Master Of Avoidance

I'm in Boise for a conference with other forensics coaches in the Pacific Northwest.

I know these people. And I don't want to be with some of them more than necessary.

1. At the Portland airport, I noticed two coaches that like to talk to me. The feelings are not mutual. They were at the gate, waiting to board the same flight as me. I strategically positioned myself so they coud not see me. I got on the plane before they did, and strategically chose a seat in the second-to-last row (Southwest does not assign seats). I put my head down and talked with Traci on the phone as they boarded. They sat in the middle of the plane. At the Boise airport, they were in line at the same car rental place that I was using. After waiting a few minutes, I ended up about three people behind them in line. While getting the car from the lot (no shuttle required - hooray!), their car was two vehicles away from mine. They still didn't see me. (Wait - maybe they were avoiding me. If that's the case, then they're just plain rude.)

2. A coach from Oregon that I do like arrived on a later flight. Our plan was that I would pick him up and we would go to dinner. When I saw him at the Boise airport, he had another coach (yucky) with him. They were on the same flight and yucky coach asked my friend how he was getting to the hotel. So we gave yucky coach a ride to the hotel, and hoped he wouldn't mention anything about dinner. We lucked out, and managed to have a good dinner without him.

For the next two days, I will face them all - the argumentation experts who argue poorly. Sigh.