Morning Observations

Our programmers are organized into flocks.  Each morning as I come into the building, slightly late most of the time, a line of single-file programmers passes out of the building, mute, faces neutral.   The weather has turned cold, and they wear near-identical pillowy coats, the kind that are popular with with the skiing crowd.  The coats make them look like plump geese, shuffling to the feed. 

Their return trip from the corner coffee house is almost as comical in appearance.  They still shuffle along single-file, but each one holds a cup of steaming fluid in one hand while the other hides in the pocket of their billowy coats.  Instead of geese, they look like monks prepared to deliver benedictions.