Christmas 2009

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to return home for Christmas to see family and friends. It was really wonderful spending Christmas with all of my family, sharing laughter and tears, sharing each others’ stories, burdens and joys. I loved listening to the kids and watching them grow up.

Seeing friends and listening to their hopes and aspirations. All this lifts me up.

I enjoyed seeing my (home) countryside and the sleet and snow; and of course, a little shopping, too!

Lazy Weekend

This weekend was a rarity in the UAE.  It rained all weekend......hasn't rained since last winter.  It was off and on rain, with cloudy to partly cloudy skies.  Almost as sure as the sun will rise each day you can be assured that the weather here will be sunny and warm pretty much every day.

I enjoyed this relaxing sound by hanging around the house and inviting people over for my favorite breakfast-eggs benedict.  Very nice morning.

Bavarian Thanksgiving

About a dozen of us decided to spend Thanksgiving in Germany as we have the U.S. holiday in conjunction with a local Eid holiday. We went to Garmisch in southern Germany with day trips to Munich and Innsbruck, Austria (the home of Swarovski Crystal). We had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at a lodge & resort reserved for American military and their families. You can bet the ham was a favorite. It was fantastic to get and spend real greenbacks-spending money without having to do the conversion in your head.

The cool brisk weather was wonderfully refreshing. It was a bit damp with the smell of burning wood coming from chimneys. Warm mulled wine was readily available at Christmas markets and outdoor cafes. In Munich we went to Haufbrauhaus for beer and bratwurst. It was a raucous place with an ompha band and singing patrons.

We did not waste a minute of our time with our flight departing after midnight and landing in Dubai at 6 a.m. Then driving to Abu Dhabi and literally going to work at 8:30 a.m.

Still Exploring UAE

Over the past few weekends I have found myself hanging out with friends who are keen to further explore this country outside the cities. We’ve driven out to the Western Region to Delma Island, explored Al Futaisi island, gone off road on undeveloped coastlines and to a beautiful actual oasis, and found ourselves in the ultimate desert-The Empty Quarter. That was absolutely gorgeous and awe inspiring. We even drove up to a border crossing with Saudi Arabia. The road literally stopped at the border.

I must admit that I have been going non-stop since the first of October and I have absolutely no intention of stopping. I know I will pay for it later, but I have enjoyed being exhaustingly busy. No time to think, no time to ache.

Marine Corps Ball 2009

Every year on the 10th of November (or thereabouts) the U.S. Marine Corps commemorates the birthday of the corps with a traditional ball and cake-cutting ceremony. Due to the longstanding relationship between State and the very small contingent of Marines who guard each and every one of our embassies and consulates, we are invited to celebrate with them no matter where in the world we might be. The purpose of the ball and celebration is to call to mind the glories of the corps long and illustrious history. By tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the oldest Marine, who then serves the youngest Marine, symbolizing the old and experienced Marines passing their knowledge to the new generation.

Our Marine Ball in Abu Dhabi was held at the Emirates Palace Hotel, a self proclaimed 7-star hotel. For all of us it is the biggest social event of the year with serious ball gowns, uniforms and tuxes. Five hundred people came out to celebrate, have a wonderful dinner and dance until 2 in the morning. I enjoyed it very much and for me it is a little extra special because it is so very close to my birthday-I shall consider it a party not to be missed from now on.

Hallowe’en

I was tapped to work my very first VIP visit and the guest was none other than Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a myriad of other major players. I was designated the point of contact at the hotel where she stayed (press traveling with her stayed at a lesser hotel) and was responsible for making sure everyone including her security had what they needed there. I worked all weekend, but I banked some hours to be used for future vacation.

Her visit coincided with the very first Formula One race on the brand new track on Yas Island here in Abu Dhabi, so the hotel was filled to the brim with Presidents, Foreign Ministers and innumerable Kings and Princes. I even met Prince Andrew of Great Britain-he spoke to me in the hallway.

Note to my closest friends: What did I do for Hallowe’en? I was at the beck and call of a Clinton. Can your all hallow's eve top that? Yes, I do have a twisted sense of humor.

House Guest

I’ve finally had a visitor from home! It was so wonderful to have someone here who has history with me, who really knows me. Our conversations were long and varied. We crammed 6 months of sightseeing highlights into one week-hitting Dubai’s old souk, Burj al Arab (tallest bldg in the world) and Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi and a desert safari in the oasis of Al Ain.

I loved having someone else in the house. I hope it won’t be the last time I can offer hospitality to friends and family.

