It was time for one last trip west before entering the big house where my time won't be my own.

Wonder of wonders, we ran into Jane's parents IMG_0589 at Newark airport. They wouldn't have been nearly as happy if they knew that this meal IMG_0001 would look like this IMG_0002 and then this IMG_0003 once fully opened.

On the other side, I checked my rental car out of the airport IMG_0004 and parked IMG_0005 near this corner IMG_0006 to head to Pike Place Market for lunch IMG_0007 and then off to UW where the plumbing works IMG_0008 (well, sort of) and off to see the new building IMG_0009 that Paul gave IMG_0010 and Ed built. I had to wear these boots IMG_0011 and dress like Ed did IMG_0012 to get inside. It's an impressive structure all around. Afterwards, we went to Chez Lazowska where Lindsay IMG_0013 and Ed IMG_0014 were enjoying their chairs as I took this self portrait IMG_0015 before heading to the hotel in Kirkland.

Once there, I went to dinner with Maria IMG_0016 where we started with this bread IMG_0017 and then I took this artistic picture of our neighbors seen through a wine glass IMG_0018 as the main course came IMG_0019 and ultimately the waiter brought dessert IMG_0020 as the team of waiters IMG_0021 gave us serious Father's Day service as Jane had arranged.

Next morning there were the strawberries IMG_0022 as Jane IMG_0023 prepared me for another day along with this breakfast IMG_0024 and coffee IMG_0025 so that I could look for the elusive building 112 IMG_0026 where this gentleman IMG_0027 could sign me in.

Wonder of wonders, who should appear again but Maria IMG_0028 as I was winding down with Mark Lewin IMG_0029 and getting ready to see Chris Fraser IMG_0030 Dave Hanson IMG_0031 and Michael Cohen IMG_0032 before a quick meeting with John Nordlinger IMG_0033 who also set me on my way to see Nathan.

Nathan's office was, as always, a museum. In the conference room, I did a closeup IMG_0034 and then some wider shots IMG_0035 IMG_0036 of his adding machines and typewriters. In his office, there were more instruments IMG_0037 and a dinosaur IMG_0038 meters in a case IMG_0039 and his desk IMG_0040 and finally more meters IMG_0041 though the piece of the original Eniac is still at home. Nathan IMG_0042 was very vibrant and our conversation would have been endless if I didn't have to pull out of this parking space IMG_0043 and head to this one IMG_0044 to get back to Microsoft where they had this sign for the collection IMG_0045 before I hooked up with David Treadwell IMG_0046 to get things going on our joint MSFT-PUCS project.

After giving Janice IMG_0047 my car, I had this food IMG_0048 and this company IMG_0049 of a man who couldn't wait to get to King Salmon, Alaska to go fishing for a while (and maybe couldn't wait to get away from a lunatic who would take his picture at this Taco Bell?) IMG_0050

Once the plane landed, Dansyl IMG_0051 were there to greet me and got into the mood for a better picture IMG_0052 as we talked about heading to dinner where I got this sign for my collection IMG_0053 and this pizza IMG_0054 and wine IMG_0055 for my stomach. Dan's dessert IMG_0056 really amused our neighbors IMG_0057 even though they couldn't solve the mystery of the bumps on the bottoms of the pots. Dansyl ate some more IMG_0058 and then we headed back and were careful IMG_0059 with their neighbor's car.

Next morning, we admired the fruit IMG_0060 as Dan had his breakfast IMG_0061 and helped to compose this picture of art meeting reality IMG_0062 as I admired the mug IMG_0063 and vase with IMG_0064 and without flash IMG_0065 that came for Mother's Day.

Lunch was soup IMG_0066 and olives IMG_0067 and fried matzah IMG_0068 with added decorations IMG_0069 as Michelle called to bring Sylvia IMG_0070 up to date on the happenings in Baltimore. Dan produced his dessert of choice IMG_0071 IMG_0072 and Sylvia showed me various food options IMG_0073 IMG_0074 IMG_0075 but before long we were back in and out of the car IMG_0076 heading for Seaport Village with the other clowns IMG_0077 there. To get in the mood, Dan tried on this hat IMG_0078 and Sylvia put on the birthday hat IMG_0079 to celebrate her special day.

