To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland
Sent: Friday, 5:15pm

Hello Thomas,

I don't expect you remember me--we met briefly at the Graduate Job Fair at
Olympia a couple of weeks ago. I was recruiting for Koine Industries, and
while we didn't have anything in your field I held on to your CV. I'm just
now getting through my filing and I noticed that you had listed the Climbing
Society in your activities and interests.

A look at my schedule puts me in London several times in the next few
months, and I was wondering if you would be able to recommend a couple of
places for me to climb. I mostly stick to indoor walls, though I do have
experience on rock. The problem is that my travel plans are sometimes
fairly fluid (a polite way of saying that we trade trips like bartering
chips around here) and most places I've found aren't very agreeable to last
minute additions or late cancellations.

If you happen to know of a place where I could find a good spotter/partner,
and have the time to let me know, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I enjoyed speaking with you, and regret that KI wasn't what you were looking
for. I hope that I'm not imposing on you by writing--contacts of any sort
other than business related are hard to make when one is on the move as
often as I am.

Take care,

Oliver Kurland
Koine Industries
USA

To: Oliver Kurland
From: Thomas Moorfield
Sent : Saturday, 03.49 am

> I don't expect you remember me--we met briefly at the Graduate Job Fair at
> Olympia a couple of weeks ago. I was recruiting for Koine Industries, and
> while we didn't have anything in your field I held on to your CV.

Quite the contrary, actually - you made a definite impression for being
willing to talk with me despite me not really wanting to sign on the dotted
line, as it were. I just hope I didn't waste too much of your time - you
definitely gave me some food for thought, so thank you.

[I hope I'm not totally blowing my cover, writing like this - I'm too
knackered to try and compose this into business speech though, and I think
we've already established that you don't want to hire me.]

> A look at my schedule puts me in London several times in the next few
> months, and I was wondering if you would be able to recommend a couple of
> places for me to climb. I mostly stick to indoor walls, though I do have
> experience on rock. The problem is that my travel plans are sometimes
> fairly fluid (a polite way of saying that we trade trips like bartering
> chips around here) and most places I've found aren't very agreeable to
> last minute additions or late cancellations.

We mostly use a centre a little way out of town. The only thing is that it's
a bit of a pain to get to without a car. We run a minibus out there a couple
of times a week, but I don't know how your company would feel about you
putting in a £40-each-way taxi fare in on expenses. They don't have a
website - I could give them a ring, find out what their booking system's
like for individuals, if you like? - I've only ever dealt with the group
block bookings that we have. Otherwise, The Climber have business
listings that would give you starters. My only caveat would be that the one
out by Mills Cross - I think it's Fredricktons? Fredlingtons? - was
absolutely god-awful.

> If you happen to know of a place where I could find a good
> spotter/partner, and have the time to let me know, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Well, it would depend on when you were in London. The Rock-Soc's organising
a bunch of one day trips now that spring is finally here, and most of them,
we put any spare slots up for 'guests', which might be a way for you to get
your feet wet on English rock. I'm determined to get out of the Infamous
Triad of library / lab / lectures for at least one or two of them. I'm going
to go insane if I don't take a break sometime, right? Hell, if your trips
put you with a free afternoon on a Wednesday or a Sunday I can probably
wrangle you into one of our regular wall sessions - numbers are dropping off
a bit as exams get closer, and I can probably bullshit something about
'useful networking' if the raw power of my position doesn't do the trick.

> I hope that I'm not imposing on you by writing--contacts of any sort
> other than business related are hard to make when one is on the move as
> often as I am.

Impose away - it's not a problem. Kinda nice to get a question I can answer
in less than 2500 words, actually.

Take care, and let me know if you need phone numbers and stuff.

Tom
**********************************
If a dollar was a chicken would the chicken be evil?

To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland
Sent: Saturday, 10:36 am

Tom,

> > I don't expect you remember me--we met briefly at the Graduate
> > Job Fair at Olympia a couple of weeks ago. I was recruiting for Koine
> > Industries, and while we didn't have anything in your field I held on to
> > your CV.
>
> Quite the contrary, actually - you made a definite impression for being
> willing to talk with me despite me not really wanting to sign on
> the dotted line, as it were. I just hope I didn't waste too much of your
> time - you definitely gave me some food for thought, so thank you.

It's always nice to hear I can make an impression. :-) And trust me, it
certainly wasn't a waste of time--I liked talking to you. Glad I didn't
bore you to death, anyway.

> [I hope I'm not totally blowing my cover, writing like this - I'm too
> knackered to try and compose this into business speech though, and I think
> we've already established that you don't want to hire me.]

What on earth are you doing replying to e-mail at that time of the night?
Man, I'd be sleeping. And I still think you would have liked the program
in Africa--though you're right, it's more a summer job type thing and you're
looking for a career. I hope you find something you like, soon.

> > A look at my schedule puts me in London several times in the next few
> > months, and I was wondering if you would be able to recommend a
> > couple of places for me to climb. I mostly stick to indoor walls,
> > though I do have experience on rock. The problem is that my travel plans are
> > sometimes fairly fluid (a polite way of saying that we trade trips like bartering
> > chips around here) and most places I've found aren't very agreeable to
> > last minute additions or late cancellations.
>
> We mostly use a centre a little way out of town. The only thing
> is that it's a bit of a pain to get to without a car. We run a minibus out
> there a couple of times a week, but I don't know how your company would
> feel about you putting in a £40-each-way taxi fare in on expenses.

Expense accounts are wonderful things, but yeah. They tend to go over them
with a fine tooth comb, especially given how much I travel. They spend a
lot of money on me, and take issue when I try to add in extras. :-)

> They don't have a website - I could give them a ring, find out what their
> booking system's like for individuals, if you like?

That would be great, I'll let you know the most likely dates--I'm at home
right now and I can't remember which trip has the longest stretch of free
time.

> - I've only ever dealt with the group block bookings that we have.
> Otherwise, The Climber has business listings that would give you
> starters. My only caveat would be that the one out by Mills Cross -
> I think it's Fredricktons? Fredlingtons? - was absolutely god-awful.

You wouldn't believe the walls I've seen. I went to one place in California
that had a so-so reputation, and it was trash--indoors doesn't have to mean
faulty construction and lack of equipment, you know?

> > If you happen to know of a place where I could find a good
> > spotter/partner, and have the time to let me know, I'd greatly
> > appreciate it.
>
> Well, it would depend on when you were in London. The Rock-Soc's
> organising a bunch of one day trips now that spring is finally here, and
> most of them, we put any spare slots up for 'guests', which might be a way for
> you to get your feet wet on English rock.

That would be great. Again, I'll let you know likely dates. Thanks.

> I'm determined to get out of the Infamous Triad of library / lab / lectures
> for at least one or two of them. I'm going to go insane if I don't take a break sometime, right?

All work and no play makes Tom a dull boy?

> Hell, if your trips put you with a free afternoon on a Wednesday or a
> Sunday I can probably wrangle you into one of our regular wall sessions -
> numbers are dropping off a bit as exams get closer, and I can probably bullshit
> something about 'useful networking' if the raw power of my position doesn't do the
> trick.

Sneaky. I like it. That would be great, really. I don't want to impose
though, so feel free to tell me to bugger off if it doesn't work out.

> > I hope that I'm not imposing on you by writing--contacts of any sort
> > other than business related are hard to make when one is on the move as
> > often as I am.
>
> Impose away - it's not a problem. Kinda nice to get a question I
> can answer in less than 2500 words, actually.

*flashes back on take home exams and multiple papers due in a three day
period.* Hell, yeah. Graduating is a wonderful thing. Really.

> Take care, and let me know if you need phone numbers and stuff.

I will. Thanks for taking the time to reply, and huge thanks for offering
to hook me up with numbers and such.

It would be great to see you, next time I'm in London.

Oliver

**
Oliver Kurland
Koine Industries
USA

To : Oliver Kurland
From: Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Sunday 6.48pm

> > Quite the contrary, actually - you made a definite impression for being
> > willing to talk with me despite me not really wanting to sign on
> > the dotted line, as it were. I just hope I didn't waste too much of
> > your time - you definitely gave me some food for thought, so thank you.
>
> It's always nice to hear I can make an impression. :-) And trust me, it
> certainly wasn't a waste of time--I liked talking to you. Glad I didn't
> bore you to death, anyway.

Nope, still breathing. Well - I was until Toad landed on me earlier, but
that's hardly your fault. You made a lot more sense than any of the careers
guidance people here, that's for sure.

> What on earth are you doing replying to e-mail at that time of the night?
> Man, I'd be sleeping.

I was hiding out in the computer labs because my vile little worms of
housemates are second years, and thus came back from the pub with about 50
of their 'mates' on Friday night. And that makes me sound like a real sad
case, doesn't it? Let's pretend that I was working through the night because
I'm a dedicated soul, and not because I was hounded out of my own house by a
gang of pissed-up pot heads, ok?

>And I still think you would have liked the program in Africa--though you're
> right, it's more a summer job type thing and you're looking for a career.
> I hope you find something you like, soon.

So do I, so do I. I did like the sound of *what* you were doing with that
program, it's just the practicalities of it. Not to mention that I hated the
heat in New Mexico, so I'm not at all sure the sub Sahara is for me.

> > We mostly use a centre a little way out of town. The only thing
> > is that it's a bit of a pain to get to without a car. We run a minibus
> > out there a couple of times a week, but I don't know how your company would
> > feel about you putting in a £40-each-way taxi fare in on expenses.
>
> Expense accounts are wonderful things, but yeah. They tend to go over
> them with a fine tooth comb, especially given how much I travel. They spend a
> lot of money on me, and take issue when I try to add in extras. :-)

No parties at the penthouse suite then?

