espresso machine. Pie and ice-cream. Relating raunchy stories. Lots of laughter.

Gave Christine a ride home around midnight. She's moving to Paris in not too long. The end of an era. But the beginning of another.

Back home, said hello to MB. Email.