T-8 Part 2

We had no luck on the fishing. Jess caught 5, but all were catfish. Leo caught 1, but it was a catfish too. I hooked what we think was a big redfish, but it was smart enough to head to the grass and wrap the line around some stick, and I came out with nothing. Although the fishing was no good, the time spent together was priceless. [I turned around and took a picture of the house with the sun setting in the background. Just thought you might want to share in the "moment"!]

Leo and I started the morning by talking about our goals for the next few years. Both of us have "getting the house finished" at the top of the list. Leo's next goal was to get me on the Escravos project, though I don't know how much he can affect that outcome. (Still, it was nice to hear.) My next one was to get out of Houston altogether. He liked that one a lot. I pointed out that the breathing room his working is going to give me should be enough to let me start setting some boundaries even if I do stay with ExxonMobil. I want to work as much as I can from home, and only spend two days, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in the city. Two long days of work and one night in a hotel is perfectly acceptable to me. I'm looking forward to getting out of Houston as it has become less and less attractive to me as time goes by.

A little later in the day, Leo and I got an email request asking for help setting up a spreadsheet demonstrating some different scenarios for a 5- or 6-person team writing procedures in Escravos. I had a good time putting together the data and thinking through the analysis. After I finished and went to discuss it with Leo, he told me to "run with it" and be sure and provide full details of my analysis. He was surprised at my outcome, but when I presented my arguments, he totally agreed. The best scenario I came up with was an 8-weeks-on/3-weeks-off schedule. The data will be presented in a meeting tomorrow morning in Escravos at 9am (3am our time), and I can't wait to find out what the team decides. My favorite part of the whole thing was the last sentence of the request email. It said, "Thank you both...we will all soon be here I am sure now". That was the same thing as, "Bea...we're doing everything we can to get you here with us," which is exactly what I wanted to hear!

With only 8 days to go, I'm getting a little "clingy" with Leo, but he doesn't seem to mind. We did some shopping today for those last few items he needs for his trip. All we have left is a week of spending time together and trying to make sure everything is set for Leo's being out of the country for a month. We'll definitely keep you all posted.

T-8

Last night Leo and I decided to defy the critics and go see a movie called "Babylon A.D." I mean, how bad could it be? We had been surprised at how much we enjoyed the last few Van Diesel flicks, and we both enjoy a good action movie, so we gave it a shot. Um, we made a mistake. It was pretty horrible. Oh well...live and learn.

Today we were bad children and skipped out of church. Funny thing, Leo almost always goes whether I can or not. It's right next door and he just loves our little congregation. But I'm not so good with people (although I'm a whiz at online encounters!) so I rarely go without him. It's a funny situation, but one we've resolved ourselves to. We even talked about it on the way to town for lunch today. Put me in a room of 500 people and ask me to talk about my work, and I have no problem. But put me at a party of 10, and I worry that someone is going to speak to me. I'm a bit (okay, I'm a LOT) insecure in personal situations. Leo, on the other hand, looks for people to talk to, to interact with, everywhere he goes. We even laughed about how he looks for me to take the lead in professional situations and I look for him to do so in personal ones. He called us "complete opposites", but I think it's more like "complete complements".

Hey...just got a phone call from Leo telling me the boys (Leo and Jess) are going fishing! So...I gotta go now. I'll finish this up later tonight, okay? Yeah...thanks!

T-9

Reading back over my blogs, I realize I've ignored this for a while now...I'm so sorry. Things have been crazy-hectic for a bit now, but I'm about to get a little breather, although it's one that I am NOT looking forward to. Leo leaves the country in 9 days.

I have been looking forward to this all along. It means a little padding in the "kitty", means that if I want to take a day or two off from work I can, and means that maybe, just maybe, we have a shot at getting the house finished in 2009 and can [FINALLY] start inviting you folks over for a visit (whoever you are :-).

But the cost! The cost is HUGE! Leo and I have been very comfortable for the past 6 years being a bit more "independent" than many other couples. We have two homes. He's in charge at the big house, and I'm in charge at the apartment. When we need "space", he comes up with chores he needs to do at home, and I come up with work that has to get done in Houston. But always, within a day or two, we shorten our schedules and one or the other of us finds our way to the other "home". I think we once spent 10 days apart when Leo went to New Mexico with Jess and Grace, but that nearly killed us.

When Leo leaves, he'll be gone for 30 DAYS. Other people do this--military people, other expats, etc.--so we know we will be able to get by just like they do. But I'm guessing that those other people don't like it any more than we do.

