Sunday, December 27, 2009
On Exercise
I have to run a lot, because I make myself do it, and I engage in a wide variety of mental activities to distract myself from the fact that I still have miles to go and I'm tired. I considered the other day what makes someone decent at working out, or makes someone do it at all. For me, and I speak only for me, I've found that its equal parts self loathing and self love. I am running because I am not good enough, fast enough or strong enough. Yet, I can finish the distance I set because I am powerful and able to do so. It's a really strange balance that essentially equals optimistic masochism.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Camel Spider Jr.
Expeditionary reporter slash photojournalist slash entomologist Kristin Russell took one step closer this week to discovering the legendary Camel Spider, or Syndaesia sp.
At a meeting over tea with some Iraqi counterparts in the Kurdish Capital of Erbil (it would be Irbil on our maps, but I defer to their spelling...) a terrifyingly fast, although not camel-looking, spider appeared from under a leather couch, proceeded to sit still for a few minutes, then ran directly at my boots, then under the couch I was sitting on. This caused a little panic as I pictured it scurrying up my pants leg and plunging its sword like jaws into my jugular, but I managed to sit still and focused on the tasty tea biscuits and pistachios instead. Also, I made up what the guys were saying in arabic.
See specimin below. Lindsay, do I get half credit for this one? It was impressive enough that the Iraqi guy on the couch asked for a copy of the pic. My zoom isn't that amazing, so this thing was about the size of a silver half dollar. You know, the ones with Kennedy on the front that you have like 50 of and don't know what to do with?
At a meeting over tea with some Iraqi counterparts in the Kurdish Capital of Erbil (it would be Irbil on our maps, but I defer to their spelling...) a terrifyingly fast, although not camel-looking, spider appeared from under a leather couch, proceeded to sit still for a few minutes, then ran directly at my boots, then under the couch I was sitting on. This caused a little panic as I pictured it scurrying up my pants leg and plunging its sword like jaws into my jugular, but I managed to sit still and focused on the tasty tea biscuits and pistachios instead. Also, I made up what the guys were saying in arabic.
See specimin below. Lindsay, do I get half credit for this one? It was impressive enough that the Iraqi guy on the couch asked for a copy of the pic. My zoom isn't that amazing, so this thing was about the size of a silver half dollar. You know, the ones with Kennedy on the front that you have like 50 of and don't know what to do with?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Maps
I can't sleep, so here's some of Iraq's relatively interesting geography taken on my fun trip a few weeks ago.
This last one is the Ziggurat of Ur. Biblical Abraham's house is supposed to be around here too. The dude in the bazaar back here tried to help me properly pronounce ziggurat. He says it like, "ziccurah" and it's not Ur, it's "ouhr". I appreciated him trying to help me out but still hoping I'm getting as salaam walekum out right, thanks.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Book Fair Part 1
Before I left the US I asked people to chime in on books I should read while I am in Baghdad. Here's how I'm doing so far:
1 - Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves
This was my own choice. I wanted I love grammar. I hate your misspellings, incorrect use of you're, and misplaced apostrophes. I love this book.
2 - Rob Sheffield, Love is a Mix Tape
A pretty decent book about this Rolling Stone contributor and his girlfriend/wife who dies and the mix tapes he goes though as he deals with his loss. Some of the songs struck a relatively nostalgic note with me but since I was all of 7-17 in the 90s, a lot of them don't register. I think are the kind of music you can only tolerate if you lived it as it was being created. In retrospect this would probably not be a good move to download and listen to. The book itself was good though, I read it on the plane over to Qatar. I did not read any books on the plane to Iraq as it was dark and I had on full gear and was sleeping (dramamine).
3 - J.D. Salinger, Nine Stories
Marty, I know you reccomended this one but I'll level with you and anyone else who read and liked this. I liked the last story. That was it.
4 - Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy, The Laughing Jesus
Connor, this was a great choice and got me interested in a lot of other books that are going to send me directly to hell without passing go or collecting that wildly attractive fake $200. I have to admit that I only read the first half though. The historical perspective was AWESOME. After that the gnostic thing was fine, but it was like preaching to the choir and I already pretty much got it so I had to stop.