> That would be great, I'll let you know the most likely dates--I'm at home
> right now and I can't remember which trip has the longest stretch of free
> time.

Fair enough. I though they'd have rigged you up with some expensive Palm
gadget ;) Where is home, if I may ask? You rattled through so many main
offices, you could be about anywhere in the North American Subcontinent.

> You wouldn't believe the walls I've seen. I went to one place in
> California that had a so-so reputation, and it was trash--indoors doesn't have to
> mean faulty construction and lack of equipment, you know?

It does seem to be synonymous with 'badly thought out' and 'no clue' though,
unfortunately. The place we use is good though - all levels really are
catered for, and they change things around often enough to keep it
interesting for the regulars. Their instructors aren't bad either. Some
places they seem to be there to hard-sell you junk equipment and that's
about all.

> > I'm determined to get out of the Infamous Triad of library / lab / lectures
> > for at least one or two of them. I'm going to go insane if I don't take a
> > break sometime, right?
>
> All work and no play makes Tom a dull boy?

Apparently so. I am so looking forward to the Easter break. I'm going to be
working through most of it, but I'll go down to my parents for five or six
days. I guess for you travelling for vacations must be a bit of a busman's
holiday?

> Sneaky. I like it. That would be great, really. I don't want to impose
> though, so feel free to tell me to bugger off if it doesn't work out.

If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't, but if you can get into a harness
without help, then you're a step up from the newbies we get in Fresher's
Week, and it'll be a comparable pleasure to have you along. Some of them
haven't gotten much better in 9 months.

> *flashes back on take home exams and multiple papers due in a three day
> period.* Hell, yeah. Graduating is a wonderful thing. Really.

I'll take your word for it - I'll settle for making it to the end of finals
without having a nervous breakdown, I think. Most of the lot I used to
hang around with graduated while I was in New Mexico, so it's kind of sparse
this year, and they take unholy pleasure in telling me their war stories.

> It would be great to see you, next time I'm in London.

You're welcome - I don't imagine I'll be the best of company, but I have to
get out from under the revision mountain every once in a while, and
motivation to do so can't be a bad thing.

Tom
**********************************
If a dollar was a chicken would the chicken be evil?

To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland
Sent: Sunday 9:06pm

Hello Tom,

> > It's always nice to hear I can make an impression. :-) And trust me, it
> > certainly wasn't a waste of time--I liked talking to you. Glad I didn't
> > bore you to death, anyway.
>
> Nope, still breathing. Well - I was until Toad landed on me earlier, but
> that's hardly your fault. You made a lot more sense than any of
> the careers guidance people here, that's for sure.

Um, not that I'm not thrilled to find out I made sense, but...Toad?

> > What on earth are you doing replying to e-mail at that time of
> > the night? Man, I'd be sleeping.
>
> I was hiding out in the computer labs because my vile little worms of
> housemates are second years, and thus came back from the pub with about 50
> of their 'mates' on Friday night. And that makes me sound like a real sad
> case, doesn't it? Let's pretend that I was working through the
> night because I'm a dedicated soul, and not because I was hounded out of
> my own house by a gang of pissed-up pot heads, ok?

Ouch. That....sucks. I'm happy enough to pretend you're a hard working
man, but really--get yourself new roommates. I'd be pretty pissed off.
Mind you, I've been living alone for a while, and sometimes I wouldn't be
adverse to some company. Though I don't think pissed-up pot heads are
really my speed. More the sit down and read a book kind.

> > And I still think you would have liked the program in Africa--though
> > you're right, it's more a summer job type thing and you're looking for
> > a career. I hope you find something you like, soon.
>
> So do I, so do I. I did like the sound of *what* you were doing with that
> program, it's just the practicalities of it. Not to mention that
> I hated the heat in New Mexico, so I'm not at all sure the sub Sahara is
> for me.

Heh, yeah, the heat is a killer. Aside from the heat, what did you think of
New Mexico? I've spent some time south, but like the rest of my trips it
was short and consisted mostly of airport, cab, hotel, cab, airport.

> > Expense accounts are wonderful things, but yeah. They tend to go over
> > them with a fine tooth comb, especially given how much I travel.
> > They spend a lot of money on me, and take issue when I try to add in
> > extras. :-)
>
> No parties at the penthouse suite then?

No parties, no penthouse suite. Usually I'm lucky enough to get a king
sized bed, though. Sometimes a couch too. Things I've learned? The best
rooms are far away from the ice dispenser, the best meals are in the
restaurant, and the pay per view always gets someone in accounting pissed
off.

> > That would be great, I'll let you know the most likely dates--I'm at
> > home right now and I can't remember which trip has the longest stretch
> > of free time.
>
> Fair enough. I though they'd have rigged you up with some expensive Palm
> gadget ;)

Um, they did. Did I mention I'm prone to leaving things at the office that
might come in handy at home?

> Where is home, if I may ask? You rattled through so many main
> offices, you could be about anywhere in the North American Subcontinent.

God, sorry. I'm in Boston at the moment. Which makes it sound really
temporary--I've been here for three years, don't plan on moving any time
soon. Got hired out of Hamilton, Ontario though, in Canada, and worked out
of New York for a bit. Like Boston better.

How 'bout you? Have you always been in London?

> It does seem to be synonymous with 'badly thought out' and 'no
> clue' though, unfortunately. The place we use is good though - all
> levels really are catered for, and they change things around often enough to keep it
> interesting for the regulars. Their instructors aren't bad either. Some
> places they seem to be there to hard-sell you junk equipment and that's
> about all.

Excellent, and yeah I know. I dumped far too much cash into stuff I didn't
need when I was starting.

> > All work and no play makes Tom a dull boy?
>
> Apparently so. I am so looking forward to the Easter break. I'm
> going to be working through most of it, but I'll go down to my parents
> for five or six days. I guess for you travelling for vacations must be a
> bit of a busman's holiday?

Cool that you're getting out, going to see your parents. I tend to spend my
vacation days here, doing nothing other than catching up with people I
don't see enough or on extended layovers if I get sent somewhere
interesting.

> > Sneaky. I like it. That would be great, really. I don't want
> > to impose though, so feel free to tell me to bugger off if it doesn't
> > work out.
>
> If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't, but if you can get into a harness
> without help, then you're a step up from the newbies we get in Fresher's
> Week, and it'll be a comparable pleasure to have you along. Some of them
> haven't gotten much better in 9 months.

Well, I can manage the harness all right. Doubt if I'm up to your speed, but
I can say that I've gotten better over time. Nine months and not getting
better? That would drive me into fits--tend to be a little on the
competitive side when it comes to things like that. Not with others really,
just myself, you know? Get better, get faster, learn more.

> > *flashes back on take home exams and multiple papers due in a three day
> > period.* Hell, yeah. Graduating is a wonderful thing. Really.
>
> I'll take your word for it - I'll settle for making it to the
> end of finals without having a nervous breakdown, I think.

Relax, you'll do fine. You've got good grades, you've got the drive--at
least you didn't join in with the drunk guys invading your apartment.

> Most of the lot I used to hang around with graduated while I was in
> New Mexico, so it's kind of sparse this year, and they take unholy
> pleasure in telling me their war stories.

I get that. Sort of, I guess. I graduated with my friends, but we're all
so different, and drifted pretty fast after school ended...with the travel
and the lifestyle, some just sort of faded away, which sucks. The ones I
keep up with all tend to have jobs I don't really understand--research and
shit that keeps them up to all hours and they don't even notice. With me
it's more of a 'what day is it and where am I?' With them it's 'what time is
it and can I make the deadline?' Just...different.

> > It would be great to see you, next time I'm in London.
>
> You're welcome - I don't imagine I'll be the best of company, but
> I have to get out from under the revision mountain every once in a while,
> and motivation to do so can't be a bad thing.

I'm sure you'd be fine company.

And yeah, get out of the books a bit, if you can. Just a bit.

Oliver

To: Oliver Kurland
From: Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Wednesday 11:06pm

Hey Oliver [it is Oliver, right? Not Oli or something?]

> Um, not that I'm not thrilled to find out I made sense, but...Toad?

Toad is why I'm currently slurring my typing. I think. Mostly. Last
Rock-Soc-meet of the term tonight. Damn but the guy can put them away. Still
can't make that sloper though - which is what happened last week. Toad's one
of the first years - big guy, though he's getting to be a pretty decent
climber - has a total mental block on setting his protection points
though, so he tends to hit the mats a few times a session. Lord help us when
it's real rock. My fault mostly for getting in his fall line. Hey - I made
the six climb I was working on this time though, so - I'm chuffed.

> Ouch. That....sucks. I'm happy enough to pretend you're a hard working
> man, but really--get yourself new roommates.

Only a couple of months to go, thank god. This is the problem with being off
in the US for a year - every bugger you'd want to live with graduates, and
the Uni assigns you random housemates from hell ...

> I'd be pretty pissed off.

I'm shooting for Zen and the art of Housemates.

> Mind you, I've been living alone for a while, and sometimes I wouldn't be
> adverse to some company.

No-one to come home to? Sucks, doesn't it. I don't know if the shared house
makes it better or not - Mike and Ian aren't bad blokes, but - yeah - not
really the same thing as coming home to *some-one* - you know?

> Though I don't think pissed-up pot heads are really my speed.

