okansas.blogspot.com
Occassional thoughts about orienteering


Tuesday, March 26, 2002

Getting nervous

 

The Prime Minister of Namibia and I attended the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) conference in Phoenix. I had to keep myself out of trouble. But, the PM had security.

Everywhere the PM went, you'd see a group of guys in suits with little wires coming out of their ears. I took these guys to be secret service agents.

I spent a few minutes watching the security and wondering what they look for. Obviously they must be looking for any violent attack. But, I suppose they also look for anyone acting nervous.

Was I acting nervous? Yes. I realized, as I was watching, that I was fidgeting, looking around, twirling a pen and frequently glancing at my watch.

I wondered if they noticed me. Then I wondered what would happen if I tried to act even more nervous. How nervous could I get before they'd do something?

For all I know, my nervous behaviour put these trained secret service-types on alert. Maybe their ear pieces were buzzing -- "white male, green blazer, chair near the hotel door is acting nervous; keep an eye on him."

I wasn't just acting nervous. I was nervous.

But, I wasn't nervous because I was planning to take out the PM. I was nervous because I had just a couple of hours left before I had to make a presentation.

Making a presentation before a bunch of people is not my idea of fun. (Though now that the presentation is over, I think it went ok.)

Sometimes I like being nervous. It is fun to stand at the starting line of a World Champs -- feeling nervous, but also realizing this is what you really want to do.

Presenting a paper to ASPA is not as fun as running at World Champs.

posted by Michael | 6:48 PM

0 comments


Comments: Post a Comment
March 2002April 2002May 2002June 2002July 2002August 2002September 2002October 2002November 2002December 2002January 2003February 2003March 2003April 2003May 2003June 2003July 2003August 2003September 2003October 2003November 2003December 2003January 2004February 2004March 2004April 2004May 2004June 2004July 2004August 2004September 2004October 2004November 2004December 2004January 2005February 2005March 2005April 2005May 2005June 2005July 2005August 2005September 2005October 2005November 2005December 2005January 2006February 2006March 2006April 2006May 2006June 2006July 2006August 2006September 2006October 2006November 2006December 2006January 2007February 2007March 2007April 2007May 2007June 2007July 2007August 2007September 2007October 2007November 2007December 2007January 2008February 2008March 2008April 2008May 2008June 2008July 2008August 2008September 2008October 2008November 2008December 2008January 2009February 2009March 2009April 2009May 2009June 2009July 2009August 2009September 2009October 2009November 2009December 2009January 2010February 2010March 2010April 2010May 2010June 2010July 2010August 2010September 2010October 2010November 2010December 2010January 2011February 2011March 2011April 2011May 2011June 2011July 2011August 2011September 2011October 2011November 2011December 2011January 2012February 2012March 2012April 2012May 2012June 2012July 2012August 2012September 2012October 2012November 2012December 2012January 2013March 2013April 2013May 2013July 2013September 2013
archives
links