Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. - Cyril Connolly
Friday, May 05, 2006
Celebrate Good Times
There are few things more rewarding in life than celebrating the hard earned, well deserved, success of a good friend, over a bottle of champagne, at a nice restaurant, on a beautiful spring evening.
Lots of good conversation and "war stories" over dinner with some other State Dept. friends. I didn't know Iraq could be funny - but there are definitely some moments. It almost sounds like a script from M*A*S*H when they aren't being fired upon and trying to avoid IEDs. We urged him to write a book based on the last 2.5 years as the senior diplomat in Baghdad, but it may have to wait until Bush is out of office.
We had fun toasting and teasing Robert about the Senate Confirmation hearings last night. "What was the lamest question they asked you?", OK, Wow, Yeah, that's pretty lame - "was there a well informed question?" No, not really.
Once the Senate Committee confirms the nomination, it will be presented to the government of Algeria for approval, and then to the full Senate for confirmation. THEN - there will be a party!!
He leaves today at 4:00 PM and after being routed through Germany, Jordan and Kuwait, will arrive back in Baghdad sometime early Monday morning (like 3-4 AM their time). In 4 more weeks, they'll be back in Baltimore for the summer!!
