Artichokes

I spent my last college summer interning for an architectural engineering firm. The engineer I worked under called his counterparts "artichokes". This was the highlight of my job, except hearing the tech over the wall talk about the latest issue of Playboy. /grimace/ Anyway, I thought it was cute and made sure it was the first thing I told DA, my friend's boyfriend, who had just started his first job as an artichoke out of college.

When I moved into my new apartment before my senior year started, it was the first time in over two years that I'd had roommates I didn't really know. V was a friend of a friend and one of the first others to move in. Her mom was helping her move in and DA gave them a hand with some lifting, etc., while I finished some tasks in my room.

Soon I came to say hi and meet V's mom. After we were introduced, DA goaded me into calling him an artichoke. I smiled and began to explain to V and her mom why this was funny. I finished and DA helpfully stepped in and asked V's mom to tell me what she did. I'm sure you can guess--she was a fellow artichoke.

Boy, were my ears red!

Today's blonde moment

1. Become frustrated with black felt tip pen for being almost out of ink. Get out of chair and walk to back of office to get new one from supply shelves.
2. On way back to cube, stop to check today's horoscope and Dilbert.
3. Get back to desk and realize that you don't have the pen you got up for.
4. Return to break room in hopes of retrieving pen. When it isn't under the paper, realize it was in your pocket the whole time.

Admissions

When I visited Wash U as a high school senior, I met this guy. We were both waiting in the admissions office for a shuttle to the airport and we ended up chatting for over an hour. I thought he was flirting with me, and while he wasn’t “my type”, I was flattered and curious. I often wondered about him after I got home and broke the news to my parents that my college education was going to be very expensive.

Sure enough, that fall he showed up in the engineering school too. When I was a freshman I was pretty involved in the Engineering Student Council, and he quickly found his way there as well. As I saw him in action, I determined he was cocky—coming off as a bit of jerk—and the memories of our interlude in the admissions office were easily shoved to the back of my brain.

Surfing through my friends and their friends today on Friendster, I came across his name and picture. I was surprised to see his name and face on my computer screen, but my jaw literally dropped when I saw his current location: Denver. Nearly nine years later and we’re living practically next door to one another. Even though I’m curious about what brought him to my area, I didn’t message him. Nothing in our shared history drives me to reconnect with him—except that afternoon in the admissions office.

Luke, I am your engineer

Right after she took my picture with Darth, we decided to find out how they made this Lego creation breathe and speak like Darth Vader. As we hunched under his cape, gleefully discovering his power cord and a battery pack, a man walking by asked, “Engineers?”

How’d he know?