Poopgate

Heres a little story, that I would like to tell
a story about a Girl, a moment not so belle.
She was visiting I, during the holidays
visiting my parents, first time amaze.

We were all sitting around, watching tv
when all of a sudden, seemed she had to pee.
Across the room, walked to the stairs
up she went, pj's she wears.

I sat quietly, watching a little show
didn't think anything of it, normal I know.
We joked we laughed, while she was away
mexican food for dinner, I think that day.

When all of a sudden, a cry I hear from up top
"Scotty! Can you come up here? Oh wait, Stop!"
"Stop, you say? But what do you need?"
"I went to the bathroom, and more than peed!"

"Ummm... ok thats normal, what bothers you so?"
"I flushed, and nowhere my poop did go!"
"You clogged the toilet? Well no big deal
Just grab the plunger, ready for another meal!"

"I would, but I don't know how to use one"
"You don't? I swear its really fun!
I will even do it for you, since you dont know how"
"You can't see my poop, that I won't allow!"

"I tried to flush, the water kept creeping higher
near the rim, on the floor it desired!
So afraid, what would I tell your parents
your floor... is filled with... presents?"

Well she didn't let me, plunge for her
instead she tried and tried, her arms a blur.
Until finally, the toilet let her poop free
now probably floating, in the sea.

That is the story, of the Girl meets the 'rents
the first time nevertheless, sequence of events.
I swear she'll never, poop in their toilet,
fear of plunging, furiously in a sweat.

Getting around

The other day, a coworker that doesn't know me very well, told me they thought I was very 'worldly'. Saying this, without even knowing where I have been.

Really? Why do you think that?

I don't know, you just seem like it.

Humph. You don't even know where I've been! It could be my first time out of the US.

True. So, where have you been?

In hindsight, they didn't know what they were in for.

But, you think about it, and what does it mean to be worldly?

I have lived in:
1. California
2. Rhode Island
3. Washington
4. Hawaii
5. India? Kind of.

I have visited:
1. Canada
- Vancouver
- Whistler
2. Mexico
- Matamoros
- Torreon
- Tijuana
- Rosarito
- Cabo San Lucas
- Playa del Carmen
- San Felipe
- Puerta Vallarta
3. Thailand
- Bankok
- Pattaya Beach
4. Japan
- Okinawa
- Sasebo
- Yokosuka
- Yokohama
- Tokyo
- Niigata
- Nagasaki
5. Hong Kong
6. South Korea
- Chinhae
- Pusan
7. Singapore
8. Phillipines
- Tacloban
9. Australia
- Perth
- Melbourne
10. United Arab Emirates
- Dubai
- Jebel Ali
- Fujayrah
11. Bahrain
12. Guam
13. Pacific Islands
- Palau
14. Marshall Islands
- Kwajelein
15. Italy
- Rome
- Naples
16. France
- Paris
17. Spain
- Rota
- Barcelona
18. Gibraltar
19. Portugal
- Lisbon
20. United Kingdom
- Portsmouth
- London
21. Ireland
- Dublin
22. India
- Hyderabad

Soon to be added
Italy
- Florence
- Nice
Germany
- Frankfurt

U.S.
Have made these drives, some more than once:

View Larger Map

Gather 'round

It hit me.

A morning, about a week ago.

I got into work, logged in as usual. When you login, you are automatically logged into the company instant message system. The beginning of the day here, is the end of the day at home.

Not within a minute of logging in, an im appeared from a coworker at home.

Did you hear?

Umm... I don't think so, I just got in!

Let me call you

We talked, for about 20 minutes or so.

Around the country, rough times. Layoffs. There had been some within my company, but none in my office.

That day, there were 2.

Two people, with more experience than me. One that has been with the company longer than I.

I was taken back. It hit home.

As soon as I got off the phone, a member of the group here (India) asked me if one of the two people left. Word travels quickly.

Since I was still a little distraught over the phone conversation I just had, I didn't quite know what to say. I needed a couple of minutes.

If it's something I have learned to do very well, is handle things quickly and before they get out of control. I knew that, if one person was already asking, everyone would soon be wondering what happened to the two.

So, I got up, and told everyone in the group here (that works regularly with the Sandy Eggo office) to gather in the conference room.

Puzzled looks abound.

Once they all gathered, I told them what I knew. I couldn't help but know, that I probably looked a little... under the weather. I know they understood.

They asked questions. I answered to the best of my ability.

I couldn't help it, this remained on my mind the rest of the day.

Sometimes, some things, you hear about them, you read about them, but you really don't know what it's like until you experience them. You try to know, or rather you try to forget.

This was an experience I did not like.

Another please

Last night was ugly.

