On the Road Again

I was on the road again, traveling back to Al Ain, where I go once a month to I get my hair colored (vanity thy name is Faye), pick up packages, etc.

It reminds me of living in the country, and every now and then getting the chance to go into town.  It was a big deal then, and it's still a big deal now.

The amazing thing to me, is the traffic, both automobile and people, that seemed so much faster and so much more than I remember.  Maybe it's just my life here has slowed down so much.

Someone asked me what I do here in Al Sila (alternately spelled Al Sela'a, Al Sila'a, Al Selaa; there's no consistency in the spelling, even on official documents) for fun.  I responded that I do the same thing here, that I did in Al Ain, and in Sacramento . . . I surf the net reading current events.  If you're not mindful, you can easily loose track of what is happening outside your immediate world.  I read books and magazines, and every now and then, watch television, usually something from Hulu or Netflix.

Side note - it's been a minute since I last posted.  Work has been crazy busy, in a good way.  I'm discovering talents I didn't know I have.

Speaking of work, I headed out in a bit, so in closing . . .

Good night to you.

Good morning to me.

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

Notice the "chair" this lady is sitting on.  Somebody, somewhere thought this was a good idea.

We've come a long way, but we still have so much more to do.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/20/dasha-zhukova-black-woman-chair-buro-247-editorial_n_4633544.html

A Beautiful Black Ballerina

Her name is Misty Copeland, and she is a soloist in the American Ballet Theater Company in New York City.  At 25 years old, she is paving the way for others to follow in her elegant footsteps.  She is featured on this clip from the Today show.

Enjoy!

http://theroottv.theroot.com/video/MISTY-COPELAND-31-DANCING-QUEEN

What You Missed in Sex Ed

The most straight forward sex talk . . . ever.

Where was this guy when I was growing up or raising kids?

http://www.upworthy.com/a-20-something-guy-goes-on-and-on-about-sex-for-6-minutes-nails-it?c=upw1

Gems

From the Daily Skimm.

I especially like the next to the last one.

http://theskimm.com/2014/01/15/skimm-for-january-16th-2/?utm_source=Daily+Skimm&utm_campaign=7c1f71d946-daily_skimm&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_74efee6205-7c1f71d946-24014177

Not Welcome

This article in the New York Times today caught my eye.

It's about a group of senior citizens who go to McDonald's each day for coffee and company, but they're no longer welcome because they tend to stay all day.

There were a couple of rotating characters who used to park at my local Starbucks in Sacramento, and they stayed for hours, no problem.

This McDonald's has put up signs stating patrons have 20 minutes to eat and go.

They call the police regularly to escort the senior citizens out.  They shuffle out with their walkers and canes.

Where is the dignity?

There has to be a better way to handle this.

What would you do?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/nyregion/fighting-a-mcdonalds-for-the-right-to-sit-and-sit-and-sit.html?_r=0

I'm Impressed

You?

http://www.snowaddiction.org/2013/11/you-will-not-believe-how-these-russians-get-this-car-out-of-a-frozen-lake.html

Yum Yum!

Cajun / Creole Restaurant opens in Dubai.

http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/food/cravin-cajun-american-southern-cajun-and-creole-soul-food-comes-east-to-the-uae?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=%5b%5bADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.ADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.LATEST_NEWS_SUBJECT%3a%3a%7b1%7d%3f%3fThe+National+Newsletter%5d%5d

Cool Bookshelves

If given a choice, I would choose a "real" book over a Kindle book any day, but every pound (or kilogram) of weight (when moving), is a pound of cash.  So, I'm grateful to be able to enjoy electronic books without worrying about dealing with them later.

But with real books, you can do this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/13/incredible-bookcases-photos_n_4588105.html

Amazingly creative, right?

An Ex-Pat's View . . .

From an Athletic Perspective.

Love his attitude.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/13/sports/basketball/the-basketball-players-guide-to-the-european-galaxy.html

Another Powerful Message

Please watch this and pass it on.

It's three minutes.

The issue of domestic violence is more prevalent than we realize.  These folks are suffering in silence, hoping that things will get better.  They rarely do.

http://www.upworthy.com/her-husbands-abuse-once-kept-her-behind-closed-doors-now-shes-speaking-out-loud-and-clear-10?c=fea 

It's All Relative

Frankie reminded me that the way we see things depends on the lens we're viewing it from.

It was a high of four (yes, 4!) degrees in New York City yesterday, with ice, and strong, blowing winds which made it feel a whole lot colder.

Suddenly, the sand storm that I wrote about didn't seem so bad.

It's all relative.

Thanks for the reminder Frankie.

A Blustery Day

I sleep like a rock, but the sound of strong, forceful winds woke me up at 2:30 this morning.  I thought it was raining, too, but when I left for work later this morning, I realized it was just the wind.

It was a mighty, strong, cold, unrelenting wind.

I was reminded of Winnie the Pooh and his blustery day.

