So tonight I had to go out with the team we are visiting and enjoy dinner with them. Unfortunately, the cultural part of the dinner includes drinking moonshine with the Vietnamese team members. I just got back from the dinner and it isn't even 9:00pm yet and I just feel really like crap. I didn't drink that much, not really... I don't think. But it sure is sticking to my stomach right now. I just wish I didn't have to do it...
The visit, otherwise, was good. I went on an investigation today in which we visited an incident location that a small recon team got ambushed and three of the four guys got whacked. The fourth guy managed to make it back, and it was his statement that we were investigating. Unfortunately, it was way to general to get it down to a location we can dig... that is in my honest opinion only. If some additional information comes to light, the powers that be (should that be capitalized?) will have to re-assess.
I can't hardly keep my eyes open now. I guess I need sleep.... see you in the morning. Night Night.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Job Seeking
I have been doing this job for some seven years now. I really owe this job a huge debt of grattitude because it literally saved me from lower income Mobile, AL. I have truly enjoyed most of the duties associated with this job and I could probably do it for the rest of my life. With that in mind, I am not sure what impulse I had that made me submit my resume for a job in Hawaii. Granted, the job in Hawaii is with the same organization and the head of the office that I applied to work in knows me well, but it is still something new... and seemingly unnecessary.
I guess the first thing to point out is that just because you apply for a job doesn't mean you are going to get it. I am sure other people will apply for the same job and they may be equally or more qualified than me to get it, so I shouldn't be going about it like I have the job, yet... because I don't. Secondly, I have a huge list of reasons that I should be thinking about a new job:
1. Health - As an interpreter, my hearing is very important, and quite frankly an ear infection last year has left me with a ringing in my ear that makes it perceptibly harder to hear what someone is saying
2. Job Security - I have a job now, but this job won't last forever and I don't have any real sellable skills that I can put on paper. This new job will do that for me if I get it.
3. Family - Megan really wants to go to a US high school. I am not sure why, but I respect her right to enjoy her teenage years in America... if I can swing it.
4. Perception - Out of jealousy or just idle talking, there are those that may say I have been here too long. That may be bullshit because the chances are the person is saying it because I have an opposing opinion as to how to approach an issue. For the record I am usually right. Anyway, getting a stateside job would give me that time away to refocus and the possible option of returning in three years if I wanted.
5. The opportunity for more responsibility - My job here is what it is. Because of the nature of what I do here, I will never get more responsibility... there just isn't anywhere to grow. This new job has lots of room for expansion.
6. The opportunity to buy a house - I am not sure I could afford a house in Hawaii, but it would be a good time to buy with the market down like it is.
7. A time to enjoy everything that is America - America is a great place and as an American I have the right to enjoy it.
Of course, the biggest reason not to leave this job goes back to the old addage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". If this doesn't pan out for the hundreds of reasons that it could go wrong, it ma be a while before I apply for another job again, because I do enjoy this job.
Call it God, or Kharma or Fate. I figure if God wants me to take this job he will open the door and let me walk in. What better reason than that.
I guess the first thing to point out is that just because you apply for a job doesn't mean you are going to get it. I am sure other people will apply for the same job and they may be equally or more qualified than me to get it, so I shouldn't be going about it like I have the job, yet... because I don't. Secondly, I have a huge list of reasons that I should be thinking about a new job:
1. Health - As an interpreter, my hearing is very important, and quite frankly an ear infection last year has left me with a ringing in my ear that makes it perceptibly harder to hear what someone is saying
2. Job Security - I have a job now, but this job won't last forever and I don't have any real sellable skills that I can put on paper. This new job will do that for me if I get it.
3. Family - Megan really wants to go to a US high school. I am not sure why, but I respect her right to enjoy her teenage years in America... if I can swing it.
4. Perception - Out of jealousy or just idle talking, there are those that may say I have been here too long. That may be bullshit because the chances are the person is saying it because I have an opposing opinion as to how to approach an issue. For the record I am usually right. Anyway, getting a stateside job would give me that time away to refocus and the possible option of returning in three years if I wanted.