Went to dinner at a place called 'Little Italy'. The food there is pretty awesome, and your meal plus drinks costs about $15. Italian food. Sun dried tomatoes. Love them.

On the way back to the hotel, after eating, someone got the crazy idea to go to the wine shop. Keep in mind, that the wine shop here is equal to a liquor store. They are on the street, and its basically a storefront where you walk up and everything is sorta displayed there. I need to take a pic of one.

Anyways. We go to the wine shop, someone decided vodka was the choice. I thought we would get a bottle. Instead two people got a bottle each. No bueno.

We went back to the hotel, and sat outside the bar in the lobby. With out fifths of vodka. We went to the bar, and got orange juice, and mixed our own drinks.

Mine was horrible.

Horrible, in that it was really strong. I could barely smell it. Bad.

Between 5 of us, we finished the bottle in about 30 minutes. I don't know why. We weren't in a hurry to get anywhere.

After that, to the club. There is one attached to the hotel, and its VERY westernized. It actually just opened a couple of weeks ago, but I don't really like the club aspect of it, but they have a cool outside balcony thats nice.

I think I like it because it reminds me of Sandy Eggo. Rooftop bar, of sorts.

I was persuaded to dance. Even though I didn't feel like it.

When I got back to the room, I called The Girl. I think she was surprised to hear from me. Maybe because it was inthe wee hours in the morning. Probably. She's in Sandy Eggo right now, I'm kinda jealous she's there and I am not.

She could tell I was a couple of sheets into the wind. It was ok.

This morning, when everyone saw me, they said something that is a common thing I hear. I don't know why. But, they said that they couldn't tell that I had drank a lot. I guess that's kind of unusual? Maybe. But in any case, if we ever hang out you probably won't know the difference between me sober and me a couple of sheets into the wind.

---

Today, spent most of the day at the pool. Every Sunday, BBQ, free drinks. Big party basically. Relaxing. I love the water.

I have been here for 5 weeks now.

At the end of 8 weeks, vacation with the Girl.

I was going to go back home after that. Instead, I asked to come back here, to India.

Once I am back home, I will have lived in India for 3 months. Kinda crazy to think about.

Bobblemoose

Have you ever seen a bobblehead moose on a dashboard?



Now you have!

Faces

I don't know why, or how, I thought of it. But, one day I saw two webcams on a website for a pretty good price. I knew of my upcoming trip, where I would be away for a couple of months.

Other side of the world.

I thought it would be nice.

See each other.

When I gave to The Girl as a gift before I left, she seemed happy to receive. Saying it was thoughtful, it was a good idea.

Other side of the world.

At the time, I wasn't sure how much we would be able to talk on the phone. Now, even though we talk on the phone most days of the week, it's nice.

It's nice to see her.

There's something to be said about seeing someone. Even though she may be on, literally, the other side of the world... it never gets old. Her face. Mannerisms.

The look, excited to see me.

Times like those, I like to remember.
Times like those, I like to relive.

Just short of a month, and we'll meet in Rome.

I can't wait.

Piss-umd

About… 4 years ago, I had a boss. Well, someone I worked for. Hmmm… I’ve never really liked the term ‘boss’. Anyways, worked for this guy, THE MAN.

He had a lot of stuff come across his desk, daily, of which he would look at. Look at, review, approve, send up to be approved, etc. A myriad of different things, and I wasn’t the only one that gave THE MAN things to be looked at.

Sometimes, he would have a question about something he was looking at. So, he would write on (or put a post-it on) the paper in big bold letters at the top, “PSM”. None of us liked it when he did this.

Why?

Because it meant, “Please See Me.”

Usually we found this gem of a note in our room, on our desk, etc. It could be anywhere, even under your pillow probably. It was never good to have one of these.

If we saw a “PSM” note on someone else’s desk that they hadn’t seen yet, we would tell them that they were “PSM’d” (pronounced ‘piss-umd’, or something like that – hey, I can barely read). They would be nervous until they finally went to talk to THE MAN, usually not good.

This morning, when I was talking to The Girl, I was at work. Since my computer screen was staring at me, I noticed when the little Outlook new email desktop alert came on. I saw the header of an email from someone like THE MAN. That is, I work for him indirectly, though have never talked to him. This THE MAN, is probably considered ‘higher’ than anyone in the Sandy Eggo (my home) office.

It said:

What is your extension.

Sent from my iPhone

Coming from someone I had never talked to, that I knew was a little ‘stern’ on occasion, couldn’t help but make me feel like I was just PSM’d. But, instead of getting nervous, it just made me laugh.

Its nice when you can look at things of the past… to make you feel more comfortable about the present.

Cruisin'

Fort Road

"Of course I'm paying attention!"