Faux Pas

I recently took a trip to Paris France for a conference. I was worried about being able to get around on my own there, but I found that I could manage pretty well. The people were friendly and courteous and helpful.

Learning the subway system was a bit of a challenge. I was trying to get from the Arch de Triumph to Charles de Gaulle airport via the subway, so I talked with the attendant in the information booth. He told me what to purchase and pointed me at the ATMs next to the booth. So I went over to try and figure the software out.

As I was waiting for an ATM, an English-speaking couple were at the neighboring ATM trying to figure it out and a 14-year-old in street clothes came up to assist them.

He made me nervous. He was too friendly and not dressed like the people in the information booth, and he did not look like he was trying to get to a particular destination himself.

Losing It

Some people left their hearts in San Francisco. I left my shoes in Paris, France.

Dialing Dyslexia

I'm preparing to give a presentation at a large computer science conference. As part of these preparations, I needed to call a support line to confirm my membership with this particular professional organization.

So I picked up my phone and dialed their support number.

Adding Insult to Injury

I was having a bad day. I didn't get enough sleep the night before, so I was slow at everything I did. There were too many meetings in the day and not enough useful decisions made. I also did not have enough time to really get anything accomplished.

By the time I got home I was sweaty and exhausted and I couldn't think through my headache to figure out what to make for dinner.

So I did what I usually do when I get home, which is to go upstairs and change out of my work clothes into a t-shirt and shorts. But as I tossed my clothes into the hamper, I saw this:

Ender's Game 2

Driving around town a few months back I noticed a bumper sticker which said

The Enemy's Gate is Down

I turned to my wife and said "That's odd. I wonder what that means. Is the enemy not paying attention to their defenses? Or are they having a tailgate party?"

"That's a quote from 'Ender's Game'," she replied.

"What? I don't remember that at all."

Nuts for Not Hair

By brother-in-law, David, recently participated in a church youth party-planning meeting with some teenagers and a few adult leaders. Someone suggested he invite his good friend, Joe, to the event.

David responded "I'll bring him even if I have to drag him by..." Oh wait--I can't say "hair" because he's bald. "...his not hair!" That's a cute high-school-ly way of putting it.

Two weeks later, someone from that meeting approached David and asked him to clarify his statement about Joe. Apparently this attendee--and several others--heard...

Metaphorically Speaking

The other day my wife and I were driving back from shopping when I suddenly realized "The name 'Ender' from 'Ender's Game' is symbolic of the fact that he always wins; he always ends the game."

My wife responded "You just realized that? How long ago did you read that book?"

I'd read the book 3 times and love it each time. The first time was in 6th grade, the second in 10th grade, and the third time while working on my undergraduate degree. I am now a year past finishing my doctorate.

You'll have to excuse me...I'm a little slow.