Well, it’s been a fun 24 hours. Actually it’s been more than 24 hours since I left home, but with timechanges… Agh, screw timechanges.

The trip across the border yesterday AM (5am local time) was great. I’d visited the border 2 weeks earlier to find out what I’d need to cross to go to the course at Microsoft, and the guy I’d talked to 2 weeks ago was the same guy as yesterday AM. He didn’t even want to see the papers (I guess if you ask permission ahead of time, it’s unlikely you’re trying to sneak in).

It was great. We’d budgeted an hour and only used 5 minutes. Sadly we didn’t really take the time to veg out or anything, as I wanted to get to the airport and get setup and all that jazz. Looking back I wish I’d taken more time with the family. Damned hindsight.

I was flying out of Bangor airport, which is about as big as it gets in Maine. It’s not only the nearest airport to where we are, it’s also about 2/3 of the price to fly out of there if I’m going to a US destination. Might be different taxes, I’m not really sure.

It’s a tiny airport. Cheap (great) food. Very friendly people.

I was hoping to not have to check any luggage (so that I could just walk off the plane), but then I realized I had a razor in one of my carry-ons. I didn’t think you could take a razor on board (sharp object and all). So I packed it and checked that bag.

As I was eating breakfast in the cafeteria, the girl from the check-in counter asked me to come downstairs (she’d come to find me, it was kinda freaky). I got back and the security guy was all flustered. Apparently the fact that my razor has a battery in it (brand new M3 Power from Gillette… Best shave I’ve EVER had by the way) means it can’t be checked. And apparently you CAN take razors in your carry on.

Who knew?

So, both bags comin’ with me on the plane, which was for the best. The flight to Detroit was good. My laptop ran out of juice on the way, but I managed to write 5 pages before it did, which was good. Sadly that’s all I wrote yesterday (and Sunday was a similar output). So, I’m a touch behind, but considering I did 23 pages on Saturday, I don’t feel too bad. Maybe I can crank out 15 more today or something. We’ll see.

Anyways, Detroit has a new airport. It’s gorgeous, well organized, great shops. Great signage. Really one of my favourite airports. I couldn’t find WiFi there, but I have a feeling that may have been a laptop issue. I’ll try it out again on the way home (redeye flight… *shudder*).

I managed to snag my first ever professional massage while at the airport. It then took me half an hour to get lunch, and I only managed to get on the plane by 3 minutes.

Scary stuff.

The flight to Seattle was long. I’d forgotten to ask for an aisle seat up front. And so I was in the back row, squished between two big guys.

Definitely one of my least favourite flights (especially since I had to eat my lunch sitting between them) (or was it supper? Grr… timezones).

Arrived in Seattle. Got to the baggage claim area. Looked around for Lee for ages.

I’m such a dumbass.

He was standing 5 feet in front of me, whistling, grinning like an idiot.

I’m such a dumbass.

It’s a really good thing videoblogging hasn’t caught on yet.

So, I’m in Seattle. I like Seattle. It’s not as hilly as I figured, but it’s quite nice. Great community of folk here too.

After trying some local beer with Lee and his awesome wife (after visiting their drop dead freaking gorgeous house) we headed out to meet with some locals, like Nick (updated link) and Jordan.

Both of them are great. I’m honoured to have met Nick in particular. Great head on his shoulders. One of the people I’d pick to run the moon, if ever such a person were needed.

Jordan recently moved to the area from Texas (and other points). I really enjoyed Jordan as well. I could totally see him working his ass off at Microsoft or Google. Wonder if he’s looking?

We went to see Star Wars last night. Great movie. Best of all of them. I say that as a non-Star Wars geek. The original 3, I’ve always thought, were crap by modern day standards. Situations were crap, effects were crap, plot was weak and limited, acting was AWFUL… Sure, Phantom Menace was weak, and Jar Jar was annoying, but no more so than any other token character in Star Wars.

So, this movie was good. I thought they did a piss poor job of showing that the movie happens over almost a year of time (8 months), so you feel like Anakin’s turning quickly, but really it’s a lot of little and big events over a longer period of time.

Overall, I wasn’t disappointed. I thought it ended weakly, and some of the battles could have been better… But, then, there weren’t really any great battles in the original 3 were, there? I can’t think of any that were as good as even the worst battle in this movie.

I’m hoping that someone else takes over Star Wars and:

1. Does some pre-prequels
2. Does an in-between movie between these 3 and the original 3
3. Does some post movies where Vader gets his ass kicked

There’s more than enough material in the licenses Star Wars books to make 20 more movies.

Ah well.

So yeah, great first day here. Lee and his wife have been rocking. And I’m gonna go pick up Marc Orchant at the airport in a couple of hours.

For now, I’ve got faster-than-broadband web access, and I’m gonna enjoy it!