Come On-A My House

I first got to know Norm when he advised me via email on the meaning and use of stemware. This was back when I was shopping for a wedding gift for my friend Sara.

A couple of weeks ago I met the analog Norm, when he was in San Jose on business, and you'll never guess where we went.

OK, well, maybe you will.

It's become something of an inside joke that Friends of Sass who come to San Jose must either (1) take her grocery shopping or (b) help her put together a piece of furniture. Or, if you're really lucky, both.

The tradition was inaugurated by Jack, who picked me up at the airport on the day my alien ship landed from Canada, bought me the Aerobed, then took me to Safeway and even filled out the application for a Safeway club card for me. Next came Tim Bray, who consulted on the arrangement of my stereo, particularly the placement of my huge speakers which I dragged here from Toronto, but who, instead of taking me to Safeway took me to Gordon Biersch for dinner.

Then Blundering American flew all the way from the other sunshine coast, Florida, just to help me put my desk together. And to take me to Safeway.

Kay was here for two weeks in September, during which time we shopped for furniture at Ikea, which she then helped me put together, and from which experience we learned it's best to hold off on the cork-popping until you've figured out how to attach those cupboard doors. Then we went to Safeway.

Norm and I had a wonderful time bar-hopping around downtown San Jose, and, had there been any furniture left in need of putting together, I have no doubt he would have complied with tradition, however, my new sofa arrived only after he'd left, and Pinky was able to help me put it together:


Tonight there's no furniture that needs putting together, and my fridge is full, but since Wendy and Joey are in San Jose for the weekend, maybe I'll take one of my bookshelves apart so they don't feel left out.