5. The opportunity for more responsibility - My job here is what it is. Because of the nature of what I do here, I will never get more responsibility... there just isn't anywhere to grow. This new job has lots of room for expansion.
6. The opportunity to buy a house - I am not sure I could afford a house in Hawaii, but it would be a good time to buy with the market down like it is.
7. A time to enjoy everything that is America - America is a great place and as an American I have the right to enjoy it.
Of course, the biggest reason not to leave this job goes back to the old addage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". If this doesn't pan out for the hundreds of reasons that it could go wrong, it ma be a while before I apply for another job again, because I do enjoy this job.
Call it God, or Kharma or Fate. I figure if God wants me to take this job he will open the door and let me walk in. What better reason than that.
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Toothpaste
It seems like all of my life I have dealth with this issue. The tube of toothpaste is nearly empty... some would say completely empty, but every time I think it will be time to throw the tube away I am able to squeeze out just enough for another brushing. A tube of toothpaste is very similar to the gas needle in the car. When it is full, it feels full for a very long time, but at some point just after it drops from full, it falls rapidly towards the empty line. The difference is, the tube of toothpaste will stay at empty and continue to provide output ad infinitum. At least it seems that way.
So I am struggling with whether to throw this tube of toothpaste away or not. I really should, because I have a new tube under the sink just begging to be opened. But, I just can't seem to make myself throw it away. This morning, seemingly empty of any paste it STILL poured forth. I can't stand it. I ain't cheap! I can afford toothpaste for sure. I just can't make myself do it.
Something tells me I have talked myself into throwing the tube away tonight. I just hope it doesn't come back to haunt me. Having Euthanized my tube before it was due.
So I am struggling with whether to throw this tube of toothpaste away or not. I really should, because I have a new tube under the sink just begging to be opened. But, I just can't seem to make myself throw it away. This morning, seemingly empty of any paste it STILL poured forth. I can't stand it. I ain't cheap! I can afford toothpaste for sure. I just can't make myself do it.
Something tells me I have talked myself into throwing the tube away tonight. I just hope it doesn't come back to haunt me. Having Euthanized my tube before it was due.
Bag of Bones
I just finished reading a book by Stephen King titled Bag of Bones. The book was written ten years ago, but I happened to find it on a bulging shelf at the office about two weeks ago and I thought I would give it a read. I rarely read for enjoyment anymore because Diep doesn't like it when I get enthralled in a book and pretty much ignore everything else. She didn't have much of a choice in letting me finish this book because I started it when she was visiting her family in Saigon. Now that I am done, I think I will not try to start another book until I start my site visits to the teams soon to arrive here for the next search iteration.
I found the book fascinating, as I usually do with Stephen King books, because of the mystery and suspense related to spirits and ghosts. The great detail in which Stephen King writes also gave me another interesting aspect on how far we have come in technology in just 10 years... 10 years that just flew by for me. It was extremely well-written capturing details of everyday life including computers, TVs, VCRs, etc., and in the fascinating genre of ghost stories.
Unfortunately, the day after I finished the book I got news that a friend of mine died. He wasn't young, nor was he old, at the age of around 64. He told me just a few months ago of his plans to retire and buy a condo in Bangkok, Thailand. He had delayed his retirement a few months, apparently to save a few more dollars before he put in his papers, and before he got to retire he died on vacation still working out the details of the condo. I have to admit, though, when I kick the bucket, I hope I go like him. He fell asleep in the middle of a Thai massage and didn't wake up.
I have personally been looking at how long it will be before I can retire. My dad did it right by retiring around 50 and enjoying a huge amount of free time since then... at the age of 72. That won't happen for me. It ain't likely, anyway. I will probably end up like my friend. Dreaming of that day of retirement and free living, only to have it snatched out from under me just before it happens.
All things as they are, if I never do get to retire, at least I am doing something that keeps life interesting. I get to travel a lot and my tasks are diverse enough that I don't get bored out of my skull. The only thing is, this is a young man's job and I am not sure how much longer I can qualify under the category of "young man".
