October 24th, 02001

   As long as my life continues to contain days like today, it'll be worth living.

   Today I sat around at the University for several hours, discussing ideas, and got paid more than $100 for my trouble. Then I got on the phone and had a nice conversation with J--- L------ at the intersection of computer geekdom and politics. That filled approximately another hour. He then handed the phone to K---- A-----, and we discussed the finer points of bed & breakfasts in Taos, New Mexico for a certain trip next year.

   After that, I hung up, and (since it was late, and cold outside) took a taxicab home from work. I do not always have intellectual conversations with cabdrivers, but this time I did.

   A very cerebral day.

   One of the best parts of the day was definitely the confrontation that began it. A client was angry over my charging him for an appointment he had not kept (there was a misunderstanding), and he called me to let me know this. What I liked about the conflict was how smoothly we handled it. That is not always my strong point. Yet this time, diplomacy reigned. He admitted the wisdom of my policies in general, and I agreed that I had made a mistake in his case in particular, and within a mere matter of minutes it was all very amiable.

   So nice. Ah, so pleasant.

   October 25th, 02001

   Natürlich. We cannot have total perfection. I found out today that M-- I---- had been trying to call Ms. A----- last night, and couldn't get through because I was tying up the line.

   And I even knew that they had been trying to get in touch. Oops.

   Ah, well.