The story behind the story

 

The events depicted here were the culmination of several days of plotting (among many conspirators) to produce a day full of adventure, surprise and delight for N&N. But it all started much earlier…

 

• Early 2015: N&N discuss possible status-changing event, get stuck trying to devise a collaborative surprise, agree to do something symmetric, sometime “soon”. Time passes.
• April 2015: NC gets idea for a “metaproposal” (MP).
  [Ed.: NH’s dissertation is broadly in the area of metareasoning: how do intelligent agents reason about reasoning?]
  • v1: a series of 12 photos of N&N in iconic, alphabetic-initially convenient places visited on trip to Europe (e.g. Eiffel Tower, or Tour Eiffel! the Louvre! ), coding the MP, to be presented at the culmination of the trip in mid-April.
  • N&N don’t get to the two intended ‘O’ sites (Musée de l'Orangerie and Musée d'Orsay); trip is busy; NC misses first “deadline”. Time passes.

• June 2015: N&N revive dormant topic and start seeking appropriate status-changing token(s). NC renews MP effort with broadened scope.
  • v1.5: series of photos from anywhere (e.g. Oakland! England! Puerto Rico! Just think of all the options! [Ed.: she did]), to present on second anniversary.
  • Time passes.

• August 3 (second anniversary): Actual P#1!
  • NC still working on MP (almost… finished… so many photos… how to choose between Mountain View and Malaysia? Auckland and Asia? Where will those pictures from Hawaii go?!…).
  • NH surprises NC with a question. NC requests an extension. NH offers one week; NC asks for two; NH graciously grants it (as upper bound).

• August 14 (NC’s parents’ 50th anniversary): NC gets more elaborate idea for MP.
  • v2: a book of 12x2++ pagefuls of photos
  • First double-page spread finished: Mountain View and Malaysia!
  • NC realizes v2 will take awhile.

The final week

• August 17 (extension deadline): NC gives NH an answer: “Ask again!” That night, NC (with enabling/encouragement from Dave) gets even more elaborate idea for MP.
  • v3: joint puzzle hunt leading to v2 discovery at finale destination (the SkyPad).
  • New, hard deadline: that weekend (based on availability of the SkyPad).
  • v2 status: up to ‘A’ (the first one)

• August 18-20: NC decides it’s not totally crazy and recruits accomplices, including puzzle czar Mira, recently arrived in town and somehow (!) willing to volunteer.
• August 21-22: Much plotting and work ensue. Not much sleep ensues (for NC or Mira). NC still working on MP (v2) subpart of MP (v3).
  • Saturday 3p: NC goes out “to buy cheese” (which takes an hour).
  • Saturday 10p: NC goes out “for coffee” (which takes 3 hours).
  • v2 status: up to ‘O’ (the second one)
  • Sunday 1a: NH asks if N&N are really going for breakfast in Oakland the next morning at 9a. NC says definitely! NC starts doing “some work”… 4a … 6a… (still working!)

• August 23: The big day! MP & Actual P#2
  • Sunday 7a: NC finishes MP v2; trusts the internet + Harriet to magically stash v2 in intended place.
  • Sunday 8.30a: A tired NC and unsuspecting NH set off for a normal (if early!) breakfast in Oakland... and that’s where the (shorter) story “begins”.