Harvey's Diary
6 June 2007 – Wednesday
Well, finals have begun and the campus has gone quiet. We have killed thousands of trees with all the printing going on in the library and the computer lab – ‘for free’ printing brings with it lots of waste, which is too bad but inevitable and for the moment not changeable here.
Past few days have been okay. On Sunday evening, Rena & Simon organized a dinner for Abby & Kurt – just them and Marjorie and me (plus baby Adam). We ate at the Burj al-Hammam which is right on the Gulf – good Lebanese food, great views, excellent company.
On Monday evening I participated in a conference call with Iraqi Library Group Advisory Committee members. Simmons was hosting the call, and as is wont to happen, I could not get through on the announced line – one can not use 800 numbers here – go figure. I finally got through – late – and was able to chat about our program this coming September. What continues to worry me is the still and ever-more-rapidly deteriorating situation in Iraq. Will anyone come in September? Is what we are doing making any sense, given the circumstances? We will of course keep moving forward, hopefully…
Later today Abby, Marjorie and I will trek off to the border area. Abby & Marjorie want to see this area as it fascinates us all – we’ll be careful, of course – those two women – tall, blonde, attractive – do stand out.
Small victories – got my tv in my apartment fixed – the man even came by, found the place and did his thing very efficiently – yeah!!
Tomorrow evening I am working from 5 – 8 pm. Two of our three part-timers are on leave, so I’ll relieve our third, Ms. Ajitha. After that, there is a dinner at the SAS/Radisson for those faculty that are departing. We are losing some good folks and they’ll be missed.
Well, will send this off now. Hope this diary entry finds you all well. The daily temperature on my patio at 6am is now regularly in the low 90s F. Temps in the sun are running around 105/110 – it is remarkable how easy one gets used to these temperatures.
Be well!