Honoring Finn Sisu

Today our Embassy community came together in a very large gathering to honor the life and character of Finn Sisu. We first met outside in the warm morning sun where a tree had been planted in remembrance of him. The Ambassador spoke eloquently of the life that Finn Sisu had led, the many unique experiences he had and the impact his presence had of the lives of those who met him at post. The Ambassador and I placed a bronze plaque at the base of the tree to forever mark this spot in his honor. Finn Sisu would have liked that because he loved trees and things that grow.

After this outdoor ceremony the crowd adjourned to a large conference room where refreshments were available. But the highlight was a PowerPoint presentation that played showing pictures of him throughout his life and music from his own list of iPod songs. It was heartwarming for me to watch the crowd watch the slideshow. They were very quiet, very interested and at certain moments the crowd would emit reactions in unison. A sampling of the songs included was “Ordinary Average Man” by Joe Walsh, “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum, “I’m Gonna Be” by the Proclaimers and “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen.

I spoke to everyone who came and many expressed to me not only what a wonderful, happy person he seemed to be when they met him, but that the slideshow really reflected a man who had lived a happy life. They told me they could see that he was always living life and that humor seemed to always be a constant for him. It was. And the joy he brought to my life was immeasurable.

Finn Sisu did exactly as his moniker implies, he lived fearlessly, independently and proactively conscious of what he wanted from life.

I thank all of those who came out to celebrate him and his memory.

Nobody Else in the World

Finn Sisu and I would have celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary last month.  It fell over a 5 day weekend for me, so I took the opportunity to go to Cyprus.  I was originally planning on going with a friend, but they had a family emergency and I went alone.  I knew it would be a bit tough; I knew I would be lonely and I intended to still celebrate the life we shared and to remember him with love.  It was a nice trip, a scary trip and a good rest.

Yesterday I came back from Muscat, where I went on a business trip to meet MEPI contacts in Oman.  It was a much harder trip.  Every step of the way I was thinking of what I would tell Finn Sisu and how much he would have loved this or that, how he would have responded to this situation or another. 

I just don't think that anyone in the world knows how much I miss him or how much it hurts to be without him.

Can You Hear Me Now?

I have been sidelined with regard to what is happening in the political world, but I found this very interesting.

Years ago the people of Tennessee told their legislators they didn't want certain legislation. They wrote letters, they called and they faxed. The legislators persisted, so the people emailed until the system crashed. The legislators said they didn't care what the people wanted; they were going to do it anyway. With all other avenues exhausted the citizens drove to the capital where the legislators cowered in their offices refusing to hear them. That led to days and weeks of constant horn honking and protestors at the state Capitol building.  The people prevailed and the whole episode spawned a whole new group of candidates and activists that have continued to greatly influence the direction of my state.

Seems another group of people are tired of being ignored. 

Check it out
Operation Can You Hear Us Now?

Still Here

In case you're wondering, I'm still here. I have learned a lot of things that I did not know. Sometimes I think I could write a book on what we are never told about the dichotomy of emotions, the incongruity of beginnings and endings. It can be overwhelming, but the dust is finally beginning to settle.

I offer this little bit of advice from my experience:

• You call the person who is hurting; they don't have the energy to call you.
• Talk about the one who is gone. It will probably choke up some people, but they don't want to be the only one thinking/talking about the person.
• Do not judge anyone regarding the way they grieve. Each of us is unique and we mourn just as uniquely.

Just in case you did not know-it will change you.

Even the Best Laid Plan

Last year at this time we had just closed on our house, were packing for a Disney vacation and being so excited about the endless possiblities ahead of us. We knew we were never going to be rich and wealthy with material things, and in all honesty, we had everything we could ever need. Riches and fame are certainly not the kinds of things we sought after.

Now experiences that is a whole different thing. We thought we will follow this path and you just never know we may ski the Swiss Alps, scuba off Australia, hike Kilimanjaro, travel across Russia by train or see Victoria Falls in Africa. Even the smallest, simplist experiences enriched our lives and made it so much more. Every experience was an opportunity to laugh, to joke and to construct a mosaic of a life well lived.

As I have said before the only constant in all of this would be us. We would be together, our whole family. Where we go the dogs go, where one goes so do all the others-that was the rule, the expected norm. Finn Sisu and I knew it would eventually be us without the dogs and we thought our biggest decision would be when to adopt another and if so how many.

The fact that I am now alone was certainly not part of the plan. I don't even have a contingency option.

I miss his humor, his deep and wonderful laugh, his big shoulders and his bear hugs. I miss him tucking me in and the coffee going before I ever wake up. I miss surprising him with an ice cream treat that he didn't ask for.

Thank You

I returned to Abu Dhabi about a week ago and started work a few days ago. I am still unpacking bags and boxes.

