Hey Velveeta, all:
First, apologies for disappearing. 2009 started really badly for me, my mother died unexpectedly and that threw me for a loop for much of the year.. not an excuse per se but hopefully people can understand.
Things have been good recently. I got a new job at work and am doing heavy research on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. I am expecting to have a co-authored piece published in the NYT this Sunday on the subject, so be on the lookout!
I am in Florida with my dad for the holidays, but will try to check back in from time to time. Trust me, you all have been on my mind when things have come up recently. I have just been scared to make my return after running off.
All the best and hope everyone has a happy new year.
Ian
A very Happy New Year to you & yours, and I hope that the past couple years have been really great for you!
My condolences to you on the death of your mother, that is a really hard adjustment to make.
She would be so proud of how your career is progressing, YOU are a tribute to her memory.
Please have a safe New Years Eve.
We are calling up our local Barnes & Noble to find out WHEN their Sunday NY Times will arrive, LOL.
Thank you for posting..... AND... if you happen to know ANYTHING about Iran, please don't be bashful in "sharing," so help me this apparent total press blackout reminds me of the day before we invaded Iraq, it just feels so eerie.
It’s so nice to see you back here. You have been missed!
I’m sorry for your loss - unexpected can definitely throw you for a loop.
I hope 2010 will be a great year and safe year for all of us.
Somehow I have this nagging fear it may not be for certain parts of the country.
Oh, Ian. I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I lost my mother last year, too. It hurts.
Welcome home. You’ve been missed. Don’t ever be afraid to make an appearance here. We are your friends. Lots of support here for the old timers......and the new ones.
Please ping us to your NYT times piece. I’ll swallow my pride and read it. I usually ignore the NYT, but for you, I’ll read it. Congrats.
Please keep in touch.
Ian Oh Ian! I’m so sorry about your mother Ian. I stopped celebrating NYE because my mom passed 20 minutes before midnite. 12 years later I still can’t cope. I go under the covers before 11pm
PLEASE post your article link here honey. We are so proud of you. We watched you grow up here and accomplish SO MUCH!
This is ALWAYS your home Ian! We all disappear for various reasons. No one is mad when we come back just glad!
You still with Brookings? In DC?
Well I didn’t miss you a bit having just come on board this week...so Hello! Cw here...and what a great place to be kept abreast of things as they develope.
There will also be times I will not be as active on this site as I am now...hopefully people here understand that life gets in the way of our best intentions...Freepers above all else understand this I think.
So Hello again, looking forward to seeing your posts as you jump in and out! Life can make one feel like a ping-pong ball..so we bounce do we not?
Hope this year will be better for you, Ian.
You were missed.
Congratulations on the job and will look forward to seeing your published work.
Ian!!!
{insert happy dance here}
I’m so glad you’re back and my deepest sympathies on the loss of your mother. We’re all here for you and so proud of you.
Congrats on the NY Times, I can’t wait to read it!
All things are for the glory of our Lord.
She's in a much better place.
Hang in there Ian. Prayers headed your way.
AD