Recently, a co-worker and I were taking a train trip together, to some place, where is not important. We do now really know one another very well, and frankly, I was worried that we would have nothing to talk about while on the long trip. However, after an hour of awkward conversation, stopping and starting in fits and starts, we both realized that we had something in common. Each of us had someone in our lives who we destest, reviled and both of our lives would be better if the people in question just…disappeared.
As will naturally happen in such situations, our conversation turned to murder, to homicide. Surely, said my co-worker, we could not just off the people, as everyone knows that we detest them. Each of us has a motive, and would be instantly suspected by the police. Then, I hit upon a idea: we would each do the other’s murder. We would trip up the police because we wouldn’t be killing the person we detested. No, we would be killing a complete stranger. Criss cross, you see, criss cross. A brilliant plan, the perfect murders! Who would suspect, who could prove our foil? Genius!
Oh, wait, the phone is ringing, be right back…
Stupid Avon ladies. They are rife in this country. Now, where was I? Hmmm, let me just read back through this for a moment.
Uhm, wait, this isn’t the story I meant to tell, not at all. Ha, ha, uh yeah, anyway, I meant to tell the story of another criss cross here, so let me just switch topics. This criss cross is actually a switch in jobs. I will attempt to be brief:
Keith was called into the office of his boss, and told that over the next three months, he would be traveling quite a bit. This was news to Keith, and was certainly news to his wife, who accompanied him out here to Belgium. He wasn’t too happy about it. I, on the other hand, would, if not exactly welcome the opportunity, well, it would force me out of Mons to see Europe. So, I had a proposal for him: let’s switch jobs. You take mine, which requires hardly any travel, and I will take yours. He was amenable, and so we approached our NATO project manager with the idea, and he thought it might be a good idea.
So, the upshot of all of this is that, starting in March, I will be doing some traveling around Europe: Lisbon, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, etc. Over the next three months or so, I figure to see at least a little bit of Europe. As soon as I know it, I will post my itinerary here. If you want anything from the places I will be visiting, leave a comment and I will ship it to you.
4 Comments
February 25, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Dude, Crater just reinforced the compound!
February 26, 2008 at 6:08 am
Well hello there Arek
I am super tired at this moment, and slightly buzzed, but I wanted to let you know that I am still here and I am enjoying your blog. Love the new format and LOVE your words. You are extremely talented with the English language. Your descriptions, your humor, self deprecation, your take on life in Brussels is most entertaining.
I miss talking to you. I am going to bed now, but I will be working from home tomorrow s0 p’raps we can hook up and chat. I will leave myself on yahoo im.
Kay?
till then, goodnight.
February 26, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Who’s this Jennifer girl?!??!?!?!?!?
From Arek:
Whoever she is, she has good taste in bloggers, I think.
February 27, 2008 at 1:14 am
Well now, in my confused state, I was forgetting that my comment would be viewed by any and all. Silly me thinking it would only be seen by you. It is a very good thing I did not bring up that other criss cross adventure you once had. The one with the turtle, the carpet and the gay fortune teller. Lord, that would have been embarrassing wouldn’t it? No worries though, mums the word. Lips are sealed and all of that.