I have to say that I have had wonderful support from a myriad of friends and relatives who helped me immensely during this trying time. Friends and family who opened their homes to me when I had no place to really go, friends and family who willingly offered to help carry my sorrows, offered shoulders, hugs and shared a lot of happy memories. It has all been a blur, but I know I have been comforted and cared for by many. I have many thank you's to write.

What I Know

I know that Finn Sisu did not chose to leave me. I know that death is a natural result of living. I know that many have departed this life before us and many will after, but I also know that this particular person's passing is acutely painful for me. I know I do not want to be in my shoes.

I know that Christ loves me, is with me and my faith is strong. I know my faith cannot insulate me from sorrow, but can offer me comfort. I know that for the Lord waking one from death is as easy as waking a well rested child in the morning.

I know that he was happy and content (because he told me so). I know that he had few regrets. I know that he loved me dearly, and I know there was nothing left unsaid between us.

Worst Day of My Life

Finn Sisu passed away near the end of June. His death was sudden, shocking and devastating for me and all who loved him. For him the event was apparently painless and peaceful, for me it has been nothing but tumultuous turmoil.

The Lord has seen fit to keep me breathing and alive, so as painful as it is to have lost so much I still have to go on. This blog will undoubtedly change. I thought it would be about our "grand adventure." I didn't know it was going to be about life.

I enjoy writing, it helps me process thoughts and emotions. I also loved this man, this wonderful man with all my heart. I need to always remember him and want to celebrate the man he was.

I can't think very clearly these days and I'm full of emotion. I need to find a way to cope and heal. At the moment it seems all I can do is endure. I pray that God will cover all of us with his mercy.

No Title

A tragic life event has happened for our family. For the time being, I have no more words.

New Word

We've learned many new words since we've been here. One of my favorites is "shway, shway," Arabic (approximately) meaning "little by little." I actually got a laugh from one of the higher ups at the ministry of foreign affairs when I said it to him on the phone. We were having a bit of difficulty communicating and it made him laugh-definitely lightened the situation.

Our favorite new word is from the little Asian girls that work everywhere. Every time they see us they say "hello, ma'am sir" or "welcome, ma'am sir." It is always said as one word and is obviously a form of respectful address. It's just funny!

Hot

Well the temp is 42 degree celsius (108 fahrenheit). I suppose that would be considered HOT.

I really worried about how we would adjust to the temp, but so far I think we are doing really great!! It's 108 in Jun and we still get out a little in the evening-without melting. One of the locals walked to the parking lot with us yesterday and said that "we have two seasons: summer and hell." One, I couldn't believe he used a curse word and two, I can believe I'm still surviving the heat!

I must admit that we do work indoors and I make sure that I go inside in the morning and out only in late afternoon. I never said I was capable of outdoor activity in this heat, because I surely am not.

Yes, I now know what they mean by "but its low humidity." It is 53% humidity and it really "feels like" about 95 F back home. So while YES it is very hot, we are surviving.

I wonder what the situation will be in August.

Roadtrip

It is Memorial Day for us Americans, but just a regular workday for the rest of the UAE, so we decided to take our very first UAE Roadtrip. So with map in hand, Friday morning we left Abu Dhabi for the Northern Emirates.

We really did not know very much about it, just what we heard from locals and a few who've been before us. Some friends told us to go to Sharjah. We hoped it would be a small town-quaint and perhaps a truer example of older traditional Emirati culture. It was very nice and a bit different, but it is really a suburb of Dubai.

In Sharjah we went to the Qanat Al Qasba (Kazbah) where we saw the Eye of the Emirates (big ferris wheel) and took a dhow boat out at sunset. It was very beautiful and very nice outside (after dark). We also went to the the Blue Souk, where hundreds of little shops (about 20x10) sell gold, jewelry, clothing and electronics.

It was all very interesting, but we are not big shoppers. There's really not a lot of things we need. And I really wanted to see some mountains! Up until this point we really had not gone outside the major cities, but we decided to go to the Eastern coast, to the emirate of Fujairah. The map showed well developed roads which turned out to be marked very well also.

We did cross mountains; barren, craggy and rocky. The landscape looked so harsh, but still beautiful. I've never seen mountains like that-perfect for goats, which we saw several of. Soon though we were right on the beach. We drove up the coastline with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other. It was all beautiful and surreal.

We knew there were several resorts there and we found a great one-the Rotana (see the mountains behind the resort). Our stay there was almighty refreshing! Finn Sisu surprised me when he told me we were swimming in the Indian Ocean! I had no idea.

Click for picture: The mountains go right into the sea.

A Helping Maid

We have finally gotten our home into some semblance of proper order. Most things have a place and the beds are finally made (just in case you want to come visit). But doing all of that plus cleaning in this very dusty place is just too much. I broke down and did something I said I would not do-I hired a maid (sort of).

