the weekend was awesome

Redmond, in spite of being the home of the evil empire (Microsoft), was fantastic.
Saturday morning was wandering about on our own in the mall that the hotel was attached to. Redmond Town Center is an amazing shopping center. Got our coffee and commenced to wander.

The early afternoon included a stint at the hospitality center, a conference call from some of our list friends who had not been able to make the trip....and finally a diet Dr Pepper (my first in almost 2 days). A bit more shopping/wandering the mall and it was time to dress for the party.

The party was wonderful. I met people I had only read email on an email list from. Both from my own list and a list that was my first. Good friends, good food, good fun. A drink in the lounge with a couple of friends from my list, and I think it was an early night. By that time I was totally chronologically confused. That night daylight savings time messed me up even more. Up and at 'em early the next morn, it was tour day. First to our friends new home, a beautiful complex of mostly free standing condo units, an awesome lodge and community building, and hundreds of homes. Built as a retirement community, with a serious comittment to not changing the landscape too much, they still live in the woods and are promised that it will remain that way.

A short brunch, and we were off to tour greater Seattle, with two former cabbies. Saw all of our favorite bits and even got a chance to wander Pike's Market for a bit. If it weren't for the two non-stop talkers in the back of the van it would have been a wonderful afternoon.

After that we joined our hosts for dinner and quiet conversation. Then headed back to the hotel to pack for the long trip home.