Now I lay me down to sleep (almost)...
Feb. 2nd, 2005 07:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexpgpI am officially One Tired Puppy™.
Today was one of those days involving a constant stream of requests and assignments to keep one hopping. I even ended up on the receiving end of some sharp words (though not directed at me personally). Twice. Should I get to do this again, I plan to have a tee shirt made up that says "Don't shoot themessenger interpreter!" in three languages, although that may be difficult, since when I asked one of the Russian managers how that might be said in Russian, I got the reply "We have no such expression... we just shoot!"
My last gig for the day involved interpreting for a group of VIPs during a tour of the processing facility. I think I acquited myself well; at least, I got a pat on the back from my client. Nevertheless, it was a draining assignment that ended a day that plumb tuckered me out.
The French have been instructed by their safety people to be out of the hotel by 8 pm. They will take up residence for one night at the полтинник, though I am not sure if they're actually going to go to sleep. In any event, the order does not appear to be popular among the rank-and-file, but one does not ignore the edicts of the safety engineer.
The U.S. contingent has been instructed to evacuate the hotel at 5 am and retire to the полтинник as well. I and a few other fortunate folks will instead gravitate to the Polyot hotel, where I will initially take up residence at the Teleport Luch office (the same place I was this morning) in preparation for the live coverage portion of the launch. When I was there earlier today, I looked out the window and was assured of having a ringside seat (albeit just 4 km away) on the launch pad.
Once the coverage portion ends, I will go down to the communications center and share support duties with Maya as the client breathlessly awaits progress reports relayed from the spacecraft and downrange tracking stations. Maya and I will have to split the time, as this support is scheduled to last for approximately 12 hours, until the separation of the satellite from the upper stage.
Over the past couple of days, I have noticed another quantum jump in my ability to understand spoken French. A couple of nights ago, I participated in a sort of parlor game in the minibar, the point of which was not so much to win or lose, but to gab and have a good time. On my way up to the room afterward, I noted that I understood probably three-quarters of what was said, although some of that was probably context-aided.
If I am going to get anything like a night's sleep tonight, I'll be in the sack within the hour. I'm betting that I should be able to drift off to dreamland with no great trouble, given my tiredness. Time to go hit my email and then go upstairs.
We are at L minus 12 hours and 20 minutes.
Cheers...
Today was one of those days involving a constant stream of requests and assignments to keep one hopping. I even ended up on the receiving end of some sharp words (though not directed at me personally). Twice. Should I get to do this again, I plan to have a tee shirt made up that says "Don't shoot the
My last gig for the day involved interpreting for a group of VIPs during a tour of the processing facility. I think I acquited myself well; at least, I got a pat on the back from my client. Nevertheless, it was a draining assignment that ended a day that plumb tuckered me out.
The French have been instructed by their safety people to be out of the hotel by 8 pm. They will take up residence for one night at the полтинник, though I am not sure if they're actually going to go to sleep. In any event, the order does not appear to be popular among the rank-and-file, but one does not ignore the edicts of the safety engineer.
The U.S. contingent has been instructed to evacuate the hotel at 5 am and retire to the полтинник as well. I and a few other fortunate folks will instead gravitate to the Polyot hotel, where I will initially take up residence at the Teleport Luch office (the same place I was this morning) in preparation for the live coverage portion of the launch. When I was there earlier today, I looked out the window and was assured of having a ringside seat (albeit just 4 km away) on the launch pad.
Once the coverage portion ends, I will go down to the communications center and share support duties with Maya as the client breathlessly awaits progress reports relayed from the spacecraft and downrange tracking stations. Maya and I will have to split the time, as this support is scheduled to last for approximately 12 hours, until the separation of the satellite from the upper stage.
Over the past couple of days, I have noticed another quantum jump in my ability to understand spoken French. A couple of nights ago, I participated in a sort of parlor game in the minibar, the point of which was not so much to win or lose, but to gab and have a good time. On my way up to the room afterward, I noted that I understood probably three-quarters of what was said, although some of that was probably context-aided.
If I am going to get anything like a night's sleep tonight, I'll be in the sack within the hour. I'm betting that I should be able to drift off to dreamland with no great trouble, given my tiredness. Time to go hit my email and then go upstairs.
We are at L minus 12 hours and 20 minutes.
Cheers...
