Panels and Panelists

Very, very unpleasant panel discussion last night sponsored by our Institute. All panelists brought slides. Each panelist read from published papers and refered to said slides. Each panelists thought that the other panelists were the most astute, delightful witty humans to ever walk this Earth. And said so at length. I started to feel murderous and wanted the Contessa to comisserate, so poked her in the side. The Contessa posesses the dubious skill of being able to sleep with her eyes open. I could tell she was at it again because she turned to me and said, "oh yes, the ostrich will be fine," in a speaking voice. "Wake up," I hissed. The vice-boss glared at us through the gloom of the slides.

When the event finally ended, the maintenence people had to escort our small audience downstairs through the empty building. The Contessa and I were compelled by the vice-boss to bring extra flyers back to the office (the vice-boss didn't like the Contessa's suggestion that we 'leave the flyers for students who might be interested') but the guard wouldn't let us up. Got hot. Said, "Our event ran late, you have to let us up." "Ok, now just calm down, sir, calm down." Wanted to say, oh I'm not un-calm yet. I am very calm. But realized that that wouldn't forward my case.