Exploits of a Geek Overseas

Well, Joy and I wanted an adventure....and boy did we get one today. After a bit of confusion and a quick change of plans we finally managed to get on a shuttle to the Dead Sea. The Marriot there has a deal where you pay 50Jd for access to all the beaches/pools/and a free lunch/dinner. (up to 25JD) It was a fantastic day, where we spent the day at the spa and swimming and laying on the beach and just...decompressing. It completely went too fast but it was awesome.

Then came the ride home.

Even though we made a point to make sure to be in front of the Marriot at 3:45pm for our 4pm bus, at 4:45pm we were still waiting. However, we were not waiting alone. The two russian women that were on our bus this morning were also waiting with us. They definitely made the wait go quick. Tamara, who only spoke Russian and some broken English, apparently knew half the staff of the Dead Sea Marriot. This got us a free red bull and a quick golf cart ride around the premises. All well and good but the bus still hadn't arrived. Nor had we seen anyone else from our bus that morning.

So Tamara says that she's going to go inside and find out what's going on. Ok. Me, Joy and her friend Olga, who only spoke Russian and broken Arabic, stayed outside. Presently, Tamara comes out with an Arabic man and tells us to get in the car. The tiny car. All 5 of us. Joy and I look at each other and go "um....what?"

With three languages and me as main translator for the event we set off for Amman. Apparently, our return bus is invisible, because while we were standing right where we were told to stand, it drove right past us without any of us seeing it. So now we're in Osama's car, he at least spoke Arabic and English, creeping along at steady 60kph (40mph for you too lazy to do the math) to Amman.

During the drive, which Joy decided to sleep through, I attempted to relearn what very little russian I knew. Joy was quite impressed, the few times she was awake to listen. The highlight of the drive was when Tamara, who remember doesn't speak arabic, attempted to give directions to her house. Mostly it was in Russian, with Olga trying to translate in Arabic. I helped but I only know forward in Arabic and then Joy lept in with the Spanish. Because we weren't confused enough as it was.

Eventually we got let out at the Marriot in Amman, after Olga invited up for tea or coffee at her place. Sadly we had to decline as all we really wanted to do was wash the salt out of our hair and maybe have a bit of vodka.

We were also told that if we ever needed a ride we could call Osama. No problems, of course, I think he was looking for payment for the ride, but since Tamara organized the hijacking, we were willing to stiff the man.

Tomorrow? Tomorrow we're going to try the movie theater for the 3rd time. Wish us luck.

</i>I'm an angel. I kill firstborns while their mamas watch. I turn cities into salt. I even, when I feel like it, rip the souls from little girls, and from now till kingdom come, the only thing you can count on in your existence is never understanding why. </i> ~ Gabriel, "The Prophecy"

I have now watched "Death Takes a Holiday" and there are things that made me go hmmm....especially the one line from Alistaire.

I will cut my musings for anyone that hasn't managed to see the ep yet (yeah kris4n6 I'm looking out for you) or just anyone that is tired of my musings on the Book of Revelations and Kripke's take on it. Just to be clear, I'm not a theologian. I've got at my disposal, 2 copies of the Bible, the Gospel of Judas, The Jesus Mysteries and a healthy dose of fear for both demons and angels thanks to my Grandmother, who had visions of her oldest priest son until he died, and some old school nuns.

( What Revelations says about the 4 Horsemen )

So from that, let's talk about what Alistaire said and my continuing thoughts on how it's not the demons that are breaking the seals.

( Musings on what this all means. )

First, I will cut this because there are people that are more spoilerphobic than me. So I will be polite. But, based on the promo, which you can see here, this is what I think.

( This is all sorts of thinky thoughts. )

Otherwise known at Rewind's newest hiding place. I'd show a picture but my camera card and my computer aren't on speaking terms at the moment, as usual.  But it was totally cute. 

In other news, who knew that days off would totally be boring?  With bouts of incredible frustration and occational sheep bleeting?  Yeah...welcome to my life.