They're not my first choice, either. I mean - I never was a club-kid, you
know? Sure, if the music's good, or there's a band on or something, but the
sort of anonymous cheesy dance crap you have to take drugs to enjoy?
That's never been my scene. I'd rather actually *talk* to someone, or be
doing something.

> More the sit down and read a book kind.

I can't wait for this to be *over* so I can read for pleasure without the
guilt trip. At least I do kinda like some of the Great American Novels TM.
What sort of stuff takes your fancy? I swear - as soon as finals are over,
I'm settling in with the biggest pile of pulp crap I can find, just for
balance.

> Aside from the heat, what did you think of New Mexico? I've spent
> some time south, but like the rest of my trips it was short and consisted
> mostly of airport, cab, hotel, cab, airport.

Albuquerque was - I had a great year. Good times all round really, met some
fantastic people and - wish I hadn't had to come back really. Don't know how
much of it was New Mexico and how much was - well, *some-one*.

It's a beautiful part of the world too - well, once you get out of town a
way - the mesa is just something else. The sky - God - spend some time in
a place like London where you don't really see stars most of the time, and
then go sit out there and - that's all the head-tripping I needed.

I wish I'd got to see more of the US though - the big wild West, and
anything North of the Mason-Dixie ... Kay took me up to his folks' place in
Colorado for Thanksgiving, and that was just phenomenal. We were only there
for a few days though - that's somewhere I'd love to go back to - those
mountains just make my hands itch to climb. A whole bunch of us went to
Florida for Spring Break - um - that was much less my kind of a thing. Plus
hot and humid. Ick.

> No parties, no penthouse suite. Usually I'm lucky enough to get a king
> sized bed, though. Sometimes a couch too. Things I've learned? The best
> rooms are far away from the ice dispenser, the best meals are in the
> restaurant, and the pay per view always gets someone in accounting pissed
> off.

Maybe one day I'll get a job where I get to put that advice into operation -
I'm more youth hostels and B&B's ;)

> > Fair enough. I though they'd have rigged you up with some expensive Palm
> > gadget ;)
>
> Um, they did. Did I mention I'm prone to leaving things at the office
> that might come in handy at home?

Hey - I'm all for the separation of work and play - although that does beg
the question, what sort of thing comes in handy apart from your electronic
brain?

> God, sorry. I'm in Boston at the moment. Which makes it sound really
> temporary--I've been here for three years, don't plan on moving any time
> soon. Got hired out of Hamilton, Ontario though, in Canada, and worked
> out of New York for a bit. Like Boston better.

My knowledge of Boston pretty much stops in the mid nineteenth century -
what's it like as a place to live? How come NY didn't stick?

> How 'bout you? Have you always been in London?

Nope - came here for Uni. My parents are out in Cambridgeshire - I'm kind of
hoping I don't have to move back there after graduation though. Nothing to
climb for one thing.

> I tend to spend my vacation days here, doing nothing other than catching
> up with people I don't see enough or on extended layovers if I get sent
> somewhere interesting.

Must get kind of frustrating rushing through all these cool places without
the chance to stop and take it in? Holidays spent doing nothing sound
positively blissful though.

> Well, I can manage the harness all right. Doubt if I'm up to your speed,
> but I can say that I've gotten better over time. Nine months and not getting
> better? That would drive me into fits--tend to be a little on the
> competitive side when it comes to things like that. Not with others
> really, just myself, you know? Get better, get faster, learn more.

I'm probably being a grouch - most of the ones who've stuck with it are
making progress - it's just kinda slow going for some of them. We've got a
few hot-shots all set for competition sports climbing, but mostly it's hobby
climbers. I'm more the trad sort - just me and my mountain, you know? I
just keep plugging at a route till I can make it, pretty much. I guess if
you're a gym bunny you go more for the sports style stuff?

> > I'll take your word for it - I'll settle for making it to the
> > end of finals without having a nervous breakdown, I think.
>
> Relax, you'll do fine. You've got good grades, you've got the drive--at
> least you didn't join in with the drunk guys invading your apartment.

Did waste today climbing and chatting and drinking though. I think we went
out for dinner somewhere in there too. And I'll have you know I got those
grades by stressing and working. Damn. I think I liked your point better.
It's kind of nice to hear someone who's not family say they think I can make
it.

> I get that. Sort of, I guess. I graduated with my friends, but we're all
> so different, and drifted pretty fast after school ended...with the travel
> and the lifestyle, some just sort of faded away, which sucks. The ones I
> keep up with all tend to have jobs I don't really understand--research and
> shit that keeps them up to all hours and they don't even notice. With me
> it's more of a 'what day is it and where am I?' With them it's 'what time is
> it and can I make the deadline?' Just...different.

I can see that. Some of the guys I used to be close with - it's like it's a
different world for them now, and it's a stretch to remember what we ever
had in common. I guess, some of them, we never really did have anything in
common. At least some of them are still in London, which helps, some. Must
be tough, with the travelling, or does it help? I mean - do you get to pop in
and see people who are working all over the place, that you wouldn't see if
you were working somewhere more static?

> I'm sure you'd be fine company.

Don't bet on it. But I'll try.

> And yeah, get out of the books a bit, if you can. Just a bit.

My guilty conscience read that as 'get out the books'. Lectures end Friday,
and then I'm spending the Easter holiday's writing up my dissertation. Any
words of wisdom from the horses mouth about employment and new immigrants?

For now though - Time to go home and find a long hot bath - my shoulder's
going to hurt like something nasty when it stiffens up.

'night

Tom
**********************************
If a dollar was a chicken would the chicken be evil?

To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland
Sent: Thursday 09:08am

Hey Tom

> Hey Oliver [it is Oliver, right? Not Oli or something?]

Oliver is fine. Really. I'd have to kill you if you called me Oli. ;-)

> > Um, not that I'm not thrilled to find out I made sense, but...Toad?
>
> Toad is why I'm currently slurring my typing. I think. Mostly. Last
> Rock-Soc-meet of the term tonight. Damn but the guy can put them
> away. Still can't make that sloper though - which is what happened last
> week. Toad's one of the first years - big guy, though he's getting to be a
> pretty decent climber - has a total mental block on setting his protection points
> though, so he tends to hit the mats a few times a session.
> Lord help us when it's real rock. My fault mostly for getting in his fall
> line.

Oh man, he actually landed *on* you? Ow.

> Hey - I made the six climb I was working on this time though, so - I'm
> chuffed.

Good for you! :D

> > Mind you, I've been living alone for a while, and sometimes I
> > wouldn't be adverse to some company.
>
> No-one to come home to?

Not anymore. Not in a while.

> Sucks, doesn't it.

Yeah.

> I don't know if the shared house makes it better or not - Mike and Ian
> aren't bad blokes, but - yeah - not really the same thing as coming home to
> *some-one* - you know?

Yeah, I get that. Hate the silence most of the time. It's....cold, coming
back to my apartment after a five day trip and being greeted by nothing but
the mail. But, at least this way, I know who made the messes. I always
know who's turn it is to clean up too, which sort of sucks. Wouldn't mind
sharing some of the housecleaning.

> > Though I don't think pissed-up pot heads are really my speed.
>
> They're not my first choice, either. I mean - I never was a club-kid, you
> know? Sure, if the music's good, or there's a band on or something, but
> the sort of anonymous cheesy dance crap you have to take drugs to enjoy?
> That's never been my scene. I'd rather actually *talk* to someone, or be
> doing something.

Oh God, yes. And everyone is always telling me to go out, to meet
someone--like I'd actually be able to talk to someone with the level of
noise, and a pick up really isn't my thing. Even if a pick up *were* what I
wanted, I wouldn't want someone from the club scene, for the most part. I
just don't get into it at all. Rather meet someone at a library or a
conference or something.

> > More the sit down and read a book kind.
>
> I can't wait for this to be *over* so I can read for pleasure without the
> guilt trip. At least I do kinda like some of the Great American Novels TM.
> What sort of stuff takes your fancy? I swear - as soon as finals
> are over, I'm settling in with the biggest pile of pulp crap I can find,
> just for balance.

I read just about anything, really. Sci fi, fantasy, mysteries--cereal
boxes, shampoo bottles, newspapers, magazines, and I've been known to go
from Keats to Hemingway to Harper Lee in an afternoon. Then there's Stephen
King, Guy Gavriel Kay....I'm eclectic.

> Albuquerque was - I had a great year. Good times all round really, met
> some fantastic people and - wish I hadn't had to come back really. Don't
> know how much of it was New Mexico and how much was - well,
> *some-one*.

Ah. I can understand that.

> It's a beautiful part of the world too - well, once you get out of town a
> way - the mesa is just something else. The sky - God - spend
> some time in a place like London where you don't really see stars most of
> the time, and then go sit out there and - that's all the head-tripping I needed.

Yeah. Rather sit out under the moon and stars with a bottle of beer and
listen to quiet than have that same bottle in a crowd.

> I wish I'd got to see more of the US though - the big wild West, and
> anything North of the Mason-Dixie ... Kay took me up to his
> folk's place in Colorado for Thanksgiving, and that was just phenomenal.
> We were only there for a few days though - that's somewhere I'd love to go back
> to - those mountains just make my hands itch to climb. A whole bunch of us went to
> Florida for Spring Break - um - that was much less my kind of a thing.
> Plus hot and humid. Ick.

Kay was your someone? Cool. And yeah, Colorado is nice; pretty much
anything with mountains ranks high with me. Or at least really big hills.
I kind of like Miami for what it is--nice place to visit if you have
constant air conditioning and want to go out on the ocean for a bit, but so
not a place I want to stay. It's fun in very short doses. Mind you, I've
only been there on business, so I've not had a lot of time to see anything,
and I think we've already established the clubs etc aren't my scene.

