I'm up in Microsoft territory doing executive things. It's all very familiar.
It turns out that I actually know this neighborhood, and have been here several times before having no idea how close I was to the Microsoft campus, mere blocks as it turns out. In fact, I bought my second favorite sweater at the Sears off 148th a couple years ago. I can still remember snippets of a conversation at the Black Angus around the corner.
Moreover, I'm staying in Bellevue, a city which is an order of magnitude more appealing than Seattle, that is, for the sensibilities of a traveler who cares about such comforts as a modern American city (or malltown) can provide. Starbucks, PF Chang, Wall Street Journal, Hyatt, Wifi. I'm good.
Microsoft itself is it's own universe, but the culture is immediately recognizable. Everybody is IT, and there looks to be masses of middle managers in their 30s. That means that it is a lot like Silicon Valley was.
I'm getting used to having an assistant, which is probably the most marvelous business invention known to man. I may never fill out an expense report again. Excellent., BTW 'Excellent' is my new phrase, consciously like C. Montgomery Burns, my 'hero'. But seriously, this is going to be more fun than I imagined. I've got to renew my passport, I'm heading for the festival in Goa.
More later. jeez, almost no time for blogging...
Recent Comments