Is Christmas really almost here? Is 2009 almost over? Is this decade over?
Wow..
It really has been a great year for me what can I say. I wish I could say the same for this economy.
Anyways…
Angela has been working on a few more photo albums and she is doing a great job! I had a couple Logo development projects But really staying busy at the full time job.
Looking forward to some vacation time during the holidays.
--Basilios
The day? December 25, 2005.
The time? 12:00am to 2:00am.
The place? Ioannina, on the Northern board of Greece near Albania.
I am guarding on Christmas Eve. It is snowing lightly. Temperature is at -7 Celsius (about 19 degrees Fahrenheit). It is very quiet. The only thing you hear is the wind and the cows from beyond the fence moving around. I am moving back and forth trying to stay warm. I have to keep my eyes open for any unexpected midnight raid. I always thought it was funny that we ended up guarding for our superiors raiding from within the base rather than looking out for a raid from the other side of the fence.
At 1:00am I heard a noise near the fence. I stayed quiet to try to see or hear what or who it was. Just when I was about to yell “Halt” I see it….
It was the mad cow. For no particular reason the cow decided that on this time and on my watch it was going to raid and cross the barb wired fence…
“You got to be kidding me” I yelled at the other guard who was about 400 yards east of me on the other corner of the base. We started walking towards the cow but the cow wanted no part of it and started running away on the dirt road now inside the base.
It was time to make the call. We are supposed to report anything that happens before we even make a move… I went to the booth and called it in. I thought to my self… this should be fun.
I called the front office. A captain was on overnight duty that night and he was not a happy camper. Who would be? It was Christmas Eve.
I explained to the private on the phone the situation. Of course he thought it was a prank and refused to wake the captain. I called again and this time I was more convincing.
Captain on the phone now… I say: “Captain this is private Dimitrelias Basilios, NW corner guard number two. We have a situation. A mad cow has crossed the fence!”
Captain: "What do you mean a cow crossed the fence?"
“Sir… one of the cows outside the base has crossed over to our side and it refuses to go back.”
The captain paused for a couple seconds then used language that I am not going to repeat even though it was in Greek and then hung up the phone.
Ten minutes later the captain's jeep is coming up the road. I was a little worried of the captain's response, but I must admit I did giggle a little too as the cow started looking straight at the jeep lights. I was picturing the captain’s face when he saw the large beast in the middle of the road and realizing….”Holy Cow!...he was serious?”
They pulled up and unlocked the gate and then with the jeep blocking the one side of the road and me walking and yelling at the cow on the other side the cow had no other choice than to exit the base peacefully (later the next day it was reported that the cow did leave us a nice pile of souvenirs...)
The captain did not say a word. The jeep backed up and headed back.
The adrenaline was pumping and I was not cold anymore. My replacement was only 10 minutes away now and I knew that I would never forget this Christmas Eve… My Christmas in the Army.
The story of the cow had spread quickly the next morning and was the joke that would last for many years. Anytime a new guard is sent up to the NW corner of the base his sergeant would have one thing to say to him…
“Keep your eyes open for mad cows now newbie”
Did it really all just happen?
Well I am married! Still trying to make it sink in to my mind that it happened and it went by so fast. The wedding ceremony was wonderful. The ceremony fantastic! The honeymoon…amazing. It all happened so fast. Like a dream.
Returned from Jamaica Sunday night (July 19th). On Monday I had to go back to work. It was also Angela’s (my wife’s) birthday. We had a great time with family. It has simply been a crazy month that will definitely be unforgettable.
Now the goal is to get back to a routine. A plan. A program and a new way of living. Have to get used to having a dog! Ha-ha… I give the little fella a week to adjust… after that I am not sure what plan “B” is for him.
Busy busy at work. Our annual open house coming up Friday July 24th.
Also working on some web updates for Nancy’s Retreat 2009
Fifteen days until the big day. Wow…how time flies. The parents have been here for three weeks now. My brother and sister who have never been to America will be here in just four days!!! Planning is at its final stretch. We are almost done and that is very exciting. Looking forward to a vacation too.
Due to being so busy with the wedding it has been slow as far as freelance projects go, but staying very busy here at Hurco where I recently just had my two year anniversary. We are getting ready for our 9th Annual Technology Expo taking place here at our Indianapolis Headquarters on July 24th, 2009.
I you are interested in Machine Tools this is the place to be!
Exciting times!
The wedding is only 46 days away. The parents will be here in just 8! Amazing. We have lots of plans already. Looking forward to some vacation from work and spending some time with the parents whom I don’t get to see all that often considering that they live 5,862 miles away.
Angela is on a mission to have everything completed before schedule and so far see is cruising. She is truly and Angel. Yes she can drive me crazy some times but hey… who doesn’t?
I know this picture is so random but it is sort of an inside thing… “BOOFOOS” a type of owl in Greek.. but on my island…in means Smarty pants.. J
Back to work!
For the past two years I have had the opportunity to do some freelance Graphic Design and Web Work for Richmarc Productions, a production company here in Indianapolis.
Rick Thompson who is an award winning director and producer with an enormous amount of experience in his field was kind enough to present to me several freelance projects including the Richmarc website.
