Saturday, August 10

It was dark and raining at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. The supply chain architect was driving to work because everyone had been called in for a transition-planning meeting. Why can t they fit this into our normal work week? he thought. This is a real pain!

As he drove northwest in light traffic, he remembered that his last big conversation a week ago with Tom, the house architect, was also about planning planning for the first big dinner party they were going to throw now that the kitchen renovation was complete. The party was coming up fast; it was tomorrow night, Sunday. He hoped his wife had remembered to send Tom an invitation. What was it they had been debating so excitedly? Oh yeah

It all comes together right here on this very counter top the yin and the yang, the push and the pull, his wife had said.

Although that is very poetic, I have no clue what you are talking about.

Oh, you know. The push is the planning for our open house dinner party, and the pull is the rush for beverage and food once everyone arrives. We are inviting 24 of our closest friends. Tom, you must come!

I don t know; even with this spectacular kitchen, 24 sounds like a lot of people? said the supply chain architect.

Trust me. It s not a problem. We own place settings and glassware for 24, and we can borrow a couple of folding chairs to be able...