From Washburn Mon Jul  3 23:08:45 2000
Subject: France
To: beepy@netapp.com

Brian, sorry to be so long in responding to your very kind letter. We've had 
something approaching 1000 e-mails on the article(s) now, swamping me. 
You thus far are the only one offering to buy a ticket, though. Thank you for 
the fabulously generous offer. If I may, I'd like to defer a response to that 
for a while, as I'd love to get MSNBC to pay for it. I suspect they have the 
money. I'm also tied up finishing a book for the next month or so. 
I haven't yet been to Amsterdam, but what I've seen of the northern 
climes--Finland, USSR etc., only confirmed my belief that the further one is 
from the equator, the worse the food gets, overcooked and underspiced. I can 
easily see why you'd hie to France or virtually anywhere south for a meal. 
  Were we to proceed with the French thing, I suppose we'd each have a few 
questions first. Among mine: Are you fabulously wealthy or something? I don't 
mind accepting generosity, as I've been fortunate enough to bestow it within 
my means, and it's not a pleasure I'd like to deny anyone. But neither do I 
wish to tap your kid's college fund. I live in California, and the cheapest 
flights from here of late have been about $800.
  Another question: the last time I had money for a European haul, I took a 
canal trip about England with two friends, one of whom invited his eight year 
old son along, who seemed hellishly intent on turning our barge into a 
submarine. Your son isn't the U-boat Captain type, is he? 
This trip wouldn't entail my being a heroin mule or anything, would it? 
Heroin makes me burp. 
Again, I'm hopeful that Uncle Bill Gates will spring for the trip, in which 
event, perhaps we could try to hook up in France, as it would be delightful 
to know someone experienced in the place. Thanks again --Jim Washburn