The blowing sand feels like table salt blowing through an industrial size fan.  It stings.  And if you're in it long enough, it hurts.  It feels like you're being buffed with a loofah sponge at the very least, and with sandpaper when it's really bad.

No matter how well made structures are, (homes, offices, etc.), the fine, powdery sand finds its way into every building and onto every surface.  And on a day like this, there will be "puddles" of sand all over the place, inside buildings.

In my office, I have a kettle for boiling water, along with some cups for making coffee, that sit under a well-sealed window.  Everything is always covered in sand, but today it was especially so.  Try as I might, I couldn’t get it all out without a vacuum, so my coffee was gritty, like when coffee grinds seep through or like Turkish coffee, which is the closest thing to gritty motor oil that you’ll ever drink.

The sidewalks are made out of marble and are very slippery with the layers of sand.  I’ve given up on trying to look cute with fancy high-heeled shoes. My footwear is, first and foremost, practical.

It’s funny how things work out.

I’ve never liked sand.  I have sweaty feet and the sand would always stick to them.  It took like three showers to be sand-free after a walk on the beach.

Now look at me.

On any given day, I’m knee-deep in sand.

I have a practical understanding of the term “quicksand.”   It’s no joke when you step and solid ground is elusive.  You just keep going down and down, deeper and deeper.

I feel bad for the folks who wear contacts.  They must really suffer in these blustery conditions.

This is when you can see where the head scarves that both the men and women wear, really are multifunctional.  They are big enough to cover their heads and to wrap across their faces, or, in wind like today, to completely cover their faces, to protect themselves from these harsh conditions.

I keep a shayla – the name for the scarf that the women wear – in my car.  The winds can turn on a dime.  One minute you’re experiencing a nice sunny day with calm winds, and the next moment, you’re in a sand storm.  They’re really unpredictable. Of maybe they’re just unpredictable to ex-pats.  I’m guessing the old timers who grew up in the desert, can see the storms coming.  They know what to look for.

Anyway.

I'm home now, and the wind is still howling and blowing like crazy.

This is a slice of my world today.

More soon.

When in Rome . . .

Maxwell, Will Smith, and Tyrese were recently in Dubai looking pretty authentic.

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/film/will-smith-tyrese-and-maxwell-celebrate-in-dubai?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=%5b%5bADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.ADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.LATEST_NEWS_SUBJECT%3a%3a%7b1%7d%3f%3fThe+National+Newsletter%5d%5d

What a Great Idea!

Check out this video below of a woman who took a picture a day of things she was grateful for.

http://www.upworthy.com/you-take-zillions-of-photos-with-your-cellphone-why-not-try-something-new-with-them?c=upw1

What a great idea that makes us conscience of finding the good thing in our world everyday.

What do you think?

I say . . .

Let's do it!

Faye's New Year Playlist

I spent a lot of time in my car today, listening to music.  I've shared some of my favorite tunes.

"A Beautiful Day" by India. Arie.  Helps you to appreciate what the new day/year brings.

"The Only Thing Missing is You" by Aretha Franklin.  She is in a class all her own.

"When I First Saw You" by Jamie Foxx/Beyonce (Dreamgirls Soundtrack).  This guy is one talented dude.

"Another Day" by Jamie Lidell.  This was my go to song as I was riding through the neighbor on my tricycle.

"Jesus is Lord" by Lionel Richie.  He takes you to church with this one.

"C'est Si Bon" by Eartha Kitt (Something's Gotta Give Soundtrack).  Homage to my recent travels.

"Twistin' the Night Away" by Sam Cooke.  You gotta move when this is playing.

"You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened" by Gladys Knight.  Like Aretha, Gladys is one of a kind.

"You've Got a Friend" by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack.  I think this song was written by James Taylor.  Donny and Roberta do an amazing job on it.

"Home" by Marc Broussard.  I love this kid.  Check out the video for this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuWPseegaKw

"Some Bridges Need Burning"  by Keisa Brown.  Forrest introduced me to this lady. This song definitely rings true.

OK.  Those are mine.

What are yours?

Words of Wisdom

I absolutely love this message.

I was introduced to this work on The Grommet.  Check out the link below.

http://www.thegrommet.com/holstee-cards-posters-and-frames?utm_campaign=20131231&utm_content=15144&utm_medium=email&utm_source=CC&trk_msg=TVLH07ITURL41ATKF9PNV8C9M8&trk_contact=6PJ17299EJ5SLGM27119G0AQ7K

You can also find it on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Teresa-Anyway-Motivational-Poster/dp/B00867DFXI/ref=pd_sim_hg_1

Cheers!

Happy New Year!

We're just hours away from welcoming the year 2014.  We here in this part of the world will reach it twelve hours ahead of the West Coast, and nine hours ahead of the ball dropping in New York City.

I love this time of year.  It's a natural "reboot."

It's a time to let go of the past, and warmly welcome the future.

A new year marks new beginnings.

Like the new school year every September, but only better.

It's a time of re-evaluations in our lives - deciding what's working and what's not and making the appropriate adjustments.

