Small World

Had a funny encounter at work the other day. We have a bunch of people from our New Jersey site walking around our buildings these days, taking inventory of all the equipment that's going to be moving soon. I ran into a small group of them in the lab, and started chatting with them a little.

One of the guys asked me if I was from California (is that an ethnic-related question? Like, are they asking if I'm from California in leiu of say, Taiwan? Or is it simply just a question people ask, even if you're Caucasian? I'm honestly curious). I replied that I had actually moved here from New Jersey 20 years (God I feel old) ago. They asked what part of Jersey, and I said Dayton, in Middlesex County. Surprisingly they actually knew what I was talking about (Dayton is a small town). One guy then asked me if I was familiar with a town called Monmouth Junction, and I said, "Oh absolutely! I actually went to Monmouth Junction Elementary." And he says, "Me too!"

He then goes on to name his third grade teacher, who I didn't recognize at all, but not surprisingly because this guy was probably in his 50's, and I'm thinking, dude, before my time.

But yeah, how totally random to run into someone out in California that went to the same New Jersey elementary school as me.

I did a little more research into the Comic Con schedule, and it looks like Marc and I might not make it in to the "Lost" panel. We won't get there until 9:30, the panel starts at 11, and the hall accommodates 6,500 people, but apparently people start lining up for this thing at like 2 am. Neither of us feels like changing our flight again and then getting up before dawn to go line up for this thing (especially since we have a loooong day ahead), so if we make it, we make it. If not, we'll just go for the "V" panel (which is in the afternoon), and if I can get into that at least, the trip will have been worth it. It'll be a bummer to miss "Lost," but what can you do. I just can't believe this convention is as insane as it sounds.

Emmy nominations get announced tomorrow morning, although I don't expect to see a lot of my favorites on there. I'm sure "Lost" will get a Best Drama nod, and maybe Michael Emerson can get in there for Supporting Actor, but I'd be really surprised to see either Josh Holloway or Elizabeth Mitchell (who everyone thought could've WON in 2007, but didn't even get nominated) get supporting nominations. Would be cool to see Jenna Fischer from "The Office" get a nomination, but I think that's a long shot too.

Alright, time to go back to cleaning the lab.