Search This Blog

Monday, February 6, 2012

Go Giants!

I was thrilled to hear that the Giants won the Super Bowl.  Go Eli!

I didn't figure out how to record the game, so I didn't see it, but I did see the commercials online.  My favorites - the man and dog coming to an agreement about the missing cat and the Clint Eastwood one about Detroit.

Side note - Downloading them to watch was spotty, so I increased my download speed.  Many things are inexpensive here.  Internet service is not one of them.  It's vital to me, so I'll willing to bite the bullet and pay top dirham for it.

Shifting gears.

It's late.  I should be in bed, but I just got home from a hospital visit.  My principal's mother has had a reoccurrence of cancer, and recently hospitalized.  This was a first time experience in a "real" hospital.  Oasis Hospital is more of a clinic, although they do perform surgeries.

At any rate, she was in a VIP Suite.  Huge room with two adjoining rooms for guests.  Nannies were present taking care of the babies and small children.  I'm not sure if her accommodations were her family's decision or if it was because she's a national.  I think it's the later.

My principal shared with me that her mother will see a specialist in Singapore, and everything about that trip will be paid for by the government, including the cost of two escorts going with her and their housing while they're there.

Side note 2 - Yes.  The pressure is on to find an Emirati to marry.  If for no other reason, to get the benefits.  Remember, his being able to have up to four wives is OK with me.  After living alone for so long, who wants a full-time man anyway? That's what I was thinking about during my visit.  I know.  I know.  Lord, I apologize.

If I can, I try to visit folks in the hospital.  I remember when Mom was hospitalized in Texas for the last six months of her life, my brothers and I were so grateful for friends and neighbors who stopped by to see her.  We were all thousands of miles away, and couldn't get home as often as we would have liked.  Even when we did make it, we had to rush back to work and other obligations.  So we depended on others to keep her company.

When Ben was hospitalized on and off for two years, folks visited.  Again, I was grateful for those who were able to drop by, some traveling all the way to from California to Texas to see him.

I know visiting sick/ailing folks is hard for some folks who might not know what to say, but most times you don't have to say anything.  Just your presence is more comforting than you'll ever know.

Shifting gears . . . again.

OK.  Forgive me Ben, I just have to mention the camels again.

I saw at least a hundred today and about thirty of them were wearing red blankets. The sight was majestic. Further down the road another herd was wearing the same blankets, too, but they were not as eye-catching as the ones in red.

Earlier, Ben asked if these camels have one hump or two.  They have one.

Interestingly, Peter (my GPS), has me going to work through town at dawn, but has me returning home through the mountains.  I know I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating.  When you're driving on this road, it looks like you're driving directly into the heart of the mountain, and just when you think you're going to hit rock, you veer right and you're driving through it.  Amazing views!

I don't have the vocabulary to describe just how breathtakingly beautiful this is.

I shared with my brother, Forrest recently, that it's good it doesn't rain much here because the surface of the mountain has lots of loose rocks and is really sandy in some places.  If it rained, there would be a mud slide of enormous proportions.

Side note 3 - Headed back to Abu Dhabi tomorrow for a three hour meeting.  Last time I was with these folks, it took them forty-five minutes just to introduce each other.  So, I'm not expecting much to happen.  I'm hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised.

More soon.






No comments:

Post a Comment