> Maybe one day I'll get a job where I get to put that advice into
> operation - I'm more youth hostels and B&B's ;)

I would be, but it's hard to run a training session in a hostel. :P For
myself? Hell, yeah,

> > Um, they did. Did I mention I'm prone to leaving things at the office
> > that might come in handy at home?
>
> Hey - I'm all for the separation of work and play - although that does beg
> the question, what sort of thing comes in handy apart from your
> electronic brain?

Off hand, as I look at the stack of stuff to take home? Dry cleaning that I
had sent out and forgot to pick up, the Palm Pilot, two books I want to read
that Janet's lending to me, and my pay slip. :D

> > God, sorry. I'm in Boston at the moment. Which makes it sound really
> > temporary--I've been here for three years, don't plan on moving any time
> > soon. Got hired out of Hamilton, Ontario though, in Canada, and worked
> > out of New York for a bit. Like Boston better.
>
> My knowledge of Boston pretty much stops in the mid nineteenth century -
> what's it like as a place to live? How come NY didn't stick?

Boston's all right. It's big, but easy enough to navigate, and you can find
out really easily what areas of town to avoid. There's plays and music
(symphony), and the weather isn't too bad for eight months out of the year.
It's not a small town, and not real conservative, so I don't have to worry
too much about what I'm seen doing--just use common sense, yeah?

New York was cool, but too big, too noisy. I would have stayed, found a
place that wasn't on the scary edge of expensive, but I got offered the
field job for recruiting and training and took it. In NY I was just in the
office, and it was kinda dull.

> > How 'bout you? Have you always been in London?
>
> Nope - came here for Uni. My parents are out in Cambridgeshire -
> I'm kind of hoping I don't have to move back there after graduation
> though. Nothing to climb for one thing.

Couldn't pay me enough to live near my family again. Well, most of my
family. My dad's okay.

> Must get kind of frustrating rushing through all these cool places without
> the chance to stop and take it in?

It can be--I got sent to Cairo, of all places, and couldn't even get an
extra four hours. That one still makes me itch, would love to go back.

> I'm probably being a grouch - most of the ones who've stuck with it are
> making progress - it's just kinda slow going for some of them.
> We've got a few hot-shots all set for competition sports climbing, but
> mostly it's hobby climbers. I'm more the trad sort - just me and my mountain,
> you know? I just keep plugging at a route till I can make it, pretty much. I guess if
> you're a gym bunny you go more for the sports style stuff?

Honestly? I hit the gym 'cause I have to. Desk job, wonky hours, lots of
travel--if I didn't I'd be a slug--a very heavy slug. :P So, off to the
gym I go (plus, most hotels have *some* equipment) but the machines bore me
to tears and I'd rather *do* something, have a goal rather than 'ten more
reps'. I like the solo aspects of climbing, like the headspace. Not into
team shit at all, and living in Boston? That's the mark of death. I make a
point of saying "Go Bruins" once a winter, where someone can hear me, just
so I don't get hurt. :P

> > Relax, you'll do fine. You've got good grades, you've got the drive--at
> > least you didn't join in with the drunk guys invading your apartment.
>
> Did waste today climbing and chatting and drinking though. I think we went
> out for dinner somewhere in there too. And I'll have you know I
> got those grades by stressing and working. Damn. I think I liked your
> point better. It's kind of nice to hear someone who's not family say they think
> I can make it.

'Course you got 'em through hard work. And of course you can do this. Just
saying not to stress yourself out so much you make yourself sick.

Really. It'll be over soon.

> I can see that. Some of the guys I used to be close with - it's
> like it's a different world for them now, and it's a stretch to remember
> what we ever had in common. I guess, some of them, we never really did have anything
> in common. At least some of them are still in London, which helps, some. Must
> be tough, with the travelling, or does it help? I mean - do you
> get to pop in and see people who are working all over the place, that you
> wouldn't see if you were working somewhere more static?

Depends on the layover and the friend really--have one friend who'll drive
out to the airport and have a cup of coffee if I've got two hours in town
waiting for a connecting flight. Have another who might pencil me in if I
have him three days notice and have a free night's layover.

The rest of my life though? Don't let anyone tell you lies--travelling for
half the year is death on relationships.

> > And yeah, get out of the books a bit, if you can. Just a bit.
>
> My guilty conscience read that as 'get out the books'. Lectures
> end Friday, and then I'm spending the Easter holiday's writing up my
> dissertation. Any words of wisdom from the horses mouth about employment
> and new immigrants?

Get through it alive. Research where you want to be (thinking about coming
back here?) and make contacts all over the place. Make sure to pack warm
clothes, and an extra umbrella is always a good idea.

Sorry, that was flip. If you want real info I can send you some immigration
stuff, see what's not on the web sites.

> For now though - Time to go home and find a long hot bath - my shoulder's
> going to hurt like something nasty when it stiffens up.

Again ow. Take care of yourself, Tom.

Back to work I go--reports to write, suggestions to make...

Oh, and it looks like I'll be in London June 19-23, then again in July for a
week, 12-19.

Oliver

***Week Two***

To: Oliver Kurland
From: Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Friday 09:08am

Hey,

> Oliver is fine. Really. I'd have to kill you if you called me Oli. ;-)

Do I get to hear your plans for world domination first though?

> Oh man, he actually landed *on* you? Ow.

Not quite, but he did send me flying, and get us all a safety lecture from
the wall staff. Like I said - I should have paid more attention to his fall
line, with his track record.

> > No-one to come home to?
>
> Not anymore. Not in a while.
>
> > Sucks, doesn't it.
>
> Yeah.

Not sure what to say here - anything I can think to say sounds kind of like
prying or imposing. Sorry it sucks?

> Yeah, I get that. Hate the silence most of the time.

Well, that's one thing Mike and Ian take care off. It'll be weird not having
their music going at all hours when they go home for the vac.

>It's....cold, coming back to my apartment after a five day trip and being greeted by
> nothing but the mail.

Sorry, but I'm having a real Fight Club moment : you sleeping ok? ;)

> But, at least this way, I know who made the messes. I always
> know who's turn it is to clean up too, which sort of sucks. Wouldn't mind
> sharing some of the housecleaning.

Got to admit, you can tell ours is a guys house. I've pretty much given
up -I keep my room straight, and so long as I can wash up my own bits, I
just try not to look at the rest of the kitchen. I'm not actually expecting
to get my share of the deposit back, let us say.

> Oh God, yes. And everyone is always telling me to go out, to meet
> someone--like I'd actually be able to talk to someone with the level of
> noise, and a pick up really isn't my thing. Even if a pick up *were* what
> I wanted, I wouldn't want someone from the club scene, for the most part. I
> just don't get into it at all. Rather meet someone at a library or a
> conference or something.

I've wondered - does the sexy librarian chick thing actually happen in real
life?

It's a weird sociology - going out, getting off your head, getting the
volume up loud enough to damage your eardrums, turn the lights out, and call
it 'socialising'. It's always felt so isolating somehow. Probably 'cos I
wasn't taking the right drugs...

> I read just about anything, really. Sci fi, fantasy, mysteries--cereal
> boxes, shampoo bottles, newspapers, magazines, and I've been known to go
> from Keats to Hemingway to Harper Lee in an afternoon. Then there's
> Stephen King, Guy Gavriel Kay....I'm eclectic.

Cool ;) - likewise - I normally have a couple of non-fiction books on the
go, and at least one paperback novel stuffed in my bag - had to wean myself
off though, if I'm going to cover the revision ground fast enough and often
enough. I'm working my way through Elizabeth David at the moment, over meals.
It's utterly unrelated to anything I'm studying, fairly interesting, but
easy to put down. My housemates already think I'm a nutter - the fact that
I want to read cookery books just gives them more hard evidence.

> > Don't know how much of it was New Mexico and how much was - well,
> *some-one*.
>
> Ah. I can understand that.

Sorry - didn't mean to burden you with personal stuff.

> Yeah. Rather sit out under the moon and stars with a bottle of beer and
> listen to quiet than have that same bottle in a crowd.

Listen to the world breathe. I always kinda thought that was hippie crap,
until I got out there. There's nowhere in the UK that wild or that big.

> Kay was your someone?

Yeah - didn't work out for all sorts of reasons, but he was definitely
someone.

> And yeah, Colorado is nice; pretty much anything with mountains
> ranks high with me. Or at least really big hills.

Have your travels ever taken you to any of the really big ranges?

> I kind of like Miami for what it is--nice place to visit if you have
> constant air conditioning and want to go out on the ocean for a bit, but
> so not a place I want to stay. It's fun in very short doses. Mind you, I've
> only been there on business, so I've not had a lot of time to see
> anything, and I think we've already established the clubs etc aren't my scene.

Lots of jocks, lots of leery girls in swim suits, lots of alcohol, lots of
bull headed intolerance : not my best ever trip.

> Off hand, as I look at the stack of stuff to take home? Dry cleaning that
> I had sent out and forgot to pick up, the Palm Pilot, two books I want to
> read that Janet's lending to me, and my pay slip. :D

You know what we were saying about different worlds? 'Dry cleaning I had
sent out' definitely doesn't feature in mine.

> Boston's all right. It's big, but easy enough to navigate, and you can
> find out really easily what areas of town to avoid. There's plays and music
> (symphony), and the weather isn't too bad for eight months out of the
> year. It's not a small town, and not real conservative, so I don't have to worry
> too much about what I'm seen doing--just use common sense, yeah?