We really don't want a full time maid but some help was desperately needed, and much appreciated. I offered a friend's maid a sum of money to come dust, vaccuum, mop and clean bathrooms. She is very shy, so our friend came too and we turned it into an adventure. Maid Tig is very interested in learning about other cultures, especially culinary traditions. So she took a little time out to watch me (and participate) in making traditional Southern dishes: meatloaf and potatoes au gratin.

I fixed iced tea, which is not the norm here, and we had strawberry shortcake for dessert. Miss Tig loved it all. My friend said she wanted to go to the grocery as soon as they left to get all the ingredients to do it all again. She doesn't speak a lot of English so I showed her everything, and demonstrated how to do it all.

She is amazed by Americans, she thinks we are all so very kind and generous. I'd like to believe that most of us are, and hope she never discovers otherwise. I know that my friend treats her well. You do what you can, where you can.

Wild Wadi

We decided to take advantage of being so close to Dubai and went to the water park at the Burj Al Arab - Wild Wadi.

We invited several friends and stayed all day long! As with many things in the Emirates, and Dubai in particular, it was over the top. We reserved a private cabana (an area of 600-800 sq ft). There were loungers, fresh towels, lots of shade and a table and chairs, and we had our own "attendant" who brought us fresh fruit skewers, coconut lolly-pops and anything off the menu.

Our cabana also afforded us private entry onto the lazy river (pictured) which also offered easy access to, umm, the slides. I say that because you ride a slide with jets UP hill to get to the slides that you ride DOWN hill.

We stayed all day long, until after sunset. The Burj after sunset is absolutely gorgeous (see the link above). We were totally exhausted the next day. It was lots of fun.

Laughing Out Loud

We just opened a package that came today and had an absolute riot laughing at the contents. There was a Gumby, a Pokey, a clothespin, a used scrubbing sponge, a straw, 4 toothpicks, kitchen sink nozzle and a medicine cup, among other things. How utterly hilarious!!

I asked my sis-in-law to purchase a few items and ship them to us-I did not expect all of this. I should have known better. During Hallowe'en the adult children stay at home and Mom goes "trick-or-treating" to all our homes. Usually we are last and by the time Mom gets to us the others have taken all the good candy from her bag and left us with rubber bands, rusty nails, dirty pennies and dryer lint (really!).

Love you guys! Thanks for the cards and all the goodies!!

Missed the Party!

It is Tax Day in the U.S. and there are Tea Parties going on in all fifty states. I'm sorry I'm missing it! There are many reasons for the Tea Party movement but I think the one that motivates my fellow Americans most is an overall increase in the tightening of the Federal government's control over our "wealth" - defined as our ability to earn, to maintain our earnings, and to make decisions about our future productivity.

While I can't be there I can reassert this:
I still believe in the Constitution which clearly states that any power not specifically given to the Federal government is reserved to the States or the people. I believe that my rights do not come from what the government allots to me, but are inherently mine by the will of God. This includes my right to protect myself, my family and my home by any means necessary; my right to speak my mind; and to worship without interference. These are not only my rights, but yours as well-as long as you are a citizen of the Great Republic governed by the Constitution.

I also believe that the people collectively have the right to remove their government when it no longer serves the needs of the people-the same people from which all of its power is derived.

These are the principles I was taught in public school 20 years ago. But according to the recent report from the Department of Homeland Security I might be "radicalized."

Stars on a Cajun Night

I have been excited for weeks, ever since I found out that the Pine Leaf Boys were coming to town! I had never heard of them, but with a name like that they just had to play the kind of music that makes you tap your toes. I was not disappointed. Their Cajun music brought the house down, with 30+ ambassadors in attendance.

The musical portion of the night started out very dignified with a performance by Naseer Shamma on a lute. It is a beautiful instrument. The mood was austere and formal. Then (our) Ambassador Olson stood to introduce the band, giving background on southern Louisiana and the Cajun culture. As soon as the band started playing feet on the stage and in the crowd started taping! I enjoyed so much seeing people from all over the world thoroughly enjoying this music. Some were even dancing in the aisles at the end.

Before the show the Ambassador held an invitation-only reception, which is part of my job to attend (I know, I have such a tough life). I greet guests, make sure they meet the Ambassador, get refreshments and never stand alone. One of our guests was Dennis Haysbert (The Unit, 24, AllState commercials).

I come from Nashville. We don't lose our dignity over celebrities. I held my own, spoke with him and casually had my photo taken with him. He was very gracious. I was dancing like a teenage girl inside!