After a break, we dressed for dinner IMG_0080 IMG_0081 IMG_0082 and Sylvia showed off her new earrings IMG_0083 as we made our way IMG_0084 to P. F. Changs IMG_0085 where the menu IMG_0086 offered this great appetizer (roll your food into your lettuce) IMG_0087 and hot and sour soup IMG_0088 with our entrees IMG_0089 brought by this waiter (a civil engineering student, not an actor) IMG_0090 who took these pictures of us IMG_0091 IMG_0092 on this happy day.

Next day, we made our way to the airport IMG_0093 where Dansyl IMG_0094 tried not to look too happy to see me go. On the other end, Jane IMG_0095 tried not to look too impatient about having me arrive. We were early for our first stop, so we stopped at the Java Street Cafe for strawberries IMG_0096 and water IMG_0097 as Jane expressed utter joy IMG_0098 knowing that I would capture this picture IMG_0099 for the collection.

At Network Appliance, Jenny First posed in the elevator IMG_0100 and out IMG_0101 as Jane posed with flat Dan Warmenhoven IMG_0102 before she took the shots of 2 men in blue shirts IMG_0103 IMG_0104 in front of their headquarters building.

Next we made our way to Ebay IMG_0105 where the map IMG_0106 lead us to the meeting with Meg Whitman IMG_0107 IMG_0108 who showed us her cubby IMG_0109 complete with Teletubbies.

We had another break in our schedule and so called Jacobo IMG_0110 who joined us for coffees IMG_0111 as he IMG_0112 together with Jane IMG_0113 marvelled at the wonders of digital photography.

The last stop of Wednesday was at the offices of Sutter Hill where this formal photo of Jane with Paul Wythes IMG_0114 led to these informal pictures IMG_0115 where Paul helped me get respectable IMG_0116 and then posed with me IMG_0117 so that I would be prepared should C-Span ever call.

For dinner that night, we decided to pass on P F Chang's IMG_0118 though we did get the horses and head to Bravo Fono where the bread IMG_0119 and wine IMG_0120 seemed to put Jane IMG_0121 in the right mood for the pear based salad IMG_0122 her veal IMG_0123 and my pasta IMG_0124 before we called it a day.

Thursday morning, we headed out to Buck where my breakfast IMG_0125 looked better without flash IMG_0126 and Tom's massive meal was partly hidden by syrups IMG_0127 as Jane had even more strawberries IMG_0128 to the amusement of Tom Kessler IMG_0129 who then rode off on his motorcycle but not before posing with Jane IMG_0130 and me IMG_0131 IMG_0132 though neither of us got to try on the helmet. The next stop was Sand Hill Road IMG_0133 where we forgot to record Geoff Yang. Our final stop of the day was at Google where I was able to capture the CEO with the other founder, Sergei Brin IMG_0134 and so now have a complete photo album of the place.

Back at the hotel, Jacobo arrived with the prototypes IMG_0135 and was excited about his new bowling shirt IMG_0136 as he called ChefRob IMG_0137 to arrange for dinner. En route to our walk, we stopped in Woodside IMG_0138 at Roberts Market where she IMG_0139 served the food, she IMG_0140 took our money (my ribs still are tender) and he IMG_0141 bagged it so that I could eat my chile relleno IMG_0142 Jane could have her pasta IMG_0143 and Jacobo could have his bread and juice IMG_0144 before we began our climb up to Redwood Flat IMG_0145 and beyond where the conquering heroes IMG_0146 posed at the peak though one of them IMG_0147 seemed in a hurry to head to the memorial bench IMG_0148 before we recorded our highest elevation IMG_0149 and started down to Salamander Flats IMG_0150 before finding the path down IMG_0151 to our base camp. On our descent, we came across a photo op, so I climbed back up as Jacobo captured me in the tree IMG_0152 IMG_0153 and then starting IMG_0154 and completing IMG_0155 IMG_0156 the complex maneuvers of my descent much to the relief of Jane IMG_0157 who didn't realize what came next.

