It’s been quite a while since last visited. We only have about 8 months left in Ankara, then it’s home for about 6 weeks. Afterwards, we head off to our next Post, Sao Paulo, Brazil. I am thinking it will be our best post so far; and since it will be the last post before I hit retirement age, it may be our last.  In three years, we will look and see if we want to continue if possible.

I was thinking about that, and I feel like I’ve worked pretty hard all my life. Worked in extreme cold, -12 in Moscow, and extreme heat, 130+ in the sunlight in Afghanistan. I have dug my share of ditches and got very dirty. Almost passed out once while working on top of a furnace. Got to the bottom of the ladder just as everything faded away. Luckily there was dirt there. Once fell off an overhead crane while feeding cable. In a heartbeat, the cable shifted and swept my feet from under me. Luckily I had a safety belt on and ended up swinging over a guy who was busy eating lunch. “Hey fella, do you mind going out there and tell those guys to stop?” It took him a few seconds to digest what had happened.

Once I was under a house swinging a 12-pound sledge hammer into the concrete foundation. I was working on my side and stopped and rolled over on my back to rest. A moment later, a little gray mouse walked across my chest and then off on its merry little way. Caused me to chuckle a bit, then I continued banging away.

One time, my boss sent me under a house for something. I crawled a few feet in, and came face to snout with a cat that had seen better days. Holding the light on its face it froze as did I. From outside my boss yelled, “see anything yet?” I said, Yeah! Then I grabbed the cat by the head and slung it out the crawl hole. It squalled and clawed as it ran away, while my boss started yelling things I will not print here.

I worked as a Maytag repairman. I had a good-natured black man working with me. Jerry Johnson. One time we delivered a washing machine to a house over on Lea Street. They said the garage door would be opened. Sure enough, we backed up and installed it. As we started to leave, the little guy in the back of my mind said, Are you sure you are on the right street? I said sure, I’ll show you. Went out and looked at the street sign, and realized to my horror we were on Lynn Street. I remember Jerry said some very bad words, but we changed out the washing machine in record breaking time and headed to Lea street.

While working as a roustabout in the gas fields, I had to work with a couple of hippies whose minds were blown. One was Bobby Potter. They lived together and every morning I had to pick them up. At least half the time I had to get out of the truck and bang on the door to get them up. Every time they seemed to have different girls with them. Most were not very attractive. That is enough to make you not want to use drugs.

In my job, I actually have the title of Diplomat in most countries. Others, I am considered in the Maintenance Corps (CM). Before I had to be a diplomat, I learned the skills to be one by working for a couple of crazy ranchers that had more money than common sense. It was a Father/Son duo. They argued about some of the silliest things and each one would try to drag me into it. I had to cautiously avoid taking sides, as most of the time, I felt both were wrong. But I kept it to myself.

All my years of manual labor, I suffered mild back pain. It wasn’t until I was in Afghanistan and got a desk job, did the pain go away. I didn’t realize it, but I was overworking my back. Since then, I acquired a few hernias because although I knew how to protect my back, never thought about protecting my innards. Now I know. I let the younger people do the heavy work. I learned to watch and tell them what to do. Only problem is, they don’t want to do that type of work, because it’s not like playing video games.

Sao Paulo will be good. It is a post where I am the only one in the shop, so basically I am my own boss. It will be warm and humid and I feel very good about that, and across the street is the British Pub. So, my last job may be my most comfortable. I hate the idea of retiring, because I will sit around and eat, drink and smoke. So, I will get fat and die within a year. Not really what I want to do.

We will miss Turkey. Some of the finest people are there. Their sense of humor is rich, and they truly want you to be happy. Job-wise it is very busy. The location really warrants two STS’s (what I am), yet there is a shortage of us. And something that I didn’t realize until I sat and thought about the way I feel, I will miss working at a location that is thick in the middle of World affairs. I actually like working in critical threat locations, whereas the dangerous part of Brazil is the crime. Carry no credit cards and only a little cash. But we will make the best of everything like we always do.

I have several books that I need to complete the hated book reports on, so they will be quick with short summaries. Maybe get that in a few days.

Until I return, keep kicking butt. D.

At the lounge in Istanbul, I met a shy little girl named Lula. I politely asked her master if I could visit with her and he gladly obliged. While I was petting her, I pulled back some of her white hair hanging over her face so she could see me, but then realized she only had one eye. One very large eye. Her master said she lost the other one in a fight with a cat. She was very quiet and obedient, and waited patiently and a little apprehensively while her master stepped out for a quick smoke. Below is a picture of the little beauty.

On the way to work in the mornings, we like to stop at a Starbucks on the Bosphorus and have coffee. This particular Starbucks has four levels to sit out and view the water and passing boats. Very comfortable.

We stopped on the way to Istanbul and had lunch.  Even before ordering our food, this is what was brought out for us.  The little bucket is yogurt.  Eating that is what makes you immune from the bacteria you will pick up in the country.

Here are a few pics taken at night from the hotel in Istanbul …

… followed with the sunrise.

I will sincerely miss this incredible country as well as those who live here.  But as with every country we go to, they will reveal their beauty and its people will share their love.  … and we will welcome it all like a refreshing drink of water on the desert.

Keep kicking butt.  D.

It’s been very busy since we got behind during the holidays, so now a bit of catching up.

