So I leave for Pullman in a few hours. I am doing a recruiting trip. Basically interviewing college hires all day tomorrow.
Originally, I was going to go to Bookfest today and pick up a few books like I always do. I've decided not to do this. Several reasons. I have too many books that are unread right now. I need to catch up. Yet again, I had the time wrong for something in my head again. This time it's my flight to Pullman, which I thought was at 6:15. It's at 4:45. It's my flight back that leaves at 6:15. So less time to rush around buying books I looked at yesterday. I usually buy three or four books by self-published authors or writers who are published by very small presses. Much as I hate that I won't be supporting them this year, it's probably for the best that I don't overburden myself with even more new books.
But that's beside the issue I felt like writing about.
Pullman & Moscow
I lived in the Moscow-Pullman area from August 1987 until May of 1998. Eight years of school (never graduated), and the first three years of my career were there. I did most of my drinking there. And eight of the 12 years I've been sober. It's been a while since I've been back.
I am going to check out a few things while I am there. See if the Sunday night home group I started in 1992 is still there. It will be coming up on its 10 year anniversary if it still is. That would be totally cool. I also want to see if Special K and the Monday group are still around. Maybe see if I can find Jerry Pastore and Kelly Crook. I think those are the only two of Sam's boys that are still in the area. I can think of a lot of other people I know, faces at least, but not always names. My memory is not very good anymore.
Also, I have to check out and see if Mingles is still around. That was the pool hall where I spent many hours from 1992 to 1998. It was cheap ($1/hour before 6 p.m.). When I was struggling to find my niche after sobering up, that was an integral part of my change from scared, lonely nerd to the more self-assured man that I am now. I bet there are still a few people I know hanging out there. Plus, it might be full of people who can kick my ass at pool. That would be nice.
Alas, I won't have time to get out to Deary and see my house. Nor will I have any free time during business hours to stop in at my first employer in this career, Pacific Simulation. It might be nice to stop in and see Bill Strand and how he is doing and Mary Gregory nee Burris. Nor will I have a chance to stop by the Business Technology Incubator and say hi to Gina.
I also must stop in at BookPeople of Moscow and say hi to Bob. I had a subscription to the NY Times that I picked up at his store every day from 1989 until 1998. Then I would walk down the street to the Beanery (and later the Vox) and have a piece of pie and coffee while reading my paper. Sadly, the Vox/Beanery is no longer around. I purchased many many books over the years at BookPeople. Probably my favorite book store in the whole world.
Anyway, that's my plans for the next day & a half. I must be getting my bag packed now. I don't think I will be online until Tuesday. It's hard to have an internet cafe in an area where two universities with free internet access. My cell phone won't work there either.