I really am pushing the bounds of polite conversation, but what exactly does
a nice young man in a suit, with the good corporate job like yourself have
to worry about being seen doing? Unless you really are planning for world
domination.

> New York was cool, but too big, too noisy. I would have stayed, found a
> place that wasn't on the scary edge of expensive, but I got offered the
> field job for recruiting and training and took it. In NY I was just in
> the office, and it was kinda dull.

'Move to Boston and will give you the globe trotting job' - I can see that.

> Couldn't pay me enough to live near my family again. Well, most of my
> family. My dad's okay.

It's more needing someone to pay me enough not to live with my family, you
know? We get on more or less - better since I left home. My parents are ok,
my brother's still got some issues with me, I think.

> It can be--I got sent to Cairo, of all places, and couldn't even get an
> extra four hours. That one still makes me itch, would love to go back.

That would royally suck. Being that close and not able to reach out.
Egypt's a way down my list, but still!

> Honestly? I hit the gym 'cause I have to. Desk job, wonky hours, lots
> of travel--if I didn't I'd be a slug--a very heavy slug. :P So, off to the
> gym I go (plus, most hotels have *some* equipment) but the machines bore
> me to tears and I'd rather *do* something, have a goal rather than 'ten more
> reps'. I like the solo aspects of climbing, like the headspace.

I meant more climbing walls vs the real thing, but - I can see that. You're
a stronger man than me [probably literally as well ;p] - I hate gym stuff -
give me a real bike any day. I imagine it's pretty hard to cycle to the
airports though ;) And ditto on the team thing - I mean helping out the
beginners with the rock-soc is one thing, but Team Sports in the formal
sense - not my cup of tea. Too many bad memories of school I think.

> Not into team shit at all, and living in Boston? That's the mark of death. I make
> a point of saying "Go Bruins" once a winter, where someone can hear me, just
> so I don't get hurt. :P

Bruins? That football or baseball? Hockey?

> 'Course you got 'em through hard work. And of course you can do this.
> Just saying not to stress yourself out so much you make yourself sick.

Thank you, and I'm trying. Just got to get through the next couple of
months, and find a job ... I think though, if I don't get anything soon -
maybe the end of the vac, I'll abandon the job search in favour of getting
through finals with a half decent showing, and then panic about the rest of
my life.

> Really. It'll be over soon.

Keep saying that, yeah?

> Depends on the layover and the friend really--have one friend who'll drive
> out to the airport and have a cup of coffee if I've got two hours in town
> waiting for a connecting flight. Have another who might pencil me in if I
> have him three days notice and have a free night's layover.

Friend #1 sounds like good people - #2 is either - I'll be charitable and
say really *really* busy. And I should probably not be implying criticism of
the friends of someone I barely know ... Sorry.

> The rest of my life though? Don't let anyone tell you lies--travelling
> for half the year is death on relationships.

Long Distance in general is a pig.

> Get through it alive. Research where you want to be (thinking about
> coming back here?) and make contacts all over the place. Make sure to pack warm
> clothes, and an extra umbrella is always a good idea.

LOL - don't go planting ideas in my head - I'd love to move back to the US
if I could. Somehow I don't think I'll be marrying anyone for a green card
though.

> Sorry, that was flip. If you want real info I can send you some
> immigration stuff, see what's not on the web sites.

I was actually asking mostly joking - that's my dissertation : immigration
and employment in the late nineteenth and late twentieth centuries. To be
honest I was focusing mostly on the refugees and economically desperate,
although you have a good point : anything contemporary you can throw at me
about skilled migrant workers would be grand, if that's not out of order?

> > For now though - Time to go home and find a long hot bath - my
> > shoulder's going to hurt like something nasty when it stiffens up.
>
> Again ow.

Well, Toad only did so much damage - the shoulder was me trying a little bit
too hard to do the transverse section on that six climb. But hell, I nailed
it, and I'm not too stiff ;) I miss Katie like hell though - she was doing
a massage course while we were in our second year, and God but I miss being
her guinea pig sometimes.

> Back to work I go--reports to write, suggestions to make...

How long are you office bound before your next jaunt?

> Oh, and it looks like I'll be in London June 19-23, then again in July for
> a week, 12-19.

June we'll still be running the regular wall climbs, and the 22nd I think
we're doing a run up to the Brecon Beacons - if your work will give you a
day of rest to take advantage, that is. And I'll be spazzing over extremely
imminent exams. July I'll be right in the middle of them - and I'm not sure
what's happening with the Soc, so near the end of term. You really want to
go climbing with a bunch of student strangers?

Take care,

Tom
**********************************
If a dollar was a chicken would the chicken be evil?

To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland
Sent: Friday 11:22am

Hey,

> > Oliver is fine. Really. I'd have to kill you if you called me Oli. ;-)
>
> Do I get to hear your plans for world domination first though?

Only henchmen get to hear the plans. Or victims....are you a superhero by
any chance? Someone I should worry about? In that case, I have no plans.
If you want to be a henchman, you can apply anytime.

> > > No-one to come home to?
> >
> > Not anymore. Not in a while.
> >
> > > Sucks, doesn't it.
> >
> > Yeah.
>
> Not sure what to say here - anything I can think to say sounds
> kind of like prying or imposing. Sorry it sucks?

Not prying. I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't want to leave an
opening. My last partner moved out just short of a year ago--travel wasn't
helping things, and it turned out I wasn't as missed as I'd been told. Came
home early and found one too many people here. So, alone for the time
being.

> > Yeah, I get that. Hate the silence most of the time.
>
> Well, that's one thing Mike and Ian take care off. It'll be weird
> not having their music going at all hours when they go home for the vac.

You might get used to it. Just in time for them to come back... Sorry, not
a help.

> > It's....cold, coming back to my apartment after a five day trip and
> > being greeted by nothing but the mail.
>
> Sorry, but I'm having a real Fight Club moment : you sleeping ok? ;)

LOL! Yeah, I sleep okay. :-)

> Got to admit, you can tell ours is a guys house. I've pretty much given
> up -I keep my room straight, and so long as I can wash up my own bits, I
> just try not to look at the rest of the kitchen. I'm not actually
> expecting to get my share of the deposit back, let us say.

I lived like that for four years at university--four to six guys, three
bedrooms, no furniture other what the campus provided--and we tended to
break chairs. I don't miss the dorm much. :-)

> > Oh God, yes. And everyone is always telling me to go out, to meet
> > someone--like I'd actually be able to talk to someone with the level of
> > noise, and a pick up really isn't my thing. Even if a pick up
> > *were* what I wanted, I wouldn't want someone from the club scene, for
> > the most part. I just don't get into it at all. Rather meet someone at a
> > library or a conference or something.
>
> I've wondered - does the sexy librarian chick thing actually
> happen in real life?

Dunno, not so much for the looking at sexy chicks. Anything is possible
though.

How was that for a casual outing?

> It's a weird sociology - going out, getting off your head, getting the
> volume up loud enough to damage your eardrums, turn the lights
> out, and call it 'socialising'. It's always felt so isolating somehow.
> Probably 'cos I wasn't taking the right drugs...

If they would only label them accurately--'right drug' 'wrong drug' 'really
wrong drug' 'makes you lose most of the night and who is this person in my
bed? drug'.......

> > I read just about anything, really. Sci fi, fantasy, mysteries--cereal
> > boxes, shampoo bottles, newspapers, magazines, and I've been known to go
> > from Keats to Hemingway to Harper Lee in an afternoon. Then there's
> > Stephen King, Guy Gavriel Kay....I'm eclectic.
>
> Cool ;) - likewise - I normally have a couple of non-fiction books on the
> go, and at least one paperback novel stuffed in my bag - had to
> wean myself off though, if I'm going to cover the revision ground fast
> enough and often enough. I'm working my way through Elizabeth David
> at the moment, over meals. It's utterly unrelated to anything I'm studying, fairly
> interesting, but easy to put down. My housemates already think I'm a nutter - the
> fact that I want to read cookery books just gives them more hard evidence.

Cool! Wide range in literature is always a nice thing. More to talk about,
more......you cook? Now that's cool. I can barely manage pasta.

> > > Don't know how much of it was New Mexico and how much was - well,
> > *some-one*.
> >
> > Ah. I can understand that.
>
> Sorry - didn't mean to burden you with personal stuff.

Don't worry about it. Really.

> > Kay was your someone?
>
> Yeah - didn't work out for all sorts of reasons, but he was definitely
> someone.

Sorry. Sounds rough.

> > And yeah, Colorado is nice; pretty much anything with mountains ranks high with
> > me. Or at least really big hills.
>
> Have your travels ever taken you to any of the really big ranges?

Not for work, or climbing for that matter, but I spent a winter break at
Banff in my second year--three weeks of downhill skiing in the Rockies.
That was amazing.

> > I kind of like Miami for what it is--nice place to visit if you have
> > constant air conditioning and want to go out on the ocean for a bit, but
> > so not a place I want to stay. It's fun in very short doses.
> > Mind you, I've only been there on business, so I've not had a lot of
> > time to see anything, and I think we've already established the clubs etc aren't my
> > scene.
>
> Lots of jocks, lots of leery girls in swim suits, lots of alcohol, lots of
> bull headed intolerance : not my best ever trip.

Uh....ick. Maybe I'll give it a pass next vacation. Which isn't actually
until September, so I'm not in a real rush to make plans. :-)

> > Off hand, as I look at the stack of stuff to take home? Dry
> > cleaning that I had sent out and forgot to pick up, the Palm Pilot, two
> > books I want to read that Janet's lending to me, and my pay slip. :D
>
> You know what we were saying about different worlds? 'Dry cleaning I had
> sent out' definitely doesn't feature in mine.