I found the book fascinating, as I usually do with Stephen King books, because of the mystery and suspense related to spirits and ghosts. The great detail in which Stephen King writes also gave me another interesting aspect on how far we have come in technology in just 10 years... 10 years that just flew by for me. It was extremely well-written capturing details of everyday life including computers, TVs, VCRs, etc., and in the fascinating genre of ghost stories.
Unfortunately, the day after I finished the book I got news that a friend of mine died. He wasn't young, nor was he old, at the age of around 64. He told me just a few months ago of his plans to retire and buy a condo in Bangkok, Thailand. He had delayed his retirement a few months, apparently to save a few more dollars before he put in his papers, and before he got to retire he died on vacation still working out the details of the condo. I have to admit, though, when I kick the bucket, I hope I go like him. He fell asleep in the middle of a Thai massage and didn't wake up.
I have personally been looking at how long it will be before I can retire. My dad did it right by retiring around 50 and enjoying a huge amount of free time since then... at the age of 72. That won't happen for me. It ain't likely, anyway. I will probably end up like my friend. Dreaming of that day of retirement and free living, only to have it snatched out from under me just before it happens.
All things as they are, if I never do get to retire, at least I am doing something that keeps life interesting. I get to travel a lot and my tasks are diverse enough that I don't get bored out of my skull. The only thing is, this is a young man's job and I am not sure how much longer I can qualify under the category of "young man".
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Water Boarding Nancy Pelosi
When I run on the treadmill, I usually watch one of the cable news channels. That means I usually end up yelling at the screen at some point during the run because someone has said something stupid, or incredibly hard to believe. Case in point: Nancy Pelosi claiming she wasn't briefed on water boarding. The way I see it, water boarding is torture, but not much worse than tickling someone until they can't breath or holding someone to your butt while you fart. It is bad, and you feel like you are dying (you have to smell my farts to understand my analogy here), but there is no permanent damage. Anyway, I know in my heart of hearts that old Nancy knew about the water boarding and that she could have stopped it if she really wanted to. Hell, I knew about the water boarding, how can she say she didn't know. Even if she wasn't briefed, there was enough rumour out there that she could have summoned someone to brief her in detail. My disatisfaction with her is that she won't tell the truth. Hey Nancy! Why don't you just say, "Yes, I knew about it. I was even briefed. At the time, I didn't agree with it but had to weigh the best interests of the country against this persons human rights. After further consideration, I now think it was wrong and it should be stopped." Honesty just goes down so much better. Especially when you don't have reasonable, plausible deniability.
Sorry about the tirade. I see so many things on the tube that infuriate me during my runs, but rarely do they stick after I finished my run and get home to the computer. For some reason, this one did.
Sorry about the tirade. I see so many things on the tube that infuriate me during my runs, but rarely do they stick after I finished my run and get home to the computer. For some reason, this one did.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The dead gecko
I was in the house two nights ago and just before I went to bed, I went to the front door and made sure it was locked. Our house has a wood floor with a small tiled area right in front of the door. As I was stepping off of the wood onto the tile, I felt a dry leathery strip under my foot. I checked it out quickly and didn't notice anything... and didn't think much of it because this is where everyone takes their shoes off before stepping into the house proper. The next morning, Diep was talking to the floor, or so I thought. She asked, "What happened to you?" and I saw she was talking to a dead gecko. The one I inadvertantly smooshed the night before.
For some reasons, I felt much worse about that than my practical mind tells me I should. Geckos in our house are plentiful and Diep hates them. Sure, they eat mosquitos in the house, but they also crap all over the place. Little balls of bug carcasses wrapped in gecko fecies! I know they can't help it, and it is partially our fault for not placing little inverted gecko toilets all over the walls and ceilings in the apartment, but nobody likes to see a gecko turd drop in their morning coffee, regardless.
Obviously the lizard outside of my office heard about the human brute who took out his gecko cousin. The lizard, commonly known as the fuck you lizard, gave me three good "fuck you"s the next day. Maybe he didn't really know, but it must be pretty cool to be a lizard that can belt out only two words that just happen to be "fuck you". I saw him one day on the roof of the adjacent building declaring his statement, when a cat went on the prowl... he almost became that cat's lunch. But so far, he has survived and I find it somewhat comforting that there is more than one creature in the vicinity of this building, namely me, who wants to belt out fuck you to the world every now and then.
