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July 29, 2005
As a kind of fare well to livejournal, more scummy expat musings. (Updated with new and improved...)
A self indulgent reflexion.
First, a funny message yesterday from an overseas colleague who I saw while travelling two weeks ago brought home a rather simple lesson which may be summed up as follows: "It is always a mistake to go with a colleague of the opposite sex to a scummy bar that involves stripping." I note that I was not the author of the destination decision. Silence, only possible reply.
Also probably should not have had quite so much to drink during said visit insofar as I can only vaguely recall leaving - thank God that I did though. Very uncomfortable that.
Second, the new apartment is working out not badly. The somewhat unfortunate walls are growing on me, although I have now learned that the co-owner of said apartment has scheduled an irrevocable partnership signing date. Well, I creatively forgot about this twice, but barreling down on me now. Bloody hell, ah well most multinational joint ventures end in failure. Will this one beat the odds?
I have no idea, I can only share that in confiding this to a longtime friend, he told me that when he told his wife -who has had the misfortune of both being married to him and knowing me- she dropped the phone. That seems a bit excessive.
Otherwise, one of the things I enjoy about my new terrace is (besides its better sun facing, although have to find ways to deal with the apartment heating up � hate air conditioning, window fans are probably the best choice) that there is a highly sporting woman across the way � I mean across the street at a similar balcony level � who besides (despite wearing something of a traditional hijab) being rather fetching makes interesting noises late at night. Not that one would hear if one was not out on one�s balcony late at night, but nevertheless.
I have to ponder, is she a professional?
One of those things that should remain a mystery, for either answer is likely to take the bloom off the rose, as it were.
Nevertheless, the fetching young maiden in the head wrap (I hope I am not getting my hearing wrong, should be very disappointed if I were) I think will amuse me for months to come.
Otherwise, this new Fund negotiation seems positive so far except for their tedious insistance that I come to the United States. Have not yet succeeded in selling them on the value add for them of my continuing my scummy existance as an expat.
Finally from Central we have received yet another absurd "question / demand" regarding why in our reporting we have not been providing receipts for taxis, parking and the like. I wonder how many times I have to explain "THE MOTHERFUCKING TAXI DRIVERS ARE LARGELY FUCKING ILLITERATE, AND THERE ARE NO FUCKING METERS, AND THE BLOODY 'STREET GUARDIANS' ARE ALSO FUCKING ILLITERATE MIGRANTS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BLOODY BLED, FOR IF THEY WERE FUCKING LITERATE THEY'D WORK A SLIGHTLY LESS AWFUL AND POORLY PAID JOB, YOU CLUELESS IDIOTIC TIME WASTING VALUE SUBTRACTING DIMWITTED GITS."
I expect this will continue until my resignation. I've set a deadline, the New Year, resigning and fucking off. Let the Titanic sink beneath the waves. Or maybe end of First Quarter, insofar as I have recently had my analysis and propositions on what business they should be focusing on validated by outside sources, and I would get some strange pleasure out of leaving them just as they were trying to ramp that up.
I note - thanks to a comment by Pantom - that I now live closer to a famous landmark, and am considering, why not the Blue Parrot? It should exist.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 08, 2005
Rebranding excercise
As a rebranding excercise, I am renaming this little blog
"Collounsbury Random Rant on MENA & Other Items"
Also, in the near future I am going to impose some .... controls and accessing some portions. I note issue of "interesting" site readership and my own aversion to spotlight has arisen.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 05, 2005
'Aqoul - Camel's Thorn, ongoing
Well, again a short note to indicate that I had at it, and I do believe I am going to like 'Aqoul (I by the way explain the rather arch reference in my personal intro for those of you that are curious).
This aside, on the matter of the blog, as it is a group blog, and not the main attention of most of the authors, I suspect (and please do correct me if I am wrong) that a diversity of authors will be required. The mistress of this little flight of madness, eerie, is the controller as it were - the Board of Directors. Main investor. Etc. However, for those interested in making the occasional contribution on MENA, please do drop me a line and we can arrange things. Do note, for the moment as the blog tries to find its own "voice" among differing authors everything is getting a look over - even and perhaps most especially me.
I think it wise. Regardless, drop me a line at my yahoo address for further information.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 04, 2005
Well, here it is: the new site - Aqoul.com
Aqoul.com is open for business.
I made a long self indulgent introduction which few will read, but no matter.
I also attacked a fellow author in a long diatribe/rebuttal. Wasted too much time on that, but his stale Lefty talk irritated me. Bloody English major type "analysis." Smart fellow, could do better.
Now, will I republish here. It's idea to keep both going. Not sure if it is a good idea or not.
Ah yes, some entries that I liked already:
On Buildings and Property Rights
http://www.aqoul.com/archives/2005/07/cairos_collapsi.php
by eerie.
On intra-GCC relations
http://www.aqoul.com/archives/2005/07/burning_bridges.php#more
by secretdubai
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 29, 2005
al-Aqoul - a sort of Lounsbury on MENA w/o my self regarding and self indulgent idiocies, etc.
eerie, in a fit of madness, has launched herself on making a group blog, rather like Fist Full of Euros, work.
I note this as a point of advertising. I shall certainly take part, perhaps hiving off my more self indulgent idiocies for this ridiculous little journal, and keeping a serious tone (why, I might not even write fuck quite so often). However, me alone and others (I shall not confess on their behalf any participation) isn't worth eerie's hard IT work. A bit of a clan of self-indulgent persons with pretensions to know some small little abit about the MENA region is needed.
Thus, in my round about way, I am inviting interest. Or inviting you to think about interest. Or suggesting that one should have interest. I should note the site is not open yet.
Other than that I take this moment to expose some of my idiocy.
Last night, working late on this bloody data issue, I suddenly recall I am invited to something at the Briths Consul's club. Since there are people there I want to schmooze with, I close the laptop and make off in haste to the Consul's club down near the Corniche, irritatingly located among a maze of old 1940s era villas (the development being then outside of the city retreat). Arriving late, I am puzzled that there are no fancy cars and the like. Indeed it is all quite dark. No matter, I dash into the club and find... nobody, well hardly anyone. Just two women dining in the garden. Walking over to ask about the event I suddenly realise, bloody hell, today is Tuesday, not Wednesday. I actually slapped my forehead I confess, in a quasi theatrical fit of stupidity.
Well, no matter, I strode over to the two ladies and proudly announced to them that I was terribly sorry for disrupting their dinner, but in a fit of confusion I had come on the wrong day for an event. A fine conversation ensued, and they invited me to drinks and dinner. Thus, I rescued what might have been a total loss. However, I am not sure what knowing the Administrator of some Fund for Abandoned Women and Single Mothers and the owner of a pharmacy is going to do for me, although it was a pleasant enough dinner I suppose, and my unfortunate habit of making absurd pronouncements served me well.
Still, quite tired this am, and now facing another Consular thing, as well as a dinner with the new Commercial Attache the day after.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