Wearing a Headscarf

Believe it or not the conversation between us and many different friends has turned to the inordinate amount of hair loss. We are all losing hair at an alarming rate. Most of us are fairly new to the Gulf region, so we are all beginning to notice it at the same time. When I arrived my hair was crazy fluffy and almost unmanagable (no flat iron for a few months). Now it has become flat and stringy.

It is apparently due to the use of desalinated sea water, high levels of chlorine to offset sea water bacteria and the addition of lime to water for the purpose of counteracting the chlorine. The first two are highly drying agents and the latter creates calcium deposits in the hair, making it heavy and stringy. (Now I finally understand why I had stringy hair when I was growing up-we had hard, calcium rich water.)

In addition to all of these damaging effects, sand & mica from the winds collect on our hair and skin causing even more damage. Apparently this contributes to people in the Gulf age faster than their counterparts in other regions.

I may soon start covering my head to protect my hair like the local women. The more I learn about living in the Gulf, the more the clothing choices of the inhabitants make sense. The loose clothing is much more comfortable because of the constant breezes, but I have found my shorter skirts will fly up in a gust, so even the longer skirts are beginning to appeal to me.

Despite my concerns about skin and hair damage, taking action to correct it will have to wait a day or so - we are going to the beach for the first time tomorrow!

Dune Bashing

We went dune bashing on Thursday night. We met up with some friends at one of the local hotels on Thursday afternoon at 3:00, and only had to wait minutes for our adventure guide to pull up in his nearly new limited edition Toyota land cruiser. He drove the five of us about an hour east of the city before we turned off into the desert. After just a few minutes, we saw a group of people gathered around large pens of camels. There were a dozen large pens with 8-10 camels in each, the camels were eating and drinking and we were all gathered around taking pictures. There were 5 other land cruisers there with drivers, for the group that was already on site and after about 15 minutes we were told to mount up and we started a convoy into the desert. Our driver was very dedicated to his sport, and for the next hour we weaved, climbed, jumped and slid over the most beautiful country we could imagine. We all laughed and whooped so hard, our sides were sore the rest of the night. If it would have ended there it would have been worth every penny, instead we pulled through a gate into a 2-3 acre level site with large lavish tents, a raised stage, kneeling tables all around the stage, an open bar, a buffet line building, bathroom facilities and tables full of coffee, cokes and snacks to hold us over until dinner. After a cup of coffee and a little rest, four of us got on quad bikes and raced around for about 30 minutes. When we got back to camp, there were camels available to ride so we definitely had to do that. The camels lie down, you get on their back and then they stand up front legs first. Camels are very tall, and it’s a ride itself hanging on until they get up on their huge hoofs. The ride was short, and I’m glad there was a handler leading us the whole time. After the camel ride, we all hit the buffet line and loaded up on good local food that included grilled chicken and lamb. Immediately after dinner, the perimeter lights dimmed, and a lovely belly dancer put on a show for us. When the show was over, it was 10 pm, our bellies were full, sides still hurt from our earlier whooping and laughing our driver told us we could load up when we were ready. We got back to the hotel at 11 and to our villa about 11:30 tired and already committing to experience that whole thing again. If any of the above sounds like fun to you, all you have to do is come to visit (free food and lodging), and I’ll gladly call the same driver for a repeat performance.

Rainstorm

Rain is pretty rare in the UAE, but it has actually rained for the last couple of days. Usually when it rains you can measure it by how many raindrops per square foot - count the wet spots when it stops. There was thunder, lightening and several downpours. It was quite a sight. It was also a real treat to sleep to the sound of rain! The storm knocked out phones, internet and satellite for a day or so.

Regular Life

Not a lot to blog about. We've just been living a regular life-working, eating, sleeping and trying to have some recreation. We've been trying to swim several evenings a week in the pool (water is wonderful), and find new places to walk.

We would be riding our bikes more but we can't transport two at a time on our vehicle. We ordered a rack, but as yet it has not been delivered in the mail. So for the time being we ride in our small neighborhood, which like most of UAE is flat and dry. Finn Sisu loads his in the trunk sometimes and find other areas to ride.

I do enjoy the parks and the fact that they are lit for nighttime use. But I realize that I have become accustomed to trash and food containers left in the parks. In relation to parks in the U.S. they are not quite as clean, which is great shame because Abu Dhabi has gone to great lengths to build green space here. There are even parks that are dedicated to women and children.

For the most part I find that I am fully adjusted to life here. Everything we do seems very normal, not extra-ordinary. But I do miss my friends, and I know Finn does also. He still has not found the right job for him yet, but he seems to be staying busy and is happy-that's most important. He is actually doing better than I thought-which makes me happy.

