No One Likes Grumpy

My Girls down South, reuniting is fun!
Go Buffs!!
(Special thanks to Pam in helping name this Blog Post)

Hi y'all!  I have just come back from 10 days back in the good ole 'US of A,' spending time down South, so I am feeling the y'all is just the greeting I need.  So...I have been a way for sometime, but with some prompting hoping to find my way back to A Hollywood Ending.  Not that I have not been living one, but back to writing about it.

My mom once told me that life is like a circle and during your life you might be on top, maybe on the side, or possibly on the bottom but it will always swing back around.  Now do not go and get your smallest violin out, I certainly have not, but I have just been waiting for things to swing just a tich back up and they have in a really good way.  So sorry for not posting, but no one likes grumpy.

So what's new?  Well, I have left the world of recruitment.  I tip my hats to those that recruit, especially in an agency setting.  It was a tough day-in and day-out for little old me.  And when I told my boss it was time for me to go my simple explanation was, "I just do not feel needed."  I did not feel like I was accomplishing anything or truly helping anyone, and besides that my ass began to double from sitting so much!  So, I have gone out and got myself a brand new j-o-b.

Just another lil snapshot, unrelated to the post but
everyone likes pictures!

My future mother-in-law always says, "Do what you love and money will follow."  I know I have rambled on several times about looking for my passion and I always go back to cooking and most of all EATING (and that does not help my rear end either :) and so I have found a job in food.  I saw a positions posted looking for a Sales Manager for a company that runs farmers markets out here in the Middle East, providing patrons with organic and local veggies.  I was shocked that they had a position open as I had randomly sent my CV months before on a speculative basis to get no response, but all be darned I sent it again and got a response.  I went through several interviews and Viola...A job I am so excited about a company I am so proud to be apart of.  I really could see myself in this industry, we all know how trendy "Local & Organic" is at the moment and I am banking that it lasts.

Before this brilliant job starts I get to go see Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, oh my!!  Maybe not Bear or Tigers, but Zebras and Giraffes!  Maybe Elephants too?  We were going over some trip details last night and there are some very specific wardrobe requirements for this lil safari.  Apparently white or bright colors are not allowed, also it suggests not to wear camouflage as you might get shot at?  By hunters?  HUH, so confused?   I am thinking the boys were teasing but you can trust I will not be wearing any of that.  Actually I never thought I would say this but I am actually going shopping tonight for those pants that zip off into shorts.  Yep, I am totally going to rock that look with a wide brimmed hat and maybe some zinc on my nose (not the white color though).  Sexy!

So trip details to follow!  I am back, be excited :)  I am.

To Home and Back...Home

Back home in Iowa with my brother and his lovely lady!

And we are back in action.  E and I made our way to the states for Turkey day and got some much needed family time along with my two most important creature comforts: chipotle and target.  Yepp, those are the two things that I miss the most (barring family and friends obvi!).  My biggest fear at the end of the trip was that I would not want to return back to the concrete jungle of Dubai.  But after staying with two lovely ladies and enjoying their homes I was anxious to get back and attempt to "homify" our apartment.

Electrifying!

First order of business was to assemble Christmas in our Middle East apartment.  I must admit though, and my last roomie will attest, I tend to be a bit of a grinch when it comes to decorating.  I think that is because I logged so many hours at my last job that I really never even got to properly celebrate Christmas or even be home, but not this year.  We went to the local grocery store/Walmart type outlet and scooped up a 4 foot fakie and some plastic ornaments.  The biggest obstacle was to find lights, a tree skirt, and a topper.  I can tell you a week later we now have outdoor icle lights draping our tree (and E negotiated 60% off of those bad boys so we made them work!), a tree skirt that was meant for a table cloth but some scissors and I got to work and viola, and still no topper but two little love birds are perched up there.  It is a bit eclectic and the lights are practically electric that I do believe planes have been distracted by them flying over, but we are celebrating darn it.  Today I scooped up some yummy candles and E bought pine scented air freshener, which we dowsed our tree in to make it a bit more authentic.  We are two crafty kids.

A view from JBR beach, it looks like a postcard!

I have hit my 6 month anniversary and Dubai is starting to be more like a home to me.  I cannot really claim myself as a newbie any longer.  Dubai has some absolutely amazing things to offer, but one thing it is truly lacking is a sense of community. Yesterday E and I participated in the Dubai Creek Striders Half Marathon and I felt that community a bit more.  Races always seem like a place were there is a kinship and bond amongst strangers.  It was a huge feat for me and it was nice to run along 1500 people, watch the sun rise of the Burj Dubai, and run through the souks of old town Dubai.   I never, ever thought, I would run a half marathon, but not only did I complete it but ran the entire way!  That was really my goal.  I am  fighting some soreness today, definitely proud of us, but not running (ha!) out to do another one any time soon.

So we have gone home and come back home in the last few weeks.  How nice it is to have two homes and appreciate living life in such opposite spectrums.