So, we're both working hard to get our emotions in check. I'm angry that the company can't find a position for me there as well. I know I could help them out A LOT, but I'm not getting anywhere with it. Leo's emotions are swinging a bit too. We went to watch our nephew play ball last night--he's a senior at Danbury (Go Panthers) and they played a game in Louise, so we went. Leo was sitting near my brother-in-law, and I was sitting with "the girls". At halftime, Leo headed over for something to eat, then stayed on the other side, standing near the fence, for the 3rd quarter. When he finally wandered back over, he stayed near the fence watching the game from our side. That's just a bit unlike him to do the "loner" thing (much more typical for me). After the game, although he seemed alright, he was a bit quiet and I didn't push it. This morning, after he had his regular morning visit with Jess and Grace, he told me he realized why he was so moody last night. He does not want to go without me. Ah...that explains everything.

Still, there are the brighter sides too. On the drive home on Thursday evening, I was going on and on about wanting Leo to call me from London, to call me from Lagos, and to call me from Escravos on the day he leaves. Then I switched into a rendition of how we will need to set up a regular time each day to do our Skpe chats (online video chat). Next I had a speech prepared about finding out which direction the phone rates were better and using that strategy for our phone calls each time. Leo finally had to say, "STOP!!" Oh...I was getting carried away again, wasn't I. You know, I never was one of those moms who insisted the girls call home from summer camp every morning and every night, knowing that the whole experience was going to be "good for them" and that they would call if they needed me. So why have I turned into the crazy camp mom with Leo? I suppose it just goes to show how insecure I am these days. That old fart and I have become quite the comfortable pair!!

You'll see me "tear up" now again here, but hopefully, you'll also get to share in our grand adventure as I'm hoping to keep everyone informed of the goings on at both ends of the pond. So, stay tuned! And for you older folks (like me :-) "Don't touch that dial!"

Internet Fun

So Many Happenings

This week was not so productive for me. Not only was my jaw sore all week, but the a/c in my apartment unit is definitely not functioning well in the August heat. I worked one day, one evening, and one night "shift" and was definitely ready to come home on Friday.

The rest we were looking forward to was not as refreshing as we hoped, however. Friday night was a bit nightmarish as a little teeny tiny cricket had gotten itself lodged in the insulation next to the unfinished shower that is behind our bedroom wall. The little guy chirped all night long, and his chirping was AMPLIFIED by the space he was in. Leo and I got very little sleep. When I got up at 4am, Leo had been up since 2am and was finally able to lay down for a bit. I really hated to wake him at 6am, but we promised Rebecca and Shannon we'd be at their house in the morning. We were on the road by 6:30.

The drive was nice. Leo and I hadn't seen each other for a few days, so we enjoyed the time getting caught up on each other's activities. The biggest two pieces of discussion fodder were 1) Leo's schedule for the rest of the year, and 2) the opportunity that has become available for me. [Note: Remember, you can click on most of the images in this blog, including the calendar at left, to see them at a larger size.] As you can see from the schedule, Leo's new "firm" date for leaving the country is September 10th. His rotation has him in Nigeria for his birthday and Thanksgiving, but home for Christmas. The second communication we got from our contacts is highly interesting as well, however.

I was contacted and asked if I would be interested in going to another location in Nigeria, a city of over 1 million inhabitants called "Warri", in order to head up a small team of procedure writers. Of course I am interested! The follow-up on the initial information we got indicates that I would work there between 7 and 10 months before moving to Escravos with Leo and the rest of the team. During the Warri period, it looks like there is a good chance that Leo and I can work the same schedule, and may even be able to travel together in and out of the country. Once the move to Escravos is made, it looks like my schedule will be a bit more strenuous with a rotation of 8-weeks on, and 3-weeks off. Still, it's not a bad game plan and I am excited about the prospect.

Now those of you who have followed our progress in this area for the past 9 months should realize that this kind of talk is WAY early in the ballgame. It could be a "go" in less than a month, but it has an equal chance of being nothing at all for the next 9 months as well. So, I am trying my best not to get too excited. However, the tasks of organizing, writing, formatting, updating, etc. operating and maintenance procedures is something I am VERY interested in pursuing further. I have lots of experience in this area, both direct (as a procedure writer) and indirect (as an operator, maintenance technician, trainer, etc.) so it would be a very comfortable position for me to settle in to. I am also looking at building a small team of people that I have worked with before with the right kind of experience to allow them to work for me in this new endeavor. All in all, even given the fact that we have to be cautious and patient, it still is an exciting prospect. Wish me luck!