It's a time of prioritizing our lives, putting those things that should be first, first.

It's a time of recognizing the triumphs of the previous year, and a time to learn from the mistakes and missteps during this period.

It's a time of making ernest goals - short term and long term - with strategies in place to make them happen.

It's a time to give thanks for our many blessings, including our good health.

Here's wishing that this year is the beginning of the best years of your life.

Happy New Year!

A Taste of Home

Today I had an unplanned trip to Abu Dhabi to pick up my insurance card, and while there, I decided to stretch my legs at one of the malls.

Lo and behold, there was a Red Lobster among the cluster of restaurants.  Some US brand eating establishments are commonly found here.  TGIF, Appleby's, Olive Garden.  But not Red Lobster.  We also have lots of McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway and KFC.  In fact, I've seen a McDonald's and KFC in every country I've visited except France.  There weren't any where the tourists hangout in Paris.  That would be a cryin' shame to waste your appetite on Mickey D's when you can feast on food cooked with real butter, heavy cream and all the bread you can eat.

Seriously, I don't know how the Parisians eat the way they do and look so incredibly fit.  Lots of folks were walking, but many were eating personal size French bread as they walked.  Bread seems to be the main stable of their diet.

Anyway, I was thinking of that, and all the food that I enjoyed while there, as I was eating the Red Lobster cheese biscuits.  They are down home delicious!

I know.  I know.  You're thinking I'd better add a heavy rotation of longterm intense exercise real soon.

I'm way ahead of you.

My New Year's resolution is all about getting, and staying active.

And . . .

I will stick to it.

I will stick to it.

I will stick to it.

But for now, I'm enjoying some cheese biscuits.

Merry Christmas!

I just walked in the door from my travels.  Usually, I unpack as soon as I get home, but today is special and it needs to be recognized.

It's Christmas morning.

So . . .

A Very Merry Christmas to you all!

I don't miss all of the commercialism associated with this day, but without it and the reminders of buying and giving, the day can seem like just another day.  You have to make a conscience effort to recognize and appreciate it.

The seven hour flight from Paris turned into a twelve hour one.  We were late leaving because of heavy runway traffic, and I missed my connecting flight.  Then there was a four hour layover to wait for the next flight to travel less than an hour (the missed flight was 55 minutes long) to get to Abu Dhabi.  Plus add another three more hours of driving to get home.

It's been a long day.

As I was waiting in Bahrain, I was mentally writing a blistering letter to the airlines letting them know this layover was unacceptable.  The connecting flight had not left when we arrived, but they chose to depart without us.  Not sure who made that call, but it was a lousy one for the majority of us, as Bahrain is a major hub and most of us had connecting flights.

Anyway, I wasn't feeling very festive, but then I remembered what day it was, and I was reminded to be grateful.

Especially today.

I decided not to write this nasty-gram to Gulf Air.

I'm sure there's a reason I was delayed.  By the time I got on the road at four this morning, there was virtually no traffic, so it was smooth sailing all the way.

Now that I've set the scene as to where my head was early on this Christmas morning, I have made the necessary adjustments, and now I want to take this opportunity to continue to share my attitude of gratitude.

I appreciate and . . .

I'm grateful for . . .

My boys, and the fine husbands and fathers they have grown up to be.

I'm grateful for my daughters-in-law, for the love and patience they've brought to their homes.

I'm grateful for my girls, Zadie and Milu, and the joy they bring.  I believe God knew what He was doing in giving me sons to raise because that's all I knew, but having these little girls now, is an amazing blessing.  I appreciate the joy of having them, without the job of raising them.

I'm grateful for my brothers, and their wives (even the crazy, wicked one).  There's a reason for having ugly people in our lives.  We appreciate everyone else that much more.

I'm grateful for my family and friends, and the many people that have crossed my path on this journey.

I'm grateful for the technological advances in computers and online communication that have made it effortless to keep in touch by phone, video, and through email (and social media, which I haven't ventured into yet).  I remember when Ben was living in Indonesia in 2004, communication was a challenge.  We've made incredible gains since then.

I'm grateful for the wisdom that I've gained as I've gotten older.  It doesn't have to take years to figure things out, but in my case, it did.

I'm grateful that I learned to forgive.  I was 55 when I got it, but I figured it out, thank God.  Believe me when I say choosing to forgive has changed my life.  I know I harp on this a lot, but this "thing" blocks us and holds us back from being all we could be because we choose to be stuck on stupid.  It saddens me to hear of siblings who are estranged, and kids who have rifts with their parents, and every other kind of mess that keeps our relationships stressed and strained.  Let me encourage you.  Swallow your pride and be the bigger person.  End the madness. Make it right now, whatever "it" is.  Do it for yourself, and because it's the right thing to do.  No matter the response of the other party, take the high road, until they figure out it's the only road if you're looking for peace.

And, finally . . .

I'm grateful for you, for taking this journey with me.

Merry Christmas!