Once back on terra firma, we headed off to see ChefRob who posed in his PuCS hat IMG_0158 IMG_0159 and then admired his shirt IMG_0160 while preparing for the machinist bowling team photo IMG_0161 with Jacobo. The shop tour highlighted the lathe IMG_0162 IMG_0163 and mill IMG_0164 along with the sample pennies IMG_0165 used for precisions tooling. The lathe controls IMG_0166 and sorted parts IMG_0167 wildly impressed me as did the original prototypes IMG_0168 including the one IMG_0169 that cut their fingers IMG_0170 even with the flash off IMG_0171 for a better view. Jacobo showed his new part IMG_0172 which will eventually be jewelry and ChefRob showed his micrometers IMG_0173 with their meters IMG_0174 accurate to thousandths of an inch. Then, we were ready for dinner at the El Paso Cafe IMG_0175 which needed a pitcher of beer IMG_0176 to get Jane and Rob IMG_0177 ready for the bowling team photo IMG_0178 as Bonnie and I IMG_0179 IMG_0180 watched (and played the role of important people (x2)). The chips and salsa IMG_0181 helped Jacobo empty the pitcher IMG_0182 as the main courses came IMG_0183 IMG_0184 IMG_0185 IMG_0186 for the others. I can't remember what they ate, but my vegetarian burrito IMG_0187 was excellent if not colorful.

The next morning began at Starbucks IMG_0188 and led to SanDisk IMG_0189 where they had a repeat collection sign IMG_0190 which coupled with their concern about SARS. The CEO, Eli Harari IMG_0191 seemed quite happy about his business these days. En route to our next stop, we paused for a picture of Armadillo Willy's IMG_0192 before parking the car next door at Portal IMG_0193 and having an enthusiastic meeting with John Little IMG_0194 IMG_0195 there.

Our work done, our plane much later, we headed to Half Moon Bay where the people in this sandwich shop IMG_0196 were kind enough to point us towards this restaurant IMG_0197 with an extensive history IMG_0198 and fine indoor art work IMG_0199 where the wine IMG_0200 gave a chance to unwind and enjoy the beautiful scenery IMG_0201 IMG_0202 before my lunch came. IMG_0203 Jane IMG_0204 got her cheeseburger IMG_0205 and became a happier person IMG_0206 as was I IMG_0207 IMG_0208 now that work was done. We took the obligatory ocean pictures of Jane IMG_0209 IMG_0210 and me IMG_0211 and observed the scenery IMG_0212 a final time before getting down to the business IMG_0213 of broadening penny research to see how mint marks distribute to different locales.

Back at the airport, we returned the rental car IMG_0214 and headed for the monorail (though not the hand built one) IMG_0215 where we rode on IMG_0216 IMG_0217 in the bold new car IMG_0218 along the tracks IMG_0219 IMG_0220 past the other car IMG_0221 IMG_0222 leaving the trip behind us IMG_0223 IMG_0224 until we finally emerged IMG_0225 to get to the plane in time for this meal IMG_0226 that could not seem to uncover IMG_0227 IMG_0228 IMG_0229 without being blurred.

Back at home, Jane's posse assembled the next night IMG_0230 to say good bye to Dan who posed here with the hostess IMG_0231 as the others IMG_0232 completed a video game IMG_0233 and Jane and Dan IMG_0234 chatted while Lucy and Anna IMG_0235 chatted IMG_0236 in a different medium.

Eventually, I opened the screen door IMG_0237 to welcome Ed Konin IMG_0238 who came to pick up Ned and Tommy IMG_0239 and leave me to experiment with my prototypes IMG_0240 which often needed help from a fondue fork to get the pennies aligned.

In all, it was a great trip, though I wish I'd had the camera when I ran into Marsha and gave her the details.