I start today with a 45 minute drive to Claremont, via 5 different freeways - I'm worried about two things:

1) Getting lost - although I've got a map printed, one wrong turn could lead me into downtown LA - about an hour away!, and

2) Running out of fuel - it's too early in the morning to fight with my inability to fill the car up!

The client wants some work doing, which doesn't take too long, but I manage to persuade him that further work will be of benefit - he's not a contracted customer, so he only "pays as he goes" - and I don't know when we'll next get to visit him, so I get as much done as my schedule allows.

I update my work sheets on the database, and see that I've booked over $600 of billable time since I started work last Tuesday - that's not a fantastic amount in the grand scheme of things, but I feel as though I'm contributing! I don't feel too guilty now, knowing that I've been making hours worth of long-distance calls on their company phone - joke!!!

On the way back, I miss my exit on the freeway - bugger it! I have no idea where I'm headed, so I take the next exit, thinking I can do a u-turn, head back the way I came, then come back again, and take the right exit! Wrong! There's no way back onto the freeway, so I have to take the scenic route - past Cal Poly University - nice Campus - but I manage to find the right way back to the Office eventually.

I finally get to meet Steve - who's one of the Partners here, and has been on holiday since I arrived - we have a brief chat, then it's off to my next visit - this time I don't get lost, as it's just down the corridor!

The day finishes just after 17:30, and everyone's gone from the office - fair enough, I'll head on home! On my way back to the hotel, I see a bus - there's something not quite right, but I just can't put my finger on it! Oh yeah - there's no "tail-pipe" (that's an exhaust for you Brits!) just a chimney. What's all that about??

I get back, and find my shirts ironed and a cup of coffee waiting for me - I knew there was a reason why I asked Jem to come out here with me!! She's such a cutie!

We decide to head-on out for some dinner, and I recommend the Outback Steakhouse - where I went with Craig and his family last Sunday. It's a really cool Australian-themed restaurant but, again, the meal portions are just too much. But the waitresses have a uniform of which I completely approve - denim hot pants!! I'll be making a recommendation to my local Harvester just as soon as I get back!

The day went really quickly today, so there's not really much to report - I did see some emails from my fellow Gills fans though, reporting that Vinny has to have an operation on his wrist (no, not because of that) and may never play for the Mighty Gills again - sorry to hear that Vince, and best of luck! In another email I had, there were plenty of things to make you think, so I thought I'd share some with you:

* Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks
* Some people are like Slinkies; not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs
* How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a barbecue?

Oh, and I just remembered - happy birthday Liz (for last Thursday!!!) - hope you had a good one!

END OF DAY 10