Though I have undertaken a tremendous amount of effort in correcting their mistake, my friends back home always think and insist that I live in Seattle.  But a stubborn me tried again, "The city I live in is called Redmond."  The reaction I received, however, was a skeptical "No you don't. You work for MS."  Then I cried out, "Yeah, but MS is in Redmond!  Not Seattle!" 

 

It ain't no use.  They have made up their minds.  When Scientology believers made up their minds, they had a duty and obligation to save the world from alien invasion.  When Spaghedeitists made up their minds, the gravity is due to the tenacles of a sphagetty monster pulling on them.  When my friends made up their minds, I lived in Seattle.  That's how it is.

 

To them, it does not matter anyway.   All they needed to know is that Andrew lives far far away, in a place where he can't come back in time to work out with them, or to go out for a drink with them, and the phone call to Andrew is long distance and it costed money (at which point they deleted my name off their SIM and swore never call me again).  To them, Seattle and Redmond are the same difference. 

 

But to me, these two cities are worlds apart.

 

My first impression of Redmond ...(to be continued)...