Expense account. Really--I had the last London trip, then Miami right on
top. If I didn't send it out I'd be looking pretty shabby right about now.
;-)

> > It's not a small town, and not real conservative, so I don't
> > have to worry too much about what I'm seen doing--just use common sense,
> > yeah?
>
> I really am pushing the bounds of polite conversation, but what
> exactly does a nice young man in a suit, with the good corporate job like
> yourself have to worry about being seen doing? Unless you really are planning for
> world domination.

Plans for world domination aside--and if you're a superhero, there are no
plans--just the usual stuff, I expect.

Lots of places in New England that a man *really* doesn't want to be seen
holding hands with his boyfriend, let alone anything as intimate as kissing
in public. Boston's okay, if you pay attention to where you are, and don't
make a spectacle of yourself. Which I don't--too much of a bookworm to be a
spectacle.

And that would be the not so casual outing.

> 'Move to Boston and will give you the globe trotting job' - I can
> see that.

Yeah, it worked for me. And for Peter--he who no longer lives here. He was
looking to get out of New York, and when I got my offer he came along and
found a nice job too. It was what it was. Now it's just me and my
passport, which is okay for now, too.

> > Couldn't pay me enough to live near my family again. Well, most of my
> > family. My dad's okay.
>
> It's more needing someone to pay me enough not to live with my family, you
> know? We get on more or less - better since I left home. My
> parents are ok, my brother's still got some issues with me, I think.

My mom and I don't talk at all, haven't for years. My dad's better, but he
moves a lot and isn't real good about letting me know where he is. My
sister takes after my mother.

Sorry, now *that* was a pile of too much information that you didn't want.

> > It can be--I got sent to Cairo, of all places, and couldn't even get an
> > extra four hours. That one still makes me itch, would love to go back.
>
> That would royally suck. Being that close and not able to reach out.
> Egypt's a way down my list, but still!

So what's further up on your list? I want to go to Scotland, and I'm
angling for the big trip to New Zealand next year--but that's a promotion
and a hell of a lot of work. Good job though, less travel. And New
Zealand!

> > Honestly? I hit the gym 'cause I have to. Desk job, wonky hours, lots
> > of travel--if I didn't I'd be a slug--a very heavy slug. :P So,
> > off to the gym I go (plus, most hotels have *some* equipment) but the
> > machines bore me to tears and I'd rather *do* something, have a goal rather than
> > 'ten more reps'. I like the solo aspects of climbing, like the headspace.
>
> I meant more climbing walls vs the real thing, but - I can see
> that. You're a stronger man than me [probably literally as well ;p] - I
> hate gym stuff - give me a real bike any day. I imagine it's pretty hard to
> cycle to the airports though ;) And ditto on the team thing - I mean helping out the
> beginners with the rock-soc is one thing, but Team Sports in the formal
> sense - not my cup of tea. Too many bad memories of school I think.

Problem with climbing rock around here is that it tends to be really
cliquish and I can't guarantee my time to anyone. I prefer to be outside,
yeah, but I gotta get my exercise anyway I can. And all too often that's
tiny gyms in hotels. Which sucks like you wouldn't believe.

I think team sports in schools should be used only for punishment. No way
is that 'fun'. :P

> Bruins? That football or baseball? Hockey?

Hockey. :-)

> > 'Course you got 'em through hard work. And of course you can do this.
> > Just saying not to stress yourself out so much you make yourself sick.
>
> Thank you, and I'm trying. Just got to get through the next couple of
> months, and find a job ... I think though, if I don't get anything soon -
> maybe the end of the vac, I'll abandon the job search in favour of getting
> through finals with a half decent showing, and then panic about
> the rest of my life.

Might be an idea. There's jobs out there, really. I know. But then, when
I take over the world I'll snatch them all away, so I recommend the henchman
thing.

> > Depends on the layover and the friend really--have one friend
> > who'll drive out to the airport and have a cup of coffee if I've got two
> > hours in town waiting for a connecting flight. Have another who might
> > pencil me in if I have him three days notice and have a free night's layover.
>
> Friend #1 sounds like good people - #2 is either - I'll be charitable and
> say really *really* busy. And I should probably not be implying
> criticism of the friends of someone I barely know ... Sorry.

#2 likes to think he's Very Important. But he's great fun after the first
few insults have sunk in and he becomes himself again. But at the same time
I get tired of the run around, you know? Not into head games.

> > The rest of my life though? Don't let anyone tell you lies--travelling
> > for half the year is death on relationships.
>
> Long Distance in general is a pig.

Yup. But sometimes meeting people long distance is kind of cool.

> > Get through it alive. Research where you want to be (thinking about
> > coming back here?) and make contacts all over the place. Make sure to
> > pack warm clothes, and an extra umbrella is always a good idea.
>
> LOL - don't go planting ideas in my head - I'd love to move back to the US
> if I could. Somehow I don't think I'll be marrying anyone for a green card
> though.

:-)

> > Sorry, that was flip. If you want real info I can send you some
> > immigration stuff, see what's not on the web sites.
>
> I was actually asking mostly joking - that's my dissertation : immigration
> and employment in the late nineteenth and late twentieth centuries. To be
> honest I was focusing mostly on the refugees and economically desperate,
> although you have a good point : anything contemporary you can throw at me
> about skilled migrant workers would be grand, if that's not out of order?

So I dug out your CV again and you're right. That is in fact what you are
studying. Go you!

And yeah, I'll poke around, not a problem.

> Well, Toad only did so much damage - the shoulder was me trying a
> little bit too hard to do the transverse section on that six climb. But
> hell, I nailed it, and I'm not too stiff ;) I miss Katie like hell
> though - she was doing a massage course while we were in our second year, and God
> but I miss being her guinea pig sometimes.

The world would be a much richer place if there were more people around with
good hands. Really.

> How long are you office bound before your next jaunt?

I fly out Tuesday afternoon to Toronto, just a short one. Back Friday.

But I get to take my new laptop, which is replacing the one that buggered in
transit back from London. Yay for new laptop! And I'm making a note to
sinc my Palm and take it too. Man, I need to make a list...

> > Oh, and it looks like I'll be in London June 19-23, then again
> > in July for a week, 12-19.
>
> June we'll still be running the regular wall climbs, and the 22nd I think
> we're doing a run up to the Brecon Beacons - if your work will
> give you a day of rest to take advantage, that is. And I'll be spazzing
> over extremely imminent exams. July I'll be right in the middle of them - and
> I'm not sure what's happening with the Soc, so near the end of term. You
> really want to go climbing with a bunch of student strangers?

Like I said, things tend to be fluid, but I'll see what I can manage and get
you as much notice as I can.

And yeah. I want to go climbing with student strangers. Not that you're
entirely a stranger anymore. Just mostly a stranger.

Keep the henchman offer in mind.

Oliver

To: Oliver Kurland
From: Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Sunday 1.54 pm

Hey there,

> Only henchmen get to hear the plans. Or victims....are you a superhero
> by any chance? Someone I should worry about? In that case, I have no plans.

Nope, no super powers here.

> If you want to be a henchman, you can apply anytime.

But before I apply I need to know what the dress code's like. Anything that
involves vision-restricting helmets, or leather harnesses, and I'm afraid
I'm not going to apply. I guess I'm too old for the advisor's role?

> Not prying. I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't want to leave an
> opening. My last partner moved out just short of a year ago--travel
> wasn't helping things, and it turned out I wasn't as missed as I'd been told.
> Came home early and found one too many people here. So, alone for the time
> being.

*ouch* - that - that really sucks.

[And in light of a couple of things you say later, your use of language
here is masterful. I tip my hat to you sir.]

> You might get used to it. Just in time for them to come back... Sorry,
> not a help.

Not really, no. It's weird - M took off on Friday, and Ian went yesterday and
I've been rattling around in the silence. Very odd.

> > Sorry, but I'm having a real Fight Club moment : you sleeping ok? ;)
>
> LOL! Yeah, I sleep okay. :-)

Cool - but if your apartment blows up, I am calling the psychiatric ward,
ok? No making friends on the plane, yeah?

> I lived like that for four years at university--four to six guys, three
> bedrooms, no furniture other what the campus provided--and we tended to
> break chairs. I don't miss the dorm much. :-)

Do tell - how'd you break the furniture? We're more feeding it to the mould,
I think. That's one thing I can be glad off - at least I have a room to
myself - I think I'd go nuts without a door between me and them - how did
you manage that?

> Dunno, not so much for the looking at sexy chicks. Anything is possible
> though.
>
> How was that for a casual outing?

Very smooth. Um, you picked up on Kay being a guy then?

> If they would only label them accurately--'right drug' 'wrong drug'
> 'really wrong drug' 'makes you lose most of the night and who is this person in my
> bed? drug'.......

Here's where I get to sound like a callow youth : I've not really played
with any drugs. I don't even smoke. Booze and caffeine only, me.

> Cool! Wide range in literature is always a nice thing. More to talk
> about, more......you cook? Now that's cool. I can barely manage pasta.

Hee - and I assume you don't mean making it from scratch either. [I can, but
who can be bothered?] I kinda cook. OK, so today lunch is, in fact, two
chocolate bars consumed secretively in the computer lab, but give me a half
decent kitchen and a reason, and I can cook. My mum's a real whiz, and I
didn't realise till I got to uni that most people *don't* know how to put
together a Sunday Roast, or make risotto. I don't run to anything too fancy,
and I absolutely cannot do pastry, but, well, smarter than the average
student in the kitchen, at least.

