Act I: It is terrible and rainy.
I stay late at work getting myself pretty confused about localization and Subversion, pack up, and hit Elliott Bay Books/Cafe. They have a terrible selection (or lack thereof) of children’s books, but a stunning selection of darling baristas who know me.
I walk North on 1st a mile or two through Pioneer Square, Pike Place, Belltown. It is fucking awful out. By the time I get there, my hair is all standing on end, but my teeth are pretty clean from the solid wind-flossing.
Act II: Awkward attack!
I’ve never been to the Cyclops before, so I do that thing where you look confused walking in, and then I go up and order a whiskey&ginger-ale, and then I see Merlin and all his cool internet friends at a giant table being smart. I take my drink and promptly make a chagrined beeline for the tiny table in the back corner of the second room.
I tweet, etc. I’m like a really, really incompetent stalker. I mean, I’m facing the corner. Christ. Then my phone battery gets really low, and I know I’m either going to have to leave or otherwise amuse myself.
Act III: If you can’t beat ‘em, draw them?
Since I’m having this bizarre awkward attack—and the waitress thinks I’m completely off my rocker—I might as well do something while I’m at it. I switch sides of the table and start drawing the standing-around people and the bar. It’s all very fuzzy, because if I wear my glasses the people are clear but my page is squiggly, and if I don’t wear my glasses the people are fuzzy but my page is clear. So I draw fuzzy people. Lots of them.
Some dude comes over and peers at my page, then goes back to his conversation. Oh my god could I be more awkward.
Act IV: Nerds FTW.
Dude comes back with reinforcements. I explain my whole totally ridiculous situation. They drag me out of my sad corner to talk to people. I go to the bathroom and wind up standing around the restroom-foyer-area (this is a thing?) chatting with Merlin and folks.
Everybody is lovely and smart and friendly and funny as hell.
Thank you guys. You made my night.
