I've been working in a windowless basement office for two and a half years.

In my career, I've spent a lot of time working in various windowless server rooms, but the very worst was when my department of three got moved into sub-basement level 3 in the bowels of a malfunctioning skyscraper. Our office was a small, low-ceiling, smelly, open-plan room without cell service. If you got lost in the warren of tunnels, you'd know to turn around once you stumbled over the stored Christmas decorations.

In short, windows are nice. I hope you get windows.

Windows are good. I like seeing stuff.

Ha! Actually I meant beef liver (because that's "liver" in my head) but that's clearly not what I wrote. Chicken liver on the other hand, much depends on the preparation. Like sauteed in butter is a bit too forward to me, but I love pate and love it in pasta sauces.

Oh. Totally different. We're back to samesies.

If you got lost in the warren of tunnels, you'd know to turn around once you stumbled over the stored Christmas decorations.

We used to tell new hires to navigate through the halls by the busts. "Turn left at Marconi to get to Publications!" I'm glad I never had to work in a basement; I had enough trouble breathing in a closed building. Although IEEE's basement is sweet, it looks like a starship down there.

Checking in from CPH. I finally tried the thin wafers of chocolate on buttered toast as part of breakfast today. Between that and the excellent coffee, I am surviving jetlag. My co-workers are all trying to convince me to relocate here.

Also, DUDE! The windows in the office open! WTF is that? I am not used to office buildings where you can open windows.

Hah. Welcome to our advanced European ways.

Actually, it's because we don't usually have air-conditioning. So, advantages and disadvantages. Not that it ever really gets hot enough in Copenhagen to warrent air-con.

Yeah, one week a year I tend to wish we had air-con, either at home or in public buidings. The rest of the year is mostly taken up with vaguely wishing I didn't live where you only notice it's summer because the rain got warmer.

I am attempting to convince Harvey that it is not quite time for kitties to eat. He remains skeptical.

My mom is being taken to the OR. The blockage has cleared, for now, but one of her hernias has popped out and is causing her a lot of pain. They are worried the hernia will cause more intestinal blockages, so they didn't want to risk waiting.

I am freaking out. Bless the doctor that gave me a prescription of some Xanax-like substance a couple months ago!

Good vibes for your mother.

I am hiding in my car because I don't want to go in to this work conference. This is not a long term solution.