> > > Kay was your someone?
> >
> > Yeah - didn't work out for all sorts of reasons, but he was definitely
> > someone.
>
> Sorry. Sounds rough.

It - it wasn't.... is it really stupid to miss someone after almost a year?

> Not for work, or climbing for that matter, but I spent a winter break at
> Banff in my second year--three weeks of downhill skiing in the Rockies.
> That was amazing.

Sounds it.

> Uh....ick. Maybe I'll give it a pass next vacation. Which isn't actually
> until September, so I'm not in a real rush to make plans. :-)

May to September without a break? Jeez they work you hard! Now that's not
something I'm looking forward to about the corporate world. Although US
companies normally give less leave, right?

> Expense account. Really--I had the last London trip, then Miami right on
> top. If I didn't send it out I'd be looking pretty shabby right about
> now. ;-)

I guess they need to keep you looking snazzy to project the right image ;)

> Plans for world domination aside--and if you're a superhero, there are no
> plans--just the usual stuff, I expect.

Nope, still just Joe Normal over here. I'm not even side kick material.

> Boston's okay, if you pay attention to where you are, and don't
> make a spectacle of yourself. Which I don't--too much of a bookworm to be
> a spectacle.

You don't even wear spectacles ;)

> And that would be the not so casual outing.

You need to hear the 'me to'? That's one of the reasons why I picked a uni
in London, although my parents didn't know until after the fact. One of the
reasons I don't want to move back as well - not that I have a boyfriend
who's hand I could be holding, but the general attitude gets to be - wearing.

> My mom and I don't talk at all, haven't for years. My dad's better, but
> he moves a lot and isn't real good about letting me know where he is. My
> sister takes after my mother.

That's harsh. I'm sorry.

Back in my first year I did dutifully sign up for the GLB Soc, and one of the
things they wanted us to do at the first meet and greet was 'share our
coming out stories' - which was exactly as earnest and hand-claspy as it
sounds, and I have to admit that I pretty much sidled straight out of the
room, blushing furiously. I'm sorry though, that your parents seem to have a
problem. And just look at me making assumptions left and right - for all I
know it's because you were rude to Great Aunt Bessie at Cousin Sammie's
wedding in 1987 or something. I'll assume if it was for murdering your twin
sister or something your company would be rather less likely to send you
over seas to tempt the new recruits.

> Sorry, now *that* was a pile of too much information that you didn't want.

Hey - if you're comfortable telling me. It's just not something I want to
hear in front of 30 other people in public on first meeting, you know?

Tit for tat, right? My mum reckons she always suspected, and has pretty
much ignored the issue since - I've never turned up on the doorstep with
anyone, so I don't know how that'd go. My dad went through a phase of
phoning me up in the middle of the night, pissed as anything, wanting to know
what he'd done to make me turn gay, but - I think he's calmed down now. We
were never *that* close to start with, but we can get through a couple of
weeks at Christmas without fighting over anything worse than what film to
watch, so I think that's as good as it's going to get. Seth - well, he's 16,
and I can only hope he'll grow out of it.

> So what's further up on your list? I want to go to Scotland, and I'm
> angling for the big trip to New Zealand next year--but that's a promotion
> and a hell of a lot of work. Good job though, less travel. And New
> Zealand!

New Zealand would be amazing - you'd actually be working there permanently?
From everything I've seen it's an amazing country. I'd love to visit Alaska,
Canada - all these huge wildernesses, basically. Huge chunks of North-North
America, Scandinavia - I went over to Denmark with some mates in my first
year, just for a few days, and it was beautiful. - basically if it's cold,
wild, and there's a city with a bit of history to visit at one end of the
trip or another, I want to go. My worst nightmare is probably being forced
to go on holiday to Ibiza ;)

> Problem with climbing rock around here is that it tends to be really
> cliquish and I can't guarantee my time to anyone. I prefer to be outside,
> yeah, but I gotta get my exercise anyway I can. And all too often that's
> tiny gyms in hotels. Which sucks like you wouldn't believe.

I might, at that. I don't think I've really run into any cliquish types
here, but then I've always gone with a group. I can see where people might
not get the constant re-scheduling thing - think that you were flaky or
something. Which would be unfair. At least - based on a 20 minute chat and
some emails, anyway.

> I think team sports in schools should be used only for punishment. No way
> is that 'fun'. :P

I've always been faintly scared of people who *liked* PE.

> Might be an idea. There's jobs out there, really. I know. But then,
> when I take over the world I'll snatch them all away, so I recommend the
> henchman thing.

Cool - good promotion prospects, a stable organisation .... I posted the
last batch of application forms yesterday - so far I've had a whopping great
two interview offers, and one of those is with a bus company in Swindon that
in all honesty? I don't want. It's kind of depressing. Maybe if I knew what
I was trying to achieve, beyond 'a pay packet at the end of the month' I
might have more luck.

> #2 likes to think he's Very Important. But he's great fun after the first
> few insults have sunk in and he becomes himself again. But at the same
> time I get tired of the run around, you know? Not into head games.

He's not a lawyer is he? Katie - the one who did massage? - she's a lawyer
now - or a trainee something or other in a law firm, anyway, and I think
they gave her a personality transplant .... I've pretty much given up on
her, at least while I get through this. I just don't have the time or the
money to compete in her league.

> Yup. But sometimes meeting people long distance is kind of cool.

You do that a lot? A lover in every port, like a sailor?

> So I dug out your CV again and you're right. That is in fact what you are
> studying. Go you!

Never let it be said I am not obsessive.

> And yeah, I'll poke around, not a problem.

Thank you - that would be great. Just the reminder was good - I've turned
up a few good articles, and so far it's supporting my argument, not
undermining it.

> The world would be a much richer place if there were more people around
> with good hands. Really.

Oh, dear Lord, yes!

> But I get to take my new laptop, which is replacing the one that buggered in
> transit back from London. Yay for new laptop! And I'm making a note to
> sinc my Palm and take it too. Man, I need to make a list...

lap top + charger
palm
clothes
stuff

cell phone?

> Like I said, things tend to be fluid, but I'll see what I can manage and
> get you as much notice as I can.

Cool - whenever you know, just let me know.

> And yeah. I want to go climbing with student strangers.

Just so long as you know that you might be insane after all. I'll try and
keep Toad from crushing you.

> Not that you're entirely a stranger anymore. Just mostly a stranger.

Well - I'm thinking we got past 'potential business contact' a while back,
no?

> Keep the henchman offer in mind.

You really want me in the uniform that much? ;P

I'm going to put in a couple of solid days on this dissertation, then down
to my parents on Thursday for a long weekend. Wish me luck?

Have fun in Toronto.

Tom
**********************************
If a dollar was a chicken would the chicken be evil?

To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland
Sent: Sunday 3:15pm

Hey you,

> Nope, no super powers here.

You sure? Hate to spill my plans to the enemy.

> > If you want to be a henchman, you can apply anytime.
>
> But before I apply I need to know what the dress code's like.
> Anything that involves vision-restricting helmets, or leather harnesses,
> and I'm afraid I'm not going to apply. I guess I'm too old for the advisor's role?

Dress code? Dress if you want. That's pretty much it.

..................................Umm. Yeah, see the thing is? Went out
for a long Sunday brunch with some friends. Much orange juice and champagne
was involved.

No leather? I suppose I can work around that.

And no, in fact you are not old enough to be the advisor. Wasn't Batman's
guy...Alfred? like really old? You seem pretty spry to me.

> > Not prying. I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't want to leave an
> > opening. My last partner moved out just short of a year ago--travel
> > wasn't helping things, and it turned out I wasn't as missed as I'd been
> > told. Came home early and found one too many people here. So, alone for the
> > time being.
>
> *ouch* - that - that really sucks.

It got a little ugly, yeah. But it's okay now. Well, mostly. It doesn't
hurt as much anyway.

> [And in light of a couple of things you say later, your use of language
> here is masterful. I tip my hat to you sir.]

Why thank you. :-) I thought it was pretty smooth. Not really needed,
seeing as how I spilled my guts about three minutes later, but whatever.

> > > Sorry, but I'm having a real Fight Club moment : you sleeping ok? ;)
> >
> > LOL! Yeah, I sleep okay. :-)
>
> Cool - but if your apartment blows up, I am calling the psychiatric ward,
> ok? No making friends on the plane, yeah?

Ha! I try very hard to ignore everyone on the plane. Trust me, those
people are all weird. :P All eager to get to where they're going or full of
stories about their cats. Very odd.

> Do tell - how'd you break the furniture? We're more feeding it to
> the mould, I think. That's one thing I can be glad off - at least I have
> a room to myself - I think I'd go nuts without a door between me and them - how did
> you manage that?

Chair breaking: usually drunken falling over, though there was one time
someone decided that the easiest way to sweep would be to pile all the
furniture in the middle of the room. The pile came tumbling down, and we
were out two chairs. And once one of the roomies had sex with his girl out
there and they broke a chair. I didn't ask for details.

And about sharing a room? One learns to a) never ever bring anyone home b)
hide the porn really well and c) be the first one to the shower.

Uh, forget all that stuff.

> > How was that for a casual outing?
>
> Very smooth. Um, you picked up on Kay being a guy then?

Yeah. Don't think I would have said anything otherwise, not yet anyway.

> > If they would only label them accurately--'right drug' 'wrong drug'
> > 'really wrong drug' 'makes you lose most of the night and who is this
> > person in my bed? drug'.......
>
> Here's where I get to sound like a callow youth : I've not really played
> with any drugs. I don't even smoke. Booze and caffeine only, me.

