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Saturday, November 24, 2007

Thanksgiving in Dubai 2007http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Nov 22

Mmmmm... turkey!! :p


We were invited to celebrate Thanksgiving with some of Mark's coworkers. We had a fabulous time. The weather here is even warmer than home so we were able to eat outside! Although Mark and I normally do when we eat with my side of the family no one we were dinning with had ever done that. We had people from Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, Venezuela, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It was quite a diverse group.
The evening was wonderful full of great food, friends and entertainment. There were numerous games and tricks that blended well into the evening keeping everyone in laughter.



Everyone had a unique place card so they knew where to sit:


The spread:


The table was set, everyone was present and the food was ready. All except the cranberries. These were intentionally saved for the last. Everyone was gathered around and silenced. We were all here to witness and experience the "shhlllluurppphggaa" as the cranberries fell from the can.

It was indeed an inspiring event - some felt the pledge or national song was in order... the majority opted for the food!

Again, a very nice mix of people and nationality. It appears that we subconsciously decided to share the holiday and honor our large section of Dutch by partaking in Heineken as our drink of choice. (just an odd coincidence)


We contributed too - I channeled Mom in order to make these beautiful deserts!

I also made some homemade mashed potatoes, turkey gravy (from the jar of course) and, I'm ashamed to admit, the ugliest, borderline edible deviled eggs ever to come from our family. It actually took me two batched of eggs to get them cooked - the first batch came out poached (for lack of a better description) and the 2nd batch were just barely cooked enough to eat but not really enough to peel well. Oh it was terrible!! We have a flat-top stove and I just can't seem to get the hang of it.

I was definitely not the only deserts in the house, we had a beautiful showing from little pilgrim hats to homemade, authentic Dutch Apple Pie - YUMMY! There are pictures on my web page

We had numerous wonderful toasts.


Once dinner and deserts were done we were amazed and entertained over and over by the nose of a Dutchman. 9 coasters were laid out, he would smell someone's hand (very intently), walk away from the table while the person touched a coaster, he would return, smell the coasters, call up to Allah and could eventually pick out which one had been touched, everytime. We mixed all kind of things up and couldn't stump him!!



Bob had seen the trick many times before and couldn't figure out how he did it. James was new to it but it was simply eating him up inside not knowing. They begged and pleaded for the man to reveal his ability. Finally his price was named: the boys both had to shave off their beards! They both instantly agreed and ran upstairs...

This only broke the ice, soon other amazing talents were showcased, some were busted but all were a good time!

The night was wrapped up with a lovely song written to the tune of 'The 12 days of Xmas'. Everyone was passed out their verse in secret and told only to reveal it when our turn came in the song.
I give you:

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Hello!

Nov 13

haha! Check out my new Drivers License! No test was required, just some paperwork. They recognize standing licenses from the US, UK and European Union as well as a few other countries. Sweet!


Well let's see... what have we been up to lately??

Nov 2

It rained the other day!! Well, it sprinkled for a bit. It was actually cloudy for two days and then we got some sprinkles, it was cool. The sky and the feel of the air was very reminiscent of home, it was nice.


Since the weather was so nice Mark and I took a stroll on the beach after breakfast.


We saw my famous urban beach camels...



There were some rock'n waves...

Okay, maybe 'rock'n' is a bit strong but the Gulf was definitely more turbulent than normal... its not like you get better in Galveston...

This was one of many surfers 'hangin'10'??

I guess these people didn't want to pay for a beach front hotel, and hell why should they? Look at their sweet digs!!
This is a very small section of the vanishing free beach on this stretch of coast. It never occurred to us to bring a camper but there are no indications that it isn't allowed. They had quite the set up with music playing and everything.

It was a lovely day - here is another one of us in the surf.



Let me just leave you with one last image that continues to scar us everytime we go the beach...



The dreaded MAN-KINI!!(TM)


AAAGGGHHH!!! HAHAAHA - ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Mercato Mall


Nov 10 (afternoon)


This is where I went grocery shopping tonite. Most full sized grocery stores are attached to malls. It was weird at first but now I actually like it, you can go browse the mall and get your endorphins all pumped up so you're still a little blissed out when you hit the store and it takes awhile to come down and realize you are in the middle of a chore. Anyways, this mall is small but really pretty. Enjoy my pictures but they don't do it justice, you really should check out the actual link.

(these first two pics are from our first trip out here, I forgot to take any this time)




Sunset tonite

Nov 10 (p.m.)

Wow!
I stopped by the beach on the way home from the grocery store tonite because I saw this working...


I can't believe I live here!!





Reminded me of Galveston Seawall but with better scenery

Hope your night is as nice!
Jen

I went to the beach this morning

Nov 10 (a.m.)

I went down to walk on the beach this morning, its good exercise, relaxing and very pretty...

This is all that really moved me today:


I was finishing my walk and as I was rounding the bend saw a gentleman carrying a yellow grocery bag with oh so familiar contents... I zoned in with excitement as I waited for his partner to catch up to him... I knew it was a dog of some kind...


** **
side note:
You don't see many dogs here at all, at least not in the 'city' area, (down in the villa areas (suburbs) where people have yards I understand they are more common) an occasional Yorkie or Shitzu but nothing over lap size...
** **


I was SO excited to see it was a GSD, not surprised, just excited, some how before I ever laid my eyes on the pup I knew it was a GSD. I picked up my pace so I could get with in holler distance in hopes to strike up just enough conversation to get my hands on his furry friend. It worked! I told him how beautiful his dog was, he asked me where I was from, I told him the U.S., Texas, he said he thought he recognized my accent...


** **
side note:
People over here don't seem to be able to distinguish English from American based on accent alone. I'm frequently asked if I'm from London. ???
** **


He is from LA and is out here working as an architect (good business to be in) Any how, we stopped and he allowed me to scratch on her for a while and get my fix! I was so taken by here it didn't even occur to me to snap her picture until I was walking away. I turned around to get one last look at her and she was still sitting there. Her human was walking in one direction and I was walking in another and she just sat there. After I pulled my camera to take her picture he realized she wasn't at his heal and called for her, she looked at me and back to him and started running towards me!!! :)
He called her again and she caught her snap and happily trotted back towards him.

I continued on again to my car and took another look back and saw them settling in watching the waves.



It made for a wonderful morning but has left a melancholy haze around me as well.




I miss them. :(