At least I've finally got an assignment.  I'm most officially going to Kolkata.  Whee!!! 

Tree's mostly up, need to finish putting the ornaments on it.  I love prelit trees.  The cats have not climbed it but they are facinated by the skirt.  Cats....

For some reason putting up the tree is all bumming me out this year.  Pretty sure I know why but don't feel like going into it right now.  Especially in an unlocked post.  Suffice it to say, June should be right NOW!

So I'm check out the stats of my beloved Packers. It amuses me to no end that our second highest rusher is not one of our runningbacks. It's our quarterback! I think Aaron Rodgers secretly always wanted to be a rusher. HAHAHAHA....

Ok, so it amused me and I'm happier now that we're winning again. Don't get me wrong, I watch them every chance I get (stupid field pass. stupid weebs stupid satellite company taking away my ESPN) which isn't often because I have to get it off the American Propaganda Network and they don't always like the Pack. Just means the more the Pack wins the more they'll be on TV. (No really, that's how AFN does it. Which is ok and sometimes you can get them on the AFN radio)

So the last ep of NCIS, not ep 4 but ep 3 there was some very definite femslash vibes going on, which is funny because usually I'm one of the weirdos that see Abby/Gibbs most often than not. This time it was Abby/Ziva. So...I wrote it, because it was hot. So says onci_dium whom I'm not even sure knows the actresses in question. Except Pauley Perrette because I have a very healthy girl crush on her. So go read and comment. Cuz...I'm feeling antsy about this one. You can find it there: The Untitled Abby/Ziva fic And also, help with titles would be awesome.

It's still in rough draft form and I'm not sure I really like the ending.  It's up and all critiques are most welcome and helpful. So the fourth (yes, I wrote them out of order) in the Dean in NCIS series is here:

I'll Live this Life

Not sure why I would be dead, except maybe from stress, but not so much.  We've been incredibly busy at work, so much so that I jetted off to DC for three weeks of training.  (I'm being serious about the busy.)  Why has it been busy?  Well, for those of you that don't read a paper, and that's apparently all of you, the Secretary o State was in Tripoli.  A historic visit as she was the first Secretary in over 50 years to visit. 

I wonder if Qaddafi actually called Rice his "darling black African woman." to her face.  Seriously it's what he's called her before.  He's got a lot of love for Secretary Rice.

Training so far it's been good, except today because the first guy was useless, hence why we got out of the session an hour early.  Even our instructor was pretty over him.  I'm learning a heck of a lot, which is good and seeing some old friends.  Saw my big bro and SIL, darthrami and selkie, and coworkers from Libya.  It's been a great time so far and if anyone's in DC area, have metro card, will travel!!

So I love this song. I was on my way to work, avoiding the LDs and all and this song came on. It makes me giggle all the time and suddenly I was seeing Dean and...most of the police he's harassed over 3 season. So someone tell me it's been done? Please?

Mr. Policeman

The mojo is back babee!! In Vegas I had no shopping mojo. Went to a very nice store, Torrid, and found like 2 things. Which, while yes I needed new shorts, was not what I went in there for. I wanted the skelanimals "cute as hell" and "still foxy." They didn't have it, nor did they have the really cool dragon shirt in my size. And all the corsets were too big. It was sad, very sad.

Then I had to buy my singing zombie movie. Not to be confused signing zombies, those are different. There was no joy in mudville. I literally went to 4 stores in Vegas, nada. Nor did my book come out. It was all bad.

Today, we got Chinese luck symbols and zodiac signs in Chinatown. Onci's convinced we're cursed by CrazyCakes and this was how to break it. Anyway, we had the luck symbols and dooode, the mojo started working again! I now am the proud owner of the singing zombie movie. Which I'm about to inflict on Kim. Because I'm a good friend like that. This? Bodes well for our stalking of the JJs.

As onci_dium said we're now in Vancouver. The con was AWESOME and much fun was had by all. We managed not to vibrate the entire time to Vancouver but only on the plane. BTW, YVR is like the prettiest airport EVAH! Seriously, it's like a Northwest museum or something. Very Very nice.

