The Dead Sea of My Life (lowest point on earth, in case you didn't get my clever metaphrase.)

So I'm writing this entry so that, years and years from now when I re-read it, I can remember what has been the worst day ever. This morning, everything that I've been dreading might happen over the last several months crashed down on our heads all at once. We received a written notice of Contract Termination for Default, which means essentially that we were told to halt all work in the camp immediately and given 3 days to remove all of our personnel from the site, and only personal belongings. We are fighting the 3 day thing at the moment, as it will be a logistical nightmare; around 100 Romanian employees, with nowhere to put them, and only 2 flights a week to Romania on which in the past we've only been able to get at most 20 people on a flight. We do have contingency plans, so no holocaust there, just nightmares.
I had to let all of my Iraqi employees go today, many of whom made it very hard to keep my manly cool and not cry like a girl. Sorry ladies, but I've seen how you cry, and I bet I look just like that in these situations.
The next worst part of today after firing Iraqis AGAIN, is that since the owner of the company is in prison, many of the people here, who don't have him here to gloat over, have decided that I am the next best thing and a worthy stand-in for all the derision. Therefore, regardless of the facts, I've been made to feel like the criminal all day. And then my best friend yelled and then hung up on me because I forgot to call him about a work-related detail while I was in the middle of all this.
So in short, this has been the most demoralizing, horrendous day I could ever have imagined it being, and it's going to be a long long time before I can hold my head up again, if I don't commit suicide by shooting up Drain-o first. There are even about 20 more layers to this whole thing, which I simply don't have the desire or energy to go into right now.
But since I don't wish for anyone who reads this to get so depressed that they're afraid to ever speak to me again, I think that in all fairness I need to address a brighter side of all this.
Apparently the new contractor, who our crapbucket client already has in place, was speaking to my workers today and has already offered several of my Iraqis jobs, which is a good thing. If they can continue to work, then half of the reason I am so bummed out is void. Okay well, a third of the reason anyway.
Also, it means I will finally be leaving this place which, while I hate the way it's come about, is actually probably a good thing for me. I've been here for 2 & 1/2 years, and excuse my vulgarity, but that is too goddammed long to live in a warzone. I've saved some money, it's probably well beyond time to go spend some of it. I don't have plans per se at the moment, but I'm kicking around a few ideas and we'll see. At any rate, I will be here for at least another month while we close up shop.

Comments

[Aunt Peggy]

I am so sorry Michael...it sounds as if today has been truly awful. I guess it is time to be moving on....smoke free (congrats). Will be interested to see what your next adventure is!

[John Mehorter]

Hey Mike,

Wanna drive a truck around the five lovely boroughs of NYC for the bankrupt and utterly mismanaged company I work for?

No? Ro says the local school district is looking for lunch aides...

Why do I get the hunch you'll land well on your feet without our offers?

Keep your chin up and know God has great plans for you.

[hooligan]

Hey, they've got cheap houses in Florida if you feel like spending money. Just make sure it's not in a coastal, hurricane-prone area. Of course, we were in the middle of all three and I'm land-locked, so go figure. Anyway, hope it gets better for you.

[TF]

Sounds crappy.

Hope things work out for you.

TF