One of the Guard Supervisors at the Embassy is a good friend of ours and invited us to dinner the day after New Years.  He had been bragging about his wife’s cooking, so I called him up on it.  His name is Burack and his lovely wife is Funda.  I mentioned Burack before with his southern English he has mastered.  He learned it many years ago working on construction sites with Contractors from Louisiana and Texas.  Sometimes when he talks to me, he will stand with his feet slightly apart and his hand on his over-sized belt buckle.  So, below are pics of the incredible food we ate!  The fist one is a “bread crusty” thing full of rice. (don’t know how else to describe it.)

Then all the rest!

Below is Burack and Funda, then me and the little one.

Along with me and Terese, there was another guard from the Embassy and a gentleman who works in the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

We finished the evening off with chestnuts.

That next day, Sunday, I headed to Adana for a week.  On the way, we pass by an inert volcano which happen to have a beautiful cloud formation on it.  Then is a picture of the city from my hotel window.

One day last week, I headed further east to another city to do a little bit of work and had to take a few pics of the food we ate at lunch.  That particular city is well known for its food and I have to agree.

The picture below is a kind of a salad soup.  I never would have thought it was any good, but with just the right amount of spices, it was amazing!

Okay.  Heading off to Istanbul tomorrow.  Kick butt.  D.

Me and the damn cat had an interesting one-sided conversation.  Click here to get to it.

In our travels we see incredible countries that are historical and welcoming; yet people are what makes this World great.  Without people, the World may be beautiful but boring.

So, let’s talk about a few of them.  These are the good people who come to our office twice a week to clean.

Nadjia – During the Halloween celebrations at the Embassy, she posed near some of the decorations so a friend could photograph her.  So, I pulled my phone out to take some also.  The one below is her with Camal.  Then with her and Yousef.  These images  perfectly portray her innocence and love of Life.  Only a very few times have I seen her quiet, which was usually because she was tired or feeling ill.  She works 5 days a week at the Embassy, and the weekends cleaning other places, plus finding time going to school to learn English.  If you ask me, she is more a success than a great many people in the States.  Even among some of the arrogant American Foreign Service officers.

As I told you before how she learned the term, “See you later, alligator.”  Followed with her learning the response, “After while, crocodile.”  Recently, she learned to say, “Okey Dokey.”  Except her rendition is “Oinky Doinky.”

Camal – Camal is quiet and friendly, yet I see where Nadjia irritates him at times, because she is so light-hearted while he is serious.  She sings while she works and he mutters to her in Turkish.  She just smiles and continues singing.  Once Camal noticed I had cigars in a box on my desk, he asked for a couple for him and his friends.  I obliged.  The next Monday, he told me they were too strong and he didn’t want anymore.  But I still offer to him at times.

Yousef – As Camal moved on to other cleaning jobs, Yousef took his place.  Very quiet and extremely polite.  He always smiles at me and I greet him whenever I see him.  “Günaydın, Yousef Bey.” (Good Morning, Yousef, Sir.)

One of finest Turkish men I have met, is Fekrit Calim.  He is the father of one of our Turkish Technicians, Aydin.  Often when we go to Istanbul or Adana to work, he will come with us as they have relatives all over.  He is one of those people who you want to stand when they arrive. He’s only 11 years older than me, but I show him the respect that is given for the revered elderly.  Below is him sitting with Aydin.

I gave him the excuse of my mother being 900 years old and loves the pictures I send.  He was delighted to oblige.  The man speaks excellent English.  Started learning it as a kid while  working with the Intelligence agencies, cleaning their barracks.  He has a good assortment of stories to tell.

About a month ago, one of the cats on the Embassy grounds scratch a kid, thus prompting calls for their ouster. (cats, not the kids)  Most likely, the kid had it coming, because the cats maybe a little leery of us, but they are non-threatening.  Below is a image I thought was worth posting.  Management said to quit feeding the feral cats.  As a friend said, they obviously do not know the meaning of feral.

Terese went with me to work on the G20 Summit down in Antalya and on the way back, we decided to stop and purchase some potatoes and onions from one of the many roadside vendors.  We purchase a bag each for a total of 30 TL, which is about $10.50.  Split it up and gave some to Serkan and Allison.

Okay.  Times up.  But currently, I am having an interesting conversation with the Damn Cat and hope to share it soon.  Until then, kick butt.  D.

Last night two events took place that required my attendance. Savas Uyar, one of my Turkish security techs married a pretty Ukrainian girl, named Vita; and at the same time the 2015 Marine Ball was commencing. So, I attended the wedding first, which as with all Turkish weddings, is a simple process. The bride and groom enter the Nikay Salonu, (Wedding Hall) and sit at an elaborate table with the female facilitator and the two witnesses.  The facilitator speaks a few minutes to the audience, causing a bit of laughter, so I laugh along with them not knowing what was said. Then she asks the bride something who responds, Evete (yes). Then realizing she needed to speak louder, Vita leaned into the microphone and again, with a little more voice, Evete!

Then it was Savas’ turn. The facilitator asked him something and he leaned toward the mike and stated, very loudly, EVETE!! And everyone erupts in applause! At this point, the Facilitator has Savas and Vita sign a large book, and then passes it on to the witnesses to sign. Afterwards, the facilitator turns to Vita and tells her something unusual to an American wedding. I was sitting next to a very interesting gentleman I have met several times, who speaks incredibly good English. He leaned over to me and said, the facilitator told Vita, that her last name has been changed and she is now Vita Uyar.

This was the second Turkish wedding I have attended and found it interesting that during the whole process, from entrance to the concluding processional, there are several people moving about taking pictures, even close-ups, sometimes just a foot away from the couple.

After the ceremony, the couple stands outside the chapel and the hand-shaking and congratulations take place. This is followed by cake, singing, dancing and yes, drinking.   … and all is right with the world!