5 - Sloane Crosley, I Was Told There'd Be Cake
The reviews on the cover tout her to be just like a female David Sedaris. Let me tell you about Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim for a second. Sedaris narrates it HIMSELF for books on tape, which is how I listened to it. It's gloomy as shit and I laughed a few times but it would take some serious convincing on the part of a trusted friend to get me to listen or read anything else by him. Moving on, Crosley's book is actually quite funny and my favorite story is about her having to be a maid of honor for a friend she's barely talked to in 5 years. It was actually pretty good. Don't let the reviews on the cover fool you. Also, I often expect cake, or at the very least punch & pie at any and all meetings I attend. I am often disappointed but refuse to lower my expectations for anyone.
6 - Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire
YES! What a fucking awesome book! Spartans are super sweet. It was extremely good and I would put it up there with Ender's Game as really really really important books to read if you are a military officer. After this I watched 300, which is about the same battle of Thermopylae, but based on a graphic novel instead of Gates of Fire. Thus, it was ok, decent even, but nothing compared to this book. Supposedly George Clooney's production company owns the rights to the Gates of Fire movie, so someday that might be something to look forward to.
7 - Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I think I have to thank Scott for this. I wouldn't know, because FB deleted my posts from like April to August including the one where everyone made recommendations. I'm more than halfway done and it's fine and nonsensical and I'm enjoying it.
I realize that's only 7ish books (I started the first one before I left) in 2 months and though not terrible I'm not sure I'll be able to get through every book I've got here but I'll make an effort and keep logging I guess. It was one of my goals to read and relax here. I'm finally, at 2 months trying to figure out how that works. School doesn't help, stalkers don't help, work doesn't help, but I get a little time each night for the most part and that's at least part of the reason this is my sandy vacation.
1 - Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves
This was my own choice. I wanted I love grammar. I hate your misspellings, incorrect use of you're, and misplaced apostrophes. I love this book.
2 - Rob Sheffield, Love is a Mix Tape
A pretty decent book about this Rolling Stone contributor and his girlfriend/wife who dies and the mix tapes he goes though as he deals with his loss. Some of the songs struck a relatively nostalgic note with me but since I was all of 7-17 in the 90s, a lot of them don't register. I think are the kind of music you can only tolerate if you lived it as it was being created. In retrospect this would probably not be a good move to download and listen to. The book itself was good though, I read it on the plane over to Qatar. I did not read any books on the plane to Iraq as it was dark and I had on full gear and was sleeping (dramamine).
3 - J.D. Salinger, Nine Stories
Marty, I know you reccomended this one but I'll level with you and anyone else who read and liked this. I liked the last story. That was it.
4 - Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy, The Laughing Jesus
Connor, this was a great choice and got me interested in a lot of other books that are going to send me directly to hell without passing go or collecting that wildly attractive fake $200. I have to admit that I only read the first half though. The historical perspective was AWESOME. After that the gnostic thing was fine, but it was like preaching to the choir and I already pretty much got it so I had to stop.
5 - Sloane Crosley, I Was Told There'd Be Cake
The reviews on the cover tout her to be just like a female David Sedaris. Let me tell you about Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim for a second. Sedaris narrates it HIMSELF for books on tape, which is how I listened to it. It's gloomy as shit and I laughed a few times but it would take some serious convincing on the part of a trusted friend to get me to listen or read anything else by him. Moving on, Crosley's book is actually quite funny and my favorite story is about her having to be a maid of honor for a friend she's barely talked to in 5 years. It was actually pretty good. Don't let the reviews on the cover fool you. Also, I often expect cake, or at the very least punch & pie at any and all meetings I attend. I am often disappointed but refuse to lower my expectations for anyone.
6 - Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire
YES! What a fucking awesome book! Spartans are super sweet. It was extremely good and I would put it up there with Ender's Game as really really really important books to read if you are a military officer. After this I watched 300, which is about the same battle of Thermopylae, but based on a graphic novel instead of Gates of Fire. Thus, it was ok, decent even, but nothing compared to this book. Supposedly George Clooney's production company owns the rights to the Gates of Fire movie, so someday that might be something to look forward to.
7 - Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I think I have to thank Scott for this. I wouldn't know, because FB deleted my posts from like April to August including the one where everyone made recommendations. I'm more than halfway done and it's fine and nonsensical and I'm enjoying it.
I realize that's only 7ish books (I started the first one before I left) in 2 months and though not terrible I'm not sure I'll be able to get through every book I've got here but I'll make an effort and keep logging I guess. It was one of my goals to read and relax here. I'm finally, at 2 months trying to figure out how that works. School doesn't help, stalkers don't help, work doesn't help, but I get a little time each night for the most part and that's at least part of the reason this is my sandy vacation.