(no subject)
I met a man who works from home like I do. Goes crazy in the solitude like I do. Travels a lot for work like I do.
Except, instead of leading groups of 50-somethings through Paris in search of ice cream and frivolity, he travels to places like Namibia to check on the grant money he approved for this or that charitable program.
I was fascinated by his job and felt foolish when he asked me about mine.
What surprised me was that when I described it, he listened intently. And said he had a friend who's interested in travel writing, and wanted to put that person in contact with me.
It's rare that I fall into easy, friendly conversation with someone. Especially when I feel awkward. But he put me at ease. And I left feeling like it's easy to make new friends in Portland.
Also: I am completely spoiled. While perfecting my chocolate truffle recipe (and they are so much better than the first try -- soft and slippery on the inside, with a hard shell that cracks when you bite into it) I've sampled about six pounds of chocolate over the last two days. Yes, it's possible to OD on the stuff. I was horrified at myself when I bit into a truffle experiment, found it mildly good, and threw the rest of it away.
Threw away good chocolate! Shame. Tell that to the folks in Namibia.
Except, instead of leading groups of 50-somethings through Paris in search of ice cream and frivolity, he travels to places like Namibia to check on the grant money he approved for this or that charitable program.
I was fascinated by his job and felt foolish when he asked me about mine.
What surprised me was that when I described it, he listened intently. And said he had a friend who's interested in travel writing, and wanted to put that person in contact with me.
It's rare that I fall into easy, friendly conversation with someone. Especially when I feel awkward. But he put me at ease. And I left feeling like it's easy to make new friends in Portland.
Also: I am completely spoiled. While perfecting my chocolate truffle recipe (and they are so much better than the first try -- soft and slippery on the inside, with a hard shell that cracks when you bite into it) I've sampled about six pounds of chocolate over the last two days. Yes, it's possible to OD on the stuff. I was horrified at myself when I bit into a truffle experiment, found it mildly good, and threw the rest of it away.
Threw away good chocolate! Shame. Tell that to the folks in Namibia.