To finish our traveling story...we enjoyed a FUN day with Rebecca and Shannon. The guys went out to do what guys do while Rebecca and I visited a quilt shop and a couple of antique shops in Salado. When we got back to the house, Rebecca and Shannon fixed some delicious fajitas that we ate on the back porch on their new (and very nice!) patio furniture. I had plans to meet up with some friends in the late afternoon, but after such a rough night, had to take a little nap after lunch. My "little nap" turned into something else entirely. The rest of the family finally decided they better wake me up in time to get ready for supper!

After Leo and I ran a few errands, we went to the high school in Georgetown where Shannon was auctioneering at a volleyball benefit. Even though it had been a few years since he had such a gig, he did a WONDERFUL job and impressed us all! After that, we all went to the bowling alley where Rebecca proceeded to embarrass us all by whipping us soundly in three games.

Another long drive home, and Leo and I were finally in bed by 2am. Still, it was such a fun weekend, and after resting up a bit today, I think I'll definitely be ready for another long week in downtown Houston. Yes...a lot going on here, but it's all good. :-)

Learning to Love (my Dentist!!)

I had a dental appointment this morning. It was the 4th in a series of 5 that have been occurring every 3 weeks. Although this has been a bit difficult (we have no dental insurance), my mouth is healthier than it has been in years. The previous 3 visits were all without incident, although I was having lots of work done. Today's was a bit different, however.

After Dr. Lee put the lower left side of my mouth to sleep, he came in and began to work. However, I could feel it (pain--not pressure) so he stopped and administered some more medicine. A few minutes later and he started again, and still I could feel it. Again he stopped.

Now you have to understand something here...I've had this happen before. It's been a long time, and I've tried to forget it, but this is not the first time. Believe it or not, I've actually had dentists tell me that I did NOT really feel anything, that I could not possibly, and continue to work. I began to worry that this was going to be the case here. Was Dr. Lee going to believe me? Was he going to continue to work? Was he going to send me home?

By this time my hands were shaking and I was beginning to panic a bit. How was I to know I had absolutely nothing to worry about? Dr. Lee assured me that even though this was unusual, I was not alone in it. He calmed me down, assured me that he believed me, and then proceeded to deaden that quadrant of my mouth completely. Even before he began to work again, I could feel the difference. I knew that I would feel nothing.

In no time at all the work was done and I was on my way home. A nice nap and the feeling in my mouth has returned. My jaw is a bit sore now, but I am not in pain at all. I am a difficult dental patient...I know this. But today may have been the first time ever I have not felt to "blame" for it. There are obviously some "quirks" to me that mean I don't always fit the typical mold. (Ask me sometime about the time the doctor removed my toenail while giving me something to bite down on since my toe just wouldn't deaden!!)

Here's the thing, though. It makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE to have a dentist who understands, believes, and responds to my individual quirks. Anyway, although this posting is a bit different than the norm, (sounds more like an "infomercial", doesn't it :-), it is definitely a reflection of what's happening in my world today. After years of hating dentists, I just thought it funny that a "tough" day could be changing that. Today I am definitely learning to love my dentist and everyone that works in his office. Go figure!

P.S. Even though you might think I would have the pick of the best living much of my life in Houston, my dentist is actually a lot closer to home in the little town of Edna. His name is Dr. Mac Lee and after I got home I discovered his cool little website [www.DrMacLee.com] where he talks about people like me [My Comfort]. If you decide to visit him, you have my permission to say that he came HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Preparing for Edouard

Okay, okay. You got me. Anyone that knows me well knows that "preparing for Edouard" is not really my style. I mean, after 48 years of living in the path of hurricanes, I generally take a very laid-back view of the entire thing. Whatever comes, comes. That's my philosophy. So "preparing for Edouard" really means that I'm watching the news so I can stay up-to-date on the storm.

I've hit another snag at work that I'm not at all happy about, but am working through the "fix" at a steady pace. I have a dentist appointment in Edna in the morning (a crown...yuk!) so I won't be heading back to Houston tonight. When I begin the drive back will actually depend on the storm. When tomorrow comes, we'll see.

We had a really nice weekend, Leo and I. I did take time off to head down to the pier once and put my line in the water. I pulled in a couple of catfish and a croaker, but nothing to get excited about. I didn't stay long enough I guess. Leo, on the other hand, had a wonderful weekend. He pulled in a couple of good trout and a really nice flounder. Of course, he lost his rod when he hooked a really big stingray and tried to pull it in. When she got to the top of the water, the rod snapped right in two. Still, Jess caught a beautiful spotted trout as well. The trout all went into the freezer while the flounder provided us with a positively delicious supper.

Although I didn't get moved into my newly painted home office like I wanted to, Leo braved the elements and spent enough time in the attic to get us squared away on the coax lines. Tonight we watched tv in the master bedroom while the last boats made their way in to port for the night. [Its not difficult to keep an eye on both the television and the bay beyond with our setup. We are REALLY enjoying it.]

