So we just had a visit from the son of GBG's owner, whose name is Chris and is now running the company. After everything that's happened, we are just now FINALLY coming to our crossroads. We were served eviction papers saying that we have to vacate this property by June 30th, because the US is turning it back over to the Iraqi government. So, if we can continue to lease the property from the Iraqis, we will stay and continue to rent this camp out to clients, which means I could be here for a long time yet. OR, the Iraqis say "Screw you evil American opportunists, whose leader is in jail for stealing money from us!" and I'm outta here!
I figure it's 50/50. Either way I'll be happy and sad. It's a win/win lose/lose!
At least I finally have an either/or situation. I'm really happy about that. It's been nerve-wracking not knowing if or when something is going to happen.
Otherwise, it's slacking as usual. I finished Buffy, and have started watching 5 seasons of Smallville. It's not as cool as Buffy, and the writing is often clunky, but hey, it's Superboy and it kills time.
Hmmmm... I guess after that last paragraph, my whole case for the waiting being nerve-wracking kind of crumbles, doesn't it? But I'm actually really ... well, I don't know what the word is. Agitated? Unsatisfied? Meh... I'm really really tired of being so inactive. My gaze seems to be unfocused from too much screen time, and I feel icky from the lack of excercise. I'd actually be working out these days due to all the free time, but there's no good place where I'm at to do that. Oh yeah, and I'm lazy. That's the nicest either/or thing about June 30th; either I'll be leaving and getting ready for some intense travel, or I'll have a real job again. So I'm really looking forward to it. It's been awesome to sit here for 2 or 3 months and get paid stupid money to do essentially nothing... a Gen-Xer's dream come true, actually. But apparently that life style is bad for you. Well, bad for me. Who knew?
Oh, you should go to davidleeson.com, or his blog. He is a professional photojournalist whose pictures I'd found on a CD here and posted on my smugmug page. When TF recently notified me that they belonged to one David Leeson, I contacted him and he was extremely cool about it and let me keep his photos on my site. He was in Iraq in 2003 during the invasion, embedded with the military, and at great personal risk took some incredible photographs.
And speaking of other bloggers; a friend of mine who likes to communicate with me through vague blog entries of her own because I'm really bad at emailing and deserve to be boiled in my own pudding for my lack of response because I can't seem to make myself write an email any more turned me on to a blog written by a 24 year old Iraqi girl. It's an incredible website; She's been writing on it since August 2003 (The same month I arrived in Baghdad!) and her intelligence, english and writing skills are better than almost any native english speaker I know, certainly better than mine. If you're curious how this whole Post-American invasion of Iraq event looks through an Iraqi's eyes, it's an awesome place to go. They've actually published her blog as a book which you can purchase at Amazon. Anyway, the blog is called Baghdad Burning, and it's seriously worth spending some time with.
I hear Raytheon is hiring folks for Antarctica...
Posted by: TF | Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 11:10
Antarctica would be freaking sweet! Got any contact info?
Posted by: messiestobjects | Friday, May 19, 2006 at 01:43
Baghdad Burning is an intersting site and a viwpoint one virtually NEVER hears stateside... we're all into the DaVinci hype. I also found Leeson's site intersting... I have a greater appreciation for those pics you found.
I know the sedentary, blah-like feeling of doing nothing... always hated it. Worse when one watches hours of mostly-mindless amusement... sure hope life picks up ...and while I'm on that subject have there been any serious thoughts about just packing it up and getting to some prettier parts of the world???
Posted by: Dad | Friday, May 19, 2006 at 07:34
Keep an eye on this site:
http://www.rayjobs.com/
There's actually on a few on right now, but every now and then they go on these hiring sprees. Everything from cooks to carpenters, even journalists.
Sounds like fun...
Posted by: TF | Friday, May 19, 2006 at 10:53
That's odd. I actually know someone who works at Raytheon. Maybe I can hook youse up.
Let me know.
Posted by: hooligan | Friday, May 19, 2006 at 13:25
Dad: Buffy's not Mindless! Buffy is all fulla smart and junk. Best durn program on tha telly ever.
TF: Sweet thanks dude. Guess I need to bone up my resume.
Hooligan: Antarctica! Tell me where to send my resume.
Posted by: messiestobjects | Friday, May 19, 2006 at 18:06
See what happens? I called and found out she works for the Air Force now. I'm sorry I can't assist. But if she could get hired there, believe me, you can.
Posted by: hooligan | Friday, May 19, 2006 at 20:01