We've found several great bookstores, three great supermarkets, a shoe store and a local restaurant that costs about $12 for dinner for two. We spent a few hours washing patios (lots of sandy residue), outdoor furniture and the car; as well as trimming shrubs and greenery around the villa today. So, as I said, life feels pretty normal.

Ibn Battuta & Alegria

We loved the Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba at Disney World last fall so we could not miss the traveling show Alegria, now in Dubai. We decided to make a nice weekend of it and spend the night, also. Our hotel room was unbelievable. We were expecting a room with a bathroom and maybe a view. What we got was a whole full size apartment with 2 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a full kitchen, formal dining and living room. And that doesn't even count the massive foyer and laundry room.

The show was set up at a Dubai mall. Ibn Battuta was a 14th century Moroccan scholar and great explorer (he traveled even farther than Marco Polo). So naturally, Dubai has a theme mall to commemorate this legendary traveler. The mall's six courts reflect the architecture of each region he explored – Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India and China. It was a real trip!

The show was, as always, unique-if just a bit too long. But I think we should see them all before we pass judgement. Wonder just how many shows there are...

Small Town Abu Dhabi

In our out-and-about this weekend we encountered several people we know, including my boss and his family.

After saying goodbye to colleagues in the restaurant, we met others in the car park (garage). After leaving we stopped at a red light where my boss pulled up along side us with his wife and 3 young kids. My husband was steady trying to get me to turn around and stick out my tongue...but I was adamant-Not to my Boss!!! As if on cue my superior officer is in his car sticking out his tongue, with his fingers in his ears to me!!!!!

How utterly funny! We laughed all the way home. That camaraderie is what I love most about being in the foreign service. And I'm glad that Abu Dhabi is starting to feel like a small town.

My Best Friend

Our family has suffered a major loss. This little guy has been with us for 15 years, pretty much all of his life. He has always been small at 15 lbs, but with big personality. He and Finn Sisu have been so very close.

A couple of weeks ago JJ had a bad episode of fluid in his lungs as a result of heart disease. He spent the night in the animal hospital and was much better when he came home, but not even fully recovered. We did everything we could for him the next few days-helping him rest, getting his medicine in him and trying to feed him every few hours. Unfortunately he would not eat and did not recover. You know the rest of the story.

It has been a week since he has gone and our life is still discombobulated. It is so odd to not have to go outside before bed, always watch where you walk, or worry about every crumb that falls on the floor. Yes, he was old and had heart problems. We knew this day would come, but there is a great disconnect between what the intellect understands and what the heart feels.

I suppose this period of grief is the price we pay for those 15 years of affection and laughter. We have many wonderful memories and stories to tell. We have met many wonderful friends by sharing our love of this breed and by doing rescue for several years. If you have never experienced the unconditional love and faith of a four legged friend you are really missing out.

We will recover, but for the time being we are missing the big personality that was JJ.

State Sovereignty

I am very informed about what is happening back home. I watched with great interest the selection of a new Speaker of the State House, the election of constitutional officers and the much overdue release of Border Agents Ramos and Compean.

I have been paying close attention to Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, especially regarding the bailout plans; "stimulus" goings on; the great leadership of Sen. Jim DeMint and Gov Bobby Jindal; the viral video of Santelli on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; and the disgrace of the Blagojevich/Burris affair.

But I am really excited to know that my Republicans compatriots in Nashville are working to pass a state sovereignty resolution. With House Joint Resolution 108 they will join the ranks of other states seeking to reign in unconstitutional mandates the federal government imposes on the states.

signed~Proud Tennessean

Driving in the UAE

I have been threatening for quite some time to write about the experience of driving here in Abu Dhabi. It's a TRIP! We laughed so hard because Finn Sisu used to plan his errand trips to be all right hand turns, so very efficient of him. And then we come here where there's pretty much nothing but right hand turns. Basically if you want to go left you need to turn right enough times to get you there, or you can go to the red light and make U turn.

We went to the gas station (on the right hand side of the road) and when we left there was no way to go back the way we came. So we continued and made right hand turns and got stuck in Mussafah Industrial City where you can turn right in to; but there are no left hand turns out of!!! This is not exactly true, but we drove around for 2 hours before finding one of the two roads that would allow us to make a left hand turn to leave Industrial City.

The curbs are at least 10 inches high, which is a good thing because they drive anywhere and everywhere. Three street lanes not moving fast enough for you, no problem just drive up the emergency lane. And honk at anyone who does not yield to your desire to have their spot. "Waiting your turn" has no meaning here. In fact what you drive determines how you are treated on the road. It is not uncommon for an SUV to blink their blindingly bright lights for a smaller car to move out of its way, even if you are going over the speed limit.

