I woke up to the news of the passing of KayYow at 6:40 this morning. R.I.P., great lady.
My exterminator was scheduled to arrive some time between 11 and noon today, and he pulled up at about 11:01. He was not my “regular guy,” as I’ve never had service on a Saturday before—didn’t even know they offered it until I asked the scheduler this time when she called.
“You work at N.C. State, right?” he asked, which really surprised me.
“Yes, I do,” I replied.
“You heard about Kay Yow, I take it?”
“Yes, I did, just read that. A great loss for our university and a great loss for our community,” I said.
Before he left, I said, “How did you know I worked for N.C. State anyway? Is that in my profile with Smith Exterminating or something?”
“No,” he said, “You mentioned it the last time I was here.”
“Good memory,” I said.
I got to the gym at about 4:10 and I did 40 minutes on the elliptical machine, putting the setting back to the one I’d gotten up to before I stopped going regularly to the gym back in September—that is to say: the “Hill” option, on Level 4. I burned just over 700 calories.
Afterwards, I stopped by the Harris Teeter right there and picked up an eight-ounce package of cream cheese and some Tostito Rounds Bite-size to make the Harry & David Cream Cheese and Pepper and Onion Relish Dip.
I arrived at Steve’s at about 6:10, and got a little concerned after ringing the doorbell twice and not getting an answer. His glass storm door was locked, and the inside door opened all the way, so I could see inside.
Folks were supposed to be there at 6:00 and no one else was there yet. I walked around the side of the house to look over the fence to see if perhaps Steve, and/or others, were out on his back deck. No one.
I went back to the front door and called Steve on my cell phone. Just as it started ringing, I saw him coming down his steps. He’d been watching and listening to the television (a little story on Kay Yow, in fact) and hadn’t heard either of my two rings.
The others arrived at about 6:50—Will, his boyfriend Brian, Jenni, and her (straight) co-worker Chris.
We had drinks, some great appetizers (including my chips and dip), caught up on how we all met each other, and then went to 42nd Street Oyster Bar for dinner.
I had their Seafood Salad—scallops, shrimp, and lump crabmeat on a bed of lettuce. It was delicious, but I only ate about a third of it before asking for a box. I mean it was going on 10:00, and we’d eaten a ton of appetizers at Steve’s.
I got to Flex at about 10:30, where it was “Flashlight Night.” I walked in with Randy, and I said to him, “Honey, your bear411.com profile?” and before I could finish the question he said, “Yes, he’s moved to Cary.”
Joe arrived shortly after I got there, and we hung out for the night. I left Joe there, around 12:45 or 1:00, I believe.