( Because the Coober Pedy incident wasn't fun enough the first time )

Oh and the best part is that it's about an 8 minute drive from the JJs!!! Or at least where they have studios. Not that onci_dium believes there is a city here. She's starting to think Vancouver is Cree for "No city here"

One of the nice things about Libya is that we can check out movies from the DAO. I'm not sure what the program is exactly, but the DAO usually get movies about at the same time as they come out at the cheapie theaters. They still come out on VHS, it's one of the reasons why I keep my VCR.

I checked out Doomsday a few weeks ago. I had just seen a documentary on the doomsday virus of 1918 and figured it'd be interesting. Well, um, it was interesting. There was no zombie, which was good.

( Cut for anyone that hasn't seen it and wants too. )

So over all, not bad, but not quite what I was expecting. Next up is Stop Loss.

So this weekend I'm in Djerba with friends.  Who also happen to be geeks.  So what's the first thing they ask me as we get to the hotel?  "Wanna take a side trip on Saturday to Tattouine?"

SQUEEEELLL!!!!  I'm gonna see Luke Skywalker!!

There's a new story up over at my fic journal. It was gonna be the bookend of Primary Colors but I'm slow. LOL....

I'm not sure if the reliable narrator works so comments would be much apreciated. Also, this is a xover fic.

So we have maintenance people on staff at work.  Theoretically they can be trusted to go into your house while you're at work and do maintenance.  Yeah...right...fuckers are NEVER allowed in my house without supervision again.  EVER!

Let's start with the fact that I come home and the front door is unlocked.  Latched, but unlocked.  grrrr....I go inside determined to have a chat with the head of maintenance tomorrow about the fact that the door was left unlocked.  The cats are suspiciously absent but it is after midnight so hey, they might be sleeping.

I do notice that its pretty much the temperature of an ice box in my house.  Now, yes, I live in a desert but I keep my house around 24C because that's comfy for me.  All the damn AC units have been set for 16!!!  and I swear the downstairs unit was set for 12C.  I reset all the AC units and call for the cats again.

I get this pathetic meow coming from my room.  I open my bedroom door to find that I can't.  Frowning, I notice that the deadbolt is thrown.  Ok, weird and something to add to the list I'm complaining to the maintenance section.  I unlock the door and Houdini shoots out.  Yes, he'd been locked into the fuckin room all damn day and night!!!!  Did I mention that my bedroom lacks food, water and....litterbox?  Oh yes, so Houdini runs and eats and then hides.  I get ready for bed and get into bed and go why is my bed wet and cold????

RAWR!!!  The only reason the head of the maintenance section has been ranted at yet is the fact that it's 1:14am!!!  Yes, so at 1:14am I'm stripping the bed down and trying to find a spare blanket and sheets.  RAWR!!!!

Title: Of Sushi and Train Cars
Pairing: JA/SC
Rating: NC-17 for sex and language
Disclaimer: I live in Libya where even the locals say there is nothing to do.  Do you honestly I know anything?
( Summary: Steve convinces Jensen to take some time off )

ZOMG woe! I cannot believe I'm up at 5am on a Saturday. ugh...but it's for a good cause. Yes, today, after much angst and woe and oh noes I am FINALLY going to London. w00t!! Going to see Steve Carlson and rock out to great music. Going to see clara_swift and talk much slashy goodness.

It's all about the pink and the tiny this trip. LOL, bringing the eepc, the tiny 1G stone and the little red camera. Don't ask me why, but I go with these urges. They usually serve me well. ZOMG! I can't believe I actually get to GO!!!

I will collect them all this year!

Another new story.  I'm getting full of them.  Or maybe it's full of it.  This one is RPS again, but not in my little JA/JDM series. 

Go check it out here
and let me know what you think.

Please check out my new fic at dipfic.insanejournal.com. It's called Primary Colors. Please let me know how you feel about it?