Ah well, it's time now to get some shut-eye, prepare for a difficult morning ahead [did I mention that I HATE THE DENTIST?] while keeping an eye on the progress of the storm. What a life.

P.S. The best we can tell, Leo will be leaving the country in a little more than 2 weeks. I am SO going to miss him while he's gone!!!

Home a Day Early

I'm trying to resolve some difficult maneuvers on my "Interim Data Warehouse (IDW)" project, so peace and quiet is high on my list of needs at the moment. So, I left Houston yesterday after work and headed home. All of the corn and milo fields have been harvested now, so the drive had a little different look to it. The cotton is blooming nicely, I noticed, so that harvest will be coming up soon.

When I got to the loop around Palacios, I called Leo to see if he wanted to meet for supper. We met up at our favorite "Mexico Tipico" and enjoyed an item called the "Monterrey" which consists of two beef enchiladas, a piece of flank steak, rice, beans (Leo only, strangely, I don't "do" beans...never have), and guacamole. It was SO GOOD!

I had a nice surprise waiting for me when I got home...JESSIE'S HOME! Jessie and Grace have been gone for about 6-weeks, spending some time at their place in New Mexico with their son Trevor, then a fun weekend at the family reunion with the rest of their clan. Although we're happy the Jess had a really good time with friends and family, we are THRILLED to have him back here with us. (Note: This also means that my break from work today will include fishing from the pier!)

But wait...my surprises weren't finished yet. When I finally got home I discovered that Leo finished painting my office. Although he used the same gray that is on the walls in the living room, because there is a lot less natural light in the office, it looks very different. I can see right now that my office is going to be beautiful! We were both so very pleased with the results.

Another thing that Leo and I have been discussing is moving our bed out of its temporary location and into the Master Bedroom. We first set up in the temporary bedroom when Leo was working at Formosa. Working shiftwork, he really needed it to be dark when he slept, and with only one north-facing window, that room is easier to darken. Hmm...now that I think of it, the other reason we set up in that bedroom was that it was the only one with air conditioning (a window unit) for years. My, oh my...how things have changed!

Anyway, as soon as I got into the house and found our bed in its place in the Master Bedroom, I had to try things out. The fan over the bed is a beautiful little thing, but even on its highest setting it is quiet and appears to be turning rather slowly. When I mentioned this to Leo, he told me to go to the middle of the room, or better yet, lie down on the bed. Wowser! That little guy puts out quite the breeze!! I decided right then that I will be buying two more of these fans for placement in my office, and maybe one more after that for the old bedroom, which is going to be Leo's room (aviation stuff, workout stuff, music, television, etc.)

So the bed in place and the fan were a wonderful surprise, but here's the biggest one of all...the view. Let me explain. The Master Bedroom was first framed out with the door facing the living room right next to the front door. There was a cool angled wall in the Master that we liked the look of, but couldn't quite figure out what to do with to take full advantage. Over the years, the more I looked at the arrangement, the less I liked it. So a few years ago, I talked Leo and Jessie into changing things around (no little task!) I talked them in the closing up the original doorway into the living room and opening up a double-door opening on the angled wall. This wall goes all the way to the vaulted ceiling at an angle. It was a real trip for them to lay out originally, and here I was asking them to do it again! But they love me, obviously, so they did as I wished.

Here's the thing, though. Ever since then, the room has been, at various times, full of scaffolding, drywall, paint buckets, table saws, plastic-covered furniture, boxes and more. With all this, I really had to imagine what it would be like with a king-sized bed in it. Well...no more imagining. It looks fabulous! There is plenty of room for a nice sized headboard (I'm relatively sure I'm going to design it and the guys will build it for me), a chest at the foot of the bed, the television on the perfect wall for viewing any time of the day or night. But I finally got to try out the part that I had been imagining for years...the view. Our bed is not one of those low-rider European things (although they look cool, I always preferred the huge fluffy-looking things!) It was not until I laid down on the bed that I knew how perfect the view was. Sitting up, I can see everything from my side! I can see the water, the sky, the pier, boats, birds, and more. But even lying down I can see so much! With the new setting, I woke up several times in the night. Once I could see someone fishing along the bank with a small light in their boat. Another time, I could see the lights of Formosa shining across the water. (You'll have to trust me on this one...even big ole' ugly chemical plants can look beautiful across the water when they are 5 miles away!)

Now it's time for me to put in my 12-hours of work, but when I get done and am ready for bed, only a few steps away and WOW!. Thanks so much Leo! Everything is PERFECT!