I spent the weekend in Valencia with my former boss Larry. We were trying to figure out a time-frame for a visit because he still travels extensively and this was the only weekend we were both free for the foreseeable future. Dinner turned into most of the weekennd as we got caught up on the past few years' worth of news.

It seems like forever ago, but he was let go before they closed our division in the wake of 9/11. I'd only seen him once since then, when a bunch of folks got together to help Liz put siding on her house. So, five or so years later, we're both now living in SoCal, though not exactly in the same neighborhood. It was a long drive up there, whereupon I realized he lives off the same horrifying exit that leads to Magic Mountain. Aieeee!

He was surprised to learn (now that he can't fire me) that he'd made me cry while I was his assistant. Hah, he's just blocking those memories :) Other than a rather volatile temper, Larry's an old sweetie with a heart of gold. We talked about our families, Hawaii (he lived there for a number of years) and folks we know in common. While we chatted, I had one of those brilliant flashes of insight: Larry is a social Sim. He probably contacted me because everyone else he knows is gone this weekend and he hates being alone in a big house with a beautiful view.

We sat up till way late chatting and watching shooting stars from his back patio. It was totally like being on holiday; he likes to cook and fuss over folks, so I had a great dinner and this morning he made us some great Italian coffee. I drove home after breakfast with the remains of a failed Larry experiment in my car: a massive cat condo for the cat he bought and then gave away. Apparently it jumped on his kitchen counters, wouldn't come when called and refused to snuggle. Sounds a lot like Melody!

Speaking of whom, she and Mittens adore the new cat condo as it towers over the one I already have. They're playing on it now. I'll have to upload the photos from their explorations!