The worst are the ones who drive like they are the only ones on the road and it is a racetrack. Actually pulling off to get gas is VERY MUCH like NASCAR, with everyone vying for a spot to get their gas first and be the first back out onto the track.

The government has tried to make it better, thus you find many, many speed humps in the strangest places. Sometimes two at a time. We learned very early to spot the road signs warning of speed bumps, they are not to be taken lightly.

Did I mention the round abouts? I don't know if this is the case everywhere but on a circle with 4 lanes the one on the inside (closest to the middle) has the right-of-way. Meaning he cuts across all 4 lanes to make his right hand turn and you are supposed to clear way. These are often located at major intersections, instead of red lights.

Celebrate America

Many foreign service officers will tell you that after several years in the service they begin to dread the Fourth of July. Independence Day, which is when so many of us swell with pride for our country, has become just one more exhausting work day. You see most embassies and consulates have a really big party to celebrate the birth of our nation and invite all the local dignitaries and contacts. In some places they invite Americans living in the area, but more often than not there simply is not enough room for them and sometimes not even room for the families of FSOs. But the officers are required to be there to meet-n-greet, entertain guests and generally keep the crowd mingling for the duration of the event. Standing around chatting jovially with your colleagues while enjoying food and drink is not acceptable.

I have prepared myself for this possibility and steeled myself to still enjoy the patriotic day. But, alas, in Abu Dhabi there is apparently very few people here in July when temps can easily be 105 degrees Fahrenheit. So we celebrate National Day in February when the temps are low 70's. Our National Day reception was held the evening of Feb 17 and I very much enjoyed it.

There were no fireworks at the outdoor venue but the national anthem was played by a military band-very moving. All our spouses were invited-making it more fun. And I spent hours moving through the crowd meeting people and loving every minute of it. I met an officer on vacation from her post in Afghanistan who helps to repatriate Afghans back home; met the third secretary from Romania, military liaisons, several professors, business people and hotel representatives. One gentleman, an American living in Germany and UAE for several decades said that he did not generally get homesick for the US but this event brought up that emotion.

Needless to say I enjoyed my first celebration of America and its history and culture. May there be many more enjoyable celebrations.

Our first Sandstorm

We experienced our first ever sandstorm yesterday with 45 mph winds for more than a day. It brought visibility down to 1/4 mile even during the brightest part of the day. We did not realize that it was actually a sandstorm until we saw the thick layer of dust on EVERYTHING in the house. Unfortunately we regularly have our large doors open letting a breeze run through the house. We have paid for our naivete, by cleaning all day long.

We did go out into the sandstorm last night but I must say that most of the places we frequent have parking garages so it is easier to avoid being exposed. Even so our eyes were quite irritated. Next sandstorm our home will be sealed shut.

Prosciutto for Dinner

Dining out is a bit expensive in Abu Dhabi so we go less often but try to make every trip a culinary experience. Some friends invited us to the Brauhaus at the Beach Rotana hotel. It is a German fare restaurant serving pork and beer. As Muslims eschew both, you don't find the offering very much here.


They have a buffet with pork in so many varieties and the best bread I've had since we arrived. I could not turn down a pint of beer either. The food was great as was the company and conversation. We may have to go back again.

Visit to Al Ain, The Garden City of the Gulf

We made our first trip to Al Ain this weekend to see the airshow. I can say that it will not be our last trip to this beautiful city!!

The show is a very big deal to the Emirates and while we did enjoy the airshow, we also enjoyed the many booths and cultural exhibits. Falconry is an integral part of Emirati heritage and it was great to see a Falconer showing off his birds. There are no cages. The Falcons sit on a perch with a hood over their eyes but you can clearly see the animal is very alert to all that is happening around them. Children were doing traditional dances which were quite beautiful.

In keeping with the love of driving offroad in the desert, Mercedes drove a couple of vehicles over a rugged obstacle course set up to twist the vehicles dramatically. Additionally there was a Formula One racing car on display to highlight Yas Island, which is being built specifically to be the new home of Formula One racing in the UAE.

But even more than the air show was the scenery of Al Ain. Here we found HUGE red/orange sand dunes, 4 stories tall and wind-swept like you only see in pictures. I could even see the sand whisping off the cusp like spray off a wave! It was beautiful. The sand dunes are larger than mansions, so my camera just could not do them justice. We saw camels that had walked up the edge and left their prints in the sand, the ONLY prints for miles around.

It was a truly beautiful place that we will explore more during our stay in the UAE.

Snow in UAE

We often joke about it being 18 degrees both here in the desert and at home in TN. Eighteen degrees Celsius in Abu Dhabi and 18 degrees Fahrenheit in TN! Sorry, it is probably not as funny to you.