For some reasons, I felt much worse about that than my practical mind tells me I should. Geckos in our house are plentiful and Diep hates them. Sure, they eat mosquitos in the house, but they also crap all over the place. Little balls of bug carcasses wrapped in gecko fecies! I know they can't help it, and it is partially our fault for not placing little inverted gecko toilets all over the walls and ceilings in the apartment, but nobody likes to see a gecko turd drop in their morning coffee, regardless.
Obviously the lizard outside of my office heard about the human brute who took out his gecko cousin. The lizard, commonly known as the fuck you lizard, gave me three good "fuck you"s the next day. Maybe he didn't really know, but it must be pretty cool to be a lizard that can belt out only two words that just happen to be "fuck you". I saw him one day on the roof of the adjacent building declaring his statement, when a cat went on the prowl... he almost became that cat's lunch. But so far, he has survived and I find it somewhat comforting that there is more than one creature in the vicinity of this building, namely me, who wants to belt out fuck you to the world every now and then.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Last day before the madness
Today is the last day at the office before everyone gets back and things just sort of go mad. I have enjoyed the past three days, and even the passport application process went much better than I ever could have imagined. Megan will have a new tourist passport in 7 - 10 days. Of course, while I was there I was told I need to start the process for our new diplomatic passports that are do to expire in about 6 months. If it ain't one thing, it is the other.
The weather here in Hanoi is really flaky right now. This morning it was really cloudy and muggy when I went running. Then, when I got in the vehicle to come to work it was clearing up and by the time I got to work it was sunny out. A couple of hours later it was raining pretty heavy, but it has since stopped and the sun is peaking out again. The humidity is horrible right now... I just can't do a thing with my hair, so I got a haircut today. As short as it is now, it pretty much only does one thing... stick up!
I am starting to think about summer break a lot now. Since I have to work up until around 1 July, but Megan gets out of school in the middle of June, I think I will send Diep and Megan to Saigon to chill for about two weeks. We will meet up in Hanoi to fly out to the U.S. I suppose I will go to Mobile right off the bat, but I was looking at some places of entertainment we might be interested in. As cheesy at it sounds, I am looking at Dollywood in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee. Megan loves adrenaline rides and there are a couple of roller coasters I bet she would love there. I also saw an Armed Forces Network clip on indoor skydiving at Pigeon Ford. I KNOW Megan would love that. The whole skydiving thing without actually having to jump out of an airplane... and being able to do it at the tender age of 13! All of this is still on the drafting boards. I may have to add some other segments to the trip. I wouldn't mind going to Austin again, or some other place in the general vicinity. I would truly love to go to Colorado, but I am not sure what I would do there. Still some time to think about this.
The weather here in Hanoi is really flaky right now. This morning it was really cloudy and muggy when I went running. Then, when I got in the vehicle to come to work it was clearing up and by the time I got to work it was sunny out. A couple of hours later it was raining pretty heavy, but it has since stopped and the sun is peaking out again. The humidity is horrible right now... I just can't do a thing with my hair, so I got a haircut today. As short as it is now, it pretty much only does one thing... stick up!
I am starting to think about summer break a lot now. Since I have to work up until around 1 July, but Megan gets out of school in the middle of June, I think I will send Diep and Megan to Saigon to chill for about two weeks. We will meet up in Hanoi to fly out to the U.S. I suppose I will go to Mobile right off the bat, but I was looking at some places of entertainment we might be interested in. As cheesy at it sounds, I am looking at Dollywood in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee. Megan loves adrenaline rides and there are a couple of roller coasters I bet she would love there. I also saw an Armed Forces Network clip on indoor skydiving at Pigeon Ford. I KNOW Megan would love that. The whole skydiving thing without actually having to jump out of an airplane... and being able to do it at the tender age of 13! All of this is still on the drafting boards. I may have to add some other segments to the trip. I wouldn't mind going to Austin again, or some other place in the general vicinity. I would truly love to go to Colorado, but I am not sure what I would do there. Still some time to think about this.
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