Smoking will kill you and it makes it hard to climb. (I don't either, have
no interest) Smoked some pot back in school, but really? Not a big deal,
nothing I want to do these days.

> > Cool! Wide range in literature is always a nice thing. More to talk
> > about, more......you cook? Now that's cool. I can barely manage pasta.
>
> Hee - and I assume you don't mean making it from scratch either.
> [I can, but who can be bothered?] I kinda cook. OK, so today lunch is, in
> fact, two chocolate bars consumed secretively in the computer lab, but give
> me a half decent kitchen and a reason, and I can cook. My mum's a real
> whiz, and I didn't realise till I got to uni that most people *don't* know how to put
> together a Sunday Roast, or make risotto. I don't run to anything
> too fancy, and I absolutely cannot do pastry, but, well, smarter than the
> average student in the kitchen, at least.

Riiiiiiiight. My tuna sandwich for supper is looking pretty yuck. Maybe
I'll order in.

> > > > Kay was your someone?
> > >
> > > Yeah - didn't work out for all sorts of reasons, but he was definitely
> > > someone.
> >
> > Sorry. Sounds rough.
>
> It - it wasn't.... is it really stupid to miss someone after
> almost a year?

I hope not. Still miss Peter sometimes. Dumb, huh?

Do you hear from him at all?

> > Uh....ick. Maybe I'll give it a pass next vacation. Which
> > isn't actually until September, so I'm not in a real rush to make plans.
> > :-)
>
> May to September without a break? Jeez they work you hard! Now that's not
> something I'm looking forward to about the corporate world. Although US
> companies normally give less leave, right?

Yeah, US is pretty crap for vacation time actually. Ten paid days a year is
standard, though most companies will let you work your way up to twenty days
over time. I think I get like three weeks right now.

> > Expense account. Really--I had the last London trip, then
> > Miami right on top. If I didn't send it out I'd be looking pretty
> > shabby right about now. ;-)
>
> I guess they need to keep you looking snazzy to project the right image ;)

Don't think I'll ever make snazzy, but they do like it if I'm neat. :P
Pushy people. Rather wear jeans and a fleece sweatshirt, but whatever they
say....

> > Plans for world domination aside--and if you're a superhero,
> > there are no plans--just the usual stuff, I expect.
>
> Nope, still just Joe Normal over here. I'm not even side kick material.

Wouldn't say that.

> > Boston's okay, if you pay attention to where you are, and don't
> > make a spectacle of yourself. Which I don't--too much of a
> > bookworm to be a spectacle.
>
> You don't even wear spectacles ;)

But you do. :-) Nice gold ones.

> > And that would be the not so casual outing.
>
> You need to hear the 'me to'? That's one of the reasons why I
> picked a uni in London, although my parents didn't know until after the
> fact. One of the reasons I don't want to move back as well - not that I have a
> boyfriend who's hand I could be holding, but the general attitude gets to be
> - wearing.

Yeah. I mean, no, I didn't need to hear the 'me too,' (though it is nice to
hear) I meant that the attitude wears.

Did that make any sense? I babble a little when I've had too much to drink.

> > My mom and I don't talk at all, haven't for years. My dad's better, but
> > he moves a lot and isn't real good about letting me know where he is.
> > My sister takes after my mother.
>
> That's harsh. I'm sorry.

Their choice, right? I gotta look at it that way.

> Back in my first year I did dutifully sign up for the GLB Soc, and
> one of the things they wanted us to do at the first meet and greet was
> 'share our coming out stories' - which was exactly as earnest and hand-claspy as it
> sounds, and I have to admit that I pretty much sidled straight out of the
> room, blushing furiously.

Wow, that's........wow. Never did the societies in school. Just didn't
really like the vibe, sort of felt like I was putting myself on display.

> I'm sorry though, that your parents seem to have a problem. And just look at me
> making assumptions left and right - for all I
> know it's because you were rude to Great Aunt Bessie at Cousin Sammie's
> wedding in 1987 or something.

LOL It was actually my cousin Tina's wedding and I wasn't so much rude as a
little full of myself and thought that the best way to come out was to be
found in a dark corner kissing one of the ushers. It wasn't nice.

Funny now though.

> I'll assume if it was for murdering your twin sister or something your
> company would be rather less likely to send you overseas to tempt
> the new recruits.

Yeah, KI frowns on that sort of thing.

> > Sorry, now *that* was a pile of too much information that you
> > didn't want.
>
> Hey - if you're comfortable telling me. It's just not something I want to
> hear in front of 30 other people in public on first meeting, you know?

Oh yeah, I get that.

> Tit for tat, right? My mum reckons she always suspected, and has pretty
> much ignored the issue since - I've never turned up on the doorstep with
> anyone, so I don't know how that'd go. My dad went through a phase of
> phoning me up in the middle of the night, pissed as anything,
> wanting to know what he'd done to make me turn gay, but - I think he's
> calmed down now. We were never *that* close to start with, but we can get through a
> couple of weeks at Christmas without fighting over anything worse than what film to
> watch, so I think that's as good as it's going to get. Seth -
> well, he's 16, and I can only hope he'll grow out of it.

Thanks. You didn't have to tell me.

Is it weird that I'm glad you did?

> > So what's further up on your list? I want to go to Scotland, and I'm
> > angling for the big trip to New Zealand next year--but that's a
> > promotion and a hell of a lot of work. Good job though, less travel.
> > And New Zealand!
>
> New Zealand would be amazing - you'd actually be working there permanently?

Yeah, sort of. It's actually a two year contract, and there would still be
some travel, but it's a new home base, and the operation there is smaller so
who ever gets the job would be like third in command or something. I don't
stand a chance, but it sure would be nice.

> From everything I've seen it's an amazing country. I'd love to
> visit Alaska, Canada - all these huge wildernesses, basically. Huge
> chunks of North-North America, Scandinavia - I went over to Denmark with some
> mates in my first year, just for a few days, and it was beautiful. - basically if
> it's cold, wild, and there's a city with a bit of history to visit at one end of the
> trip or another, I want to go. My worst nightmare is probably being forced
> to go on holiday to Ibiza ;)

I have no idea where Ibiza is. And that's weird. For me, I mean.

Um, point? The rest sounds cool. :-)

> > I prefer to be outside, yeah, but I gotta get my exercise anyway I can.
> > And all too often that's tiny gyms in hotels. Which sucks like you wouldn't
> > believe.
>
> I might, at that. I don't think I've really run into any cliquish types
> here, but then I've always gone with a group. I can see where people might
> not get the constant re-scheduling thing - think that you were flaky or
> something. Which would be unfair. At least - based on a 20 minute chat and
> some emails, anyway.

'm not flaky. Really. Oh look, shiny........

Did I mention the champagne?

> I've always been faintly scared of people who *liked* PE.

Yep. Big hulking scary people with strange urges to throw things. Which
would be my experience with dodge ball in third grade. Scarred me for life.

> Cool - good promotion prospects, a stable organisation .... I posted the
> last batch of application forms yesterday - so far I've had a
> whopping great two interview offers, and one of those is with a bus company
> in Swindon that in all honesty? I don't want. It's kind of depressing. Maybe
> if I knew what I was trying to achieve, beyond 'a pay packet at the end of the
> month' I might have more luck.

Knowing what you want is good. Going after it is better.

I have to give a speech in Toronto. Think I'm ready? ;-)

> > #2 likes to think he's Very Important. But he's great fun
> > after the first few insults have sunk in and he becomes himself again.
> > But at the same time I get tired of the run around, you know? Not into head games.
>
> He's not a lawyer is he? Katie - the one who did massage? -
> she's a lawyer now - or a trainee something or other in a law firm,
> anyway, and I think they gave her a personality transplant .... I've pretty much given up
> on her, at least while I get through this. I just don't have the time or the
> money to compete in her league.

Nah, he's in computer something that I don't get. Peter is a lawyer though.
I don't like lawyers much.

Just sayin'.

> > Yup. But sometimes meeting people long distance is kind of cool.
>
> You do that a lot? A lover in every port, like a sailor?

Umm. No. Not so much with the quick flings. Or, for that matter, any
flings.

Was trying to be subtle there and tell you I think you're cool, and I'm
liking this whole e-mail thing.

Now, I shall retreat with my dignity a little worse for wear, but my head
held high.

> > So I dug out your CV again and you're right. That is in fact
> > what you are studying. Go you!
>
> Never let it be said I am not obsessive.

You're not obsessive.

heh.

> > But I get to take my new laptop, which is replacing the one that buggered in
> > transit back from London. Yay for new laptop! And I'm making a note to
> > sinc my Palm and take it too. Man, I need to make a list...
>
> lap top + charger
> palm
> clothes
> stuff
>
> cell phone?

Damn. Cell phone. Thanks.

> > And yeah. I want to go climbing with student strangers.
>
> Just so long as you know that you might be insane after all. I'll try and
> keep Toad from crushing you.

Thanks, appreciate that. ;-)

> > Not that you're entirely a stranger anymore. Just mostly a stranger.
>
> Well - I'm thinking we got past 'potential business contact' a while back,
> no?

I'd say so, yeah. :-)

> > Keep the henchman offer in mind.
>
> You really want me in the uniform that much? ;P

You're flirting.

Aren't you?

> I'm going to put in a couple of solid days on this dissertation, then down
> to my parents on Thursday for a long weekend. Wish me luck?

Good luck. Really.

> Have fun in Toronto.

Oh yeah, it'll be a blast. :-) If I get totally bored I'll drop you an
inspirational message from my speech.

Oliver.

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