Maybe this will make you feel better...it recently snowed in the UAE, for the second time in recorded history. It was in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah on top of Jebel Jais mountain. Snow is so unheard of that the local dialect does not have a word for it!

Now let's all keep this a secret from Al Gore. It might harm his view of the world.

Car Registration

You think that getting your car MARTA'd and paying your registration fees takes a long time, listen to this. We had to wait to have the transaction of our vehicle approved by two (2) separate Ministries before we could register the vehicle we already bought. So it sat in the parking lot until the approvals could be acquired.

The transaction was finally completed today. It took 5 people, 3 hours and 465 dirhams.

And as silly as this sounds to you back home, we were the proudest two in the city!!! It is small, but it runs, it has wheels, and bonus! a CD player!! My co-workers came out to jibe us about our "new" auto, but we are so very relieved to have this over and done with.

We turned in our rental today, which should cost about a thousand dollars, but there is always the issue of speeding tickets and traffic fines. I will write a whole other post or two about driving here, but for the tickets they "just put it on your tab."

You won't get pulled over or given a ticket for speeding. If a traffic camera clocks you speeding, the fine is recorded and you have to pay it when you renew your car registration next year. They have a website you can go to, to see if you have tickets, but we haven't figured that one out yet. I'll let you know.

Delivery of Household Goods

Our household goods were delivered today. About 10:30 in the morning a truck pulled up out front with about 5 huge wooden crates. Four guys opened the crates and offloaded the boxes one by one. I had my list handy and had already determined which boxes needed to go into which rooms. The guys were fantastic, putting everything where I asked.

Not only did they bring our stuff, but they also unpacked it. So when they left at 12:30, we were left in a sea of jumbled items that looked vaguely familiar. I went out to get lunch and when I came back in the first thing I saw was our little schnauzer statute that has been on the front porch for years. It was an "awwww" moment. Although it may take us weeks to find a place for everything, it feels a bit more like home now.

Buying a Car

I cannot begin to express to you the total frustration with trying to purchase a car here in Abu Dhabi.

First, we want to pay cash which means we are NOT buying a $20,000 (73, 200 dirham) automobile. This means there are very limited outlets to purchase a vehicle. Normally we might be able to purchase one from someone leaving post, but we arrived in the winter and most people change posts in the summer.

Secondly, there is no such thing as a street address here. Everyone has PO Boxes and when you ask where they are, they tell you an area of town and a building. So if you don't know where the "Cosa (unintelligible)" building is, what do you do? Frustration is all I can say, serious frustration.

Yes, most everyone speaks English here, but everyone also has a thick accent. Throw in a lot of "rolled R's" and you spend a lot of time trying to clarify what you were just told.

After an exasperating evening of trying to navigate horrible traffic and find our car seller's location, we were just worn out.

Wonder of wonders - the next day one of my co-workers put his car up for sale. 2001 Silver Toyota Corolla, $116,000 K miles, $4,000!!! SOLD!!

Drive to Dubai

We have finally taken a drive to Dubai. We were excited to get out of the city and to see the countryside between the two cities.

It is certainly a city under construction. We visited the Mall of the Emirates (that actually has an indoor ski slope).

I must say that I prefer Abu Dhabi, as it is a bit more livable city with more green space.

What an End!

It is the end of 2008. All I can say is "Wow."

I was invited by one of my Yemeni co-workers to go out for a Yemen lunch. We sat on the floor and lots of food was brought. There was soup, a fresh tomato base puree with a vinegar taste, salad with lemon and large flatbreads. Fish cooked whole (with the head, but sliced open), seasoned chicken and the very best was the lamb. It was cooked in a small pot creating a broth soup and the meat that simply fell off the bone. There was rice and a sweetened dish of thickened pudding of banana, ground nuts and ? It was all very good. The Yemen eating style is similar to the Ethiopian style of eating with your hands and fingers, but they were kind enough to give me silverware.

For New Year's Eve some friends asked us to go to the Souk at the Shangri-La Hotel, to a South African restaurant called The Meat Company. Of course they specialize in South African Steaks. We sat outside, water side with a great view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque (pictures 1 2 ). It is one of the largest mosque in the world and, I think, still under construction. I have seen it much more beautiful than these photos and will take some.

One thing about dining out in Abu Dhabi is the waiter will never bring you the check unbidden. You can sit at your table in leisure until you are ready to leave. The 5 of us had a great meal with wine, champagne and loads of food. We left satiated and tired. As I dozed off to sleep, the Venezuelan family a few doors down rung in the new year with fireworks and noise makers!

Happy New Year to you.