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.