As I was uploading my ‘Mea Culpa Memo Misplaced’ post, I discovered that part of the infamous list does still exist. The wonders of a temporarily misplaced USB drive.
FROM DECEMBER 3, 2010:
I am aware of the fact that there has been a severe lack of updates on this blog recently. Something I had every intention of rectifying tonight. I was all prepared. I had a list of topics, a comfy cushion and a cup of tea (or six).
Then I got distracted. (I am my mother’s daughter.) And an hour later and the thought of trying to condense the last three weeks or so into cyber-friendly anecdotes makes me want to curl up in bed with a book or DVD until tomorrow morning. Apologies.
However, my calendar informs me that I have a 15-hour plane journey to look forward to in the very near future. (For the first time in my life, I am crossing days off a calendar). So I promise I shall attempt to make up my update deficit while cruising through the stratosphere. (Given that compliments of the early-release DVD stores in Baku, I will probably have already seen the in-flight movies.)
But I feel guilty leaving you empty-handed, so here’s a list of what you have to look forward to reading about….
- The time I tried to outsmart the (Azerbaijani) Presidential Motorcade.
- Universal Truth #1293: uncooperative and dishonest construction workers are universal.
- Emotional burn-out happens in Azerbaijan too -- in spectacular fashion.
- Care packages have been known to create village drama
- Thanksgiving I: I made a pumpkin pie ENTIRELY from scratch. Be impressed.
- Thanksgiving II: 100+ PCVs at the Ambassador’s Residence in Baku.
- I am (an unwilling) Dr. Dolittle: Sheep, Mice and Roosters
- I have become a soup-maker extraordinaire.
Which just about brings us up-to-date. I hope.
Plus, I still need to share an embarrassing incident, a story entitled: “The Time Leslie Sold My Heart For a Piece of (Belgian) Chocolate.”
Monday, February 7, 2011
I MISPLACED THE MEMO
Even when I was at a loss for how to express myself in a blog appropriate manner at the end of last year, I knew the words would catch up with my emotions eventually. So I kept a list of the things I wanted to make sure made it onto the blog at some point. I like making lists – it’s my one concession to keeping up the appearance of being organized.
This particular list travelled halfway around the world. I thought my 22-hour plane journey home for Christmas would be the perfect blog update opportunity. It turns out that trans-world flights are not quite as transcendentalist as trans-Atlantic ones. (Hours 7, 10 and 16 were particularly soul destroying.) And so the list travelled back again – unused.
Only to disappear into the piles of paperwork and chaos that is my life back in Azerbaijan. Oops. So much for being organized. (See note about keeping up appearances above.) Ergo, I sat down this morning only to discover that I will have to play catch-up without the aid of my meticulous list. And Chocolate Peppermint coffee is a poor substitute for instant recall – But it tastes just like Peppermint Bark, so I’m going to have a second cup anyway.
This unfortunate chain of events is compounded by two more less than ideal circumstances. A) My memory is selective about the things it chooses to remember in excruciating and entertaining detail. B) For a student of history my grasp of the concept of chronology is shockingly bad. – You think that it would be easy to keep track of which 5 Year Plan was which – It’s not. I don’t like Math.
Which is all a long-winded, caffeine-inspired way of saying that my plan for timely, chronological updates – thus maintaining the illusion of continuity – has to be abandoned.
So I apologise in advance for any sense of rollcoaster-like whiplash my handling of the last three months may cause you. (My new site-mate was recently exposed to my talent for starting sentences mid-thought. It was entertaining.)
I wonder if Mr. Verne has finished refurbishing my time machine….
This particular list travelled halfway around the world. I thought my 22-hour plane journey home for Christmas would be the perfect blog update opportunity. It turns out that trans-world flights are not quite as transcendentalist as trans-Atlantic ones. (Hours 7, 10 and 16 were particularly soul destroying.) And so the list travelled back again – unused.
Only to disappear into the piles of paperwork and chaos that is my life back in Azerbaijan. Oops. So much for being organized. (See note about keeping up appearances above.) Ergo, I sat down this morning only to discover that I will have to play catch-up without the aid of my meticulous list. And Chocolate Peppermint coffee is a poor substitute for instant recall – But it tastes just like Peppermint Bark, so I’m going to have a second cup anyway.
This unfortunate chain of events is compounded by two more less than ideal circumstances. A) My memory is selective about the things it chooses to remember in excruciating and entertaining detail. B) For a student of history my grasp of the concept of chronology is shockingly bad. – You think that it would be easy to keep track of which 5 Year Plan was which – It’s not. I don’t like Math.
Which is all a long-winded, caffeine-inspired way of saying that my plan for timely, chronological updates – thus maintaining the illusion of continuity – has to be abandoned.
So I apologise in advance for any sense of rollcoaster-like whiplash my handling of the last three months may cause you. (My new site-mate was recently exposed to my talent for starting sentences mid-thought. It was entertaining.)
I wonder if Mr. Verne has finished refurbishing my time machine….
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