L-2...

So it's getting down to the wire, now.

Last night's party went well. The Pinkertons again filled in as the operators of the barbeque grill, and my suggestion that the company name be changed to "Pinkerton Government Services and Down-Home BBQ" got a laugh. (Seriously, though, if these guys ever open up a restaurant, I'll get in line for the grand opening.)

Today, I was the "morning duty" interpreter, which entails - among other things - interpreting at the daily tag-up meeting. Some days this meeting is short and sweet, as nobody has anything much to talk about. Today, however, was not one of those days.

On the other hand, I learned a lot from hearing (and interpreting) a masterful example of admonishment followed almost immediately by a wry observation of "other than that, we had a really good day." The tension in the room eased noticeably when I interpreted that remark, whereupon the speaker continued with "in fact, it could realistically be described as a great day, so forget all that stuff I started out with," which dissipated the rest of the tension, whereupon we proceeded to the weather report, what is usually the first item taken up during the meeting.

Folks are off rehearsing the countdown for the launch. I need to "turn to" on my outside interests if I am to make it to what is most likely the last sauna session of the campaign tonight.

Cheers...

L-2 follow-up...

I find that my preferred sauna temperature is 80°C, though temperatures up to 90°C are tolerable. Past that, and what should be relaxing becomes tedious and I lose interest. I also notice that a dip in the plunge pool is perceived only on the very outermost layer of skin, so I suspect that even if the temperature of the water was reduced somewhat, it wouldn't make much of a perceptible difference. Dinner afterward was very... relaxing.

I detoured by the minibar after dinner to join the French and essay another of my "thirteenth warrior" sessions (so named after the sequence in the Antonio Banderas film where the character he plays acquires the Viking language by osmosis, listening to enough of it). It is, of course, too late in the campaign to start doing this and expect any result (note to self for the next campaign), but I perceive I have crossed some desirable boundary over the past couple of days with respect to the French team members. I only wish I could figure out what it was.

I am in pretty good shape otherwise, with only a despeckling session on tap for tomorrow morning, and an afternoon duty assignment.

Cheers...