I haven’t written in a while.  And since I have failed on updating my blog, I am going to catch up briefly with everything that has been going on and you will get a condensed version of it.  Here is the play-by-play:

*I went to Colombo, Sri Lanka and the day before found out Emirates was extending my layover for 2 days because of an aircraft change, less crew needed, stuff I understand but you probably wouldn’t.  So while the crew had to go back to Dubai the next day, I got to stay in Colombo.  WIN!  I was on my own and out hotel was right on the Indian Ocean, so I took full advantage of the scenery and just gave myself my own tour.  I have to say the poverty is pretty incredible and it was heart breaking for me to walk through the streets, but days like those make me so fortunate for everything my family has.  At night I would walk to the beach and they had a “boardwalk” (although it was cement?) and would just hang out, put my feet in the water, and talk to the locals.

*I got my drivers license!  Scary, I know!  But it was really easy just to go in and convert my license over and literally took me 15 minutes unlike the MVA in Salisbury where you have to devote an entire day. 

*On my last trip to LA in October, Emil took me to a Lebanese festival.  For those of you that know my relationship with Lebanese, you will find the humor in this.  And for those of you that don’t, well you’re missing out.

*I was so happy that Emil took me to the Lebanese festival that I brought him back to Dubai with me.  Well he bought a ticket and the trip was planned, but I could have offloaded him for having a suspicious item in his bag.  So his trip over was half-way based on my willingness to keep him on the plane.  During the 16 hour flight, he got to see my do my thing and give that Emirates service!

*So Emil was here for a month and I flew in-between.  We did a lot of things (brunch, Burj Khalifa, Aqaurium, etc.)  And then one day the trip turned sour when I was washing his clothes and forgot to check his pockets for extra money, paper, etc.  I didn’t get out easy on this one; I washed $5,000 worth of Invisaligns that he has to sleep in every night.  When I opened the dryer and asked what these weird shaped clear things were, his face turned a different color.  I took him to dinner at West 14th (my personal favorite) to make up for it.  And I even told the waiter it was his birthday so we could get a dessert out of it.  I think we are good now.  But I had to send him home after a month because he sheds more than my mother. 

 


*I went to Frankfurt twice in October—one of my favorite cities.  While I was there I decided to test the city train system out and see if they actually ever check to see if you have a ticket or not.  On my last day, I found out that if you don’t have a ticket, they fine you 40 Euros on the spot.  Wanna know how I found out?  Because I GOT FINED!  Germans….

*Then I went to New York and saw my mom.  Wonderful trip; we went to the WTC Memorial, walked through Time Square, and hit Dave & Busters.  Side note: don’t waste your time at Dave & Busters there- total disappointment. 

*Soon after my trip to New York, I flew out to Bangkok and Sydney for 8 days.  AMAZING!  Did some serious shopping in Bangkok (don’t worry for those at home, gifts will be arriving next week) with Captain Sybil, got 2 Thai massages that were much needed from my stressful life, and left my peace offering of a McDonalds French fry at their prayer spot.  Hey, it would be rude to show up empty handed.  Even Ronald was getting his peace on, too.  I bought lots of things—purses, wallets, sunglasses, underwear—it was a successful trip.  Then it was off to Sydney for 3 days.  Our hotel was in the harbor so there was a lot to do.  We walked through the harbor, went to dinner in the city, went sailing, hit up the strip club.  You know, the norm.  Sailing was amazing though.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is my life and then when I get back on the plane to go home, reality sets in.  On my last night there the waiter from dinner gave me a little souvenir from Australia (picture below).  And we was Lebanese.

*As I’m writing this I am watching this fabulous new television that I bought while Emil was here.  I was satisfied with a reasonable 32 inch, but Emil INSISTED I get the 42 inch instead that was HDMI compatible to hook my laptop up to.  You know, I told him to be more reasonable with my money, but he just wasn’t backing down. 

*I graduated!  When we come to Emirates we are on a 6 month probabation period and if everything is still good at the end, we are officially joined in and good to go.  I made it and had my graduation day!


*Britney Spears came to Abu Dhabi this weekend.  OMG she was amazing.  Cali, Kate, Hamish and I headed down to see her and it was the best concert ever.  Love that girl!  Oh and I don’t suggest tickling Arabs with feathers in the gas station.  Not that I did that or anything….

*Ok, so I upgraded my cell phone plan today.  I have a Blackberry, but I was using prepaid because I didn’t want the hassle of a contract and a bill each month.  But I decided it was time to move up in the world and become a real person of Dubai and get a proper cell phone plan.  I got a great one with unlimited BBM, Facebook, data, and internet globally.  Very pleased so far, just not looking forward to the bill in the mail next month.

*I’m going back to New York tomorrow and mom and I are going to see the Rockettes!  I went once when I was 6 and loved it, so I am so excited to go again.  And then after I get back from New York, I immediately turn around and get on the next flight back to New York to go home for 2 weeks for Thanksgiving.  Ahh, the best time of the year and a proper vacation from work and Dubai. 

Um, I think I may have gotten almost caught up here.  Told ya this would be short.  Be on the lookout for my next blog… DUBAI BRUNCHES!