alexpgp: (Fueling)
[personal profile] alexpgp
I 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 the messenger 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...

Date: 2005-02-02 04:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] love337.livejournal.com
Woo!! I'm happy that things are wrapping up finally :)

You'll be home in no time now!
Miss you tons, come visit me when you get home (if you can muster that).

Fondly,

your second kid

Thanks for become a friend

Date: 2005-02-02 11:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dedrell.livejournal.com
I hope this gets to you and is in the right place. I am new to this and I am trying to get it right. I think you found me using Eric Flint. Do I guess right? I have been a Science Fiction fan since 1969, am a librarian by education and entrepreniour by trade, and at the moment, a photographic artist.
To read your journal was a pleasant surprise and will be a education. Old line fans I know, who have a space interest and a scientific view of the world would be interested in meeting you. Would you mind if I told them how to get to your journal?
I am not sure if I got the right protocol for journal use, but there it is.
Do you know of Eric Raymond? He is deeply involved with Linux and has been from its beginnings.
This mailing just to introduce myself and I will not take anymore of you time. Good luck with the your project. Anything going into space is good news for the planet. Space should be a world goal and I believe it soon will be (two years on the outside). This is not a wish but a political fact.

Re: Thanks for become a friend

Date: 2005-02-02 11:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks for the kind words.

Eric Flint as the point of common interest is 100% correct. I had just finished the Grantville Gazette and was thinking "Who else on LJ lists the author as an interest?"

I've also been an ESR fan for quite a while. He runs an interesting blog, by the way, although its name and URL escape me at the moment.

Gotta run. Work to do.

Cheers...

Date: 2005-02-02 11:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Like any kids having fun, there's the cleanup phase to consider. That'll eat a few days.

Love you. (And you're second only in order of arrival.)

Cheers...

Re: Thanks for become a friend

Date: 2005-02-03 01:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dedrell.livejournal.com
I have known Eric R. for about 25 years. I wish he had being old enough to be one of my professor, now I can just call him friend. When I first met him, he was 15 or so and was known as Eric the Flute. Our relationship is based on political thought and prognostication, love of history, Science Fiction Cons and libertarianism. He attempted to teach me how to use this machine a few years ago, but failed. Not his fault, I suffer from double vision and dyslexia. Looking at a monitor made me seasick for real. I messed up a few keyboards. I got a cure and found a teacher who could come down to my level (which Eric could not) in Nov '03. I have been learning ever since. I am not good yet, but a can stay in the conversation. My teach is a Cato escapee, called Deslock Darkstar. He is also a Flint fan. The person I believe would be interested in talking to you is Sanford Z. Meschkow. He is a science fiction author, professional rewriter of scientific papers (with a knowledge of metallurgy)and a pall bearer for First Fandom. With your OK, I will show him your LJ. He is not yet into this kind of communication.

I'm going to watch the State of the Union in a half hour. Bush is into world goals, I believe the Solar System is one of them.

Thanks for your time.

Re: Thanks for become a friend

Date: 2005-02-03 04:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
I've no problem with your sharing my scribblings with Mr. Meschkow.

Cheers...

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