Let’s see what happened this month…
1 August was the reinstatement of Iceland’s President. So I was downtown watching the festivities and being a general knob. Like everybody else I just watched it from the sidelines. I knew most of the police working the occasion. So I putted around and talked with them and looked all important. You know how I like ‘looking’ important. We all know that ain’t necessarily the case…but perception is reality!!
Also on 1 August all but three cartons of my household effects (HHE) shipment arrived. I was home in the morning while the packers delivered 123 cartons. I’ve got way too much stuff. I know it’s time to downsize and rethink my packing and shopping practices when I end up with 90 rolls of toilet paper that I bought before I went to Liberia back in 2004 and 144 rolls of toilet paper that I bought in Oklahoma City when I was getting ready to pack out there to come to Iceland. Then I have 2 charcoal grills, 4 DVD players, 3 TVs, and tons of crap nobody needs ever – 36 shot glasses (and that’s NOT the collection). But I digress…you know me…you know how I am…get off my back!!! When you come to visit, you’ll be happy I have good ol’ Charmin!!!!!!!!!
I spent the entire weekend of the 2-3 August unpacking all the boxes. I didn’t put it away. I just wanted to empty the boxes so the movers could come back and pick them up. This place looked like 3 separate criminals looking for Jon’s Jewels had ransacked it! Luckily they are attached to me! So it was a mess. I tried my damnedest two get a few of the rooms cleaned up so I wouldn’t go insane. Plus I was having company arrive on 5 August. Talk about timing. The HHE sat in Reykjavik for a ‘very long time.’ This is what the shipping company said…I’m guessing 3 weeks or so. Well now it’s here, and I’m settling in!
Went to a work BBQ on 2 August for a bit. It was cold. August at a BBQ – what comes to mind? Sun, hamburgers, beers, charcoal briquettes, beers, merriment, beers, warm weather…well we had most of those except sun, warm weather and beers. It was so chilly. We were all wearing our fleeces, and I helped the grill master cuz I was COLD!!!! I did get to throw a big bottle of water on one of the kids…little brat!! (PCG and LBG yeah you know!!!!) He started it though, and I ended it! Well his mom did but I threw the last bit of water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On 3 August had dinner at a co-worker’s. It was a going away dinner for some another co-worker and his family. Same kid I drenched, but we were inside so no water throwing. I behaved myself!!
A friend of mine from Kabul’s friends came into town. Went and had some seafood with them one night and then sent them on there way. They took one of my suggestions on a place to visit…and they LOVED it! Who’dathunkit? Jon actually knows what he’s talking about. So when you all come - beg me for a lift or directions to Jokullsarlon (Glacier Lagoon). It’s pronounced – sort of kind of this way: YOU-kul-sar-lon. It’s amazing. There is a photo album on my Facebook and photos from my previous trip there on a previous posting.
On 3 August had dinner at a co-worker’s. It was a going away dinner for some another co-worker and his family. Same kid I drenched, but we were inside so no water throwing. I behaved myself!!
A friend of mine from Kabul’s friends came into town. Went and had some seafood with them one night and then sent them on there way. They took one of my suggestions on a place to visit…and they LOVED it! Who’dathunkit? Jon actually knows what he’s talking about. So when you all come - beg me for a lift or directions to Jokullsarlon (Glacier Lagoon). It’s pronounced – sort of kind of this way: YOU-kul-sar-lon. It’s amazing. There is a photo album on my Facebook and photos from my previous trip there on a previous posting.
On 5 August a friend of mine came for a visit, and I started a week of ‘vacation.’ Wasn’t much of a vacation from work cuz I got called in 4 times in the 7 days I was off - twice at 3am and twice around midnight. I was not a happy camper. But the visit was awesome. Stayed up late and slept in. Got a little sightseeing in. It was good times! My tour guide skills are waning and hopefully they will they improve by next summer…although I have guests coming in October and in December. (UMMM…nobody else has made any reservations). While we were out and about, we were picking IceBerries. Well they’re actually called Blueberries, but we wanted to make it seem more intriguing than picking blueberries on the side of a volcano. I mean that’s old hat. Everybody does it. So we picked IceBerries on the side of a volcano. No IceBerry cobbler was created during the filming of this movie!!! Shame!
(Some other things have gone on but to protect the privacy of the innocent – I will let you use your imagination!!!)
Went back to work on 13 August. Haven’t done a whole lot since then. Just the occasional night out at the bars. You know it’s not very easy to spend all day at work and then try and do something at night when you are zonked. It’s also hard to fill your weekends when you nap on Saturday and stay out until 5 or 6 am on Sunday then finally get up at 1 or 2 pm. Now that there’s a dark night…I don’t know what will happen. Lots of time at home with the DVD player probably.
It seems the first part of the month was jam-packed. The latter was just work. Which at times is very, um how do you say? crappy!!! Just so much going on and not enough time to get it all in. The good thing is, I’m not working 16 hours a day. Tops 10 hours and then heading home (with an hour for lunch). Except 21 August when I had to go to work at 3 am. NOT HAPPY!!!! So it’s not toooo bad. Could be better, but it could be Kabul.
23 August was Meiningarnott (Culture Night) downtown. I didn’t necessarily go for the culture except the kind found in a pint glass with a frothy head and a taste of hops! Now that was enjoyable. Partook of a bit too much culture that night! Did get to see some nice fireworks though. Then after the fireworks, I went back to soaking up the culture…that now evolved into local shots….No more Topas! No more Opal!
30 August went over to a co-worker’s house and ate chili and watched football – USC v. UVA. Fight on Trojans!! Earlier in the day I watched a replay of SMU get pummeled by Rice. Made me think back to my college days – “Whether we win or lose, we still get our booze!” But I was not drinking during the game. It was at 930 am!! Wasn’t even 5 pm in Kabul!
So on 30 and 31 August I finally set in earnest to organizing my apartment. 30 August was kitchen and bedroom. The kitchen is there (just need to put away a few dishes and take the DVD player out of the oven). I have 4! What did you want me to do with it? The bedroom is ever evolving…don’t know if it will ever quite be there. But it looks nice. 31 August was dining room and TV room. They are essentially done. I have a few picture frames on my dining room table still left to find a home. I’m writing this while sitting at my dining room table…so nanny nanny boo boo!!!!
Tune in next month to see what days I did the living room and finished the spare bedroom!! Just a little tease though – my labor day was not without work!!
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