Vodkapundit - Not Much Of Interest

Not Much Of Interest

Posted by Stephen Green · 31 July 2002

My father-in-law-to-be arrived home from Saudi on Friday, and this is only the third time he's been here since I fell head-over-heels-goofy-in-love with his only daughter.

Needless to say, I've been spending a lot of time over at the Davis Homestead, playing Get To Know You with Pop. It's only fair, after all.

Anyway, there is a small political point to make along with all the pre-marital bliss. It's just going to take me a little setting up to get to the politics, so keep reading.

Dick (Colonel Davis (Ret.) to you) spent the last nine years running a major Saudi Air Force base. I won't go into much more detail, but it's the only base in the southwest where they fly the F-15S. People in the know now know where and who I'm talking about.

While Dick was there, he made good friends and a fine scuba dive buddy with a certain Prince Khalid of the House of Saud. Technically, "Colin" was Dick's boss (I think), but they had a lot of fun together.

But friendship only goes so far -- Dick won't be going back. He told us over dinner and drinks this weekend that he's finished working for the Saudis. He didn't go into any particulars, other than that he'd like to spend more time with his family, and maybe get a chance to learn what all his children look like now.

Dick and I had a conversation this evening, and the important bit went like this:

Me: I never mentioned this to Melissa or Paula (that's Mrs. Colonel (Ret.) Davis), but I'm glad you're not going back to Saudi. The more I read, the more convinced I am that the whole country could fall apart. And maybe soon.
Him: Yeah, I know. Even Colin says things are that bad.

There you have it. A Saudi prince, a semi-bigwig in their own Air Force, is not-so-metaphorically keeping his private jet fueled and ready for takeoff to Switzerland.

You read it here first, kids.

NOTE: Remember, it's only journalism when committed by a journalist.

ANOTHER NOTE: You don't pay me enough for to keep me from burying the lede, so deal with it.

THIRD AND FINAL NOTE: In less than 72 hours, I'll be married to the woman beyond my dreams.

AW HELL JUST ONE MORE NOTE: James Lileks is not only a fine writer, he's also one helluva guy. Thanks, Lileks.

Comments

Lileks: Nobody does it better. He must be the only writer in America to know and use the plural "hiatii." Pure gold. And congrats and a long and happy life to Mr. and Mrs. Vodkapundit,

Posted by: Frankie Five Angels at August 1, 2002 03:48 AM

Best wishes to you and the soon to be Mrs. VP.

You ARE going to keep blogging during the honeymoon, yes?

Be a mensch. There are people out there depending on you.

Posted by: Carey Gage at August 1, 2002 04:32 AM

Best wishes to you and Melissa! Every happiness to you two.

*sobs into handkerchief* Don't mind me, I always cry at weddings.

Posted by: Dave at August 1, 2002 04:40 AM

Enjoy the former "Swept Away" resort.

Posted by: philw at August 1, 2002 07:45 AM

Congratulations! I hope you have a great wedding and a wonderful honeymoon, and I'll look forward to you returning tanned, rested, and ready. Well, tan and ready anyway...

Posted by: Doug Turnbull at August 1, 2002 07:47 AM

Mazeltov and Congratulations to you both!
(Will this be the blogosphere's first blogged wedding? Shirley not!)
May you and she have many happy years together and love each other at the end even more than you do now!

Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro at August 1, 2002 11:02 AM

Even while Stephen is preparing for his wedding, he is still giving us scoops. I'm impressed.

As for the wedding, you know my feelings: Best wishes and Mazel Tov Stephen. I'll have something nice and poetic about the wedding on my blog either today or tomorrow--I want to make Stephen cry. Besides, why should Lileks be the only one who pays tribute? ;-)

Posted by: Pejman Yousefzadeh at August 1, 2002 12:09 PM

Congratulations, man!

Posted by: Jim Treacher at August 1, 2002 12:52 PM

L'Acheim and Mazel Tov !!

Hope you two will beat MommaBear and PoppaBear's 41 years and counting!

Posted by: MommaBear at August 1, 2002 12:53 PM

All the best to you and the soon-to-be Mrs!

Posted by: Dean de Freitas at August 1, 2002 01:38 PM

Ditto on the Mazel Tov!!! Smash a glass, get dizzy on the chair, have some Slivovitz with Uncle Mosheleh and have many, many happy years together!!!

OK. Well, at the very least the last one if the first few aren't in the program :-)

Posted by: Jason Rubenstein at August 1, 2002 02:16 PM

A TIP FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE (just for you, Steven).

One day, your wife may well get pregnant. Once that happens, she will always be more tired than you. Forever. Period. End of discussion. Do not proceed past this point. Drink heavily.

Oh, and be sure to get one photo where the entire wedding is wearing Groucho glasses. Mine has sat proudly on the sideboard for many years. Congratulations both.

Posted by: Paul Wright at August 1, 2002 02:30 PM

And enjoy that scuba vacation/honeymoon as well.. congratulations..

any cold feet :-) hehehehh

Posted by: Suman Palit at August 1, 2002 02:31 PM

Enjoy it, Stephen & Melissa. Have a great time.

Posted by: Andrew Olmsted at August 1, 2002 07:57 PM

Congrats, and as I always say at weddings: Better you than me!

Posted by: Cybrludite at August 1, 2002 11:36 PM

Congratulations, pal. Every blogger wishes you the best.

Now, be sure to name at least one kid after me, okay?

Posted by: Damian Penny at August 2, 2002 11:04 AM

I lived in Al Kobar Saudi Arabia back in 81-83, and the ex-pat community was talking about the up-coming revolution even back then. And this was back when King Fathead, er.. Fahad was still nominally in charge. Now the old drunk is too booze addled to even claim that. As they say in that part of the world 'Inshallah'

Posted by: Neil Eden at August 5, 2002 07:30 AM